AFTER WE STEPPED from the plane in New York, Deloris introduced Nox and I to a handsome, older gentleman. He wasn’t actually old, but he was older than Isaac.
“Mr. Demetri, Miss Collins, may I introduce Jerrod, Miss Collins’s new driver.”
This man wasn’t only my driver, but my bodyguard too, someone with whom I’d be spending plenty of time. I noticed Nox eying him up and down as they shook hands. Jerrod’s dark hair mixed with white gave him a distinguished look, and his eyes were sharp and respectful of his employer. In his dark suit, my new companion appeared fit, not muscle-bound, but capable of protecting me.
“Hello, Jerrod,” I said, extending my hand. “Please call me Alex.”
“Ma’am,” he said, taking my hand.
“Any questions,” Nox said, “direct them to Mrs. Witt. If there’s ever a problem or concern, contact me immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
Before long, we were all in a dark limousine headed toward the city. Only Nox, Deloris, and I were in the back. Isaac sat in the front with Jerrod. Through the closed dark glass I could only make out their silhouettes.
“He’s been with Demetri for some time now. I consider him very trustworthy.”
I wasn’t sure if Deloris was reassuring Nox or me. For a moment, I considered pleading my case again for no bodyguard, but before the words formed, I knew my breath would be wasted. I thought of asking for Isaac—I’d gotten used to him—but I didn’t. Nox and Isaac had more of a relationship than Isaac did with me. They had the same unspoken language that Nox and Deloris shared. I was the new person to the whole Demetri equation. It made sense that I’d have the new bodyguard.
In no time, the three of us were busy with emails and text messages. I didn’t pay attention as Deloris and Nox discussed business. Their speaking of names I didn’t recognize and exchanging looks became the background to my own thoughts.
I had a few text messages from Chelsea. The doctors were letting her out of the hospital in the morning. She planned to spend some time with her mother before moving to New York. I’d already informed Deloris of her plans. After Chelsea packed a suitcase for her visit with her mother, Deloris had movers ready to bring everything else to my apartment near the campus. Apparently, that was the destination of everything except my personal items. Those were going to Nox’s apartment—our apartment.
Living with him without being required to do so made me happy. I wanted to wake up in his arms and fall asleep listening to him breathe. The idea of settling into a routine with the handsome man beside me excited me more now that I knew Infidelity wasn’t party to it.
I didn’t like that I was relying on him for my expenses, but he assured me it was what he wanted to do. That made it better than him having to do it because of an agreement. Of course, it also meant that either of us could walk away at any moment.
It made it real.
I texted Chelsea back to let her know we arrived. There were four new text messages from Bryce. I decided to delete them without opening any. I could read the first few words, but I chose not to. I’d made up my mind. I didn’t care what he said.
I also had one text message from my mother. It was from her, but not from her phone. I wouldn’t let myself think about that, about Alton and what she went through with that monster. I never understood why she put up with him or why she made me put up with him. Instead, I thought about seeing her without him.
Adelaide: “WILL ARRIVE BEFORE NOON. BRUNCH?”
I texted back to Jane’s phone.
Me: “YES. LET ME KNOW WHERE.”
Scrolling through my endless stream of emails, I found a few from my student counselor at Columbia. One gave a breakdown of my impending schedule. My fingers trembled with excitement. This was happening, my dream—and my fairytale. When I mentally added the last part of my thought, a silly grin graced my lips, and I caught a quick glance of the handsome man beside me.
I was busy pulling up the attachments and making notes when I looked up and realized we weren’t in Manhattan. We were traveling too fast and too far.
I saw a sign for I-95 north just before the car slowed to exit the highway.
“Where are we? Where are we going?”
Nox looked up and reached for my hand. His furrowed brow and protruding neck muscles said more than his words. His comfortable demeanor from this morning and the plane were gone.
“I was trying to avoid this, but our trip made our relationship public quicker than I anticipated.”
The scenery around us changed quickly, from the interstate to a nice neighborhood of manicured lawns and large homes. The houses grew larger as we continued. There were now driveways blocked by iron gates. Every now and then, when a break in the trees and houses gave way, the glistening of blue water would catch my eye.
“Where are we?” I asked again.
“Rye, New York.”
“Rye? Westchester County? You were trying to avoid showing me your house?”
Nox took a deep breath and looked to Deloris, sitting across from us. “It is my house,” he explained. “But it’s also my family’s house.”
My heart beat faster. “Your family? I’m going to meet your family?”
I suddenly thought of Montague Manor and my attire. I’d only planned on traveling. I was wearing jeans and a comfortable flowing top. My hair was secured in a low side ponytail, and I wasn’t wearing much in the way of makeup. “Nox, I-I’m not dressed to meet your family.”
His serious expression shattered into a grin at my surge of panic. Tugging my hand to make me lean closer, he kissed me. “You’re beautiful. My father doesn’t deserve the grand treatment.”
My hand fell to his thigh, feeling the denim below my fingers. At least this time we were both dressed casually. “Your father,” I repeated. “Your mother?”
“Got tired of his shit a long time ago.”
“They’re divorced?” I thought she was gone, but then again, I didn’t really know. I tried to learn as much as I could. Shit! We were stopped at a gate. Why hadn’t he told me this sooner?
“They were,” he confirmed. “Unfortunately, when she finally found happiness, she became ill.”
The car stopped and I stared out at the front of the Demetri family home, a large modern stucco home with an ornate entry.
“She has passed,” Deloris offered, completing Nox’s brief explanation. “Lennox’s father, Oren Demetri, usually resides in London. He’s here, but will be leaving tomorrow.”
“He wants to meet you,” Nox added with an edge of apprehension.
Was this because I was seen with his son, or could he possible know what I’d done with Infidelity?
Isaac opened the door, and I hesitated. “Should I be nervous?”
Nox squeezed my hand. “No. I’m not letting you out of my sight. Just ignore most of what he says. He can be… brash.”
We got out of the car and I fidgeted with my hair, waiting for Deloris, but she didn’t move. Isaac closed the door with her inside.
“Deloris isn’t coming?”
“No, Isaac will stay so he can drive us back to the city. Jerrod is taking her home.” Nox tugged my hand away from my hair. “Stop worrying. You look beautiful.”
“Back to the city? Tonight?”
Before he could answer my question, we both turned to the opening of the front door.
“Mr. Demetri,” the woman with a welcoming smile said. “It’s good to see you. Your father has been waiting.”
“Thank you, Silvia. California is a long way away.” He stopped before the woman. “Silvia, this is Alex Collins, my… girlfriend.”
I felt like a teenager the way that title made me smile.
“Alex, this is Silvia, the longtime property manager and all-around boss of this house.”
A bit of my nervousness waned at her welcoming manner.
“Miss Collins, it’s nice to meet you. I haven’t been here too long…” She winked. “…it’s not like I have stories of a teenage Lennox or anything.”
My brows went up. “Oh, Miss… Silvia, we do need to talk.”
“No, you don’t,” Nox said with a grin as we entered the stunning foyer.
Unlike the shadows of Montague Manor, everything about the house was open and bright. The classic architecture boasted bleached wooden floors, light beige walls, and white woodwork. Fresh flowers adorned the large oval table in the entry. Beyond, farther into the house, the glistening waters of Long Island Sound were visible through tall windows.
“This is beautiful,” I said, as much to Silvia as to Nox.
While he shrugged, Silvia smiled and replied, “Thank you. It’s usually pretty lonely here. It’s nice when people stay.”
I had the feeling that comment was meant more for Nox.
“Your father’s in his office. He’s on a call, but I’ll let you know as soon as he’s available.” She looked at me. “It’s nice to have you here. I can’t tell you how happy I am that Lennox brought someone here.”
I heard the unspoken part, the again. That didn’t mean I planned to recognize or vocalize it. Instead, I smiled and said, “Thank you. I apologize for not being more… presentable. We’ve been traveling.”
“Oh nonsense. This is Lennox’s home, not a formal occasion. You both are perfect. May I get you something, a drink after your travels?”
Nox pulled my hand toward the back of the house. “Some iced tea would be nice. First, I’m going to take Alex outside before the sun sets.”
“Your father…”
“Can wait,” Nox called over his shoulder.
I merely shrugged toward Silvia, my cheeks rising to expose my grin. Her smile was contagious. It seemed as if she genuinely adored Nox and might even approve of me. I couldn’t help but compare her friendly reception with that of the staff at Montague. Theirs would be so much different and impersonal—well, except for Jane.
“I like her,” I said as we stepped out through the glass door at the end of a long living room. My feet stopped at the magnificent view. “Wow.”
More words didn’t form as I took in his family’s backyard. We were standing on a block patio that led to and surrounded a lovely crystal-blue pool. Beside the pool was what appeared to be a pool house, made mostly of windows. Beyond the pool was an expanse of green grass, freshly mown with perfect stripes, alternating dark and light green. The lawn led down to the beach where a narrow strip of brown separated the green from the blue. The water sparkled with shimmers of the late-day sun. In the distance on the other side of the sound was what I believed to be New York. I tipped my head.
“Long Island,” Nox said, answering my unspoken question.
“This is so pretty. Why don’t you come here more often?”
“Let me take you down to the water.”
I held tightly to his hand as we crossed the lawn, my shoes sinking into the soft grass. “We’re putting footprints in the grass.”
His blue eyes narrowed. “We’re what?”
I looked behind us, seeing the crushed blades indicating our path. “We’re leaving footprints.”
Nox pulled my hand closer, causing me to bump against him. “You’re cute.” He kissed my forehead.
Small round bushes partially hid a short wrought-iron fence. Going to the gate, he led me down a few steps until we were standing on the brown sand. Clusters of large rocks dotted the beach.
“There, princess, no more damage to the grass.”
I ignored his comment, let go of his hand, and reached for a small pebble. Throwing it into the water, I said, “Seriously, this place is beautiful. Do you not live here because of the commute?”
He walked out to one of the large rocks, climbed on top, and sat with his knees near his chest. Leaning back on his arms, he tipped his chin toward the water. It was his invitation for me to join him. The shoes I wore were flats, but their soles were hard. Worried that I might slip, I slid my feet out of them and with bare feet climbed next to him. Having spent the day absorbing the sun’s rays, the dark rock was warm under my touch.
“It holds memories,” he finally offered.
“Your mother?” I asked, placing my hand over his.
He nodded. “Yes. She loved this house. It was one of the few good things he ever did for her. He was hardly here, which made it better. When they divorced the house was hers. She left it to me. Now, whenever he returns, he insists on staying here.” Nox shrugged. “I’m not sure if he stays here out of guilt or what. All I know is that it’s better to have him here than in the city.”
“Did she remarry?” I asked, trying to avoid the multiple emotional landmines he’d dropped.
“No. The happiness she found wasn’t with someone; it was on her own. After living with him for so long, she’d forgotten how to be her own person.” Nox turned his gaze from the water to me. “That’s why I want you to go to Columbia.”
My chest ached as my heart swelled. He’d thought about this. It wasn’t just saving me from Infidelity. He’d actually thought about my goals and dreams. “I-I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’re going to kick ass at Columbia like you did at Stanford. Say that when you’re done you won’t settle for anything but the best damn law firm out there. Or…”
“Or?”
“Or you could work for Demetri?”
I lifted my brows as I widened my eyes. “Mr. Demetri, I believe interviewing for a job as a lawyer is a bit premature.”
Our foreheads came together. “I think I’d like the idea of being your boss.”
“I thought you were, Mr. Demetri.”
His kiss was soft, more tender than usual. As our tongues found one another, Nox turned his hand and intertwined our fingers. It made me wonder if this house held other memories, ones of Jocelyn, ones he wasn’t ready to share.
We sat silently for a few minutes, enjoying the soft lap of the waves against the rocks and shore. Occasionally, a bird would swoop down, diving into the water and back out. It was amazing how peaceful it was. I loved the West Coast and the Pacific Ocean, but it was wild and untamed compared to the serenity of where we sat.
“Come on…” He stood, offering me his hand. “…let’s get this over with so we can go back to Manhattan.”
“You don’t want to spend the night?”
“Not with Oren here. Do you?”
I lifted my shoulders before jumping to the sand and picking up my shoes. “I wouldn’t mind, but I have a brunch date tomorrow.”
Nox stopped. “A date?”
“Not as in date. It’s my mother, and now I feel bad for not telling you. I didn’t know if I was ready for you to meet her or learn about my crazy family. But now that I’m here meeting your father, I’m embarrassed.”
He shook his head. “Don’t be. We wouldn’t be here if I could’ve avoided it.”
“Why would you have avoided it?”
“Because I told you I want to keep you safe and away from all things bad. Princess, I’m bad because I had the best teacher. My father is the devil incarnate. If he hadn’t learned about you from the media, I would’ve avoided this for at least a few months, until he was back in the US or we had to be in London.”
There were so many things in that statement, but the last one took my attention. “London. Nox, I can’t run off to London while I’m in school.”
“I just told you that my father is the devil, and you’re worried about missing classes. No wonder you graduated with honors.”
I kissed his cheek. “I know the devil. He isn’t your father. At the worst your father is a minion. I’ve got you beside me and Isaac somewhere in the shadows. I’m not worried.”