Forbidden Contract (The Birmingham Brothers Series) (17 page)

“Trent…its ok I can take him up
.”

“So can I
.” He said looking at her face. “You need to learn to let others help you.”

Alexis jumped into her
arms now that they were free.

“Is Tristan better?”

“Yes….they just wanted to keep him overnight…were you good for grandmother?”

“Yes….but last night
Uncle Trent, Uncle Ethan and Uncle Justin took care of me.” She smiled. “We went out for pizza and beer.”

“Excuse me?”
She said looking now at Trent who turned smiling.

“Root beer
.” He grinned. “At least for her.”

“
Thank you….you really didn’t have too.”

“We figured since you are going to be part of the family we should take the time to get to know Alexis better….besides….she owed us a rematch at Pac Man
.”

Bailey looked at him then at Alexis who didn’t question his comment.

“Uncle Trent said after you marry Beckett we are going to live in a big house and I get to have my own room…..so now I will have two rooms….one here with grandma and one at our new house.” She smiled. “Are we rich now?”

Bailey noticed the way that Trent was listening to her response. She looked at Alexis and tried to figure out the best way to explain.

“No….we are not rich, your grandmother is….and Beckett is.”

“But you are going to marry Beckett so won’t you be rich
?”

“It’s not that simple
.” Bailey said as Trent stopped to watch her. “Beckett is going to give us a nice house to live in and he will help us but I will still work.”

“But Uncle Trent said you don’t have to anymore
.” She protested.

Bailey looked at Trent and he seemed as confused as Alexis with her comment.

“Alexis…..I like working….I won’t have to work as hard as I did in California but I do still need to work.”

“Why
?”

“Because I need to do something while you and Tristan are in school….what do you want me to do stay home and watch
TV?”

“I would if I could
.” She grinned at the idea.

“You probably would
.” Bailey said as she watched Trent put Tristan to bed. She noticed the way he tucked him in. Carefully he moved a stray strand of hair of his forehead then standing looked down and watched him sleep. When he turned he caught Bailey’s eye and she thought he looked embarrassed. She smiled as he walked out of the room and headed back down the hallway away from her and Alexis. Bailey put Alexis down whispering to her to watch her brother than she followed after Trent.

“Trent
.” She called out.

Trent stopped at the top of the stairs and she noticed the way his shoulders seemed to tense as if he didn’t want to have this conversation. Turning he looked at her his face quickly masking over.

“Thank you for watching Alexis last night.”

He nodded and was prepared to go downstairs when he thought better. Turning he looked at her and now it was her turn to mask her emotions as he seemed to be studying her.

“You know you don’t have to work….Beckett will provide for you and the kids.”

“I know….but
in the end when the year is up I will have to work.”

Trent thought about her comment for a moment. She could see the wheels turning in his head then suddenly his eyes lit up as he came up with a solution.

“Then why not work for us?” He offered. “We could use someone in our office down here….you can work your hours around the kids school schedule.”

“You’re offering me a job?”
She asked.

“
Why not.” He grinned. “You’re smart, you have great work ethics, and you worked at your father’s firm.” She raised her eyebrow questioning him and he laughed. “You really think I would let my little brother marry anyone without checking them out?”

“Trent….this marriage is not real
.” She said.

“Maybe….but it still involves our family’s name
.” He said seriously. “We may want the company and Beckett truly believes this is the best option….but when it’s over our family will be judged when the marriage ends.”

“I have no intention of doing anything that dishonors your fa
mily’s name.”

“I know that
.” He said seriously. “Bailey despite the circumstances you will be part of our family and we take care of our own. You won’t have to worry about your security or your future and no one’s going to be grabbing your ass when they’re drunk.”

“Beckett told you
!” She said seeing the muscle on his jaw flex in anger.

“
Yeah and if that guy ever showed up here believe me he wouldn’t get away with what he did to you.”

“You and your brothers are honorable men
.” She smiled. “I doubt Jackson would ever show up here.”

“I don’t know with a name like Jackson he’s definitely got Southern ties
.” He grinned. “Take the job, it’s not charity…we’ll definitely make you earn your pay.”

“Alright
.” She smiled. “Trent thank you.”

“You’re welcome
. You know despite the circumstances my brothers a lucky guy.”

Bailey blushed at his compliment and with a smile she turned and went back towards Tristan
’s room. When she reached the door she stopped and looking back she noticed Trent had been watching her. He smiled then he headed down the stairs leaving her confused. What was supposed to be a cut and dry contract arrangement was starting to get muddled as their lives began to intertwine.

Beckett looked over the blue prints carefully marking notes along the side at the flaws he found. When he left the hospital he found he needed to occupy his mind so instead of heading back to the manor he headed to Montgomery and Sons where he could bury himself in the work. Ethan had been going over the books with his father all morning making notes on the critical issues they needed to address first. Both heads had looked up when he first entered the office.

“How
’s Tristan?” His father asked concerned.

“Better….he’ll be going home after a specialist checks him out
.”

“How
’s Bailey?” Ethan asked noting his brother’s agitation.

“Fine
.” He answered too quickly causing both Ethan and his father to take a harder look at him.

“Did she get any rest last night?”
Ethan asked.

“Yeah
.” He again answered a little too quickly.

“Did something happen that you want to tell us about?”
His father asked giving him a probing stare.

Beckett looked between his father and brother and despite the fact he didn’t want to talk about it he knew it involved the family business.

“I kissed her.” He said and watched both of their surprised reactions. “Before Tristan’s attack.”

“You kissed her
.” Ethan said shocked. “Really?”

“Yeah….it just kind of happened
.”

“And did she kiss you back?”
His father asked curiously.

Beckett looked at his father and knew he couldn’t lie
. “Yes she did, it was pretty intense.”

Ethan whistled while his father just grinned. Beckett
ran his hand through his hair in frustration as he began to pace.

“It wasn’t like I planned it
.” He said trying to defend his actions.

“Do you have feelings for her?”
His father asked.

“I don
’t know…..I mean, my god she’s beautiful, intelligent, funny…caring.”

“Real
.” Ethan threw out causing Beckett to frown. “What….come on….we all know Macys superficial.”

“
It doesn’t really matter….Regina has the clause in the contract.”

“The clause is no sexual contact…..it doesn’t say you can’t kiss Bailey
.” His father added.

Beckett looked at his father
like he was crazy. “I wanted more than that kiss….so did Bailey….if she hadn’t reminded me of the contract.”

His father frowned
. “Beckett….part of the problem with your generation is that you jump into sex without looking at the consequences….sex is more than just physical relief….it’s what bonds a man and woman to each other….it’s the most personal act of caring two people can share….and before the actual act there should be a buildup…..first you get to really know the person….then there’s the courtship…..then you hold her hand……steal kisses….”

Both Etha
n and Beckett rolled their eyes preparing for the lecture they had both heard since they became sexually active. Roark noticed but continued on.

“When I met your mother….it took me almost 6 months before I even considered holding her hand
.”

“Yes dad and
you used to sit around the radio pretending it was a TV.” Ethan laughed.

“That was your grandparents….my generation was the first color
TV and the man on the moon.” He smiled. “Beckett, I’m just saying it is possible to have a relationship with a woman without having sex….what about you and Lachelle?” He reminded him.

“No….they had sex” Ethan joked
. “Remember they were each other’s first.”

Roark
looked at Beckett who now cursed at his brother. That was a secret his brothers had been told but up till that moment his parents had never been privy. Some things you just never told your parents no matter how old you got.

“Well……at least you waited for your first love
.” Roark said. “Anyways…why is it your generation can’t have relationships unless sex is involved.”

“
That way we know if the girl is worth seeing again.” Ethan joked.

“Where did your mother and I go wrong
?” He said shaking his head.

“You didn’t
.” Beckett admitted. “It’s just that….well…..we like sex.”

Roark
shook his head but he also smiled. “With the right woman it is pretty amazing.”

“It can be pretty amazing with any woman as long as she hot
.” Ethan grinned. “If not that’s what a bag is for.”

Roark
looked at him then at Beckett who couldn’t help but grin at his brother’s joke. Walking over to the books Beckett looked at the piles they were compiling.

“So what are you doing?”
He asked trying to divert their attention from Bailey and the kiss.

“This pile is the current projects
.” Roark explained. “Those are the ones we need Trent to inspect.”

“
And these?” Beckett asked.

“Your pile
.” Ethan grinned. “Future projects…..based on the notes I think they cut corners….I put the blue prints in your office.”

Frowning Beckett picked up the files then headed to his office successfully avoiding further conversation about him and Bailey. It didn’t take him long before the distraction of the blueprints diverted his thoughts from Bailey. As he went over the blueprints he couldn’t believe in all the short cuts the Montgomery men were taking. Though staying within code
the shortcuts would eventually lead to major repairs down the line for the new owners. Rolling up his sleeves he sat down and began to make notations on the first set of blueprints. He was so engrossed in what he was doing he totally forgot about Bailey till Trent arrived a few hours later.

“Hey….looks like you’ve been busy
.” Trent said looking over the desk of blueprints already competed.

“If this is any example of what the Montgomery’s have been doing I don’t envy your job
.” Beckett said looking up rubbing his temples.

“Don’t worry bro….once I do my inspections you get to help me fix it
.” He grinned sitting on the edge of the desk. “So I solved our assistant problem.”

“Really… who did you decide on….the redhead or the blonde?” Beckett asked as he went back to work.

They had agreed to let Trent hire the office assistant since he seemed to be the one who was the hardest to please. Justin and Ethan usually did the preliminaries weeding through the mound of applicants usually giving Trent a few women to choose from.

“Actually
she had dark hair.” He grinned.

“
There wasn’t one with dark hair.”

“I know…..so I went outside your choices
.” He said watching Beckett’s face.

“Trent
!” Beckett said putting his pencil down. “Who did you hire?”

“I hired Bailey
.” He said as his mouth twitched in his attempt to control his laughter.

“Bailey?” Beckett said the color draining from his face.

“Yeah….why not…she’s smart, she knows the business and since she will be part of the family she’s invested in our success as much as we are.”

“But why…..she doesn’t need to work….she
’s got the kids to think of.”

“They will be in school during the day….she was planning on working anyways so why not for us.”

“She was planning on working…why…she doesn’t need to.”

“Maybe her pride….it has to be hard….she
’s been on her own for the last 5 years, raising those two kids….maybe she doesn’t want to be a kept woman.”

“She
’s not a kept woman.” Beckett said his anger rising.

“
No….but maybe that’s how she feels.” Trent smiled.

“Trent…..stay out of it
.” Beckett warned.

“
Stay out of what….we needed an assistant, Bailey was planning on getting a job….I figured I was doing you a favor by hiring her…that way you can keep an eye on her…..or would you rather she go work at some restaurant where some jerk decides to feel her up?”

Beckett stood up fist
clenched as he looked at Trent. “I would rather she stay home and let me take care of her, she deserves having someone take care of her for once.”

“And what happens when the years up Beckett….you throw her back out on the streets…..at least this way she feels like she
’s earning her keep.”

“She doesn’t have to earn her keep
.” Beckett argued.

“You don’t know much about women do you…..she needs to work for her pride
.”

Beckett stared at his brother and began to see his point.
Bailey wasn’t the type of girl who would just sit at home doing nothing and it made sense to have her work with them. It also meant he would get to see more of her and began to wonder if that was a good thing or bad thing. Trent stared at him for a moment then asked.

“So what
’s bothering you….I thought you would be pleased spending more time with your wife?”

“He kissed her
.” Ethan said joining them. Before Trent had informed Beckett of their new employee he had informed Ethan and his father who both seemed pleased.

“He kissed her….when…and was there tongue?” Trent asked staring at Beckett.

“I kissed her last night after we got back from Chucky Cheese….and none of your business.”

“I would take that as a yes
.” Trent grinned. “So did she enjoy it?”

Beckett noticed that Ethan had taken a seat waiting for details. All that was needed now was Jus
tin who as if summoned appeared.

“
What’s going on?” He asked taking a seat.

“Beckett
’s about to give details…he kissed Bailey last night.”

“What, really…so how was it?” Justin asked.

“None of your business.” Beckett said standing up preparing to leave.

“
No you don’t.” Trent said blocking the exit. “Not till you give.”

Beckett looked at him then at his brothers
. “I’m not going to give details…not about Bailey.” He said and watched as all his brothers exchanged a glance. He looked back at Trent who stood there for a moment before he stepped aside. As Beckett walked out he heard Justin protest.

“What the hell....why did you let him leave
?”

“
Because he’s right.” Trent argued. “It’s Bailey.”

Beckett waited for his brothers to protest and was surprised when the room fell silent.  Grabbing his keys Beckett
passed his father without a word as he headed out to his car. Once behind the wheel he gunned the engine then peeled out of the drive heading out towards the open road. He always thought better behind the wheel and once he passed the few cars on the road he opened it up. The speed soothed him and cleared his head.

In the few days he had known her Bailey had not only gotten under his skin but obviously his families too.
Suddenly this whole arrangement was taking on a life of its own and he wasn’t entirely sure he was happy about it. Life with Macy was uncomplicated. He came and went as he pleased. When they were together sex was a given so there was no uncertainty as to how the night would end. Ethan was right it was superficial and even predictable. But he liked that about them.

With Bailey he seemed to be on edge
never knowing how to react. The sexual current between them was always just beneath the surface ready to erupt with any contact. One minute he wanted to throttle her like when she rode off that day on the horse, the next he wanted to throw her on the bed and hear her scream his name as he drove deep inside her. He wanted to protect her and give her the life she deserved and then he wanted to run from her and the ties she could make on his life. In Bailey he saw a life of family gatherings, loving moments and children they would have together. It was a life he planned with Lachelle and one he buried with her. It was a life that could bring great joy but one that also could carry pain. He wasn’t sure he wanted that life.