CHAPTER FOURTEEN

 

The next morning, we’re all sitting down in the garden room with the windows open, waiting for breakfast to arrive, when a male roar rattles the house.

No joke. I literally felt the floor shaking beneath me.

“What on earth?” Pam gasps, holding her hand to her chest.

“Jesse!” Aaron roars from somewhere inside the house. “Jesse!”

“Oh God,” Amelia murmurs, looking at Jesse with wide eyes. “What have you done?”

“Nothing,” he says, then turns to Drake and me with curious eyes. I shrug, looking away. I may have done some crazy shit while I’ve been here, but I have no idea what has his panties in a twist this morning.

“He can’t be that sore over losing last night.” Alison giggles as we hear him shout again, closer this time.

The door slams open and, clad in nothing but a pair of boxers, a stormy-faced Aaron forces his way into the room.

I gasp, trying to smother my laughter when I see Ada behind him wearing only a dressing gown, a huge grin on her face. Her gaze meets mine and she winks.

“Mother, what’s going on? Why are you wearing a guest dressing gown? Where’s your Game of Thrones one?”

“Ask Aaron,” Ada says, her eyes raking over him seductively.

Aaron shudders, moving away from her. “You need to sort your grams out. She… she—”

“We had a fantastic night together.” Ada beams, moving closer to a pale Aaron.

Shocked doesn’t begin to cover what I feel right now. Drake chokes on the fruit he was munching on. Adam stands up, face full of fury, and Pam has tears in her eyes, though I’m unsure whether they’re happy or sad; it’s touch-and-go with this family.

Jesse and Amelia stare open-mouthed, and Gabriella, who only arrived a short moment ago, bursts out laughing, high-fiving her nan as she passes.

“You slept with my mother?” Adam roars, slamming his fist down on the table

“We didn’t,” Aaron rushes out, wisely taking a step back.

“You don’t even remember our night of lovemaking.” Ada sniffles.

“This is a joke, right?” I whisper to Drake.

He curses, shaking his head as he places it between his hands. “I don’t know. I really don’t know. This is Grams. Anything could happen.”

I laugh, but the look he gives me stops me short. “Sorry.”

“This is better than Big Brother,” Alison chimes in, sipping her morning coffee.

“We didn’t do anything,” Aaron yells, his voice high-pitched.

“Oh, I could tell you where his birthmark is,” Ada whisper-yells to the room, sitting down.

Aaron’s face is a picture and I start to laugh, bringing his stormy glare my way. “You! This is all your fault.”

“Mine?” I ask innocently. “How? I didn’t do anything. You’re the one who slept with her.”

“For the last time, I didn’t sleep with her,” he roars before looking down at me. “Nothing like this ever happened to me before you turned up.”

“It’s called karma,” Alison sings.

“Are you saying you regret our passionate lovemaking?” Ada asks. For a quick moment, I actually believe her, but then I look closer and notice her lips twitch.

Aaron looks like he’s about to be sick.

“We didn’t have sex,” he thunders, throwing his hands up before he storms out of the room, everyone watching. As soon as the door slams shut, you could hear a pin drop as everyone turns to stare at Ada.

She seems none the wiser as she pours herself a cup of coffee. When she finally notices, she grins. “What?”

“Mother, is what he’s saying true?”

Ada rolls her eyes, looking at everyone around the table. “He’s not my type, Pammy. You know that. I just made him believe we slept together.”

“And why would you do that?” Adam asks, putting his cup down, looking resigned as he sits back.

I grin behind mine and Drake pinches my side. “It’s not funny. Don’t encourage her. I nearly had a heart attack.”

“It’s fine. You’re a doctor,” I whisper back. He stares at my lips for a few seconds before shaking his head, grinning.

“You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“Mother, answer him,” Pam implores.

“I was bored. And he’s a cheating jackass. And I didn’t like the way he spoke to my Alison last night at the casino. I nursed that girl back to health, sat with her through sickness and diarrhoea, and he had the nerve to be rude to her.”

“She didn’t,” Alison announces to the table, bright red.

I laugh, earning an elbow from her. “Sorry,” I wheeze.

“So you slept in the same bed as him?” Jesse asks, seeming more amused now than annoyed.

“Do I look like I want to be near him for that long? Of course I didn’t. I set my alarm for seven this morning and snuck into his room wearing a bikini,” she says, then turns to Amelia. “I’ll return it after it’s been washed, dear.”

Amelia coughs, waving her hand. “Keep it.”

“Thanks.” Ada smiles. “So anyway, I was in his bed for, like, two seconds before he woke up. He had his arms around me, hand on my boob and everything,” she cackles.

“You put his hand on your boob?” Pam screeches, standing up. She looks mortified as she stares at her mother like a stranger.

“No, of course I didn’t. He did. Got a good feel too. Another second and I was ready to knee his balls.”

“Mother,” Pam scolds.

“Well, this has been fun, but I need to get out of this bikini. It’s riding right up my—”

“Mother!” Pam yells, covering her ears.

Ada cackles again, getting up from her chair and leaving the room. Poor Pam drops to her seat, her head in her hands as Adam tries to console her.

“It’s fine, love.”

“She needs to be in a home. Around people her own age,” she cries.

“We tried that, dear. They kicked her out.”

Pam nods, holding on to her husband before turning to Alison and me. “I’m so sorry you’ve been subjected to this craziness. She’s normally….” She tries to find the right words but sighs, staring straight at us. “She’s always like this. We just thought with the wedding around the corner, she would calm down.”

“It’s fine. I’m actually enjoying myself,” I tell her. Everyone looks at me like I’m crazy and I shrug, grinning. “Hey, he did leave me when I was younger for a girl he cheated on me with and got pregnant.”

Speaking of, I haven’t heard Aaron or anyone else mention his kid. I wonder what happened there. Not that I’m going to ask and make it seem like I care, of course.

“Fair point,” Pam says, taking a sip of coffee with shaky hands.

Emily takes that moment to walk in with a huge grin on her face. “Good morning, everyone. Breakfast is served.”

 

 

*** *** ***

 

“I need you to put those candles on tables one and four, and make sure you set up an extra table for the press. Marcus, can you meet Norman outside? He needs help bringing in the champagne fountain and setting it up in the centre of the room. Jane, change those napkins. There are some teal-coloured ones in a box in the kitchen. It’s marked.”

Everyone scrambles away and I move over to the main table, rearranging the flowers for what feels like the millionth time. They originally chose a big bouquet, but with the size, it’s just going to block their view, so I’ve been trimming them down all day, never satisfied with the length.

“There’s going to be nothing left if you keep hacking at them,” Alison giggles.

My phone rings and Alison grins. It hasn’t stopped all day. “Hold that thought,” I tell her. “Hello?”

“It’s Shane. We have a Grace Morgan here.”

“Ah, send her up. She’s bringing our desserts. Thanks, Shane.”

Ending the call, I wipe my forehead, turning to Alison. “Did you get everyone their outfits?”

“Yes. I’ve had to make a few alterations to Angela’s. She wanted it tighter.”

I roll my eyes. “Why does that not surprise me?”

“No, no, no, no. That colour is all wrong. And what happened to those flowers?” I hear screeched from behind me. I turn, finding Amelia scurrying after an older woman, her face flushed and pinched tightly. She mouths “Sorry” as they walk up to me.

“This all looks cheap, Amelia. It just won’t do.”

I look to the older lady, trying not to be offended. “Hi, I’m Pagan.” I turn to Amelia. “Is there something you wanted me to change?”

“No. Everything is beautiful. This is my mum, Sharon.”

“Nice to meet you, Sharon.” I hold my hand out, but she gasps, glaring behind me. We all look to find them putting up some twinkle lights.

“No! Just no! Do you want the newspapers to think you’re cheap? What will people say about me after they see this?”

“Mum,” Amelia moans softly, shame crossing her face.

Just then another woman walks in, similar to Sharon, only she doesn’t seem to have the plastic look.

“Sharon, stop going on about everything and let Amelia go get ready for her guests. This isn’t your wedding.”

“God, no. It wouldn’t be this tasteless.”

I’m trying my hardest not to be offended, I really am, but the place looks freaking amazing. My team have worked their arses off all day to get ready for tonight’s press release and engagement party.

“Hi, I’m Maggie, Amelia’s aunt. You can call me aunt Mags. You’ve done a wonderful job.”

I like her.

I smile warmly, remembering Drake’s comment about the two sisters. She really is as nice as Amelia. I wonder if Amelia and Angela were swapped at birth. It’s not like it’s never happened before.

“I’m Pagan, and this is my best friend and colleague, Alison.”

“Nice to meet you both.”

“You too,” Alison says.

“Why don’t you go get ready while I show Sharon and Maggie to the garden room? Pam is serving tea for our early arrivals,” I offer, and Amelia smiles gratefully.

“I think I should go with my daughter.”

Amelia looks horrified at the thought so I step in, gesturing for her to follow me. “And pass up on the rich tea Emily’s serving? I hear it’s the best you could buy.”

“Well now I have to try this tea,” she mutters, sounding put out.

Amelia mouths “Thank you” before rushing out of the room. I’ll have to remind myself to take up an alcoholic drink when I go to get ready.

Stepping inside the garden room, Drake, Adam and Pam are sitting with Jesse and another man I’ve not met yet.

“I told her not to invite him,” Sharon hisses to Maggie.

“He’s her father, Sharon. And like I said, this is not your wedding. And where is your new husband?”

“He’s attending an important business meeting,” she replies snottily, glaring holes into Amelia’s dad, Eric.

Everyone exchanges pleasantries—well, as pleasant as they can be with Sharon constantly putting something or someone down. Her snide remarks are tiresome.

I leave them to it for a bit to make sure everything is going to plan, but when Emily found me an hour ago, I came back. Apparently they need a peacekeeper, and I fit that role perfectly.

I’ve also noticed how close Eric and Maggie are. They’ve exchanged light touches, laughing at each other’s jokes, and I’ve even heard him flirt a time or two in the hour I’ve been in here with her.

“You’ve noticed the chemistry too?” Alison whispers, finishing her tea.

I smile behind my cup. “Yeah.”

Drake smiles as he walks up to me after finally getting away from his brother and dad. “Hey, shouldn’t you be getting ready?”

I glance at my watch and panic. “Oh no! Guests will be arriving soon. I need to hurry up.”

“Your dress is hanging up behind your door. I’ve put your make-up out, along with curlers, and your shoes are at the end of your bed. You’ve got time to shower, so don’t panic.”

Drake laughs, looking between us. “Are you married?”

Alison laughs. “May as well be. She wouldn’t eat or sleep if I didn’t remind her. She’s good at organising everyone else’s lives, but when it comes to her own… no clue.”

“I do too,” I argue, turning to glare at my best friend.

“You don’t.”

“I’ve listened to enough arguing for one day. Let’s get you upstairs. I need to get my suit on too.” Drake grins, winking at me.

I blush, badly wanting to kiss him right now, but we agreed last night at the casino that we would keep this on the down-low.

“Don’t let me stop you. Just don’t take too long in the shower, she still has work to do,” Alison says, walking away giggling.

“Remind me why I’m her friend,” I order Drake, my face heating.

“She does have a point.”

Rolling my eyes, I shove his shoulder and step away. “You, Mr Donovan, are a very rude man. I’m going to get ready, and you…,” I start seductively, running my finger down his chest. He gives me a heated stare, smirking like he’s won a bet. “Can get dressed yourself.”

I laugh when his jaw drops and step around him.

“You’re an evil woman, Pagan Salvatore.”

I laugh, heading up the stairs. Now I just have to make sure I get through tonight without jumping him, because the image of him in the shower has me seriously turned on.

 

 

*** *** ***

 

By the end of the night, my feet are killing me. The caterers and waiters have cleaned up and left, and everyone is now tucked up in bed.

The night went without any hitches. Even Angela and Sharon seemed to be on their best behaviour, minus their snide comments. Luckily no one paid them any attention, going out of their way to stay clear.

Now I’m meeting Drake for a rendezvous in the back garden. Looking around, I take off my black stilettos as I search for him.

A noise to my left startles me and I jump, my hand going to my chest. “Drake, you freaking scared me.”

He laughs, holding up two glasses and a bottle of champagne. “Sorry, I couldn’t help it. Come on, I’ll take you to Mum’s secret garden. It’s my favourite place.”

“So, you aren’t going to take me out into the woods and murder me?”

He chuckles, shaking his head at me. “Nah. It would be such a waste.”

My body heats at the intensity in his eyes as they rake over my body. Shivers break out across my skin, butterflies twirl in my stomach and my heart beats wildly.

“Lead the way.” I try to keep the nervous shake out of my voice. It doesn’t work, but thankfully Drake doesn’t seem to notice.

We walk side by side towards the right of the property, away from the manor and the guest house.

“I didn’t see a secret garden in the newspaper article your mum did.”

He looks over, his eyebrow raised. “You read that?”

I blush. “I looked it over last night when we got back. Alison mentioned it before, so I thought I’d check it out. It was nothing like I thought it would be. It had so much information on the history of the manor. It was incredible.”

He nods. “She kept getting hounded for exclusive interviews and photos of the manor. It has a lot of history, but no one wanted to really focus on it. So when a good friend of Mum’s asked if she could do a backstory on the home, Mum agreed. But she didn’t want her garden to be revealed. Can you remember me telling you everyone who’s owned the manor added their own impression?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, years ago, Dad added the security building on the side, so Mum wanted to add her own personal touch and decided on a garden. But the place holds more meaning for her. Our grandparents’ ashes are buried here. She didn’t want that to be put in a paper, so her friend kept the whole garden out.”

We walk up a stoned path lined with flowers on either side as we come to an ivory archway.

I gasp when we walk inside. I know nothing about flowers, but I don’t think it’s necessary to admire the beauty. In the middle is a statue of two angels, each with a bow and arrow in their hands, surrounded by a small fountain.

“This is beautiful,” I whisper, turning to take in all my surroundings. It’s practically glowing with coloured flowers, the nature of it spectacular and well taken care of.

“It is. That’s where our grandparents’ ashes are buried.”

He directs me over to another stone angel, this one weeping with her head down. Buried into the floor below are three marble markers, names and dates scrolled in gold italic writing outlining how much they were beloved. A stone bench sits to the side, giving a perfect view of the burials.

“No wonder your mum wanted to keep this private. This is more precious than a graveyard. It’s intimate, personal. This place is special,” I tell him softly.

“It is,” he says just as softly before taking my hand in his. He pulls me down a path lined high with perfectly trimmed bushes. It goes off in other directions once we reach another circle, this one with more flowers, more statues and a bench or two.

He takes me left. “Are you sure you’re not going to kill me?”

He laughs. “No. Trust me, you’ll love this place.”

“What makes it so special?”

He looks at me, seeming to contemplate whether to tell me or not. He stops and I stare past him to see what has to be the most breathtaking view I have ever seen.

Cabin Lakes has a lot of views, all of them spectacular, but if I could paint, I would frame this picture and hang it up in my living room.

It’s meant to be treasured.

A large oak tree sits next to a small pond, covered with hanging lanterns, wild flowers surrounding the area. The forest sits just beyond that, and with the full moon high in the sky and the glow reflecting off the water, it looks magical.

“Oh my God. This… wow, this is amazing.” And then I see the picnic blanket laid on the grass next to the large tree, a basket next to it. Twinkly lights hang off the tree and different-sized lanterns are placed around the blanket, giving more of a soft glow to the dark night. “You did all this? For me?” I ask, choking up.

He clears his throat. “Yeah. You deserve it after the work you’ve put in.”

When I see his unsure expression, I decide to tease him. “And to score points, right?”

He laughs deeply, walking me over to the blanket. “I’ll never tell. Sit.”

I take a seat, chuckling when I see he’s even brought some cushions to lean against the tree. “You thought of everything.”

“I did.”

I sigh contentedly when I lean back against the tree, my eyes closing briefly. The cool breeze is welcome since the day’s been scorching hot.

“Are you going to tell me why this place is so special?”

“My grandfather used to bring me out here all the time. The pond has a stream that runs into it, so fish always end up in here. We’d fish, not really catching anything, but I think that was the point. It taught me patience, to relax, to have a steady hand.”

“I can see why he’d want to teach a young boy that. My brothers drove my mum crazy.” We’re quiet for a moment, but I find the courage to ask what’s been on my mind. “Earlier, when I asked you what made the place so special, you seemed reluctant to answer. You also spoke in past tense.”

He sighs, sitting back next to me and handing me a glass of champagne. “You noticed that, huh?”

“I notice everything,” I admit. There’s no point denying it.

He chuckles before he turns serious, his expression hard. “When I was twenty-five, I asked my long-term girlfriend, Leanne, to marry me here.”

Okay, I was so not expecting that.

I swallow down the hurt and jealousy I shouldn’t be feeling, hoping my voice doesn’t betray me when I ask, “What happened?”

“She said yes, but a few months later, I caught her cheating on me. We’d been together for years. She’s the daughter of a close friend of the family. We grew up together.”

“You loved her.” I say it as a statement, because I can hear the hurt in his voice and the resentment he holds towards her.

“That’s the thing, I don’t think I did. It’s like you and Aaron—we were young. It didn’t help that our parents kept pushing us together. Don’t get me wrong, I did love her, just not the way a man is supposed to love the woman he’s going to spend the rest of his life with. And yeah, walking in on her screwing my best friend sucked, but I didn’t really feel anything. I was just angry. I felt betrayed by my best friend.”

I’m confused. “Not to be blunt or anything, but why did you ask her to marry you?”

He laughs but there’s no humour there. He gulps his champagne down and turns to me. I take a sip of mine, seeing the hurt in his eyes. I have a feeling whatever he’s going to say next isn’t going to be good. “Because a few weeks before, I found a pregnancy test in the bathroom bin. I assumed it was mine even though I was always careful. So I bought a ring and proposed.”

“She didn’t even tell you the baby wasn’t yours?”

“No. I don’t think she would’ve said anything had I not caught them in bed together.”

“And with your best friend?”

“Yes.” He scrubs a hand down his face. “I want kids. Always have. I think that’s what hurt me the most.”

Seeing he clearly doesn’t want to talk about it, I decide to change the subject. “So, Angela and Aaron, huh?”

He laughs loudly and the sound echoes in the distance, making me smile. “He doesn’t know it was itching powder yet. They think they had a reaction to his detergent.”

“His detergent?” I ask.

“Angela put on his boxers.”

I laugh, holding my stomach. “Oh my God. I would’ve thought that was beneath her.”

“I know. And he’s getting pretty pissed about those messages and pictures being sent to his phone.”

I giggle. “He’ll have to get a new phone and number because I have no idea how to unsubscribe―not that I want to. He can keep suffering.”

“I’m still pissed about my car. Every time I see his, I want to egg it. He brings out the child in me.”

We sit back on the blanket, gazing across the lake. The stars are bright in the sky and I can’t look away from the magnificent beauty.

“I don’t think there’s anything in the box we could use on the car,” I tell him, thinking it over.

He hums under his breath. “Maybe Grams has something up her sleeve. I can’t let that shit slide. It’s my car.”

Boys and their toys.

An idea occurs and I grin. “I have an idea, but I’ll need to get some supplies first. For now, I want you to kiss me.”

I hear his intake of breath at the demand.

“I’m not one to say no to a beautiful woman.” When I turn to him, his eyes are smouldering, burning into me with a dying need.

“So don’t,” I whisper.

His eyes dilate and slowly, so very slowly, he brings his lips to mine.

And I’m in heaven.

Then and there, the walls I promised would stay firmly up around Drake start to tumble down.

We spend the rest of the night in each other’s arms, our lips and hands getting to know one another intimately.

Walking away after the three weeks are up is going to be hard.