Redeeming The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 5) (22 page)

“Did they design this house themselves?” Addie asked as they waited for someone to open the front door.

They’d parked inside the large detached garage designed for visitors. From the moment they’d stepped from the car, he’d sensed Addie’s designer’s brain kick in. She’d paused to admire the interior and exterior of the garage as well as the flower gardens they passed as they followed the walkway to the house.

“Yes. Callie joked it took them longer to design it than it took for the actual construction. To some extent they based it on Dylan’s father’s estate in England.”

A woman, perhaps his stepmother’s age, dressed in black slacks and a white top, answered the door not long after they rang the bell. “Good morning, Mr. Sherbrooke,” she said in a pleasant voice before smiling in Addie’s direction. “Ms. Raimono, please come in.”

The same woman had answered the door on his previous visit, but he had no idea of her name. His father and uncles would be disappointed in him. They all made it a point to remember the names of everyone that worked within the family homes.

“Please follow me. Mr. Talbot is in the back living room.” The woman closed the door, then started down a hallway, her sensible black shoes silent on the gleaming floors.

“You weren’t kidding when you said it was modeled after an English estate,” Addie whispered into his ear as they walked. “I feel like I’ve just walked onto a PBS set.”

Trent laughed. “I’ll have to tell Dylan you said that.”

Addie stopped and released his hand. “Don’t you dare. He may take it the wrong way.” Her glare, meant to reinforce her words, only made him laugh harder. “I mean it, Trent.”

He took her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. “I promise, not a word. I was joking anyway.”

“No you weren’t. I know you better than that by now.” She gave him a halfhearted smile. “I do love it in here. It’s just not what I expected.”

“You’re right, I wasn’t joking. But if it’s that important I won’t say a thing.” He took her hand so they could catch up to the older woman again. “What did you expect?”

“Something more, I don’t know, modern I guess is the right word. Maybe more along the lines of your apartment.”

The woman in front of them turned down another hallway. “Their place in New York is more like my apartment. Dylan bought it before he met Callie. I think he likes it more than she does. I know they remodeled the apartment recently.”

When they reached the large entryway, the woman who greeted them stopped just inside. “Mr. Sherbrooke and Ms. Raimono have arrived, Mr. Talbot. Does anyone require anything before I leave?”

Trent passed into the large room. Despite its size, it’d been laid out and furnished in such a way to give it a comfy and intimate atmosphere. Next to him, Addie’s hand gripped his a smidge tighter.

“We’re fine, Ester. Thank you. Enjoy your day off,” Dylan answered. Seated in an arm chair, he had his long legs stretched out and a baby dressed in some kind of blue one-piece sleep outfit resting with his head on Dylan’s chest. On the floor by his feet Lucky, Callie’s dog, sat.

With a nod, Ester smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Talbot. Cora is in the kitchen if you require anything. I will see you tomorrow.”

When Ester exited leaving the family alone, Trent crossed to his long-time friend, Addie’s hand still attached to his. The last newborn he could recall seeing was his youngest brother Alec, and that had been a long time ago. He’d forgotten how tiny newborns were. “Congratulations, again.” Trent extended his hand, his eyes still glued to the tiny infant. His brain found it difficult to process the sight of the baby on the chest of the once-confirmed bachelor. Yet, the now happily married husband and new father looked about ready to explode with pride.

Dylan shook with his right hand, his left never leaving the baby’s back. “Thank you. I’m glad you could both make it.” Dylan looked toward Addie. “It’s nice to meet you, Addison. Please forgive me for not getting up.” Always the proper English gentleman, Trent had never seen Dylan not stand to introduce himself to anyone. “My wife should be down soon.”

Addie extended her hand in Dylan’s direction. “Please call me Addie, and I understand. Your son is beautiful.”

Although he doubted it possible, the pride and happiness on Dylan’s face increased at Addie’s words.

“Thank you. I would offer to let you hold him, but he just fell back asleep.”

“Don’t feel bad. I’ve barely gotten a glimpse of my nephew since I got here,” Jake said from the sofa where he sat. “If he’s not eating or getting a diaper change, he’s attached to Dylan.”

Not about to get in the middle of friendly family squabble today, Trent touched Addie’s elbow and led her to the sofa. “Addie, my cousin Jake. And over there is my brother Derek.” He nodded in his brother’s direction as he sat. “Where are Charlie and Courtney?”

“Charlie went upstairs with Callie in case she needed any help getting in and out of the shower,” Jake answered referring first to his wife. “Courtney went to answer a phone call from a friend.”

“Allison called. She’ll be here around six or so tonight,” Derek added, referring to his twin sister. “Dylan’s father decided to stay a few more days, too.”

Trent had only met his friend’s father once, the day Callie and Dylan married. The Viscount spent most of his time in England.

“I doubt you’d get him to admit it, but I don’t think two days with his first grandson were enough,” Jake added.

“Are you sure Callie’s up for all these guests? Addie and I can head home and come back next weekend.”

“Oh, no. You’re not leaving before I get a chance to have a nice, long conversation with Addie, just like you and Charlie had at Cliff House. I’ll need some time to share some
embarrassing stories about you, and next weekend we have Maureen’s wedding to attend so I can’t come back and do that.”

Trent held back his reaction. He’d told his cousin’s wife a few funny stories about Jake in private. He’d also shared a few more than embarrassing tales his cousin would’ve rather kept a secret. “You’ll have to get her alone first and that’s not happening.”

Jake looked at Derek, who nodded, and then back at him. “Trust me, that won’t be a problem. I have reinforcements.”

Most times Jake’s banter wouldn’t faze him. His cousin was one of his closest friends and they’d grown up teasing each other. He also realized that he’d never tell Addie anything that would affect their relationship. Still, that didn’t mean he wanted his girlfriend to know he’d slept with a bedroom lamp on until he was seven or that he’d had a favorite stuffed dinosaur named Rex that he’d slept with until his eighth birthday. His parents thought he’d thrown it away when he turned six, but he’d hidden it and just taken it out after going to bed. In fact, even after he’d stopped taking it to bed every night, he hadn’t been able to part with it. Instead, he’d stashed it in his closet where it had stayed until he stumbled upon it when he was packing for his first year at Harvard.

“You have reinforcements for what?” Courtney Belmont, his cousin, asked as she entered the room and sat in an empty armchair.

“Our dear cousin was kind enough to share some of my embarrassing childhood memories with my wife,” Jake answered. “I thought I’d repay the favor.”

His younger cousin considered Jake’s answer, then looked at him. “Don’t worry, Trent. I have your back. I’ll let Addie get to know you better before I let Jake expose her to all your secrets.”

“Traitor,” Jake teased.

“Now you have me intrigued. Maybe I should give you my phone number, Jake. Then you could call me and share these stories with me,” Addie said, joining the conversation.

Immediately, Jake pulled out his phone. “Great idea. What’s your number?”

“Whose side are you on away?” Trent asked. While pleased that she felt comfortable enough to join in the conversation, he didn’t relish the idea of her calling his cousin to discuss his secrets.

“In this case, your cousins,” she answered and then proceeded to give Jake her phone number.

The easygoing banter continued as they changed topics, and perhaps twenty minutes after they arrived Callie and Charlie joined them. Other than the small amount of weight she still carried from her pregnancy, his cousin looked great. In fact if not for the baby still asleep on Dylan’s chest, he never would’ve guessed she’d given birth just a few days earlier. Next to her, Charlie looked as relaxed and friendly as the last time he’d met her.

“Have you and James been like that since we left?” Callie asked after she greeted Trent and Addie.

Dylan readjusted his outstretched legs before he answered. “I didn’t want to wake him. Did you have any problems upstairs?”

“Of course not. I told you I would be fine. Charlie stayed in the bedroom and looked at a magazine while I showered. I didn’t need any help.”

“But you may have.” Trent heard the concern in Dylan’s voice and understood it. Although he’d never witnessed it, he knew childbirth was hard on a woman’s body.

“Dylan, I’m okay. I had a baby not a heart transplant. Women do it all the time. I’m tired and sore, but not about to collapse on the floor. You need to relax a little.” Callie placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

“She’s right, Dylan. Callie’s doing well,” Charlie said. “But she does need to take it easy.”

Trent watched in fascination as Callie scooped up her son, who’d just yawned and moved a tiny leg. “Would you like to hold him now that he’s awake, Trent?”

“Wait a minute,” Jake said, sounding put out. “Shouldn’t his uncle get to hold him first? I saw him for five minutes yesterday before he started wailing to eat and Dylan’s monopolized him all morning.”

“I’d love to,” Trent said with more passion than necessary just to annoy Jake. Then unable to resist the opportunity, he glanced around Addie toward his cousin. “Sounds like you’re jealous. I think you need a son or daughter of your own.”

Callie handed him the tiny bundle, showing him how to hold the baby and support his neck, then she stepped back. His initial gut reaction was to hand the baby back to her. In his large hands, James looked so small and fragile. Then the infant’s little fist gripped his finger, the small gesture tugging at his heart. As he stared at the baby, he studied each perfect detail from the tiny fingers to the blue-gray eyes. And just like that he envisioned holding a baby of his own, one with Addie’s chestnut brown hair and his dark blue eyes.

“I agree with Trent, Jake. James needs a cousin.” Callie’s voice shook him from his vision.

“And he’ll have one in time for Sara’s wedding.”

Something similar to jealousy, perhaps envy, swept through him before happiness took its place. “Congratulations,” he said before anyone else in the room responded.

“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Callie hugged first her brother, and then her sister in-law. “When is the baby due?”

Both Jake and Charlie beamed with happiness. “April 4th. About two and half months before Sara’s wedding,” Jake answered.

The cousins would be less than a year apart, like him and Jake. If Jake and Charlie had a son, Trent wondered if he and James would be as close as he and Jake had been.

“We’ve only told Mom and Dad so far. We thought we’d stop and tell Charlie’s family this weekend, but Sean’s out in California. Maureen and Ray are at a friend’s retirement party in Portland and her sister has a sleepover with friends.”

“I didn’t know you had a sister.”

“Half-sister,” Charlie answered as his eyes went back to the baby in his arms. “She’s twelve and I only met you this summer.”

***

The sun warmed her face as Addie leaned back on the stone bench. She and Trent had retreated outside to one of the well-manicured flower gardens. All around her pink and purple asters bloomed, as did some Russian sage with its blue flowers and silvery foliage. Sprinkled throughout the garden were Lemon Queen sunflowers, which bloomed in the late summer and early fall. Along the wall the gardeners had planted some yellow orange helenium, which if Trent hadn’t told her differently she would’ve assumed were just plain old daisies.

“Do you know what is growing on the stone archway?” she asked. Thus far Trent had surprised her knowing several of the flowers and plants she didn’t recognize.

“I think it’s sweet autumn clematis, my mom had some in her garden, but I’m not positive.” Trent spread his arms out along the back of the bench and stretched out his legs.

Her eyes roamed over the garden, amazed at all the variation and how well they blended together. “What about that one? Do you know what it is?” She pointed towards an electric-blue flower with five petals.

“Not a clue. You’ve exhausted my knowledge of plants.” Since they’d come outside he’d named at least ten or twelve different types of plants and shrubs.

Addie closed her eyes and enjoyed the soft breeze that blew around them. All too soon the temperatures in New England would start to drop and the snow would fall. “Oh, well. You still amazed me with how many you knew. You really learned all about them from your mom?” Trent didn’t talk much about his mom, but he had shared that information.

“She adored flowers. In the summer she spent a ridiculous amount of time both in the gardens and in her greenhouse. Gray and I spent hours playing in the dirt while she planted and pruned her babies. I think she did more work than the gardeners my father paid. I guess I listened to her more than I thought when she talked about them.”