by E. L. Todd
I touched my stomach when I felt a light pain. It shot through my side and directly in the center.
Cortland eyed me. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” The pain disappeared as soon as it came. “I’m fine.” I continued to eat my salad.
Cortland studied me before he turned back to his food. “I think I’m going to sell the house.”
That didn’t surprise me.
“I never want to live there again.”
“I understand.”
“Or maybe I’ll rent it out. I don’t know.”
“You could live with us forever,” I said with a smile.
“Is this Full House? I’m going to take care of your kids?” He had a faint smile on his lips. It wasn’t much, but it was an astounding improvement for him. For the past week, he was completely dead.
“You are their uncle.”
He finished his salad then moved to his sandwich. I noticed he was eating more than he usually did.
“Cortland, for what it’s worth, you’re such a great catch. Monnique is an idiot for letting you go. She’ll never find a man nearly as great as you, and she’ll regret the decision she made. I promise you that.”
He abandoned his sandwich, suddenly losing his appetite. “Scar, I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“There’s another reason why Monnique left. I guess I should tell you. Everyone knows but you, including Sean.”
That made my heart race.
“When we slept together a year ago, I…it meant something more to me than I let on. Somehow, I fell in love with you. But I knew how much you loved Sean. I didn’t have a chance with you, and if Sean was the man you wanted, I wouldn’t get in the way. When you got back together, I moved on. And when I saw Monnique, I never thought about you in the same way.”
His words winded me. This entire time, I thought he saw me as just a friend. I didn’t know how to process that.
“I hope this doesn’t change anything. It was a long time ago, and Sean doesn’t care. I told him a long time ago. But that’s why Monnique was so upset. She thinks she’s a rebound after you, that you’re the woman I really want and I settled for her. She couldn’t be more wrong, but she never believed me.”
I nodded. “I don’t know what to say…”
“I see you as nothing but an annoying sister,” he said. “Don’t worry about that.”
“I’m just surprised.”
“I hope we can move past it. I really need you right now…”
“Cortland, I’m not going anywhere. But I am caught off guard. Since Sean already knows and doesn’t care, there should be no problem between us. It was a long time ago. Let’s just forget about it.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“I’m still surprised she ended the relationship. Clearly, nothing would ever happen between us.”
He shrugged. “I got on my knees and begged her to stay with me. Believe me. I tried everything…”
I hated seeing the depression on his face. It was heartbreaking.
“She told me we could work it out under one condition.”
“What?” I asked.
“If I never see you again.” He didn’t look at me when he said it.
“And you refused?” I couldn’t believe he did that.
“I couldn’t cut you and Ryan out of my life. You’re my family. I hated losing Monnique but…I just couldn’t do it. I told her I shouldn’t have to choose.”
That hit me straight in the heart. “Cortland…”
“You know I love you guys. Everyone knows how much I love Monnique, but I couldn’t be with someone who would alienate me from my family. That isn’t the type of relationship I want. She should have just believed me when I told her, showed her, how much I loved her every single day of our relationship.” His eyes bubbled with moisture.
I rested my hand on top of his. “You’ll get through this.”
“Maybe…but it won’t be for a very, very long time.”
When I imagined losing Sean permanently, I understood the pain he spoke of. It was permanent, irrevocable.
10
Mike
I sat at a booth in the corner and waited for Cassandra to arrive. I wore dark jeans and a tight fitting gray t-shirt. I almost wore a suit but I didn’t want to be intimidating. She already knew I was a billionaire. I didn’t need to remind her.
I noticed her as soon as she walked inside. She was wearing skinny jeans, heels, and a teal blouse. It was loose around her body, but I could still spot every curve. A golden bracelet and matching earrings adorned her body. I noticed every feature and every mark.
When she spotted me, she walked to the booth. Her posture and stature were perfect. She carried herself like a lady. I was glad to see she wasn’t wearing a short dress or skirt. She respected her body. I could tell she wasn’t a slut and didn’t sleep around. That was good for me. I was looking for a keeper.
I stood up and greeted her. “Hey.” Every time I was around her, I was nervous. She made me crumble into an awkward loser. My usual suaveness and coolness was gone.
“Hi.” She sat down.
I moved across from her. We were only a foot away from each other and she was staring at me head on. I stared at her face, marveling at her beauty up close. She barely wore any makeup and she was still gorgeous. In fact, that made her hotter.
She held her confidence under my stare until she finally looked down and read the menu.
“What are you getting?” I asked.
“Long Island iced tea.”
“You like it strong?” I asked with a smile.
“If I wanted something strong, I’d order a scotch.”
“You like scotch?” I asked in surprise.
“Yes. Why is that surprising?”
I didn’t know any woman who drank scotch. “No reason.”
She leaned back, her back still perfectly straight.
“You look—nice. I like your top.” I was really bad at this. I wanted to compliment her without using words like ‘beautiful’ and ‘gorgeous’. She probably got compliments like that all the time. And I’m sure they got old.
“Thank you.” She eyed my shirt. “You look nice too.”
“Thank you.”
The waiter arrived and took our order. Cassandra was polite when she ordered. Even when the waiter repeated the order incorrectly, she was still graceful about it and patient. I liked that. I didn’t like it when people were rude to others. She was getting high marks in every category. After the drinks were brought, she sipped it then placed it on the coaster.
Now what do I say? I’ve never been on a real date. I always had one thing on my mind; getting into the girl’s pants. But now I was trying to get to know her and get a second date. That was way harder. “You are very…fit.” God, I sounded so stupid. I watched everything I said so my words were forced and unnatural.
“Thanks, I guess. I like working out. It helps me sleep at night.”
I wondered what her tattoo meant. But should I ask her? Would she be offended that I was staring at her and noticed it? I would just stay away from that topic. “Sean works out there too.”
“Yeah,” she said. “I saw him. He seems really excited about his baby.”
“Yeah.” I smiled. “We’re all excited about it.”
“Are you ready to be an uncle?”
“More than ready. I’m going to take them out for all the good things. They’ll hate Sean, but they’ll love me.”
She chuckled at my words.
I liked the sound. At least I made her laugh.
“Do you have any nieces or nephews?”
“I have two nieces,” she said with a smile. “Two and four. They are adorable but annoying.”
Now I laughed. “I’m glad I get to see the kids when I’m in the mood, and my brother has to deal with all the bad crap that comes with being a parent.”
“Does that mean you don’t want to be a parent yourself?”
“No, I do. I can’t wait to have kids.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Yeah. I love kids.”
She stirred her drink then sipped it.
“Why is that surprising?”
Cassandra shrugged. “You just don’t seem like the father type of guy.”
“Well, I am,” I said firmly.
She nodded but didn’t say anything else.
“I know I’m a little older but I do want to settle down and have kids.”
“Is that a line?” she blurted.
That stung. “No…I’m being genuine.”
She studied my face, searching for a lie.
“Look. This is how it is. My brother got married to this amazing girl. And I see how happy they are. I want that too. I’ve realized how stupid I’ve been and how much I’ve wasted my time. I want what they have. And that’s what I’m trying to do. I want the house with the white picket fence, the kids, the basketball hoop in front of the house, the whole nine yards.”
“So, when you asked me out on a date, you were being genuine?”
I nodded. “On scouts honor.”
“You were in the scouts?” she asked with a smile.
“Yep. Ten years.”
“Impressive.” She finished half her glass then put it down. I was impressed how well she handled her liquor.
“Where did you go to college?” She seemed more open now that she knew I wasn’t being a disgusting pig.
“A state school.”
“Were you born and raised in New York?”
“Yep.”
When I studied her face, I couldn’t determine how old she was. She looked younger than me but I couldn’t tell by how much. She could pull off any age with the right clothes. “May I ask how old you are?”
She smirked. “You should never ask a woman that.”
“I just want to make sure I’m not an ancient dinosaur in comparison.”
“Good response.” She rested her elbows on the table. “I’m twenty-seven.”
Good. She was only a few years younger than me. And if she was single, she probably wanted to settle down too. I wouldn’t have to worry about being played like a fool. “Do you ever want to get married?”
She shrugged. “I’m not sure yet.”
That was an odd response. “May I ask why?”
“Well, I’ve already been married.”
Oh. I guess I should have expected that. There was no way this gorgeous woman wasn’t claimed at one point in time. “I see. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
“Well, if it did we wouldn’t be here.” She was a very optimistic person.
“It sounds like the divorce wasn’t painful.”
“It was at the time. But when we were over, I let everything go. There’s no point in carrying the pain around forever. It’s not good for you.”
She had a good attitude. Now I was becoming smitten with her. “May I ask what happened?”
“He cheated on me.”
“Dumbass,” I blurted. I didn’t mean to curse in front of her. I tried to recover. “I’m sorry about the language.”
“Are you from the fifties?” she asked with a laugh. “If I drink scotch I can handle some bad words.”
God, she was cool. I smiled at her. “Well, I think your ex is a dumbass.”
“You hardly know me. I could be the wicked witch of the west.”
I shook my head. “You’re one of the most upbeat and nicest people I’ve ever met. I don’t need to spend a month with you to figure out you’re a catch. I can’t believe you even agreed to go out with me. You’re way out of my league.” I wasn’t feeding her lines. I really meant it.
Her eyes softened. “You’re the handsome billionaire.”
“Looks and money don’t mean much.” I learned that quickly.
Cassandra stared at me with a new look. “Your brother’s marriage really changed you, huh?”
I nodded. “It was revolutionary.”
“I’ve heard through the grapevine at work that you’re a huge player. But you don’t seem to be that way in real life.”
“No, those rumors are true. But I’m not the same man. My guy friends have serious girlfriends and they’re all really cool. I want that connection, that happiness. It’s hard to find cool girls though. You’re the first one I’ve found in a long time.”
“You think I’m cool?” She smiled.
“So far. I’d like another date to take a deeper look.”
She shrugged. “You might get one.”
I liked her playful attitude. “I guess I’ll wait in anticipation.”
“You will.”
“So, do you have any kids?”
“Nope.”
I nodded. That was good. I liked kids, but I didn’t want to be a stepdad. “Do you want me to beat up your ex for you?”
She laughed. “No. That wouldn’t even be a fair fight.”
“Because I’d demolish him?”
She nodded. “You’re very strong.”
“I work out hard.”
“I can tell.” She glanced at my chest then looked away.
“Are you flirting with me?”
She nodded her head but said, “No,” with a smile on her face.
God, she was cool.
We spent the evening talking about work, politics, and life living in the city. Not only was she beautiful, but she was smart and funny. If I were the man I used to be, I would picture her naked body and think about fucking her, but I didn’t do that once. I really liked this girl and couldn’t afford to fuck it up.
When we left the bar, we headed to the sidewalk.
“Can I take you home?” I asked.
“As long as you don’t expect to come inside.”
I smiled. “I’m a perfect gentleman.”
“Now you are,” she teased.
We walked to my Jaguar and I opened the door for her. She smiled in approval and got inside.
When I got into the driver’s seat, she eyed the leather interior and the radio. “Nice car.”
“Thanks. It’s my one luxury.”
“I like your brother’s car too.”
“Well, he let the money go to his head,” I said with a laugh.
“He’s still a sweetheart.”
“Why do you say that?” I asked.
“Because he loves his wife so much. He’s so obsessed with her. It’s cute.”
“You know, he used to be a piece of shit like me. Scarlet turned his life around.”
“Scarlet?”
“His wife.”
“That makes him sweeter.”
“Then I have a feeling you’re going to think I’m sweet.” I winked at her and pulled onto the road. I turned on my iPod and we listened to Coldplay. She whispered along to a few of the lyrics. She had good taste in music. She was getting golden stars in every category.
When we arrived at her apartment, I walked her to her door, my hands in my pockets.
She pulled her keys from her purse and gripped them in her hand. “So…my divorce doesn’t bother you?”
“No. Why would it?”
She shrugged. “Some guys are weird about it.”
“How long ago did it happen?”
“Two years ago.”
“Then I don’t see why it matters. That’s your business.”
She looked me up and down. “Mature…I like it.”
I smirked. “Aren’t you glad you went on a date with me?”
“Now you’re just cocky,” she teased.
I laughed at her joke. I had a great time with her tonight. She was easy to talk to, and just a joy to be around. I didn’t expect a kiss or to be let into her apartment, but I would like a hug. I wondered if she would give that to me. “Can I have a hug before I go?”
“Yes, you may.”
I wrapped my arms around her and held her to my chest. I liked the feeling. I rested my chin on her head and smelled her hair. This was my first real date, one wh
ere I didn’t want it to end in sex. I was content with this. “Can I take you out again?”
“I was hoping you’d ask.”
“Dinner this weekend?”
“Good. I like food.”
I pulled away then smiled at her. “I look forward to it.”
She opened the door and walked inside. “Good night, Mike.”
“I’m glad you finally said my name right.”
“Well, you aren’t just my boss anymore.” She smiled then shut the door.
I waited for her to lock it before I walked back to my car. I had a smile on my face for the entire drive, feeling happy for the first time in a really long while.
11
Ryan
The shop was doing so well, I needed to hire help. I used to close my shop at five in Seattle, but I was realizing New York never slept. I could double my profits if I stayed open until nine. So I decided to hire other artists. And the constant business of the store was giving me a headache. I usually didn’t get home until seven, which Janice didn’t appreciate. My woman wanted me home as soon as I got off work.
I closed the shop for lunch so I could eat and look through the applicants I’d be interviewing. When someone knocked on the door, I sighed in annoyance. But it was Scarlet on the other side of the glass.
I quickly unlocked it and let her in. “What brings you here?”
“I miss my big brother.”
I locked the door behind her then approached the counter. Scarlet grabbed my half eaten sandwich and took a big bite.
“That’s mine,” I said.
She chewed it then swallowed. “This is good.”
I rolled my eyes. “You came here for a free meal?”
“I’m a freeloader like that.”
“No, you’re a brat.” I leaned over the counter and looked at the paperwork. Scarlet and I returned to normal after the big blowout. We never spoke of it again. I realized I was overreacting. I knew Scarlet had my back no matter what.
“Sean told me you guys worked out your differences.”
I nodded. “I can’t hold that against him. And he’s your husband.”
“I still appreciate it anyway.”
I eyed her stomach. “We got a baby on the way. We can’t let him see all the sick incest that goes on in this family.”
She laughed. “Oh my god. I slept with Cortland, Sean slept with Janice, you slept with Janice, and Sean slept with Janice. We’ve double-dipped at some point.”
