“Perri?” His voice was firm but gentle. “May I come in?”
“I . . . oh . . . I . . .” Grabbing her head, she slid down the wall.
“Perri . . .” Barrington was by her side in an instant. Gathering her limp frame, he carried her to the living room, gently placing her on the couch. “You got a migraine, don’t you?”
Too weak to respond, she could only close her eyes.
He felt her forehead, promising, “It’s all right, baby. I’m here now. I'll take care of you.”
She didn’t bother to put up a fight, and honestly she didn’t even want to. Perri desperately tried to make her eyes stay open but the pain was just too great to bear.
“Don’t, baby,” he soothed. Taking her hand within his, Barrington leaned down, lightly kissing her forehead. He took his time observing her from head to toe, lingering a little too long on the swell of her breast rising and falling with each breath she took, and damn him, he hardened instantly.
“Relax, sweet Perri. Close your eyes and sleep now.”
Perri was fully dressed but felt totally naked under his probing gaze. Too tired to struggle, she meant to tell him thank you. “Don’t leave me again,” she whispered. Please . . .” she drifted.
Barrington couldn’t help but smile, his heart warm. “I’m not going anywhere, baby,” he vowed. “I’ll be here when you wake up, I promise.” He sat with her, holding her hand until she was settled in a deep sleep. Then gently easing her hand from his, he went to the linen closet to get a blanket of some sort. All he found was the Afghan he’d given her almost two years ago. It was enough to take him back to a time when they were happy with each other.
Perri had seen the Afghan when they were window-shopping and Barrington had seen the longing in her eyes. Unable to resist it, he went back for it after taking her home and surprised her with it the following day. Smiling at the fond memory, Barrington strolled back to the living room and carefully laid the Afghan over a sound sleeping Perri. Taking a seat in the lazy boy across from her, he watched over her for the remainder of the time she slept, replaying all the times they’d shared together and envisioning the beginning of new times that he, Perri, and Imani would create together no sooner than she allowed him space back into her life and heart.
When Perri opened her eyes again, she saw Barrington sitting across from her, staring like he was just seeing her for the first time or something. She closed her eyes trying to recall when he'd even gotten there. Then it came back to her, the migraine, his stopping by unannounced, him picking her up, the couch, seeing his face, then . . . nothing . . . until this very moment.
“Feeling better?”
She opened her eyes and peered at his gorgeous face. He looked worried. She frowned. “I'm gonna be just fine,” she hoped that eased his concern.
“That's not what I asked.”
Perri wet her lips, her throat was getting sore and her mouth was dry as cotton. She tried to sit up straight but her head would not comply. Having no choice but to lie back down, her eyes involuntarily shut again.
“I guess I got my answer.” He knelt down beside her. “You need anything?”
“Water, please.”
“I should have thought of that.” He stood. “Be right back, baby.”
“Perri, are you still taking medication for those migraines?” he asked, returning with a glass of ice water with a straw stuck down inside it. He held the glass, and with his free hand, gently slipped it behind her neck and lifted her head to make it easier for her to drink the water.
Licking her lips, she allowed Barrington to guide her head back down on the throw pillows he'd no doubt propped underneath her head earlier. “No.”
“Okay,” he drawled out the word, “why not?”
“Didn't need to; before today, it'd been nearly two years since I last had one.”
Barrington lowered his eyes then met her gaze. “So, I helped bring this on?”
“That's not what I meant, Barrington.” She needed to sit up.
“Don't move,” he gently urged her back down. “I know you didn't mean it that way, baby. But obviously I'm causing you unnecessary stress, and for that, I'm sorry.”
“Apology accepted, though it's not necessary. It's not your fault if I allow myself to get worked up over nothing.”
“Perri, I don't wanna be the one to stress you out. I want to make you happy, only, it's not as simple as I first thought it might be,” he admitted.
“You're not stressing me out, baby.”
“I'm not making you happy, either.”
“It's not your job to make me happy. Happiness is a choice and I have to first decide that I'm gonna be happy, Barrington. That's not your problem to deal with, it's mine. And I will deal with it,” she promised.
“Why can't I be part of the solution? Let me help you, Perri.”
“You can't help me, Barrington. I need to work through this on my own.”
“No, Perri. We need to work through this together; we are both the reason there is an it to work through anyway. Just let me be here for you, help you sort through whatever it is you need to. I promise not to put more pressure on you.”
“I appreciate the offer, Barrington. Really, I do.”
“But?” he prompted.
Perri smiled and decided, “No buts.” Her heart warmed as a smile spread across his luscious lips, causing her to lick her lips, thinking of his sweet kisses.
“Girl, you better stop that if you don't want me to take advantage of your physical weakness at the moment,” he teased and then chuckled.
Perri tried to laugh but her head was not having it. “Don't make me laugh. It's too painful at the moment.”
“Sorry, baby. Just glad to see I can still make you laugh, though. It's been a minute, you know.”
“Yeah, I know. Too long,” she admitted.
There was a knock at the door.
“You expecting someone?” he asked.
“It's probably my sister dropping Imani off.” She tried to get up.
“Don't you move, Perri,” Barrington ordered for the third time. “I'll get it.”
“Perri—” Tyler stopped seeing a beautiful pair of yellow-green eyes that matched those of her niece. “Oh, you're not my sister.”
Barrington laughed. “No, I suppose I'm not.” He reached for his daughter. “Hey, baby, how's my Cupcake? Daddy missed you.” He kissed her soft cheek, inhaling her baby scent.
Tyler walked in, closing the door behind her. “I'm assuming you're Barrington.” She knew he was. Who didn't?
“I am.”
“I'm Tyler, Perri's little sister.” She held out her hand and they shook.
“A pleasure to meet you, Tyler,” he gingerly rubbed Imani's back. “Thanks for watching her for us and bringing her back home.”
“Not a problem.” Tyler smiled at the image of father doting over his daughter. She suddenly missed her own parents. “Where's Perri?”
“Lying on the couch, she doesn't feel well.”
Tyler immediately headed for the living room, “Perri?” She frowned when she saw how pitiful her sister looked. “What's wrong, honey?”
Perri tried to smile but it hurt too much. “Migraine,” she whispered.
“You're kidding me.” Tyler glared at Barrington and said to Perri, “It's been at least a good two years since you got one of those.” Looking back at her sister, she gently sat on the edge of the couch. “You want me to stay with you?”
“No, honey, I'm fine.”
Tyler frowned. “You're not fine, Perri, or you wouldn't be laid out on this couch looking like someone hit you over the head with a baseball bat.” She glared at Barrington again.
“Stop fussing over me, Tyler. It'll pass, it always does.”
“But you're not taking medication for it anymore, Perri, which means it won't go away quite so soon, if at all before noon tomorrow.”
“I hadn't thought about it like that.”
“Well, you should
. You need someone here with you, at least to watch Imani.”
“I can watch her.”
Perri and Tyler looked at Barrington, who was busy rocking Imani.
“She's almost sleep, anyway.”
“That's not necessary, Barrington.” Perri looked at her sister for backup. “Tyler can stay over; she already knows what to do should Imani need something over in the night.”
Barrington tried to hold his temper in check, “Perri, I'm capable of tending to my daughter's needs.” He glared at both the sisters. “And yours too.”
Perri knew that look on Tyler's face. She was about to go off on Barrington. She touched her arm, “It's all right, Tyler.” She tried to smile. “You go on home. We'll be fine.”
“But—”
“I'll call you if I need you,” Perri promised to cut off her forthcoming protest.
Knowing it was pointless to argue with her sister when her mind was made up, Tyler sighed exaggeratedly. “Okay, Perri.” She glanced at Barrington. “Only if you're sure you don't want me to stay over?”
“I want you to go home and call Madear. She's worried about me and you know how she can be at times like this.”
“Yeah,” Tyler chuckled, “all up in your business.” She laughed out loud.
“Exactly and you know I would laugh too, but my head, girl.”
“Enough said.” Tyler stood and leaned down, planting a kiss on her sister's forehead. “I love you, Perri. I'll let Madear know what's up. Call if you need me.” She stopped in front of Barrington, gazing down at her niece. “Auntie's leaving now, sweetie. I'll see you next week.” She bent to kiss her forehead.
Barrington opened the door for her while saying, “I'll take good care of them both.”
“You better,” she warned. Barrington nodded with a sheepish grin. Reading his mind, Tyler added, “Only the needs to get them through the night.”
They laughed.
“I'll be seeing you around then?” Tyler said, already outside the door.
“Count on it,” Barrington assured her.
“Good enough.” Tyler closed the door behind her.
Chapter Sixteen
“You did what?”
“Stop shouting, Perri, I'm standing right in front of you.”
“Yes, but you're not close enough for me to reach up and slap you.”
Barrington chuckled. “You need to go ahead and get dressed. My folks are expecting us in two hours, but I need to make a quick stop at the studio to pick up a rough draft of our next CD.”
She couldn't believe his nerve, acting like her going to meet his parents was the most normal thing in the world. Why would she want to meet his parents? All they probably wanted to do was rake her over the coals for not telling their precious son about his daughter, their granddaughter, in the first place.
Knowing exactly what dangerous path her mind had taken, he assured her, “They only want to meet you, Perri, talk to you. Get to know you, you know.”
“No, Barrington, I don't know. All I know is that you have no business making plans for me without my knowledge or consent.”
“Would you have given me permission had I asked?”
“No.” She wasn't gonna lie.
“That's exactly why I didn't bother to check with you first.”
“That's no excuse for roping me, backing me into a corner, and then watching me squirm.” she squinted, giving him the evil eye. “You're enjoying this.”
“I sure am.” Barrington chuckled. “Don't act like it's the end of the world, Perri. I mean, worse things have happened to you. You act like you're going to the whipping post or something.” He laughed when she rolled her eyes at him.
“That would depend on whose eyes you're looking through, now wouldn't it? Considering I can only look through my own eyes, the way I see it, you set me up. You know it. Admit it.”
But Barrington denied it, “I did not set you up, baby. What would be the purpose? Like it would accomplish anything other than making you even more guarded around me.” He shook his head ruefully. “No, Perri, you're wrong about this one. I know I'd be an absolute fool to risk setting you up and losing you for good.”
“Who told you, you even had me.” It wasn't a question.
He laughed. “Always the smart-mouth beauty,” he quipped. “I don't mind. I know I'm getting next to you when you continually deny it, but your body always lets me know exactly what time it is.” He smirked knowing she didn't like his observation one bit.
“And what time might that be, Barrington? No, wait,” she held up her hands to stave off his reply, “let me take a stab at the answer; it’s the time just before you seek the overbearing wolverines on me.”
That smart-ass comment irritated him. “My folks aren't like that,” he snapped at her. “You don't know them, Perri, so I'd appreciate you not judging them before you do.”
“And I'd appreciate you not trying to force feed them down my throat, or vice versa. But since it seems neither of us is getting what we want without a fuss, let's just shelve it for now.”
“Does that mean you're gonna go?” he asked full of hope.
“Like I really have much of a choice; I'm sure you've already bad-mouthed me to them enough and—”
“Hold up, baby,” Barrington raised an impatient hand at her. “I don't put my business in the street. I'm a grown man, capable of making my own decisions. I don't go running home to mommy and daddy when my life takes a sudden turn for the worse.” He wanted her to understand that right now. “You need to recognize, baby,” he said none too friendly.
“Is that a threat?” she asked, hoping it was just so she could justify not going.
“Call it what you will. The point is my folks just found out they have a granddaughter.” He shrugged. “Naturally, they want to meet her mother.”
“What did you tell them?”
“Just that you're going to be my wife,” he said with a wolfish grin he knew she would take exactly as he meant to make it sound, because it was the truth; Perri would be his wife soon.
“Please tell me it isn’t so? What did you go and do, Barrington?”
He laughed out loud. “Well, I did say exactly what I just told you I said to my parents.”
She glared at him. “What you did was lie to them.”
“It's not a lie, Perri.”
“What would you call it, Barrington?”
“Calling things that are not as though they were; it's called speaking it into existence.” He grinned at her.
Perri had to laugh because she could see he was clearly serious. However, she did inform him, “You can't go around claiming a woman who doesn't want you. Because if you saying something enough times makes me change my mind and fall into your arms, that Barrington, is called manipulation, pure and simple. And there's nothing spiritual about it, either, just in case you thought taking a spiritual principle and twisting it around to fit your need was okay.”
“You tell me that when you're saying, 'I do’ and you will I’m sure.”
“Whatever, Barrington,” she sailed right past him, went to her room, shut and locked the door. Hearing him chuckle all the way up the hall, she smiled.
***
Twenty minutes later, they were heading down the highway toward the studio.
“I'll be right back, baby.” Barrington hopped out the Escalade.
Perri reclined the seat and leaned her head back and, closing her eyes, she tried to ease her jittery nerves. It still ticked her off that Barrington would pull a number like this, so she knew to calm down before they got to his parents' home. One thing Madear taught them was common courtesy, and she hadn't planned on embarrassing herself with his parents and giving them any more ammunition to fire her way. She jumped, startled by a tap on the window, and quickly grew angry seeing the intruder's handsome face.
He pretended not to see the irritated look Perri tossed him. “Would you like to go inside with me,” Barrington offered when she rolled down the window.
>
She stared at him blankly. “Why?”
His response was a shrug and a, “Why not? Have you ever been inside a studio?”
“Not a music one,” she admitted, somewhat curious as to what it might be like.
Barrington reached inside, unlocked the door and held it open for her. “Come on, Perri, be my guest.” He grinned pleased that he’d found a place of common ground with her when she didn't refuse his invitation. He wanted to share every detail of his life with the woman he loved and it just made sense that music was where it should start since it made up the bulk of his life.
***
“That was interesting,” Perri told him, snapping her seat belt.
He looked at her. “I'm glad you enjoyed yourself.” Pulling back onto the highway, Barrington headed for his parents' home.
“Barrington?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Exactly where are we going?”
“To Huntersville, baby,” he said with a practiced calm, knowing her inquisition was coming.
“You're not from Huntersville?”
“No, as you already know I grew up in Chicago. That's where I, along with my family made our abode until after we dropped our second CD; after the tour ended, Crush and I decided to buy our folks a mansion wherever they wanted to live. They chose Huntersville to be close to my grandparents on Ma's side and also her two sisters who live there as well.”
“Hmm.” Perri considered that information. “So, why'd you decide to move to Charlotte?”
Barrington glanced at her before answering, trying to decipher if she were ready for the truth. He'd soon find out, he thought, then said, “After we'd been apart a year, I was still missing you so bad and still hoping that one day we'd meet again, maybe pick up where we left off. At the very least, I'd know where you were, hence, a greater chance at hearing it through grapevine if you ever decided to get married. That way I'd know where to show up and object to you marrying anyone other than . . . myself, of course.” He was shameless in his true confession. He stole a look at her, quickly turning his vision back to the road ahead. “You believe me?”
If I'd Only Known (Milan Women Series Book 1) Page 19
