Читать книгу The Real Thing - Brenda Jackson - Страница 8

Two

“So how did things go with Trinity last night?”

Adrian glanced up to see his cousin Dillon. The business meeting Dillon had called that morning at Blue Ridge Land Management had ended and everyone had filed out, leaving him and Dillon alone.

He’d never thought of Dillon as a business tycoon until Adrian had returned home to work for the company his family owned. That’s when he got to see his Denver cousin in action, wheeling and dealing to maintain Blue Ridge’s ranking as a Fortune 500 company. Adrian had always just thought of him as Dillon, the man who’d kept the family together after a horrific tragedy.

Adrian’s parents, as well as his uncle and aunt, had died in a plane crash more than twenty years ago, leaving Dillon, who was the oldest cousin, and Adrian’s oldest brother, Ramsey, in charge of keeping the family of fifteen Westmorelands together. It hadn’t been easy, and Adrian would be the first to confess that he, Aidan, Bane and Bailey, the youngest four, had deliberately made things hard. Coming home from school one day to be told they’d lost the four people who had meant the most to them had been worse than difficult. They hadn’t handled their grief well. They had rebelled in ways Adrian was now ashamed of. But Dillon, Ramsey and the other family members hadn’t given up on them, even when they truly should have. For that reason and many others, Adrian deeply loved his family. Especially Dillon, who had taken on the State of Colorado when it had tried to force the youngest four into foster homes.

“Things went well, I think,” Adrian said, not wondering how Dillon knew about the dinner date with Trinity even when Adrian hadn’t mentioned anything about it. Dillon spoke to their Atlanta cousins on a regular basis, especially Thorn Westmoreland. Adrian figured Tara had mentioned the plan to Thorn and he had passed the information on to Dillon.

“Glad to hear it,” Dillon said, gathering up his papers. “Hopefully it will work. Even so, I personally have a problem with the hospital administrator not doing anything about Dr. Belvedere. I don’t give a damn how much money his family has or that they have a wing bearing their name under construction at the hospital. Sexual harassment is sexual harassment, and it’s something no one should have to tolerate. What’s happening to Trinity shouldn’t happen to anyone.”

Adrian agreed. If he had anything to do with it, Trinity wouldn’t have to tolerate it. “We’ll give Tara’s idea a shot and if it doesn’t work, then—”

“Then the Westmorelands will handle it, Adrian, the right way...with the law on our side. I don’t want you doing anything that will get you in trouble. Those days are over.”

Adrian didn’t say anything as he remembered those days. “I won’t do anything to get into trouble.” He figured it was best not to say those days were completely over, especially after the suggestion he’d made to Trinity about breaking Belvedere’s hands...something he’d been dead serious about. “Do you know anyone in the Belvedere family?” he asked Dillon.

“Dr. Belvedere’s older brother Roger and I are on the boards of directors of a couple of major businesses in town, but we aren’t exactly friends. He’s arrogant, a little on the snobbish side. I heard it runs in the family.”

“Too bad,” Adrian said, rising from his chair.

“The Belvedere family made their money in the food industry, namely dairy products. I understand Roger has political aspirations and will announce his run for governor next month.”

“I wish him the best. It’s his brother Casey that I have a problem with,” Adrian said, heading toward the door. “I’ll see you later.”

An hour later Adrian had finished an important report his cousin Canyon needed. Both Canyon and another cousin, Stern, were company attorneys. So far, Adrian was the only one from his parents’ side of the Westmoreland tree who worked for Blue Ridge, the company founded by his and Dillon’s father more than forty years ago.

At present there were fifteen Denver Westmorelands of his generation. His parents, Thomas and Susan Westmoreland, had had eight kids: five boys—Ramsey, Zane, Derringer and the twins, Adrian and Aidan—and three girls—Megan, Gemma and Bailey.

His uncle Adam and aunt Clarisse had had seven sons: Dillon, Micah, Jason, Riley, Canyon, Stern and Bane. The family was a close-knit one and usually got together on Friday nights at Dillon’s place for a chow-down, where they ate good food and caught up on family matters. Dates had kept Adrian from attending the last two, but now, since he was supposedly involved with Trinity, his dating days were over for a while.

He tossed an ink pen on his desk before leaning back in his chair. For the umpteenth time that day he was reminded of the kiss he’d shared with Trinity last night. A kiss he had taken before she’d been aware he was about to do so. Adrian didn’t have to wonder what had driven him. He could try to convince himself he’d only done it to rile Belvedere, but Adrian knew it was about more than that.

It all started when he had arrived at Trinity’s place to pick her up. She must have been watching for him out the window of the house she was leasing because after he’d pulled into her driveway, before he could get out of his car, she had opened the door and strolled down the walk toward him.

He’d had to fight to keep his predatory smile from showing a full set of teeth. Damn, she had looked good. He could say it was the pretty, paisley print maxi dress that swirled around her ankles as she’d walked, or the blue stilettos and matching purse. He could say it was the way she’d worn her hair down to her shoulders, emphasizing gorgeous facial bones. Whatever it was, she had looked even more appealing than when he’d seen her at Riley and Alpha’s wedding.

Adrian sucked in a sharp breath as more memories swept through his mind. Never had a woman’s mouth tasted so delectable, so irresistibly sweet. She had been pretty quiet on the drive back to her place last night. Just as well, since his body had been on fire for her. Big mistake. How was he supposed to stop Belvedere from getting his hands on her when all he could think about was getting his own hands on her?

He stood and stretched his tall frame. After shoving his hands into the pockets of his pants, he walked over to the window and looked out at downtown Denver. When Tara had called him with the idea of pretending to be Trinity’s lover, he had shrugged, thinking no problem, no big deal. A piece of cake. What he hadn’t counted on was his own attraction to Trinity. It was taking over his thoughts. And that wasn’t good.

Frustrated, he rubbed his hand down his face. He had to have more control. She wasn’t the first woman he’d been attracted to and she wouldn’t be the last. Taking another deep breath, he glanced at his watch. He was having dinner at McKays with Bailey and figured he would surprise her this time by being on time.

He had one more file to read, which wouldn’t take long. Then, before leaving for the day, he would call Trinity to see how things had gone at work. He wanted to make sure Belvedere hadn’t caused her any grief about seeing them together last night at Laredo’s.

* * *

“So how did things go last night with Adrian?”

Trinity plopped down on the sofa in her living room after a long day at work. She’d figured she would hear from Tara sooner or later, who would want details.

“Great! We got to know each other while eating a delicious steak dinner. And Dr. Belvedere was off today, which was a good thing, given that he saw me and Adrian together last night at dinner.”

“He did?”

“Yes.”

“Coincidence or planned?”

“Planned. It seemed Adrian didn’t waste time. Once he had agreed with your suggestion he found out where Belvedere liked to hang out and suggested we go there. Only thing, Adrian didn’t tell me about his plan beforehand and when Dr. Belvedere walked in, I was unprepared.”

“I can imagine. But you do want to bring this situation to a conclusion as quickly as possible, right?”

“Yes. But...”

“But what?”

“I hadn’t counted on a few things.”

“A few things like what, Trinity?”

Trinity nibbled on her bottom lip, trying to decide how much information she should share with her sister. Although there was a ten-year difference in their ages, they had always been close. Even when Tara had left home for college and medical school, Trinity had known her sister would return home often. After all, Derrick Hayes—the man Tara had dated since high school and had been engaged to marry—lived there.

But then came the awful day of Tara’s wedding. Her sister had looked beautiful. She’d walked down the aisle on their father’s arm looking as radiant as any bride could look. Trinity had been in her early teens and seeing Tara in such a beautiful gown had made her dream of her own wedding day.

But then, before the preacher could get things started, Derrick had stopped the wedding. In front of everyone, he’d stated that he couldn’t go through with the ceremony because he didn’t love Tara. He loved Danielle, Tara’s best friend and maid of honor.

Trinity would never forget the hurt, pain and humiliation she’d seen in her sister’s eyes and the tears that had flowed down Tara’s cheeks when Derrick took Danielle’s hand and the two of them raced happily out of the church, leaving Tara standing behind.

That night Tara had left Bunnell, and it had been two years before she had returned. And when she had, motorcycle celebrity Thorn Westmoreland had given her a public proposal the town was still talking about ten years later. Trinity’s brother-in-law had somewhat restored her faith in men. He was the best, and she knew that he loved her sister deeply.

“Trinity? A few things like what?” Tara repeated, pulling Trinity’s concentration back to the present.

“Nothing, other than I wish Adrian wasn’t so darn attractive. You wouldn’t believe the number of women staring at him last night.”

She decided not to mention the fact that he had kissed her right in front of a few of those women, although he’d done it for Dr. Belvedere’s benefit. She hadn’t expected the kiss and she had gone to bed last night thinking about it. Today things hadn’t been much better. Burying herself in work hadn’t helped her forget.

“Yes, he is definitely handsome. Most Westmoreland men are. And don’t worry about other women. He’s single, but now that he has agreed to pretend to be your boyfriend, he’s going to give you all his attention.”

Trinity sighed. In a way, that’s what she was afraid of. “Adrian doesn’t think Dr. Belvedere seeing us together once will do it.”

“Probably not, especially if the man is obsessed with having you. From what you’ve told me, it sounds like he is.”

Trinity didn’t say anything for a minute. “Well, I hope he gets the message because Adrian is serious about making sure the plan works.”

“Good. I think you’re in good hands.”

Trinity wasn’t so sure that was a positive thing, especially when she remembered the number of times last night she had thought about Adrian’s hands. He had beautiful fingers, long and lean. She had wondered more than once how those fingers would feel stroking her skin.

“Trinity?”

She blinked, realizing she had been daydreaming. “Yes?”

“You’re still keeping that journal, right?”

Tara had suggested she keep a record of each and every time Casey Belvedere made unwanted advances toward her. “Yes, I’m still keeping the journal.”

“Good. Don’t worry about anything. I wouldn’t have suggested Adrian if I didn’t believe he would be the right one to help handle your business.”

“I know. I know. But...”

“But what?”

Trinity breathed in deeply. “But nothing. I just hope your idea eventually works.”

“Me, too. And if it doesn’t we move to plan B.”

Trinity lifted a brow. “What’s plan B?”

“I haven’t thought of it yet.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. She loved her big sister and appreciated Tara being there for her right now. “Hopefully, there won’t have to be a plan B.”

“Let’s keep hoping. In the meantime, just enjoy Adrian. He’s a fun guy and you haven’t had any fun lately. I know how it is, going through residency. Been there. Done that. You can only take so much and do so much. We’re doctors, not miracle workers, Trinity. We have lives, too, and everybody needs downtime. Stress can kill—remember that.”

“I will.”

A few moments later she had ended her call with Tara and was about to head for the kitchen to put together a salad for dinner when her cell phone rang again. Trinity’s heartbeat quickened when she saw it was Adrian.

What was that shiver about, the one that had just passed through her whole body? She frowned, wondering what was wrong with her. Why was she reacting this way to his phone call? It wasn’t as if their affair was the real thing. Why did she feel the need to remind herself that it was only a sham for Dr. Belvedere’s benefit?

She clicked on her phone. “Hello?”

“Hello, this is Adrian. How did things go at work today?”

She wished he didn’t sound as good as he looked. Or that when he had arrived to pick her up for dinner last night, he’d not dressed as though he’d jumped right off the page of a men’s magazine.

She had been ready to walk out the moment his car had pulled into her driveway. So there had been no reason for him to get out of his car to meet her halfway down the walkway. But he had done so, showing impeccable manners by escorting her to his car and opening the door for her. However, it wasn’t his manners the woman in her had appreciated the most. He was so tall she had to look up at him, into a pair of eyes and a face that had almost taken her breath away.

She sighed softly now as the memory rushed through her mind. Only then did she recall the question he had asked her.

“Today was okay, probably because Dr. Belvedere is off for the next two days so I didn’t see him. I’m dreading Friday when he returns.”

“Hopefully things won’t be so bad. We’ll keep up our charade until he accepts the fact that you already have a man.”

A pretend man but, oh, what a man, she thought to herself. “Do you think after seeing us together last night he believes we’re an item?”

“Oh, I’m sure he probably believes it. But for him to accept it is a whole other story. It’s my guess that he won’t.”

Trinity nibbled on her bottom lip. “I hope you’re wrong.”

“I hope I’m wrong, as well. Enjoy tomorrow and we’ll see what happens on Friday. Just to be on the safe side, let’s plan a date for the weekend. How about a show Saturday night?”

“A show?”

“Yes, one of those live shows at the Dunning Theater. A real casual affair.”

She thought about what Tara had said, about Trinity getting out more and not working so hard. Besides, she and Adrian needed to be seen around town together as much as possible for Dr. Belvedere to get the message. “Do you think Belvedere will be attending the show, as well?”

He chuckled, and Trinity’s skin reacted to the sound. Goose bumps formed on her arm. “Not sure, but it doesn’t matter. The more we’re seen together by others, the more believable our story will be. So are you good for Saturday night?”

“Yes. It just so happens I’m off this weekend.”

“Good. I’ll pick you up around seven.”