“I spoke to him before he left. I’ll have to call him. This week has been nuts.”
Sophie linked an arm with Connor and guided him farther into the house. “All my boys are here except Andrew. He’s still down in Florida because Helene has an exam. He said we could call him if we need him to chime in.”
“No, don’t bother him.”
“Okay. Then I thought we’d talk before we eat.”
“Sounds good,” Connor said despite the audible rumble in his stomach. At nearly seven feet, his body required regular fueling.
Sophie chuckled. “We’ll make it quick.”
As they entered the living room, conversations stopped and all eyes turned toward them. Grant was the first to walk over with a sleeping Sean bundled tightly against him in a baby carrier. He gave Connor a warm back-thumping hug for a greeting. I taught him that . . . well, without the baby between us. When they stepped back he studied Connor’s face for a moment before saying, “I’m always here for you, Connor. Whatever’s going on, I should have been your first call.”
Connor took a moment to appreciate the perfection of his nephew’s sleeping face, then shrugged. “I would have called you, but it’s about a woman.”
Asher, the eldest Barrington son and the one everyone called “the hammer” joined them with a huge smile on his face. “That was some serious shade. Granted, deserved, but must still sting.” He shook Connor’s hand. “This is about a woman? It sounded more complicated when Mom described it.”
“It is complicated. Or I wouldn’t be here. I’ve never had problems knowing what to do with women,” Connor said.
Lance, the most easygoing of the Barrington boys, laughed as he joined the group. “No one can accuse you of having low self-esteem, Connor. Good to see you.”
Connor shook his hand and asked about his twin daughters. “How are Wendy and Laney?”
“Not much different than the last time you saw them,” Lance said with a huge smile. “I don’t know why we thought we should teach them to speak. All they do is talk now. And want to play dolls. Save me.”
Connor chuckled and felt his pants leg being tugged. Asher’s son, Joe, was nearly three and so damn adorable he’d be a heartbreaker for sure. Connor crouched down to greet him. “Hey Big Man, are you here to help me decide what to do?”
Joe threw himself into Connor’s arms and gave him a tight hug. “I go to preschool, Uncle Connor. I know everything.”
“I’m sure you do, Big Man.” After hugging him back, Connor pointed toward his shoulders. “Get on up there.”
Sitting on Connor’s shoulders was something Joe often asked to do. He was so light it was an easy request to grant. When Connor rose back to his full height, Joe clung to his head.
Child on board, Connor greeted Ian, Kade, Dax, and Clay.
Smiling in approval, Asher nodded toward his son. “If the topic isn’t appropriate for his ears he can have a snack with the cook, but he wanted to see you.”
“Did you, Big Man?” Connor asked the boy on his shoulders.
Joe ruffled his hair. “I missed you, Uncle Connor. Can we go fishing?”
“Next time I come up, how’s that?”
Joe stuck out his bottom lip. “Take me right now.”
Dale reprimanded him in that quiet tone of his. “Joseph Dale Barrington.” With Dale, a lecture wasn’t required and even at his young age Joe had already learned that.
“Sorry, Uncle Connor.”
“It’s okay, Big Man. If I could take you tonight, I would. First, I have to get some good advice, then I need to eat. When I get hungry I become a bear.” He hunched down a bit and made a growl. “And you don’t want that. I might accidentally eat you.”
“Noooooo.” Joe giggled and hung on tighter.
Asher stepped closer. “I have a feeling we’re not going to get much done with him in the conversation.” He held out his arms for his son. “Come on, Joe. The cook made you those little dinosaur sandwiches you like.”
It was enough to get Joe sliding off Connor and into his father’s arms. “I love dinosaurs.”
“We know,” Asher said lightly. To the room in general he said, “I’ll be right back.”
Sophie patted Connor’s arm. “Why don’t we all sit down? Are you thirsty? Can I get your anything?”
“I’m all set, thanks Sophie.” He settled on a couch and sat forward, hands between his knees as he planned what he’d say. Speaking had been a whole lot simpler when no one had paid much attention to what he was saying, and lately he’d gotten used to Claire dictating most things he said.
Asher returned before Connor had figured out what to say. He stood off to the side and looked Connor over. “I’m sorry, I have to say this. Do you ever look in the mirror and not recognize yourself?”
Connor straightened and flexed his shoulders. Then sighed. “All the time.”
“I almost miss the plaid shirts.”
“Me too. Every day.” Connor hadn’t meant to reveal as much, but the catch in his voice changed the expressions on the faces around him. Suddenly they looked concerned. He forced a smile. “I’m fine. That’s not what I’m here for.”
Clay pulled a chair closer. He was an interesting man. Difficult to like at first. Insanely rich. Rumor was he could buy and sell even the Barringtons without making a dent in his fortune. None of it he’d worked for. Dax, his best friend, said he became bored easily and warned Connor to not confuse any favors from him as proof that he cared. Outside of his wife and the Landon Veteran Foundation he’s established, there wasn’t much that moved Clay.
Connor had a different impression of him. He felt that Clay was a man without a family of his own, seeking connections, while fearing rejection. His indifference was too practiced. Under all that bravado and posturing, Connor was pretty sure there was a man whose feelings were hurt more often than people realized.
And he did care. Sure, he’d tossed money at Connor to “spit shine” him, but he’d also made trips to upper New York with his wife, Lexi. More than anyone else in the room, outside of Grant, Clay knew what Connor had left behind to join the Barrington family. He was the only one who understood that life before them hadn’t been bad at all. “Start at the beginning and tell us everything. And don’t leave out any part of what Ian’s friend Bradford has been doing for you. If it was big enough to bring him back from Bulgaria, consider me fascinated.”
“Me as well,” Ian said in a terse tone from beside Asher.
Asher frowned at his brother. “Ease up, Ian. There’s enough of Bradford to go around.”
Ian let out an audible breath, seemed to strive for patience, then said, “You wouldn’t be as calm if you knew Bradford’s area of expertise.”
“Which is?” Dale asked.
“Not my place to say,” Ian answered evasively. “But to be clear, Connor, you don’t bring a machine gun to a spitball fight.”
Connor raised both hands in protest. “Hey, I hear an insult in there and it’s not helpful.”
Grant stepped closer and gave Ian a stern look. “It’s not. Connor why don’t you do as Clay requested and just start at the beginning?”
The show of support from Grant brought the smile back to Connor’s face. Not all of the Barringtons were easy to get along with, but they were loyal. It had been impossible to stay annoyed with any of them once Connor had realized that. It was the reason he felt equally protective of them. Not just for Viviana, but because he valued his relationship with them.
With that, Connor settled back and began. “It all started when I went up to Reemsly Preparatory School to speak to the drama department. Claire usually writes my speeches and accompanies me to the venues. This time she couldn’t, and I didn’t want to go alone.”
“So you called Bradford,” Clay joked.
“I did,” Connor admitted with a shrug. “I knew he wouldn’t judge me, and like I said, I didn’t want to go alone. I’m not the person the public thinks I am. All I have to do is open my mouth and p
eople know it.”
“Hang on,” Ian said, leaning in. “You asked Bradford to hold your hand because you were afraid to speak without Claire? I don’t believe it. And I don’t believe he’d fly back for that. So why don’t you tell us what really happened?”
Asher jabbed Ian in the ribs. “I used to be the asshole of the family so I feel qualified to say you sound like one right now. I’ve seen Bradford and Connor together. They crack each other up.” His voice turned more sarcastic. “Don’t worry, Ian, Bradford can have more than one friend.”
“Shut the—” Ian didn’t finish because Dale cleared his throat. He started over. “Thank you, Asher, for that insight.” He turned to Connor. “Please, go on.”
Sophie stood and moved to sit next to Connor on the couch. “Ignore the sarcasm and focus on how they all came when they heard you needed them. Ian always sounds like this when he’s worried. He’ll feel better once he knows all the facts.”
Connor nodded in agreement. She was right. Ian was actually a lot of fun to be with since he’d met Claire, but when he was concerned about something he still sounded like he had a stick up his ass . . . or a silver spoon . . . Connor smiled, remembering a conversation he’d once had with his brother on the topic. It was impossible to be intimidated by Ian while wondering how much silverware he had stuck up his anus. “Okay, so back to Reemsly. After meeting with Bradford, I decided the best way to handle the school visit was take on Bradford’s badass personality so no one would ask me anything I couldn’t answer.” He schooled his expression to one similar to Bradford’s. Cold. Emotionless. Jaded.
Sophie clapped her hands together. “Those acting classes have really paid off. Wow. I wouldn’t mess with you.”
“Right?” Connor joked, giving in to a smile. “Anyway, you need to know that part because that’s who I was when I met Angelina Kroll.” He sighed at the simple pleasure of her name rolling off his tongue. After that, the entire story of their time together flowed. From his attraction to her, her insult, what he’d learned about her son, his realization that she was being nice to him only to gain access to the Barringtons, then how she’d been fired from a job that hadn’t been a healthy environment anyway. He also summarized what Bradford had said about Svete as well as his suggestion that Connor keep Angelina away from the situation. “I want to work with Bradford to nail Svete, but I don’t want to do anything that endangers this family. I want to call Angelina and tell her the man she met doesn’t even exist, but Claire has put so much work into making me into this man.” He hung his head. “I used to embarrass Viviana almost daily. I don’t want to go back to that. I like this woman, but I don’t need this to be about that. I just want to help her.”
Sophie took one of his hands in hers and gave it a squeeze. “Oh, Connor. You’ve never embarrassed any one of us.”
Asher interjected, “We can’t help him, Mom, if we’re not honest with him. There was the time he threw up all over the bathroom at Annie’s parents’ house. Then he lost Clay on a mountain. Am I the only one who remembers when he had sex with that princess in a hall closet at your Christmas fundraising ball without knowing who she was and almost had to marry her? I could go on, but—”
“We get it,” Ian cut in. “That’s not you now, Connor. We know that.”
Connor rubbed a hand over his face. “It is, though. Beneath this suit there’s a man who just wants a good beer and a bonfire. I still get stupid ideas all the time. The only difference is I don’t act on them anymore.”
Clay arched an eyebrow. “I believe that’s what’s called growing up, something I’ve been told many times to do myself. Don’t change who you are on the inside, Connor, but you were embarrassing your sister. I admire your desire not to. Do you want me to buy Reemsly and fire whoever this Svete guy is?”
For the first time, Dax interjected himself into the conversation. “Clay, you’re not buying a school Bradford thinks is being embezzled from. I don’t care how bored you are, being investigated by the IRS as well as the FBI won’t be entertaining.”
“I’m not bored,” Clay protested, turning to face his longtime friend. “Why do you always assume everything I do is due to that?”
“Because it usually is.” Dax folded his arms across his chest. Kenzi Barrington couldn’t have chosen better. Not many men could hold their own in a room of Barringtons, but Dax was a powerhouse in his own right. He loved his wife and her family, but he certainly wasn’t a pushover.
How he and Clay had become friends and remained close for so long was a mystery to Connor. They had very little in common. Dax was a self-made hardened businessman. Clay had been born with a trust fund the size of a small country’s economy.
They often bickered like an old married couple, but somehow it worked. Connor almost smiled as he imagined Dax’s expression if he’d shared that thought aloud.
Clay mirrored Dax’s stance in mockery. “Was. That’s not who I am anymore, either. Connor and I have that in common. We’ve both enjoyed prolonged bouts of immaturity and strive on a daily basis to leave that part of us behind.”
“Tell me more about this woman,” Sophie asked, bringing Connor’s attention back to her.
“She’s incredible. Very intelligent, but earnest too. I wasn’t upset when I realized why she was being so nice to me, because she really cares about that school. I didn’t see her son, but my guess is he’s a tiny thing . . . and shy. You’d really like Angelina, Sophie.”
Sophie smiled and gripped his hand again. “I’m sure I will. Now let’s see if we can unravel this. First, Bradford and whatever he’s doing at Reemsly. Ian, I want you to find out exactly what’s going on there and keep a lid on it. If this man, Svete, is really stealing money from the school I have no problem with exposing him so the law can deal with him, but don’t let Bradford get hurt in the process. I like that boy.”
“I can do that,” Ian said.
Sophie continued, “Clay, look me in the eye. Do you honestly want what’s best for Connor?”
“I do.” He looked intrigued.
“Great,” she said. “Then you are now officially Connor’s fairy godfather. Make sure he has everything he needs to make this happen.” I like the sound of that. Hope it includes my own jet.
No, I’m not into money, but come one, that would be cool.
“I don’t want to brag, but it’s a role I excel in.” Clay said with a smirk.
What? Really?
Sophie was just getting started. “Asher and Kade.” The two men stepped closer. “You are very different men, but each in wonderful ways. Asher, when you want something, you don’t let anyone’s opinion stand in your way of getting it. Connor could use a little of that mojo. Kade, you’re grounded and Asher needs that to balance him out. I don’t want to hear that Connor left her stranded in Paris.”
“One time, Mom,” Asher said in defense. When he saw the surprised expression on Connor’s face, he said, “It wasn’t as bad as it sounds.”
“Kade, you’ve been where Connor is—straddling two worlds. More than any of us, you could guide him through this. None of us wants to lose the old Connor. And Grant, you and I need to talk to Viviana. Her family is now our family, and they could no more embarrass me than any of my children could.”
Sean Sutton said, “You mean that.” There was wonder in his voice.
Sophie smiled across at him. “Of course I do. Sure your sons are rambunctious, but you’ve met mine, they’ve all had their moments.”
From beside the fireplace mantel, Lance protested, “Hey, let’s not clump all of us together.”
With an amused shake of her head, Sophie conceded, “Except Lance. He’s my sweet one.”
Grant stepped closer to his father-in-law and looked him over, then shook his head as if just realizing. “Sean, my mother’s a very wise woman. Let’s go get a beer tonight and talk.”
“I’d like that,” Sean said.
Connor rubbed the back of his neck and replayed everything Sophie had said. Fairy
Godfather Clay. Idea Asher with Kade to rein him in. It still wasn’t clear to Connor what Sophie was suggesting. “So, what do you want me to do?”
Ian clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Leave Svete to me.”
Asher waved a fist in the air. “I’ll mentor you in the fine art of being a badass who actually gets the woman.”
Kade rolled his eyes. “What did I agree to?”
Smiling, Clay said, “This actually sounds fun. With my money and your looks there’s no woman who will be able to resist you, Connor.”
“I don’t have a problem with—” Connor started to say but stopped when little Joe ran back into the room and tackled his leg. Professional linebackers couldn’t knock Connor from his feet, but he made a big show of toppling to the ground for Joe. The young child took a flying leap to tackle him. Connor caught him easily, but rolled with him, pretending the boy was besting him in a wrestling match.
At the noise, little Sean woke and was swept up into his grandmother’s embrace. Sophie soothed him, then smiled as he immediately fell back asleep in her arms.
Above the ongoing tussle, Connor heard Dax say, “You might want to work on that first.”
He would have stopped there, but without hesitation Asher said, “Are you kidding? This is part of what I love most about Connor. Get him, Joe.”
When Connor finally called truce, he was sitting up with Joe hanging off the back of his neck. They were both laughing. “I give up, Big Man. You win.”
Joe hugged him tightly then he ran over to his father. “Dad, did you see that? I won. I am the strongest man in the world.”
Asher picked up his son, propped him on his hip, and gave the side of his head a kiss. “You sure are.” With his free hand, he helped Connor back to his feet. “Angelina Sutton. It has a nice ring to it.”
Connor swallowed hard. “I didn’t say I wanted to marry her. I like her, but—”
Asher laughed. “Don’t worry, we’ve got this.”
It wasn’t the wrestling match that had Connor suddenly feeling unsteady on his feet. He’d come because he’d wanted to make sure he proceeded in a way that was best for his whole family. He felt like he’d stepped into some kind of romantic comedy that ends with the hero getting married.
Reluctantly Alpha (The Barrington Billionaires, Book 8) Page 8
