by Cee, DW
It was too early to face Laney, but thankfully she arrived after Nick left.
“It’s the kind of welcome for someone who doesn’t call to let me know she’s coming.” I was still irritated by my morning interaction with her damn cousin.
“Um...you get up on the wrong side of the bed?” Laney giggled. “Nick didn’t do his job properly last night? Is he an under-performer?”
“What the hell makes you think Nicholas was here?” Shit! That was said too emphatically to sound nonchalant.
“Nicholas, huh? Is Nicholas Gerald what you yell out right at the point of climax?” Donovan was rubbing off on her. She was being smug!
“Impudent child!” I admonished, but laughed with her. “How was Switzerland?”
“Don’t know, but my fiancé was beautiful!”
Here it was...the fairy tale love story! “Please, spare me the details!”
“I think we skied once the entire time I was there. We didn’t leave the hotel room for three days straight. We only had to leave when housekeeping was absolutely necessary.”
“Damn you, Laney Reid! I told you I didn’t want any details!”
“Oh Auntie! Your nephew is the most romantic man. I am so in love with him.”
“Are you here to torture me with your gory tales of love and sex?” If I was irritated earlier, now, I was thoroughly pissed with her happy mood.
“I’m here to give you a gift!”
“And what are you gifting your dear old aunt?”
“There are two seats left on Grandfather’s plane bound for London in a few days. I’ve put your name and Nick’s name down for those empty seats.” This girl was smiling so much I thought her face would break.
“And why the hell would I go to London?”
“For many reasons...to see the sights, to get another Mr. Whippy cone, to buy more boxes of Flakes, to check in with your vendors, to help all of us move our stuff back home, because Nick will be there…”
“What the hell? You signed me up to be your mover?”
“Kind of? It’ll be fun! Have you ever been on my grandfather’s plane? Donovan says it’s the ultimate luxury. Plus, there’s a bunch of us going. We’ll have a great time!”
“Does Nick know he’s going?”
“He does. I just told him when I caught him leaving your building at a very early hour. Tsk-tsk! Keeping secrets from your niece? You know there are no secrets in the Reid-Taylor families.” There was the reason why she had that cat got the canary look since she arrived. “Care to share any details?”
“No! Now get out. I have added work because you’re forcing me to Europe as your hired hand.”
“Donovan will be thrilled with the news!”
“Whatever. Good-bye!” I literally pushed her out the door. She left with an even more self-satisfied smile.
London with Nick? Had potential.
December 5, 2013 NICK: Bee Lauren Taylor?
Just what I needed right before finals—to take days off from school and fly into London to help my brother move his family back home. I wouldn’t have been so irked about doing this had I not been told by a smiley-faced Laney that I was expected to be on the plane. She caught me red-handed leaving Bee’s place.
And what the hell was up with Bee the other morning? It was unlike her to be so emotional. Shit, I didn’t need emotional in a woman. I was young. I didn’t want marriage, I didn’t want kids—though I adored my niece and nephews. I wanted freedom for as long as possible. It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with Bee. She was fun, successful, carefree, and independent. These were all desirable traits in a woman. But I didn’t want a woman!
“Nick!” Max had to shake me awake from this hellish mood. “What are you daydreaming about?”
“Nothing!”
“I know who he was daydreaming about.” Laney had that creepy happy mug.
“Who?” Max asked.
“Why do we three end up together at lunch all the time? And what are you doing here at the hospital, Laney?”
“Dad’s seminar is being held in the hospital auditorium.”
“That must work really well for the chief to have his daughter in his class. Don’t your classmates accuse your father of favoritism? I hear you’re the star student there.”
“They would, Nicholas, if I wasn’t the freaking star student in every class!” My cousin and future brother-in-law laughed more at me, than at her statement. She and Bee must have talked because no one called me Nicholas, but Bee.
“I knew you’d be a pain in my ass once you got to med school,” I complained.
“Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed. Was the other side empty this morning? Is that why you’re so pissy?”
“You and Bee still seeing each other?” Max had his signature serious-with-a-hint-of-laughter face.
“They are!”
“Stop speaking for me. Go bug your fiancé.”
“My fiancé is busy trying to conquer this litigious world for the good of the Reid family.”
If Laney wasn’t my cousin, I would have had a choice word or two for her, but I let her snarky remark go. Her bubbly attitude irritated me.
“Are you and Jane coming with us today?” I asked Max, hoping I wouldn’t be stuck listening to Laney babble endlessly about her wedding.
“We are, but we’re not staying in London. We’re moving on to Florence looking for wedding locations.”
“You guys seriously thinking about getting married there?”
“If that is what my beautiful fiancée wants, that is what she’ll get. I don’t give a damn where we get married. I just want to be tied to your sister.” He had that same stupid grin as Laney.
“I’m outta here. You two are sickening to be around. I don’t think I can eat anymore of my lunch.”
“Aw come on, Nicholas. We’ll stop being so happy.” Laney cracked up as soon as she said this, and Max followed suit. I got up and left.
Bee Lauren Taylor. Shorter, heavier, and more opinionated than the women I prefer to date, but beautiful in her own right. She looked like a Taylor with the wavy brown hair and unusual colored eyes, but she had a flavor all her own.
Being a child of a young mother and an older father, Bee was raised to be independent and not a rule follower. She wasn’t necessarily a rule breaker, but she didn’t see the need to walk the same path as most women. Out of high school, she chose to go to design school rather than a traditional four-year university. She’d been working in the garment industry since she was sixteen and didn’t have any qualms about setting up her own studio and shop out of the loft she owned. I respected all she’d accomplished in her short almost thirty years of life. She was a hell of a woman!
But that didn’t make her the woman for me. I just wanted to have fun with her, and if she didn’t like where we were, which was nowhere, then even these casual meetings would have to end.
I packed a small duffle bag for this long weekend and chauffeured my sister, Max, Laney and Bee to the airport.
“Explain to me why I had to be a part of this trip?” I asked, still wondering how Bee and I ended up on this itinerary.
“Then, please explain to me, Laney Reid, how I ended up on this trip since I’m not a Reid and I’ve got more work than time to finish your gifts for the wedding!” I couldn’t tell whether Bee was pissed to be here or she was pissed with me for the way we ended the other day.
“You want to answer?” My sister turned it over to Laney.
“Nicholas.” Laney said this with her creepy smile. “Your mom asked for two more sets of hands to come and help with the twins. Your parents and Emily have been busily packing while Jake is wrapping up his work.”
“And?” Bee and I asked simultaneously.
“And since Jane and Max are going to be in Florence, and Donovan and I need to catch-up, you two have been selected to watch the twins.”
“What the hell?” We both yelled at Laney.
“Um...I think they need us to board the plane. Let’s talk more later.” Laney finished this sentence five feet away from us.
I was going to kill my cousin. She was now telling us that we were to babysit the entire weekend. I’d rather pack and move a grand piano, than take charge of those active toddlers. They would run me ragged.
“What’s going through your mind right now?” I asked Bee while taking her bag and carrying it up to the plane.
“I’m thinking Laney won’t live to see her fiancé in London in twelve hours.” Bee answered with an evil smile. I loved this side of Bee.
“And I’m thinking we’ve got to get her and Donovan back for tricking us into misery this weekend. Get on the plane. Let’s get drunk and come up with a plan or two to make them suffer,” I added.
Uncharacteristically, Bee grabbed my face and kissed me before we got on the plane. Up until now, we’d never even sat next to each other or admitted to anything but a casual acquaintance. However, this kiss was something else. “I love the way your devious mind works. Let’s give them hell, Nicholas!”
London with Bee? Why the hell not!
December 9, 2013 BEE: Tea with a Beau
“I can’t believe you left us with the twins and followed Max and Jane to Florence!” I yelled at Laney over the phone. “You four left in the middle of the night.”
“And I thought I was the drama queen.” Everyone was laughing at Laney’s statement and our predicament. “It wasn’t so dramatic or traumatic, Auntie. Jane needed help so I thought being the good cousin that I am, I should help her.”
“Nick and I are not happy with you.”
“Those twins are adorable! They’ll make you want to procreate once you get a taste of them.”
“You can consider your wedding gifts, destroyed. I will personally burn each and every present.”
“Just admit you love being with Nick. You’re welcome, Auntie. Good-bye.”
The laughter continued in the background as she hung up on me. I wouldn’t admit to it, but she wasn’t wrong on many counts. These twins did grow on me, and I did enjoy my time with Nick. I enjoyed watching him care for his niece and nephew. I didn’t realize he had such a paternal side to him.
“Did you chew her out?” Nick had James on his shoulder and Ellie trailing, begging for a plane ride.
“Me too, Nick. Me too!” she complained.
“It’s Uncle Nick, not Nick.”
“No! My Unca!”
“Why are you yelling at your niece?” I picked up Ellie and put her on my shoulders, instead.
“She won’t call me uncle. She’ll only call Donovan uncle, and he’s not even her uncle.”
“My Unca!” Ellie said while slapping the top of my head in glee.
“When do these kids go to bed?” Nick moaned.
Emily came into the playroom and giggled at the sight of us. “How about I take over and you both go enjoy yourselves?”
“Yes!” Nick didn’t hesitate handing James and Ellie over to their mother.
“More, Nick!” Ellie commanded.
“No, Brat!” Nick answered with a smile and a kiss to her nose. “Tomorrow.” Without a warning, Nick grabbed my hand and we were outside, loving the freedom. “Where to?”
“What time is it? There’s this fabulous tea I went to last time with Laney and her then boyfriend. You want to go with me?” This jerk hesitated in his answer and that pissed me off. I was here helping out his family, and he couldn’t even have a meal of my choice with me. “I tell you what. You go do whatever it is that you want to do and I’m going to tea by myself.” I didn’t wait for a response. I flagged down a cab and hopped in.
“You women are all a pain!” Nick grumbled, getting in the cab with me.
We had just ordered when I heard someone call my name with the most beautiful English accent. I didn’t know one syllable could sound so good.
“Michael!” I looked up in surprise. “Fancy meeting you here.” I stood up and gave him a hug.
“It’s nice to see you again.” He didn’t have that same fun-loving, happy-go-lucky feel about him this time. He was a bit austere and down.
“You need to smile more. It’s a more handsome look than the I-got-dumped-by-a-girl-many-moons-ago look you have plastered on your face.” The woman standing next to him howled in agreement.
“I’m Ruby Bennington.” She put out her hand. “I think you and I will get along splendidly.”
“I’m Bee Taylor and this is Nick Reid.” We all said our hellos. “I assume you’re the Ruby Laney drones on about all the time?”
“I am!” She was proud. “And I assume you are somehow related to that hottie fiancé of Laney’s?”
I laughed. Nick rolled his eyes. “He’s my nephew. Laney’s in Florence right now. Have you talked to her?”
“I actually saw her briefly, yesterday, along with her hottie fiancé, her cousin Jane, and Jane’s own hottie fiancé. You breed them gorgeous over in the States.”
“Nick, here, is Jane and Jake’s youngest brother.”
“Well, hello, Nick. I’m going to have to get to know the Reid and Taylor families better. I’m liking what I see.” This Ruby Bennington was a hoot and a holler. She was checking out (my?) man, up, down and around the corner.
“There are two more Davises to check out if you’re interested. One’s over in Rome and the other you can meet when you come to Laney’s wedding.” The three of us were still standing so I suggested we all sit before Nick got a neck cramp. “You here alone?”
“We are meeting a friend and a co-worker of his,” Ruby answered. “But I don’t see why we can’t join parties if you’re willing?”
I looked to Nick and he gave his curt nod. “How’d you see Laney?”
“She stopped by the house on her way to the airport.”
“Did you see her too?” I engaged Michael in our conversation.
“No. I was out,” was all he’d give me.
“Are you and Ruby coming to the wedding?”
Michael was quick to respond, “Probably not.”
Ruby was also quick to say, “Absolutely!”
Before I could say anymore, Nick asked Michael about his “line of work,” and I was purposely excluded.
“So Bee! I’m dying to see your clothing line. Laney wore every single one of your dresses and has shown me some of your lingerie. Where can I buy the Beeautiful collection?”
“It’s sold at…”
I was cut off by a bloody damn heart-stopping surprise. “BEE!”
Shit. What the hell was he doing in London? “Beau!”
December 12, 2013 NICK: Tea With Lil’ Beau?
“Bee and I were almost man and wife…” This Beau draped a possessive arm around Bee and gave her a creepy smile. “Isn’t that right, Beeautiful?”
To say Bee was caught off-guard would be like saying Jake likes Emily. At one point while this Beau went on and on about himself and what’d he’d been up to since he and Bee separated, I pushed Bee’s chin up to get her to close her mouth.
“What?” she whispered.
I whispered for her ears only, “You’re going to start drooling if you don’t close your mouth. How the hell did the two of you get along when you both talk so damn much? Does this guy ever shut up?”
Bee laughed aloud, which forced Beau to shut up. Thank God! “I don’t think we’ve met. Hi, I’m Bee Taylor,” she spoke to the pretty gal who sat at the other end of the six-top. I always liked the way Bee made everyone feel welcome. She was Miss Congeniality at her best.
“Hello.” The girl waved. “I’m Lily. Thank you for letting me join you in this wonderful tea.” She seemed nice enough.
“How do you and Beau know each other?” Bee kept her in the conversation.
Not surprisingly, Beau answered for her. “Lily is new to our company and we are here for a seminar. There are a few more of us, but only Lily was able to join u
s for tea.”
“So you two are not an item?” Ruby questioned.
“No. Not at all.” Beau said with another slimy look toward Bee. “We are co-workers, and since Lily paid for the taxi this morning, I thought I’d return the favor and treat her to tea.”
“Where are you from, Lily?”
“I grew up in Jersey, but I’m staying with my sister and her family in Los Angeles until I can find a place. Bee, you sound like you’re American as well.”
