Love Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy (24 page)

At five p.m., Brielle turns off her computer.

"It was weird without Father here today. Is it bad if I say it was good without him?"

"Yes, it is bad, but I know what you mean."

She packs up her stuff and walks over to my desk. "Who are the flowers really from?" she whispers to me.

I look at her strangely. "I honestly have no idea, Bree. Do you?"

She smiles. "Bree, who are they from?" I ask, leering at her.

"I don't know for sure, but I think they're probably from Josie, the receptionist downstairs. You know, because she's in love with Aiden. I bet she's trying to split you two up. You saw how he reacted when you received them. He was so jealous. I'm sure that's what she's counting on. But, hey, I'm probably wrong."

"Oh my god, you're probably right. What a bitch."

"Yeah, watch out for her. She's been after him for as long as I can remember."

"Ain't no woman takin' my man." I click my fingers together and wave my hands around like they do on the talk shows. Brielle laughs hysterically at me, and I laugh at myself.

Aiden comes out of his office and looks at us strangely.

"What's funny?"

"That was so funny, Jeni. You should show Aiden."

"No way! That was a one-time-only performance."

He looks at us, smiling. "Bree, how did you get here today?"

"I caught the bus from Blair's place, why?"

"We'll drop you back there if you like, save you taking the bus."

"Thanks, big bro."

Aiden takes my hand as we walk to the elevator.

When the doors open, we walk through the main foyer.

"Good evening, Mr. O'Connell," Josie calls out.

I turn and glare at her. Her eyes widen and her mouth gapes a little at my sudden aggression toward her. She quickly looks back to her computer screen. There, that should do it, I hope. Bree gives me the thumbs-up. Aiden looks at me strangely. I shrug and we continue out of the doors.

"What was that, Jeni?" Aiden asks quietly.

"She's standing up for you," Brielle interrupts before I can say anything.

"What for?"

"Because Josie is after you."

I'm excluded from the conversation.

"No, she isn't. She's just being friendly."

"Yeah, then why is she causing trouble sending Jeni those flowers?"

"What? No, she didn't. I'm sure it was Mom or someone like that. Why would Josie send Jeni flowers?"

"Duh! Sometimes, big bro, you're so dense. Why do you think? To make you jealous of course, so you would split up with her."

I stand back and watch them talk about me as though I'm not even here.

"That will never happen. I wouldn't split up with Jeni because someone else sent her flowers."

"No, but she'd be counting on you getting jealous and causing an argument. Which almost happened today until you heard they were from a female." Her words ring true.

He shakes his head. "No, I've known Josie for a long time. She wouldn't do that. I'll ask Mom tonight if she sent them, and when she says yes, this craziness will be over."

"And if Mom doesn't say that she sent them?"

"Then, and only then, will I think about the fact that it may be Josie."

"Good, ask Mom as soon as you get home and text me to let me know."

"Good evening, Miss O'Connell," Mike says to Brielle.

"Hey, Mike, is it cool if you drop me off at Blair's place?"

"Of course. Miss O'Connell, no problem at all." He opens the back door for her to get in; I slide in next to her, and Aiden next to me.

"Can you two hurry up and get engaged already?" Brielle asks out of the blue.

I hear Mike chuckle in the front. I sit there to scared to look at Aiden to see his reaction; he takes my hand and kisses it.

"One day, Bree. One day."

Oh my god, he wants to marry me one day. We've never even talked about marriage. Of course I've thought about it, especially when I had an inkling that I was pregnant, but I never knew he thought about it as well. I removed the thought from my mind when we lost our baby. My heart starts to race and those pesky butterflies return to my stomach.

"Relax, baby," Aiden whispers in my ear, kissing the side of my head. He knows me so well. I snuggle into him while we're driven to Blair's place.

Chapter 17

We
reach the front of a building that looks like a warehouse. Mike pulls up. I look out the window and wonder why we've stopped. The warehouse is three-story, made of red metal sheeting with the paint peeling off in places, making it look rustic and very old.

"I should probably come in and say hi."

I look at Aiden, my forehead crinkled in confusion.

"You coming, baby?"

I walk with them to the front of the warehouse. "Where are we?" I whisper to him.

He chuckles. "This is where Blair lives."

"In a warehouse? Wow!" I don't know if I'm impressed or horrified.

We make our way to a set of rusty stairs outside the building leading to a second story and an equally rusty door. Brielle makes her way up the stairs, so does Aiden. I follow behind, wondering what I'm about to see. Brielle opens the door.

"You look worried?" Aiden chuckles.

I shrug then we walk through the door into a stunningly beautiful open room. I stop and stand in awe. There's a kitchen area and living room all in one, with separate rooms for bedrooms and bathrooms. It's an amazingly spacious apartment, and nothing like the rustic exterior. There's a black iron staircase in the middle of the main room heading upstairs, and the walls are like the exterior of the warehouse, rusty and red. Everything in the apartment is new and modern. It's a real mixture of old and new. The place looks so cool. Aiden looks back at me standing in the doorway.

"Not what you expected?"

"Not at all. This place is ..." I can't finish my sentence and I move my hands around. I'm at a loss for words.

"I know. It's deceiving from the outside." He walks over to me, grasping my hand, tangling our fingers, and pulling me in.

"Blair, are you here?" Brielle yells out making her way to the living room.

"Yeah I'm here." He walks into the room with a towel around his waist. I stare at him in awe; he looks so much like his brother with his chiseled abdomen and disheveled wet hair. I swallow and look away.

"Oh crap, I didn't know you were here, Jeni. Sorry. I'll go and ah ... put some clothes on."

I start to giggle, embarrassed.

"Really? You're crushing on my gay brother?"

"He's hot."

He laughs. "Hotter than me?" He wraps his arms possessively around my waist and pulls me to him.

"Hmm, maybe a little," I say with a cheeky grin.

"Oh really? Should I be worried?" He lets me go, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"Oh yeah, I'm so going to turn him straight."

"Aiden smirks and then leans down to kiss me."

"Get a room," Brielle yells as she slumps down on the sofa.

We both chuckle. He winks at me, taking my hand and leading me to the sofa. We sit down and Benjamin walks in through the main entry door.

"Hey, guys," he says sounding surprised. He walks toward us, placing something on the counter when he walks past.

"Hey, Benjamin, how've you been?" Aiden asks him, standing to shake his hand. Benjamin shakes it and then pushes his hand away and goes in for a hug.

"I miss you too," Aiden says, tapping his back.

"How's personal assistant life for you?" Benjamin asks me.

"All good, thanks, Ben. Love the work, but the boss is a bit strict though."

"Oh, Alistair's being a jerk as usual?"

"No, Aiden is," I joke, making everyone laugh but Aiden.

He stares at me with a fake frown on his face.

"You know you're cute when you pretend to be angry," I say leaning in and grabbing his cheeks. He can't help but grin at me.

Blair comes out, fully clothed this time, and walks up to Benjamin, kissing him on his cheek.

"Did you get the magazine layouts?" he asks in work mode.

"Yup, they're right over there."

They're cute together. Blair walks over to the counter.

"Hey, Benjamin, you had better watch out," Aiden hollers.

"Why's that?" he questions.

"Jeni's going to turn Blair straight. She wants him bad," Aiden calls out, loud enough for Blair to hear.

"Oh my god, Aiden!" I flush bright red and sink farther into the sofa.

"Jeni, my sweet. You're the only girl I'd let try to turn me straight," he calls out.

"Hey!" Benjamin and Aiden say in unison.

"You asked for that." Brielle laughs at Aiden.

I put my head in my hands, completely embarrassed.

Aiden sits back down next to me, pulling me close to him. "You ready to go?"

"You're mean," I say.

"Yeah, but you love me." He kisses my head, stands and puts out his hand for me to take.

"See ya, guys," Aiden says loudly.

"See ya," they all say in unison as we reach the rusty door. Aiden walks down the stairs first, followed by me.

"What's on the other two levels?" I ask referring to the first and third floor of the warehouse.

"The bottom floor is where Blair does all his photo stuff, processing and framing; it's kind of like a workshop."

"And the top?"

"Nothing much. Mainly storage and stuff like that."

"This place is so cool."

"Yeah, Blair found it one day and bought it. He turned it into his dream home and workshop."

We walk to the car and Mike opens the car door for me. I slide in, and Aiden follows, closing the door behind him. Mike starts the car, and we head back to our apartment.

***

"Can we call in to see Mom first?"

"Of course, you don't even need to ask." I take his arm and we walk to the elevator. Mike presses the button, and we proceed to the second floor. Aiden knocks on the door, and Mike walks to his apartment.

"Have a good night, Mike."

Callie opens her door, and Mike looks across. They smile at each other as he closes his door.

"Hi, honey, how was your day?" Callie asks, hugging Aiden.

"Good, thanks, Mom. How was yours?"

She gestures for us to come in. "Not bad, did some moving around of the bank accounts and set up my apartment a bit better. What do you think?"

"It's lovely, Callie."

"Thank you, sweetheart." She walks us to the sofa to sit down. "How was your father today?"

"He didn't come in."

Callie shakes her head with her brows creased. "What do you mean he didn't come in? He never misses work."

"He ah ... wasn't feeling well."

She sighs, flattens out the creases in her skirt and exhales with a small smile composing herself. "I guess I don't need to worry about him anymore."

"Mom, he'll be fine. He's a bit ... lost at the moment."

"Changing the subject, thank you for the flowers you sent today, Callie," I say.

Callie looks at me with her head slightly tilted as her brows crease again. "What flowers, honey?"

"You didn't send Jeni flowers today?" Aiden asks.

She shakes her head. "No, sorry. Was I supposed to?"

"No, Mom. It's fine. I think I know who sent them." He shakes his head while I rub his back to comfort him.

"Is something wrong, honey?"

"No, nothing's wrong, but a friend at work is ... well—"

"I think she's trying to split us up," I interrupt.

He looks at me and sighs. "It's not going to work." He takes my hand and I snuggle into his shoulder.

"She sounds like a crazy person, trying to split up a happy couple."

"Guess some people would do anything for love," I say.

"You think Josie loves me?" he asks, his eyes widening.

"Not sure, but if it's her, then we need to be careful."

"Agreed." Aiden sighs. "Let's see if anything else happens. Hopefully, it'll be a one-time thing."

"Be careful. If it's a girl who works with you both, and she's jealous of Jeni, she may start rumors or something that may actually hurt the business," Callie says.

"I'll take care of it if anything else happens."

"Have you got dinner organized, or do you want to have something with us?" I ask.

"You're a darling, aren't you? No, thank you. I can look after myself, plus I wouldn't want to intrude on you two."

"Mom, you would never intrude."

"Even so, I'm enjoying my alone time. It's nice to have to look after only myself after all these years."

We stand and walk toward the door.

"If you change your mind, or you need us, we're only a few floors away." He hugs his mom.

She lets him go and hugs me. "Sweetheart, it's always a pleasure."

"Thanks, Callie, have a good night."

She lets me go; we walk from her apartment and then back to the elevator. Once inside, Aiden swipes his card and we're off to our apartment.

The doors open, we kick off our shoes and proceed to the bedroom. I get changed in to my usual negligee and he into his shorts.

"What's for dinner?" I call out making my way to the living room as I slump down onto the sofa.

"Spaghetti okay?"

"Yeah, do you need a hand?"

"If you want."

I stand up and walk to the kitchen. "What would you like me to do?" I ask seductively.

He winks at me. "There's this one thing you could do."

"Oh yeah? What's that?"

"Kiss me," he says.

I lunge at him, jumping, wrapping my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. He catches me, holding on to my ass. He twirls us around and sits me on the counter leaning in against me. I lean forward and kiss him, my hands running through his hair. Suddenly we hear the elevator chime. He pulls back from me and helps me off the counter. We walk around to the elevator, looking at each other curiously, as we're not expecting anyone. The doors open, and no one is there. Aiden looks into the elevator. There, in the middle, is a smaller version of Mr. Snuggles.

He looks at me, and I shake my head. He walks into the elevator, picks up the teddy bear and walks out toward me. The doors shut, and he stands there with Mr. Snuggles Jr. I look at him, frowning.