I sat my wine glass aside and said, “I’ll take option number two.” It was the wine talking, but in the next instant his mouth covered mine and I felt his warm tongue slip into my mouth and knew that there was no going back.
Chapter Nine
~
I woke up the next morning in my new room, slightly disoriented but still lost in the afterglow of our lovemaking from the night before. I looked over to my left and then to my right - the bed was that big. It was empty too, other than me, void of a gorgeous, dark eyed man.
I sat up, stretched and reached for my phone. There were no missed calls, so Mom must have done okay during the night. I needed to start working on finding a facility for her to rehab in before she was ready for discharge. I had the day off today so I decided now was as good a time as any. First, I called the unit where she was admitted and asked to talk to her nurse.
“This is RN Bennett,” the pleasant female voice said.
“Hi, this is Holly Valentine. I was calling to check on my mother, Betty.”
“Yes, hello Holly. Mrs. Valentine’s medical condition is very much improved since her admission. The doctor ordered lab work on her last night and it came back much better than the first day she was here. Her blood glucose is back to normal and her vital signs are all good.”
“Is she giving you a hard time?” I asked.
The nurse laughed and said, “She’s a bit…obstinate.”
“Yes,” I agreed. “That she is. Do you have any idea when she may be ready for discharge?”
“So far, the plan is for tomorrow,” the nurse told me. That meant I better get busy. If she went home before rehab, chances are she would go on a bender and she’d refuse to go…until the next time.
I thanked the nurse and told her I’d be by later but I was available by phone. Then I called the social worker, Bridgette.
“Hi Bridgette, this is Holly Valentine.”
“Yes, hello, Holly. I just came from seeing your mother a bit ago.”
“Her nurse says that physically she’s doing well. How is her mental health holding up?”
“Well, you know that the first couple of days sober are the hardest. She’s not happy, with any of us.”
I laughed and said, “Yes, I’m sure I’ll get an earful when I come down to see her in a bit. I was wondering if you may have a list of rehab facilities that I could pick up today.”
“Yes, absolutely. I’ll leave it with her nurse for you.” I thanked her and hung up. Now, I needed to search my new digs for some coffee. I made my way out to the kitchen and found a fresh-brewed pot. Aiden had scratched out a little note that said:
“My driver is available if you need to go anywhere or would like to get started moving your things over. I have meetings all day but will be home in time to have dinner. Think of what you might like and we’ll have it delivered in. Have a good day. P.S. the check is for your first week’s pay.”
I picked up the check. It had a lot of numbers on it. It was definitely more than I made at the cafe in a week, even if you counted my tips. I read the note again. The truth be told, I read it three times, looking for a sign that he enjoyed our night together as much as I did. It wasn’t there, and I told myself to stop looking for it. I was only going to make this harder on myself if I didn’t stop. I took my coffee and went out onto the expansive balcony. There were beautiful lounge chairs and two little bistro tables, but I stood against the wrought-iron railing instead and looked out over the city. I was on top of the world. I looked down towards the sidewalk and wondered how painful it was going to be to fall.
***
I spoke to the nurse and picked up the list of facilities before I went in to see Mom. She was sitting up in bed, watching Young and Restless when I walked in.
“There you are! I thought something had happened to you since you hadn’t been here for so long.”
Guilt trip, check. “Hi Mom,” I said, ignoring her remark. “How are you feeling?”
“Like I got hit by a truck. Please get me out of here, Holly, I need to go home and sleep in my own bed.”
I raised an eyebrow and said, “You’re not going home right away, Mom. Remember?”
“Oh, Holly. It’s out of my system now. That’s the hard part. I don’t need to sit in one of those fancy hospitals and listen to a bunch of fancy words. I know I need to stop drinking. I heard everything the doctor had to say about it.”
“I’m not taking you home,” I said.
“Holly…”
“No Mother, listen. I am not taking you home. I can’t force you to go to rehab, but I’m done with this. I am ready to have my own life and I can’t do that because I’m always trying to fix yours. So here’s the deal. You go to rehab and I will do everything I can do to make sure it all goes smoothly for you. I’ll hire someone while you’re gone to clean up and do all the repairs that the house needs and when you get out, I will still be around. If you refuse to go, then you walk out of here on your own and you stay on your own. I’m finished with all of this mother, I’m done.”
Mom looked shocked. It was the first time ever that I had threatened to walk away. I wasn’t just making threats either. I was ready to follow through on that promise. My mother looked like she believed it too. I expected tears or an argument so I was surprised when she simply said, “Okay.”
I waited for the rest. When it didn’t come I replied, “Good, okay. I’m going by the house today to pack you a bag. The nurse says you will likely be discharged tomorrow so I have to work fast. You behave okay?”
My mother smiled and said, “You forget which one of us is the mother.”
I bent and kissed her on the forehead and said, “Hopefully that will change soon.”
***
I had my mother’s things packed and the arrangements made for her rehab. Within a couple of hours after leaving the hospital. I was not surprised but definitely a little bit amazed at how much easier money made everything. The last time I’d tried to get my mother into rehab on only her Medicaid and most of them had turned us down flat. The one that would take her had a three month waiting list. This time when I was ready, willing and able to pay cash, my mother was suddenly more than welcome.
After that was all taken care of, I went by to see Joe. I went through the back and of course, found him in the kitchen.
“Hey Holly. Isn’t this your day off? You just can’t stay away from this place can you?”
I smiled, I really liked Joe. I was going to miss him. “Actually,” I told him. “I came by to give you my notice.”
He was holding a spatula and dropped it when I said that. He looked down at it for a second and then back up at me.
“Why? Did something happen? Is someone bothering you? If it’s about that drunk the other night, I won’t make you close up alone any longer. That was completely my fault.”
“No, Joe. Everything’s been great, and the obnoxious drunk was not your fault. I got another offer and it’s just a lot more money. I’m sorry. I love it here, I have been very happy.”
“Oh, well I guess you can’t pass that up. What will you be doing?” I knew he would ask and I also knew Rose and Myra would ask. I had a story ready.
“I’m going to be a personal assistant,” I told him.
“That’s cool,” he said. “I think you’ll be good at that, you’ve always been good with the details.”
“Thanks Joe and I’m sorry about leaving you. Hopefully you can find someone before my two weeks is up.”
“When do they want you to start the other job?” he asked.
“Right away, but I told them that I’d have to give you notice.”
“Nah, Rose and Myra and that new little waiter I hired as relief…what the hell is his name? Trent? Taylor?”
I laughed, “It’s Trenton.”
“Oh yeah, anyways, he’d love the hours and I think he’s pretty well trained by now.”
“Are you sure, Joe? I don’t want to leave you in a bind. You’ve been so g
ood to me.”
“Nah, I’m sure. We’ll be fine, and quit that lying. You know I haven’t been good to you at all. I’m an old grump.”
I hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, “You are an old grump, but I love you anyways.” He looked embarrassed, but he hugged me back. Rose and Myra were busy and I thought it would be better if I called them anyways. They’ll ask fewer questions on the phone. I wasn’t prepared to tell them just yet what I was really doing.
I stopped at the grocery store on my way back to the apartment. I got food to make dinner for Aiden and me. I liked to cook, and I wasn’t crazy about the idea of eating out every night. When I got back to the penthouse and stepped out of my cab, the first thing that happened was Aiden’s driver who was seated in the podium area got up and said, “Miss Valentine, you don’t have to pay for a cab. Mr. Scott left me here in case you needed anything. You just beat me out this morning. If that ever happens again, you are welcome to call me.”
“Oh, okay. I’m sorry I’m just so used to calling a cab. Old habits die hard.”
He laughed and said, “Yes ma’am. Just call me next time.”
I told him that I would, but the truth was, I didn’t want anyone who was connected to Aiden to know about my mother. I wasn’t ready for Aiden to know about her.
Once I got to the penthouse I unpacked my groceries and set everything up to start cooking dinner. I had the chicken browned and was just adding the vegetables to the wok when Aiden got home.
“Hi,” Aiden said, looking at me strangely when he came into the kitchen.
“Hey,” I said with a smile. “I hope you don’t mind that I’m using your kitchen, I’ll clean it all when I’m done.”
“Of course I don’t mind, Holly. I want you to think of this as your home as long as you’re here. But, you don’t have to do that. There are about a dozen restaurants around here that deliver and you can get good nutritious foods from most of them.”
“I know. I like to cook though. If I’m not going to be working I’ll have to find other ways to spend my time. I can’t just sit around.” Aiden smiled.
“Okay, you do as you like,” he said. “Do I have time for a shower before its ready?”
“Yep,” I told him. “It will be all set up when you get out.” I went about my cooking and setting the table, humming as I did. I was happy, for the first time in a really long time, I was truly happy. But that was a problem in itself, wasn’t it? I was setting myself up for how bad I was going to feel when this was all over. Lost in my own thoughts, I searched the kitchen for some simple water glasses. I found a lot of cups and wine glasses and champagne flutes, even juice glasses, but no water glasses anywhere. I opened the one cabinet that I hadn’t looked in yet and finally saw them there on the top shelf. I stood up on my tiptoes, but they were just out of my reach. I was just thinking that I was going to have to get a chair when I felt Aiden’s hand brush past mine and pull a glass off the shelf for me. As he reached up for a second one I could feel the heat from his body. He smelled clean and masculine from his shower and whatever he’d put on afterwards. I was suddenly intoxicated by it.
I lowered myself down off my toes and looked at him. He’d dressed in a casual pair of Levi’s and a white long-sleeved cotton t-shirt. The white of the shirt really offset his dark hair, eyes and soft tan complexion. I felt myself flush with heat from my head to my toes and I could visualize throwing myself into his arms, kissing and hugging him as I feasted on his luscious lips. I didn’t do it though, I maintained my professionalism and after clearing the world’s largest lump from my throat, I said, “Dinner’s ready.”
“Do you want wine?” he asked.
“No, thank you. I’ll have water.” He waited for me to sit down and then he sat too.
“It smells great,” he said. “Looks good too.”
“It’s one of my…my favorites of the things I can cook,” I told him.
He took a bite and said, “Wow, great job, Holly. It’s delicious.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I said. We were both silent for the next several minutes as we ate. Aiden commented once more on how delicious it was as he dabbed at his mouth.
After we both finished, he actually helped me with kitchen clean-up duty and I put on a pot of coffee for myself and he took a beer out of the refrigerator. We both went out into the living room, and Aiden asked if I’d like to listen to some music.
“Sure,” I said.
He turned it on and a sweet old “oldies” tune began to waft out. He started to change it and I said, “Oh leave it there, please. My dad used to listen to these old songs while he worked in his garage. I love them.”
Aiden smiled and said, “Me too.” We sat silently, listening for a minute and he surprised me when he broke the silence by saying, “I think we have a lot in common.”
“Sure we do,” I said. “We’re both millionaire mogul CEO’s and we both own swanky penthouses and our very own limousine.”
Aiden laughed and said, “I didn’t say we had everything in common. I haven’t always been what you call a “millionaire mogul” you know.” He had laughed, but he almost sounded offended, as if that was all I thought of him.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to offend you. Of course I know there’s a lot more to you than that.”
He smiled again and said, “You didn’t offend me, Holly. I do get tired of the labels that we attach to people. Now, I’m the millionaire mogul and people bow at my feet. When I was a teenager I had different labels. I was the “bookworm,” I was “the nerd.” It’s amazing how money can change people’s perceptions of you, and themselves.”
I was staring at him, gaping I suppose. Finally he said, “What?”
“I’m sorry; I just can’t picture you as a nerd. Being smart is usually one of the qualities so yes, I see that…but you’re much too attractive to be a nerd.”
He laughed and I think I blushed. I’m not sure what I’d meant to say, but it wasn’t that. “Well, thank you for that. Sometimes I still feel him in there, that nerdy kid who everyone picked on and made fun of trying to get out. What label did you have in high school, Holly?”
“I don’t think I had one,” I lied. I was one of the outcasts, one of the groups of kids whose home life was so miserable that they were practically invisible anywhere else they went, because that was easier than making friends and then telling them they can’t come to your house, or no, your mother couldn’t drive them home from school.
I could feel Aiden scrutinizing me, but he let it go. He turned to another subject, “Tell me why a beautiful woman like you is still single, and why such an obviously intelligent woman is working at a dead end job.”
My stomach lurched a little. I didn’t want to talk about all of that with him. What difference would it make in the long run? “I just haven’t found the right man yet,” I said. “And I was actually saving for college,” I lied. “I’m going to get there soon. Maybe that’s what I’ll do with the money that you’re paying me.”
He reached out and touched my face sending tiny little chills running down my arms. Then he said, “I think there’s a great deal about you that I have yet to discover.” I wondered if that was just an abstract statement, or if that meant he really wanted to know me. He answered that question with his next one, “What was it your father was tinkering on in the garage when he listened to his oldies?”
An Heir At Any Price: The Billionaire's Obsession - Contemporary Romance Page 7
