Affinity: A Salvation Society Novel

by Harlow Layne

  “It’s my sanctuary away from the chaos that’s this business. I should warn you, my dad is on his way over, and he’s . . . how should I say this?” His face screwed up, making him look cute. I knew I shouldn’t be thinking of him like that, but I couldn’t help it. He was the most attractive man I’d ever seen and even more so in person, and just because he was an asshole to me wasn’t going to change that. “Have you seen those shows about stage moms?” When I nodded, he continued. “He’s like that, but a thousand times worse. I thought you should know what’s about to fly through the door and rip us to shreds.”

  “I take it he’s not happy about gaining a daughter-in-law.” I bit my bottom lip, nervous now that I knew I was going to have to meet his dad.

  “That would be a negative.”

  The doorbell rang at that moment, causing my nerves to skyrocket. “Thanks for the warning. Maybe I can charm him?”

  “Doubtful,” he murmured as he turned to walk away.

  Following behind, I plastered on a smile and tried my best not to let my nerves show. Reeves had barely opened the door before his father pushed through. He glared down at me and then turned his harsh glare to Reeves. His face was red with anger. Even his ears were tinged pink.

  “So, this is the woman who’s going to ruin our lives.”

  Chapter Six

  Jenner

  I had a hate/hate relationship with my father. He’d been my manager since I was a child, controlling everything I did. He still tried to this day to keep me under his thumb, which is where our animosity stemmed from. While we didn’t get along, I hated lying to him, but he would do anything for the spotlight, and if he knew the details involving how Abbi and I got married, he’d blab to anyone who would listen.

  It sucked not being able to trust my dad.

  “We’re in love, so there will be no divorce,” I gritted through my teeth. He was making my hangover worse. If he didn’t have such a keen eye, I would have popped a few Advil to try and alleviate the pain, but I knew if he caught me, I’d get a lecture on my drinking. And he’d be right after last night.

  “I can’t believe you’d fall for some gold digger with big tits,” he spat. He sneered as he looked Abbi up and down.

  I felt violated on her behalf and stepped between them. I didn’t like the way his eyes raked over her every curve. I felt Abbi’s shaky hand ball up the back of my t-shirt, making me puff up my chest. I liked knowing that she looked to me to protect her.

  “How can you say that? She’s the furthest thing from a gold digger. You’ve been in the same room with her for all of five seconds and made the worst first impression a father-in-law could.” It made me wonder what Abbi’s parents were like. I really didn’t look forward to meeting them and hearing what they thought of me.

  My father looked shocked that I’d spoken back to him before he made his way into the living room and made himself comfortable on one of the couches. I was hoping he’d leave, but it looked like I wasn’t going to get my wish.

  With a sigh, I followed after him, wanting to get this over with. Abbi trailed behind with her hand still fisted in my shirt until I guided her onto the couch opposite my father and sat beside her. She shoved her hands underneath her thighs. Was she holding herself back from slapping my father? I didn’t blame her; I would have liked to have seen it. I only hoped that my dad didn’t insult her again.

  Placing my hand on her knee, I looked up to find my father glaring at us. His nostrils flared as he watched us. “When are you going to grow up? You’re thirty fucking years old and still acting like a dumb ass all because of your stupid floozy of an ex-wife.”

  I didn’t need dear old Dad to remind me about Poppy. The internet did a good enough job reminding me of all the mistakes I’d made since I found out my wife hadn’t been faithful for the entirety of our marriage and had become a drug addict.

  “Are you ever going to let me live that down?” I growled out. Leaning back, I stared out at the pool. What I wouldn’t give to do a few laps right now to burn away some of the frustration coursing through my body.

  “Not when you keep making mistakes. How could you get married to this . . . this—”

  “I’d shut your mouth right now if you know what’s good for you. That’s no way to speak to my wife and your daughter-in-law.”

  “You’re getting this annulled first thing tomorrow,” he ordered.

  “No can do,” I gritted out.

  “Did you knock her up? Is that why you got married? If that’s the case, I’ll pay for the abortion myself.”

  Abbi tensed beside me and slowly turned to look at me. The look on her face was one of shock and disbelief. I couldn’t believe those words had come out of my father’s mouth. I started to say something, but Abbi beat me to it.

  “For your information, I’m not knocked up, and while I’m sorry you’re not happy with our joyous news, I plan to make your son happy for a very long time.”

  Damn, Abbi was a good actor. I actually believed her for a second.

  If you counted three hundred and sixty-five days as a long time. It made me wonder if there was a countdown app I could install on my phone for the day when I’d be rid of her.

  I stood with my arm extended as an invitation for him to leave. “Now that you’ve met Abbi, it’s time for you to go. We’ve got some celebrating to do if you know what I mean.” I waggled my eyebrows as I started toward the front door.

  Without even a goodbye, my father left, slamming the front door behind him. I wanted a beer and to chill out, but I knew that wasn’t an option, so I made my way back into the living room.

  “I’m sorry about my father. I tried to warn you, but I don’t think any amount of warning would have prepared you for him.”

  “You’re right. There’s not.” She still looked like she was in shock from her encounter with dear old dad.

  Holding out my hand, I helped Abbi up. “Would you like a tour of the house?” How did she smell like the most amazing dessert? I swear it was to disarm me.

  “That would be nice. As I said before, your house is beautiful.” She bit her bottom lip, making my dick twitch. How could something so innocent be so sexy?

  “This is the living room,” I walked a few steps before I turned to her. “And this is the kitchen and dining room.” I let her follow me outside, where I pointed to the outdoor kitchen. “Barbeque. There are plenty of places to sit and relax. I hope you know how to swim.” I winked at her as we moved along the side of the house.

  “You have Koi.” Abbi looked down at them in their little pond. “This is really peaceful. If I was you, I’d never want to leave.”

  Most days, I didn’t.

  Walking around the Koi pond with a waterfall, I stepped onto the patio and inside my bedroom. “This is the master, and around there is the bathroom.” My bathroom sat on the other side of the fireplace and had a long tub where I could sit and relax while listening to the waterfall outside.

  “Oh, wow, Reeves, this place is so calming.” Abbi eyed the room in wonder.

  I walked out of my bedroom and down the hall to stop in front of the bedroom she’d been in before. “Do you find your room satisfactory?” I felt bad that her bedroom didn’t have an opening to the backyard, but she could always go out through the living room.

  “Yes, thank you. It’s wonderful, and I love that it feels like I’m at the beach.” She walked inside and sat on the bed. Her hands trailed over the comforter as she stared up at the TV on the wall that showed a beach scene.

  I’d only been in the room once, and that was before it had been decorated. I didn’t care what the guest rooms looked like since I never had anyone stay at my house. Now I was glad I’d had my interior designer and that she’d done a good job in keeping it like the rest of the house.

  Abbi’s phone buzzed from the nightstand, and when she looked up at me with her wide, terrified eyes, all I wanted to do was run out of the room. She swore under her breath as she picked up the phone with shaky
hands and answered. “Paul?”

  Who the fuck was this Paul?

  “No, I’m not at my apartment. Are you there?” she asked hysterically while looking around the room as if she was looking for an escape. “You’re still in Virginia?” She couldn’t hide her apparent relief that whoever this Paul was, he wasn’t in California. “And you saw the news?”

  I continued to stand in the doorway and watch as Abbi nervously talked to this Paul. Why was I dying to know who he was? It wasn’t like this was a real marriage.

  “I met Reeves a month ago and . . . ”

  I could hear a shout of “Only a month?”

  Abbi chewed on the inside of her cheek as tears filled her eyes before she continued. “We hike on the same trail, and one day I twisted my ankle, and he came to help.” Her cheeks turned a dark pink as she pulled at the hem of her dress. “We wanted to keep our relationship quiet.” I heard a shout, but couldn’t make out the words. “I know it wasn’t quiet, and I’m sorry for not thinking of you when he asked me to marry him. I should have known you’d want to be there.” A tear slipped down her cheek as her chin trembled.

  “I’m sorry you had to hear about it on the news. I should have called you. Catherine . . . ”

  There was more shouting that I tuned out. My sole focus was on Abbi and the heartbreak that was written all over her face. Had she married me when she was in a relationship was some other man? Did she love him? I didn’t envy him when he found out that information.

  “I’ll see you next month.” There was a long pause before she quietly spoke. “I love you, too.” Abbi ended her call and then curled up on the bed, turning away from me. After a few moments, Abbi cleared her throat and shakily said. “I’d like a few moments alone if you don’t mind.”

  I guess I wouldn’t be finding out who Paul was anytime soon. Turning to walk out, I watched her swipe at a tear before I called over my shoulder.

  “I’ll be outside if you need me.”

  Chapter Seven

  Abbi

  When I heard Reeves close the door, a sob broke loose as Paul’s words continued on a loop in my head. Disappointment. I couldn’t get his voice out of my head and how disappointed he was in me. I knew Paul would be mad, but I had no idea he would be that mad. You’ve ruined your life.

  While I wasn’t happy with my newfound situation, I hadn’t ruined my life. I knew my life was going to change, although I had no idea how much. I knew women would hate me just like they hated any woman who snagged one of Hollywood’s hottest bachelors. But I still had my dream job, and that’s all that mattered. The worst part was I knew that in a year’s time, I would be disappointing my brother once again when I got divorced. He’d probably tell me he told me so and laugh in my face. No, he wouldn’t go that far, but it would feel like it. I hated that I’d let him down and lied to him.

  At least Reeves wasn’t all bad. He’d saved me at the hotel and stood up to his father for me. I hoped that man wouldn’t be making regular appearances around here because I wasn’t sure how I would put up with him.

  Once my tears dried up, I went into the bathroom and washed my face. When I spotted the shower, I wanted nothing more than to wash the day off of me and relax, but I’d do that later. My stomach growled, making itself known. I hadn’t eaten all day, and now I was ravenous. Crying did that to a girl. I decided I’d go find Reeves and see if he was hungry, and then I could make us dinner.

  I didn’t see Reeves as I walked through the house, so I decided to search for him outside. I definitely wasn’t going to bother him if he was in his bedroom. God only knew what that man would be doing in there.

  I wasn’t sure I would have seen him if the back wall wasn’t lit. The place had multiple fire pits throughout the yard, making it feel nice and cozy. Reeves was at the back of the property lying on a couch and looking up at the night sky with the light of the firepit illuminating him. I hated to bother him, but I also wanted to eat, and this didn’t feel like my house yet, not that I was sure it ever would, so I didn’t want to start rummaging through his cabinets until I talked to him.

  “Reeves,” I quietly called out as I stopped a few feet away from him.

  Slowly turning his head to look at me, Reeves ran his hand over his face. “Yes, Abbi?”

  Clasping my hands in front of me, I wrung them together. “I was wondering if you were hungry. I could make something?” I wasn’t sure why I ended it with a question, but I did. Maybe it was because I was nervous after interrupting him when he’d looked so peaceful.

  Swinging his legs down, so his feet met the ground, Reeves sat up. His face shone of exhaustion as he looked up at me. “I don’t really feel like going out, so how about we order some takeout?”

  “We don’t have to do that. I can make something for us.” If I cooked, it would make the house seem more like home.

  Standing to his full height, he towered over me and clutched the back of his neck with his hand. “The thing is, I don’t have any food in the house.”

  “What?” My gaze locked on his. “How do you not have any food in your house?”

  He shrugged as he started inside. “I normally eat lunch on set and either pick something up or order something for dinner when I’m done for the day.”

  “What about breakfast?” I asked as I trailed along behind him until we were standing at the kitchen counter. It was a shame he didn’t use his beautiful kitchen with all its top of the line appliances.

  “Coffee” was his one-word answer.

  At least we had something in common.

  Reeves pulled out a pile of takeout menus and fanned them out on the counter. “Since it’s your first night here, I’ll let you have your pick.”

  The number of menus was overwhelming, and most of them were from fancy-ass restaurants that had long descriptions that I didn’t want to read. “Can we just order a pizza or something?”

  He looked up suddenly. “You eat carbs?”

  Of course, he was used to women who never ate real food.

  Throwing the menus back in a drawer, he didn’t bother to look up as he pulled out his phone and started pressing on the screen. “What kind of pizza do you want?”

  “Whatever you like. My only request is that it has to have pineapple on it.” I bit my lip as I tried to hold in my laughter at his pinched face. When he could only open and close his mouth, I finally burst out laughing. “I’m only kidding. Pineapple does not belong on pizza.”

  He slumped over on the counter as if it was a huge relief. “You had me worried there for a minute. I thought I was going to have to kick you out and then have to deal with Catherine.”

  “I wouldn’t blame you for a second. Once I have my car here, I’ll hit up the grocery store so I can make dinner from now on.”

  Reeves sat his phone down and scrutinized every inch of me before he opened his mouth. I watched as he slowly licked his kissable lower lip and spoke words that I couldn’t comprehend. I wanted to feel his mouth against mine. Shaking my head, I tried to concentrate on what he was saying.

  “If you make a list, I can have it delivered tomorrow. It would probably be wise if you stayed clear of the grocery store until another scandal hits or we go together. You don’t want the paparazzi to swarm you when you’re alone.”

  I hadn’t thought about that. “Thanks. Do you at least have something to drink in your fridge?”

  Turning around, he opened the door to reveal it full of water and beer bottles. I thought he wasn’t supposed to drink and wondered if he’d notice if I threw them all out.

  “Do you, by any chance, have any sweet tea?” I asked, unable to hide the hope in my voice.

  “This is all I got, but you can put it on your list.”

  When he pulled out a beer, I almost choked on my saliva. “Are you supposed to be drinking?” I asked hesitantly.

  Leaning his hip into the counter, Reeves ran a hand through his dark brown hair. “I’m not an alcoholic. Catherine made me go to rehab after I got a DUI,
but I can assure you it’s not a problem.”

  I wasn’t sure about that, but I had no right to argue with him.

  Spotting a notepad in the menu drawer, I grabbed it and started to make a list of the basics I would need. Reeves literally had no food in his kitchen. When he was off the phone, I asked, “How long have you lived here?”

  “I bought it after my divorce so . . . ” he hummed to himself, “a little over a year ago.”

  An entire year and his kitchen was still empty. It was definitely a bachelor pad, but it made me wonder how he lived like this. That was going to change now that I was here.

  “What are some of your favorite meals?” I was definitely planning some barbecues to utilize his outdoor kitchen. The best thing about living in LA was there was never really a winter, and I could grill all year round.

  He looked at me in contemplation. “I can’t remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal. I’ll eat anything you make for me, but if you really want to know, I love steak, burgers, whatever.” The more he talked, the more his eyes lit up with excitement.

  “I was thinking it would be nice to barbecue outside. Maybe tomorrow night we can do burgers, I can make potato salad, some grilled veggies, and corn on the cob.”

  I could almost see Reeves starting to drool as I said tomorrow night’s menu.

  “That would be great.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but his phone rang, letting him know the pizza delivery person was at the gate.

  “I’m going to go change before we eat if that’s okay.” I didn’t want to sit around in a dress while we ate pizza.

  “Sure, my house is your house now. Make yourself comfortable.” He smirked at me as he went to the front door to retrieve our dinner.

  I liked playful Reeves. It was much better than when he was being an asshole.

  Quickly, I changed into the only clean clothes left in my suitcase. They were what I had planned to wear on the ride home so I could be comfortable, but I knew I wasn’t going to roll out of the hotel with paparazzi taking my picture in a tank top and yoga pants.