Grabbing a jug of coffee, I pour myself some as a distraction. I don’t even search for the cream because doing so would mean looking around and risking catching eyes with the sea of men I find around me.
“I hope you will all take the responsibility seriously,” Roderick eventually says.
“I’m up for that,” Antony says.
“Me too,” Elliot follows. There are more agreeable murmurs and I swear my face is so hot it might melt. So much for the shower. My armpits are almost dripping with sweat.
“Thank you, everyone,” my mom says. “We are both very happy to be here and we hope that the transition from an eleven-person all-male family to a thirteen person mixed family won’t be too challenging for anyone.”
“As long as no one moans about the toilet seat, we should be fine,” Ford laughs.
There are groans all round. “Dude, you still doing that shit?” Grant says disapprovingly. “Don’t you know that a flush with the lid up spreads piss and shit all over the place.”
I scrunch my face at the thought.
“Are you boys seriously engaging in toilet talk at the breakfast table,” Roderick says, looking disgusted. “I thought I knocked that out of you years ago.”
“It was Ford,” a voice says. I look across and see Antony’s twin, Aaron, who’s sitting directly next to his father. There’s nothing worse than a tattle-tail, especially a grown man one. I narrow my eyes at him and he catches me, responding with a smug expression as he crosses his arms defiantly.
Seriously, is he really that guy. I may have had reservations about this plan without really knowing any of the brothers, but Aaron is the first one I’ve met who I actually don’t like. Guess there are only nine contenders, I think, and laugh to myself and the ridiculousness of my train of thought.
“Glad to see you’re amused,” another voice says. I look up and I’m not sure who it is. Blake or Barret.
“He’s Blake,” Barret says.
“Maybe you could all wear name badges for a bit,” I say and there is another rumble of laughter.
“Well, this is all very nice.” Roderick says, not really sounding like he means it at all.
Then he picks up a little bell that’s resting next to his coffee cup and rings it. I feel as though I’ve entered another century.
Almost immediately, the door to the kitchen opens and four wait staff enter, carrying silver trays of food. The smell is amazing. As they rest them on the table in front of us, I am blown away. Eggs, deliciously crispy bacon and hash browns. Waffles, pancakes and French toast. Fresh berries, yoghurt and granola. Toast piled high with real butter and various expensive looking preserves. Is this how they eat every day?
I’m going to be the size of a house if I’m constantly presented with this much choice. I don’t even know where to start.
“This is a weekend tradition,” Elliot says as he reaches for the eggs. “We don’t all have to sit together for meals during the week.”
“If Dad has his way we would.” I don’t miss the edge of resentment in Grant’s voice. I’m starting to understand a bit clearer why he’s chosen to live so separately from his family.
“I’m glad,” I say. “I think my body will be craving a protein shake by the end of all this.”
“Plenty of protein here,” Ford says, forking a huge bunch of crispy bacon.
“Plenty of fat, too,” Elliot says. He’s more cautiously heaping scrambled eggs onto his plate, along with some seeded toast.
“Nothing wrong with curves on a woman,” Ford says, grinning at me like a Cheshire cat.
I roll my eyes and focus on sorting out a not-too-large plate. There is loud chatter and plenty of clinking of cutlery against plates. It’s an odd feeling to be part of this. In a way it shines a spot light on my life with mom and the solitariness of it. For a second I get an ache in my heart, thinking about how things will never be the same. I’ll never be her sole focus again, and I know I’m going to miss that mother-daughter time a lot. Now I’m a single fish in a very big pond filled with larger and more boisterous fish. I’m going to be lucky if I get noticed at all.
As everyone begins eating, there is a clink of knife on glass and the rooms chatter slows so that Roderick can speak.
He stands, looming large over the rest of us who are seated at the table, his grey hair and piercing blue eyes making him look severe. “My boys all know that I’m not a person to mince his words. I did not build McGregor Corps by compromising. I had a plan, and I followed it. I knocked any obstacles out of my way, and I paved the path to your prosperous futures by carrying out exactly what I knew would be in all of our best interests.”
He pauses, gazing over his offspring much like I imagine a shepherd would his sheep. There is ownership in that expression and it makes me feel seriously damn uncomfortable.
“I know that Laura is aware of the next stage of the plan and that this has happened in a rather unfortunate way.” He’s looking at me and I feel as though I might be sick. What is he trying to do? Humiliate me? This is mortifying. My mom looks over at me worriedly. I can tell she’s really uncomfortable about what’s happening. The boys all seem to be either looking at the table or looking at their father.
Grant’s hand finds mine under the table and he squeezes it gently.
“Don’t do this,” Grant says to his father. “It’s not the time or the place.”
“Don’t tell me what to do, Grant,” Roderick says menacingly. “Now Laura knows, there is no point in you all trying to win her over privately and individually. Laura, I offer you my ten sons and I hope you will consider them and consider what this offer will mean for your future.”
Elliot’s hand finds my knee under the table but even with his and Grant’s reassurance I still feel completely out of my depth.
“Laura?” Roderick says, as though he’s waiting for me to stand and deliver a grateful acceptance speech. I get a flash of me dressed in a red-carpet gown, holding a golden award. Ugh. I wonder if he has ever experienced anyone telling him no. Probably not.
“This isn’t the way to go about this,” Elliot tells his father. “You’re scaring the poor girl half to death.”
“She has already accepted your brother,” Roderick says. “Why should I assume that she will not accept the rest of you?”
“Because it’s weird,” Grant says. “Because Laura hasn’t grown up in this freak show of a family and has realistic expectations for her future which don’t include marrying more than one man.”
“Ah, so that’s what this is,” Roderick says. “You’ve claimed her and you want to keep her for yourself. Is that it?”
“I have not claimed her. She isn’t a prize or a trophy and we are not in some third world country where women are treated this way.”
Roderick goes to reply but instead it’s Aaron who speaks.
“Grant, you know why Dad wants it this way. One woman to keep us all together. If we all go and get married ourselves, we’ll have ten women to deal with. Ten small parts of the business. Ten reasons to fall out, and everything will be weaker as a result.”
“And you think we’re not going to fall out now? Look at us. This is a recipe for disaster.”
“You’re just slow to realize that this is for the best.” Aaron says. “You’re always the one who wants to be separate. Maybe you should just do what you always wanted to and leave. Get that vet job you’re always going on about with the filthy animals and leave the rest of us to get on with it.”
“Oh, you’d love that, wouldn’t you?” Grant says, shaking his head. “Look at you. On one hand you’re willing to go to these ridiculous lengths to keep the business together and on the other hand you’re the first to try and split up this family.”
“Is any of this necessary right now?” Elliot says. “To be frank, I feel like we are all displaying some very poor manners when it comes to our new guests.”
There is what feels like a ripple of silence, then Antony speaks.
“La
ura, I promise it isn’t always like this. Just know that we are all really happy you’re here, and whether you’re willing to consider this proposition or not, we’ll always be family.”
“Well said,” Donnie agrees. He smiles at me, dimples out in full force but I don’t really know how to react.
“I think we need to let Laura be,” another voice says. It’s Casey I think.
“Give her a chance to settle in,” Barrett says.
“Yeah, let’s all leave Grant to be her welcoming committee,” Aaron says. I don’t miss the sarcasm which feels a lot like malice in his voice.
Roderick’s face is almost as red as a tomato at this point. “You will take this seriously,” he booms. “You will all take this seriously.” His eyes are on Grant, fierce and unyielding but Grant doesn’t look away. This time, it’s me squeezing his hand for reassurance.
“We’re not living in India, you know. Arranged marriages are outdated,” Grant says.
“I would say, son, that it seems like you are appreciating the arrangement more than anyone else at this point in time.”
Grant goes to stand but I press down on his leg. I need him in the room as my strongest ally. There is no way I’m going to let him storm off. “What I do in the privacy of my own room is my business. Laura is not a brood mare. She’s an intelligent young woman who can make her own choices.”
“I’ve heard that she might be willing to choose Elliot, too,” Aaron says with a smirk.
I look at Elliot with a frown but he keeps looking at the plate in front of him. For fuck sake. We had a conversation about an hour ago and it’s already common knowledge. That is not how I operate or what I would expect of anyone else. I snatch my hand away from him beneath the table. There’s no way I’d consider such a snitch.
“Laura is free to do whatever she wants,” Grant says. His throat sounds tight and I feel terrible that he might be hurt by what he’s heard.
“So you say,” Roderick says.
I look at my food which has gone cold while all this has been going on. What looked so appetizing is now rubbery and stale. I take the napkin from my knee, take two blueberry muffins from the platter in front of me and wrap them carefully, then I stand.
“The first breakfast wasn’t exactly what I hoped it might be,” I say softly. I’m cold inside with a calm fury that I almost don’t recognize. “I’ll be leaving today. All of this has made it impossible for me to stay.” And with that I push my chair back and stride out of the room.
“Laura,” I hear my mom gasping. Another chair scrapes and I hear footsteps behind me but I don’t turn. I break into a hobbling jog, suffering the pain from my thigh because I don’t want to speak to anyone right now. I just need to get back to my room and start packing. I’ll call Danna. She’ll be able to put me up for a couple of nights while I sort myself out something more permanent.
I’m almost at my room when a strong hand grabs my elbow.
10
“Calm down, little lady,” Ford says as I spin around and try to pull out of his grasp.
“You need to leave me alone,” I hiss. “You all need to leave me alone.”
He puts his hands up defensively. “You don’t need to bark at me, sweetheart. I’m just here to make a suggestion that might be helpful.”
Helpful? Sure. I’m sure being a girl scout is the first thing on Ford’s mind. All his suggestive comments at breakfast are still at the forefront of my mind.
“Oh yeah. And what is that?” I say.
“I have this cabin about two hours from here. I was planning on heading up there now to spend the weekend, do some hiking, fishing, you know. . .chill.”
“And?”
“Why don’t you come? It would get you away from all this and maybe it would give you some time to work out how you feel about it all.”
Ah. . .my feelings are what Ford is worried about. Of course.
“Give you chance to try and get into my pants, you mean,” I snap, and he roars with laughter.
“I’m sure what’s in your pants is very nice, but I only like to fuck girls who are really into me and I don’t usually have to try very hard.”
Wow. This guy has a huge head to match his huge biceps. Arrogance is not an attractive quality in a man.
“I think I’ll pass,” I say. “I’m going to stay with my friend.”
Ford cocks his head to one side, and looks me up and down. “Well, you could do that but I’m sure that’s the first place Roderick will send a search party to. He’d never suspect you came with me after your little tantrum back there.”
“It was not a tantrum…it was…ahhh,” I hiss in frustration. “I am perfectly justified in being pissed off here. Can’t you see that?”
“I can, Laura. It’s why I’m here.” Ford holds up his big hands, his face now more serious than I’ve seen it. “Let me help you, okay. A couple of days away and you can work out what you want to do next.”
I look him over, mind scanning over my options. Maybe he’s right. Maybe going to Danna’s wouldn’t be the best idea. Mom will call her for sure and I don’t want to put her in an awkward position. I’m going to need her for sure when the weekends over.
But I’m reticent to go anywhere with this flirty, cocky man. I can already tell deep in my bones that Ford is trouble with a capital T, and I don’t need any more trouble in my life right now. Problem is that I’m already neck deep in trouble right here. Maybe I’m just going to have to accept Ford’s level of trouble to escape from this mansions-worth.
“You have to promise me that you’re just gonna leave me be,” I say.
He raises his eyebrows. “What kind of man do you think I am?” He shakes his head. “I can promise that, okay. I go there to get away from it all. I’m happy with my solitude. You can be happy with yours, but we need to hurry, before the cavalry start coming to drag you back into discussions.”
I know this is crazy but staying in this pink vomit room with Roderick breathing down my neck and Mom worrying all over me is definitely not an option and I don’t really feel like I can be honest with Danna about any of this. Not after I’ve been here for a day. I guess Ford’s cabin is my only option. I mentally promise to keep him at arms-length for the entire trip.
“Okay. I’ll be ready in five.”
I open the door to my room and start the process of gathering just enough for a rural weekend. Sturdy boots, jeans and a couple of shirts, slouchy stuff to wear in bed, a jacket and toiletries all packed into my knapsack. I grab my purse and cellphone charger and my laptop, too. We may be trying to escape but that doesn’t mean I want to be completely cut off from the world.
When I’m done, Ford is at the door with his own bag, looking even more rough and ready than he did minutes before.
“Gimme that,” he says, tugging my bag from me.
“Wow, a gentleman,” I joke and he scowls.
“Not really,” he says. “But I know how to look after a woman.”
I don’t miss the level of suggestion within that statement. I’m starting to wonder if there is something in the air in this place. It’s not normal to feel so much electricity for so many men at the same time. For the past few months I’ve struggled to feel any electricity for anyone.
“My truck’s outside,” he says as we start to descend the stairs. I hobble as fast as I can because I’m so desperate to avoid bumping into the rest of the McGregors. I’ll lump my mom into that group, too. She might have tried to stick up for me but in the end it’s all lip service. I know where she stands on this and it’s not really in my corner. Roderick is too important to her and too influential. Maybe dogmatic might be a better descriptor.
We’re just about to close the front door when there’s a shout from behind us.
Elliot
“Hey,” he calls. “Where are you going?”
“I’m taking her to the cabin,” Ford says.
“You’re leaving?” he asks me. I nod tersely, not trusting myself to speak to him afte
r he let me down so much.
“But you’re coming back?”
Ford nods and I’m grateful he’s taking over. “I’ll bring her back tomorrow night. Hopefully things will have calmed down a bit by then. I think Laura needs some time away from all of this crazy.”
Elliot nods, his eyes on me intently. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“You broke my trust,” I tell him. “You knew that it wasn’t the right thing to do but you told him anyway.”
He nods again. “It’s always been that way around here. Secrets aren’t accepted in this family, but I get why you’re upset and I’m sorry.”
As much as I want to stay angry with him, I understand where he’s coming from. I’ve been at this house for less than twenty-four hours but I’m pretty clear that it’s not a normal family. Roderick is like a puppet master and the boys have never known any difference. “I’ll be back tomorrow,” I say and he smiles a small smile. “Don’t tell Roderick or Mom, okay?”
Elliot looks reluctant but nods when I frown. He’s already betrayed my trust once. He better know that doing it again won’t be tolerated.
“See you later, bro,” Ford booms and starts striding down the stairs towards the biggest truck I’ve ever seen. I guess a big muscular man like Ford would look ridiculous in anything smaller. He opens the trunk and tosses our luggage inside. I make my way around to the passenger door and struggle to get inside, it’s so tall. Once I’m settled and Ford has belted himself in, he starts the noisy engine and we’re off.
The radio station is set to play country, which fits Ford down to the ground. It’s not something I’d choose to listen to but I still find myself humming along a little.
“So...” Ford says.
“Yeah?”
“Grant eh? He’d be the last of us that I would have bet on being your first.”
I snort. “He wasn’t my first, Ford.”
Ford chuckles. “Okay, woman of the world. I wasn’t suggesting Grant popped your cherry, although the thought is making me as horny as fuck.”
10 MEN: A MEGA MENAGE REVERSE HAREM ROMANCE (HUGE SERIES Book 7) Page 9
