Modern Arrangements Complete Trilogy (Modern Arrangements Trilogy Book 4)

by Sadie Grubor

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Lilli

  When I saw Aidan in only his pajama pants I couldn’t help but rake my eyes over him, a couple of times. He didn’t have a six pack or anything, but his stomach was flat and toned. The broadness of his bare chest and shoulders were enough to make a weaker woman faint. My body flushed just by simply looking at him.

  I felt like a complete idiot standing there half naked and wrapped around him. It was like I was groping him. When the situation we were in dawned on me, I blushed and felt my blush deepen as he took in my pajamas. Aidan moved in front of me, cutting me off from James, which was appreciated. I hurried to my room and threw myself onto the bed.

  The next morning both James and Aidan were gone. Once dressed, I headed over to finish up the God forsaken wedding things with Viola. I couldn’t wait till this was all over with.

  "Alright, so next we need to go over the seating chart…" I groaned internally when Viola pulled out the big white poster sized paper - again.

  "Viola, we’ve done the seating chart twice this week. What has changed that people need to be moved?"

  "We’re almost done. Let’s review it one more time before handing it over to the organizer." I took a deep breath and went over everything - again.

  "It’s getting late." Peaking toward Viola, hopefully she would agree and we could put all this away.

  "You’re right," she said, shocked by the hour.

  Victory!

  "How about you and Aidan eat dinner here tonight?" She smiled widely.

  Damn it!

  "I would have to talk to Aidan—"

  "I’ll handle it." Viola grabbed her cell phone, pressed a button and held it to her ear. "Liam, can you please have Aidan come home with you tonight. Lilli and he are having dinner with us this evening." "Uh huh." "Of course." "Good, don’t be too late." She hung up. "It’s all arranged."

  "Aidan agreed to–?"

  "Oh, dear, Liam will just bring Aidan here. He won’t tell his Aunt Viola no." She smiled and winked. Forcing a smile, we went back to the chart.

  Another hour of menus, lighting, music, among other things that have sentenced me to wedding hell, we were finally putting it all away. Viola poured us some wine as we talked about the foundation in one of the smaller sitting rooms of the house.

  "Viola, dear?"

  "In here," she called back. Liam and Aidan entered the room together. Liam walked over to Viola and kissed her.

  "Welcome home." She smiled broadly. "Dinner should be ready, shall we?" She motioned to leave the room. "Or do you need a few moments?"

  Liam looked to Aidan who shook his head.

  "No, I think we’re ready, sweetheart." Liam took Viola’s hand and led her to the dining room. Aidan and I followed.

  "How was your day?" Aidan's eyes held a bit of amusement.

  "Grueling," I cringed. "If I have to look at one more seating chart I may walk back to Maine."

  When he chuckled, Vi looked back to us and grinned. If only she knew what we were really talking about.

  Aidan’s hand was on my lower back as we entered the dining room. A tingling current passed through my clothes. Inhaling deeply, I tried to fight the shiver about to quake through me. He moved his hand to pull out my chair and I was finally able to release the breath I had been holding.

  We sat through the courses with general conversation. Aidan and Liam discussed AIS while Viola talked about the foundation. When the wedding was brought up, Aidan thankfully changed the subject. Sitting with dessert plates in front of us, Viola brought around a new topic for discussion.

  "So, where are you honeymooning?" She looked between us and sipped from her wine glass—the fourth.

  I dropped my fork on my plate and I heard Aidan clear his throat.

  "Um…we haven’t really talked about it, yet."

  "What?" Viola put her glass down roughly. "What do you mean you haven’t talked about it?"

  "We’ve both been kind of busy –"

  "And we really don’t need a honeymoon, Viola." I finished.

  "Don’t be ridiculous! Of course you do." She sat back with a determined look on her face. "Liam?" she placed one of her hands on top of his. "Do you remember our honeymoon?"

  "Of course, love." He grinned. "Ireland for two weeks and then the Island for two more. And, if I recall correctly, the last week at the Island was clothing optional." He winked and chuckled. Viola giggled.

  "Please don’t start," Aidan shook his head, horrified. I laughed and he scowled at me.

  "Sorry," I mumbled through more stifled laughs. He narrowed his eyes at me. "Oh come on, it’s funny."

  "No it’s not. It’s scarring me." A small smile started to form on his lips.

  Lips that suddenly looked more appealing than the lemon vanilla cheesecake sitting in front of me. The urge to wipe the cheesecake over his lips and climb in his lap to lick it off coursed through me.

  Whoa, there! I shook my head quickly and turned my attention back to Viola and Liam.

  "Oh Aidan, how do you think Maggie came to be, Immaculate Conception?" Liam chuckled.

  "I just don’t need to hear about it. By the way, when did you guys decide I was old enough to hear you talk like this? Because I want to renegotiate with whoever made that decision."

  I laughed again, this time at Aidan acting like the kid who caught their parents going at it.

  "Lighten up," Viola said as she took a sip from her glass. "I’m sure you can come back with a few stories when you return. In fact…I’ve got it! You guys can have the Island for two weeks after the wedding."

  "The Island?" I asked. Who the hell has an entire Island?

  "Yes, Aidan Sr. left it to us and I want you to use it for your honeymoon." She smiled. "Lilli, you will need to get packed before the wedding and I’ll have everything sent and ready for when you both arrive after the wedding."

  "Vi, I can’t just leave for two weeks without planning –" Aidan tried to argue.

  "Nonsense, Aidan," Liam interjected. "Things will be fine. You’ll have the satellite phone and internet while you are there. If necessary you can fly back but I don’t see why that would occur."

  "Umm –" My brow furrowed as I ran through good reasons to get us out of this.

  Aidan sighed. "Thank you, Viola, but –"

  "It’s settled, Aidan. It will be good for both of you to get some alone time together."

  The way she said alone time made me shift uncomfortably.

  "You both are always apart and that needs to change if you’re going to be together for four years," she lifted her glass to her mouth. I swear I heard her mumble, "or longer" before she took a sip.

  "I don’t think we’re getting out of this." Aidan leaned and whispered to me.

  All I could do was nod.

  We left from Viola and Liam’s in silence and remained that way the entire ride home. I didn’t want to think about a honeymoon because all I thought about was what’s supposed to happen on your honeymoon. I felt a little nervous he would expect it. I didn’t think it should happen but I also felt jilted because I wouldn’t have the experience other brides get on their wedding night. Not to mention that I had the urge to jump Aidan tonight right at Viola’s dining room table.

  Once we were in the apartment, Aidan headed to the large leather chair, plopped down and turned on the television. I went straight to the bar. Pouring a glass of wine, I also poured bourbon. I handed the bourbon to Aidan on my way to the couch.

  "Thanks," he paused. "How did you –?"

  "Aidan, how many times did you order those at the club? It wasn’t hard to figure out." Stretching out my tensed muscles, I smiled.

  "Yeah, but how did you know…I mean…why did you grab it for me?"

  I shrugged the best I could while half lying on the couch.

  "I figured you could use a drink as much I could after tonight’s dinner conversation." I giggled, thinking about his reaction to Viola and Liam’s indiscretions.

  "I’m not that
worked up over the honeymoon." He said with a grouchy tone.

  "I wasn’t talking about that," I said back in a teasing tone. "I was thinking about Viola talking about their honeymoon and –"

  "Ew…don’t you start too!" He laughed out. Turning my head, I saw him cringe at just the thought.

  "Oh, get over it. I say more power to them!" Raising my glass into the air, I took a large drink.

  "I guess," he mumbled.

  We sat in comfortable silence awhile just watching television. Aidan had shifted in his seat but I kept my eyes on the TV. One moment I blinked and the next, Aidan was next to me pouring more wine into my glass.

  "Thanks," I smiled.

  "No problem." He gave a lopsided grin.

  Our eyes met and for a brief moment, we lingered. Neither one of us wanting to be the first to look away. Heat flushed my face just before he broke the connection and walked away. I downed my wine quickly and excused myself to bed.

  Friday I woke up to banging on the apartment door and the buzzer going off over and over and over. Looking over to the clock, it was only five in the morning.

  "Ugh!" I groaned out and pulled myself out of bed.

  Halfway to the steps Aidan stepped out of his room only wearing a pair of dress pants, which were hanging low on his hips since they weren’t yet buttoned. I licked my lips taking in his fresh from the shower hair and the bareness of his chest. Pulling myself out of my lustful stare, the door buzzer went off again.

  "I got it." I yawned and headed down the stairs.

  His hand wrapped around my arm and pulled me back. Turning, I looked at him with confusion.

  "In that?" He motioned to my pajamas.

  "What’s wrong with me?" I looked down over my shorts and t-shirt. It was more coverage than the night James had showed up. Hell, it was just a simple black t-shirt and gray sweat shorts.

  "You should cover up."

  Shrugging off his tingling touch, I continued down the stairs.

  "You’re a dork." I said over my shoulder. Flipping the switch on the door monitor, I saw Phoebe’s face. "Oh God, make it go away!"

  "Who is it?" Aidan yelled from behind me.

  I looked back noticing that his pants were now buttoned and he had an undershirt on. His shirt was over his shoulders and left unbuttoned. Is it wrong to want to strip your fake fiancé and bounce on him like a pogo stick?

  "It’s Phoebe," I groaned at her arrival and my thoughts. Aidan chuckled as I pulled open the door. "Good morning, Phoebe," I mumbled as she danced into the room.

  "Good morning, sunshine," she practically sang. She looked at Aidan and stopped. "Well, hello there, handsome." She smiled sweetly. I rolled my eyes.

  "See, she knows how to greet me." He grinned.

  "Good, marry her." I mumbled and dragged my ass into the kitchen for coffee – a lot of coffee. Phoebe’s laugh rang out behind me.

  "Sorry, baby, you’re stuck with me." He entered the kitchen behind me.

  "Only for four years, then you are g-o-n-e, gone." I laughed. He didn’t.

  I turned around to gauge his expression; he stood half a foot away from me grinning. Leaning forward, he placed both hands on either side of me.

  "If I let you go." He said it with such a serious tone I shivered. I smacked his arm.

  "Shut up!" Shoving coffee at him, he took his mug and backed away. Turning back to the coffee machine, I prayed I could calm myself before I needed to do a panty change.

  Today was the rehearsal dinner, which was at the Carlyle on the Upper East Side of New York. It was a small dinner compared to the Iverson’s typical gatherings but, to me, seventy five people in a five star restaurant was a lot.

  Phoebe arrived early since she had a seven in the morning spa day planned for Viola, Maggie, Celia, Elora, and me. She needed two hours to prepare me for the spa. Preparing entailed me lying in bed and letting her do whatever while I dosed off.

  Half an hour before the car was going to arrive, I jumped in the shower and put on the totally clichéd Bride jogging suit Phoebe had set out. Hers, of course, said Maid of Honor and the rest said Bridesmaid, except for Viola’s, hers said Mother of the Groom.

  We arrived to the spa and were rushed into a private suite. Scowling at Phoebe for doing this, I found out it was Viola’s typical room. After apologizing to Phoebe, I just sighed and relaxed. Sitting around getting foot massages, Phoebe disappeared for a moment, emerging a few minutes later.

  "Lilli, I have a surprise for you…" she was practically doing a cheer. As I was about to reprimand her for the surprise, my mother stepped out from behind a curtain.

  "Mom?" Quickly standing, I froze in shock.

  "Hey, babe!" she moved quickly, throwing her arms around me.

  "Uh…hey" I looked at Phoebe with wide eyes. "I...uh…thought you couldn’t make it this weekend?"

  "Do you think I would miss my baby’s wedding day? Of course not." She kissed my cheek. "I can’t wait to meet the man who finally got that big heart of yours." She beamed. Internally, I groaned.

  "You mean with an iron clad contrac –" Lucky for me a spa worker appeared and interrupted Maggie’s comment. She called my name.

  "Miss Snowe?"

  "You know, what? Please, take my mother back first." I smiled apologetically.

  "Of course, whatever you prefer." She gave me an odd look and took my mother with her. Turning back to everyone, I got more strange looks.

  "Okay, listen. My mom has no idea about this ‘arrangement’. I thought I could just tell her the truth, but it seems she is all high off of true love and romance at the moment." I sighed loudly. "So, can you please not say anything to her? Atleast not today. I’ll tell her about it tonight after dinner."

  "Of course, dear," Viola leaned over and wrapped her arm around me. "Though, you need to tell Aidan before he makes a mistake when you introduce them."

  "Oh shit!" I went wide eyed again. "I didn’t even think of that. Viola, you’re brilliant. I’ll be right back." Grabbing my cell phone, I went into a small changing room.

  "What’s the matter, are you already sick of the spa?" he answered his phone laughing.

  "Oh, ha ha. No, I…uh…have a problem."

  "What’s wrong?" I couldn’t help but feel the warm fuzzies grow inside me at his genuine concern.

  "My mother’s here."

  There was a long silence.

  "O…kay?"

  "She doesn’t know…about the agreement." I bit my lip and waited.

  "I thought you called her about it?"

  "I tried to, but she is…well…remember how I told you my mother was kind of crazy, free spirited and wishy washy?"

  "Yeah."

  "Well, Mrs. Wishy Washy is on this big romance and true love kick right now. So when she said she couldn’t make it to the wedding I just let her believe what she wanted." I took a deep breath. "I swear, I’m going to tell her tonight after dinner when it’s just me and her. I just don’t want to embarrass her in front of anyone."

  "Ok." He said quickly.

  "That’s it, just okay? You aren’t pissed ‘cause I didn’t tell her?" I was a little surprised.

  "No, not really. It’s not a big deal. She should stay with us." He added.

  "W-what?" I choked. "No, I don’t think she should –"

  "Of course she should. Invite her or I’ll have Viola do it." He laughed and hung up.

  He was up to something. I just didn’t know what it was.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Aidan

  My day had been hell. First, I have to see Lilli in her barely-there pajamas this morning. Second, I got way too close to her this morning. The scent of her cherry and floral skin made me want to lift her on the counter and plow into her until the whole building heard her scream my name. I needed sex, I needed it soon and I wanted her. Not a good combination for me at the moment.

  Barely listening to another sales meeting drone on about figures, my phone lit with Lilli’s picture from her bachelorette party. Muting
my desk phone, I answered. Hearing about her situation with her mother was, at first, a little alarming, but the bastard in me slowly formed the perfect plan.

  It was too good to be true, so I had to be careful, very careful. If things worked in my favor, then not only would Lilli have to play along with my advances, but she would end up in my bed.

  With the rehearsal dinner tonight, and the prospect of Lilli in my arms all night, I arrived the apartment by two o’clock, after I made an important phone call to check on some arrangements. We had to be at the pier by four with dinner plans starting at six. However, Viola wanted us there by five thirty. When I got home I could hear Lilli and Phoebe arguing in her room about the dress she wanted her to wear.

  Chuckling, I went to my room to get dressed and was completely caught off guard when I saw a dark gray suit laid out on my bed. Had my future wife laid out my clothes for me? My wonderings were interrupted by a knock at my bedroom door.

  "Yeah?" I walked toward the door. Before I could open it, she answered from the other side.

  "Put the suit on. Don’t question me like your fiancée." Phoebe yelled. I shook my head. Well, that answered that question.

  "Aye, aye Phoebe." First, I needed to shower.

  An hour later, I walked out of my room and was met by voices downstairs.

  "Oh, babe, you look so beautiful." The voice was unfamiliar.

  "Thank you, mom." Yes, the mother was here.

  "Well, this must be Sarah?" I said it a little too enthusiastically. Lilli eyed me curiously. So did Phoebe.

  "Yes, I am. You must be Aidan?" She eyed me up and down.

  "It’s great to finally meet you." She wrapped her arms around me and hugged me.

  "Lilli, you didn’t tell me he was so handsome." Lilli rolled her eyes.

  "Please, don’t. You’ll just make his head bigger than it already is." Lilli smirked.

  So she wants to play. Hmmm.

  When Sarah pulled away from me, I walked over to Lilli and snaked my arm around her waist pulling her toward me. I planned to kiss her but her hands went to my chest and she pulled her head back.

  "What are you doing?" She looked at me with wide eyes. I swear Phoebe awed.

  "Kissing my fiancée." I grinned widely.