by T L Swan
He turns to me and frowns. “You’ve honestly never heard of the names Joshua or Natasha Stanton before?”
I shake my head.
“Have you lived under a rock?”
I shrug. “Maybe.” Shit, I’ll have to Google this when I get home. What the hell is he talking about?
We walk through a grand foyer and across to the back of the house before we enter the kitchen. Oh my God, and I thought Cameron’s house was swanky.
A beautiful girl with long dark hair comes into view. She smiles broadly and kisses Cam. “This is Ashley.” Cam smiles proudly. “This is Natasha,” he introduces.
She turns to me and hugs me. “I’m so happy you’re here, Ashley. Please… come in.”
I smile in relief. Oh, she’s normal and not at all what I expected with all of this money. She’s wearing ripped, faded, tight jeans with a black T-shirt, and her hair is plaited down her back. She’s wearing hardly any makeup. I follow her into the kitchen. It’s huge with four ovens and a large stone island bench that has ten stools around it. Sitting at the end of the bench is a man—blonde, good looking, and wearing a suit. Hell… yet another beautiful person. I can’t cope.
Natasha walks around and puts her hand on both of his shoulders from behind him. “This is Adrian.”
I smile and nod. “Hello.”
He smiles and stands to kiss me on the cheek, and then takes both of my hands in his as he inspects me. “You’re beautiful, Ashley.” He smiles warmly.
“She is, isn’t she?” Cameron says from behind us.
Oh no. They’re nice. This gets worse. They’re fucking nice. I turn to face Cameron and he smiles sexily. He gives me that look and I feel myself melt. Natasha and Adrian smile at each other and Adrian winks. I feel like a bit of a freak as they all do their assessment of me. This is so awkward.
“When you two are through being creepy, how about you offer the poor girl a drink?” Joshua asks as he walks into the kitchen and wraps his arms around Natasha from behind.
Natasha smiles. “Would you like a drink, Ashley?”
I nod as I wring my hands nervously in front of me. “Thank you, that would be nice.”
“What would you like? Red, white?”
Adrian stands. “I think this is a champagne kind of occasion.”
My face falls. This just keeps getting worse. I nod. “Or there’s that,” I whisper.
Suddenly, three children come running into the room, two girls followed by a boy who is chasing them with a tennis ball. He throws it hard and it hits the eldest girl. She squeals, picks it up, and throws it back at him.
“Dad!” she screams. “Blake is hitting us with the ball.”
“Blake,” Joshua snaps. “Cut it out.”
I smile broadly. I love it when other people’s children misbehave.
“Come and meet our new friend,” Natasha calls to the kids.
They seem to remember where they are and all file over. “This is Jordana.”
I smile and she shakes my hand. She’s a pretty girl aged about nine or ten with long, dark hair like her mom, and matching blue eyes. “Hello. Are you Uncle Cameron’s friend?”
I’m taken aback with her forwardness. “I am. It’s nice to meet you, Jordana.”
“This is Ellie.” Joshua announces proudly and Ellie shyly shakes my hand. Oh, this one is a little sweetie.
“And this is the crazy Blake man.” Cameron picks up Blake and throws him onto the sofa. They begin to wrestle. Blake is around seven years old, I think.
“You have three children? You must be very busy,” I say to Natasha as the three kids run back to their chasing game.
“Ha.” She smirks. “I have five children.” She raises her wine glass to Adrian and he lifts his in return with a broad smile. “This is why we drink the good stuff,” she adds.
My eyes widen. “Five?” I gasp.
“The two youngest in two years.” She replies dryly. “Three-year-old and a two-year-old, boys. They’re in bed, thankfully.”
Joshua shakes his head and rolls his eyes. “If you ever want to lose your mind, have two children that close,” he grumbles.
I laugh as Adrian hands me a glass of champagne and holds his up until we all clink his glass. “To Ashley the doctor.” He smiles softly
“You know that I’m a doctor?” I frown. Has Cameron been talking about me?
“I know all about you, Ashley.” Adrian smiles.
“You’re fucking creepy, Murph,” Joshua says, and we all laugh. “Ignore him, Ashley. He knows nothing.”
My eyes linger on Joshua, and I can’t believe just how good looking he and Cameron are. How do two brothers seem so different, yet so similar?
Cameron is tall, broad and dark like Joshua, but where Joshua is rugged, Cameron is cultured. Cameron has the whole rich playboy look mastered to perfection.
Cameron walks over and picks up his glass. He grabs my hand, our eyes meet, and I feel myself melt. As long as he is with me, everything is okay.
Adrian
I watch Cameron watching Ashley and I smile. He’s absolutely smitten and hangs off every word that comes out of her mouth.
I like this girl. She’s different to anyone he’s ever dated before. Naturally beautiful, intelligent, and witty, and she gives it back to him. I haven’t seen Cameron like this with anyone, ever.
The conversation has been light and natural. She’s very easy to get along with and I’m getting flashbacks of when I first met Natasha and the hold she had over Joshua. Dinner is nearly ready and Natasha is fussing in the kitchen. Joshua is doing as he’s told and helping her. Cameron is next to me and Ashley is on the other side of him. We’re sitting at the kitchen counter still drinking champagne.
“Can I help with anything, Natasha?” Ashley asks.
“No thanks. We got it.” She smiles as she bends to get something out of the oven and Joshua’s hand drops to her behind, only for her to swat him away with the tea towel.
“Behave.” She smirks and he grabs her again just to show her who’s the boss.
I smile. He can’t keep his hands off her.
“Adrian, shall we have pie or cake for dessert?” Natasha asks me.
“Pie,” I reply, distracted by Ashley and Cameron. I can’t take my eyes off them.
The sexual energy between them is palpable.
A text beeps through Ashley’s phone and she picks it up to read it, immediately frowning.
“That’s weird,” she mutters to herself. I don’t think they can tell I’m listening.
“What’s weird?” Cam asks as he slides his hand up her thigh.
“I just got a text to say thanks for my phone bill payment today, but I didn’t pay it yet,” she whispers.
“Oh, I paid it this afternoon,” Cameron replies nonchalantly.
What? Cameron is super conscious with his money. He is serious about this girl.
Her face falls. “Why would you do that?” she whispers angrily.
“Because I know you didn’t have the money to pay for it,” he whispers back.
“How fucking dare you?” she hisses.
I bite my bottom lip to stifle my smile and I sip my drink as I listen.
“Don’t how fucking dare me. A simple thank you is all that’s needed,” he snaps back.
I shouldn’t be listening, but I really can’t help myself.
“Just because you have money, it doesn’t mean I fucking want it,” she whispers angrily.
He taps her on the leg and signals to us. I try and act as though I’m not listening. “Yes, pie would be great, Tash. Do you want me to whip the cream or anything?” I ask.
“No, it’s good. Joshua can do it.”
Joshua shakes his head, smiling with a curled lip. “Whip the cream, Murph,” he mouths.
“Can you show me the back yard, Cameron?” Ashley asks as she stands abruptly.
Cameron purses his lips and I want to hoot with laughter. He’s going out the back to get blasted.
I really, really like this girl.
“Sure.” He picks up his glass and leads her out the back, and I watch as they close the door behind them.
“Oh my God,” I whisper to Natasha and Joshua. “She’s gone out there to give it to him.”
Natasha’s face falls. “What? Why?”
“He paid her phone bill and she just found out.”
Joshua frowns. “How do you know that?”
“I was eavesdropping.”
Joshua rolls his eyes. “Why am I not surprised?” he mutters with a shake of his head.
Natasha comes over to the counter. “Cameron really likes this girl. I haven’t seen him like this before.”
“You know who it is, don’t you?” I whisper.
“Who?” She frowns.
“This is Mrs. Stanton.”
Natasha screws up her face. “Who?”
“Remember the girl that Cameron met in Vegas years ago when he lost his phone and couldn’t contact her,” I reply. “He called her Mrs. Stanton.”
Natasha’s eyes widen and they flicker between Joshua and me. “That’s her?” She gasps. “He was obsessed with that girl.”
“Still is by the looks of it,” Joshua adds.
Her mouth drops open. “And fate has brought them back together.” Natasha grabs my hand. “Oh my God, this is it Adrian. She’s the one.”
I smile broadly and lift my glass. Natasha clinks her glass with mine as excitement fills us both.
Joshua rolls his eyes. “Don’t get excited with your fairy tale bullshit. I don’t think Cameron has a ‘the one’. He’ll probably be sick of her in two dates like the rest of them.” He sips his drink. “They only just met,” he adds.
Natasha whips him with the tea towel. “Will you be nice for once?”
“I am being nice. She’s in my fucking house, isn’t she?”
Natasha’s eyes come back to me. “So, wait, why is Cameron in trouble?”
“Apparently he paid her phone bill.”
Joshua looks at me deadpan. “And that’s a problem because?”
“Oh no, he can’t pay her phone bill. Doesn’t he have any idea?” Natasha whispers, horrified.
“I know, right,” I reply.
Joshua frowns. “Why can’t he pay her fucking phone bill? He has the money.”
Natasha rolls her eyes. “Oh God, Joshua, you have no idea, either, do you?”
He grabs her ass and drags her against his hips. “I’ll pay your phone bill in a minute.” He gives her a pump. “With my dick.”
“Whip the cream,” she snaps as she pries herself from his clutches.
“You should invite her this weekend,” I add.
Natasha smiles broadly and points the spoon at me. “Yes, I will.”
“I wouldn’t,” Joshua adds.
“Why not?” Natasha frowns.
“Are you forgetting that our mother is going to be there, and Cameron will probably be over this chick by the weekend?”
Natasha smiles. “I think she could handle your mother.” She starts to serve the dinner onto the plates
Joshua smirks. “I pity the poor girl who tries to take Mom’s beloved Cameron away.”
Natasha rolls her eyes and then looks to me. “Shall I ask her or not?”
I shrug. “I think so. If he asked her here he’s serious—”
“He’s not serious,” Joshua interrupts. “Calm the fuck down, you two.”
Ashley
The children have gone to bed and we are just finishing dinner. It was delicious. “Thank you, that was beautiful, Natasha. You’re a really great cook.”
“Call me Tash.” She smiles. “And this is all a façade.”
I frown as I watch her. I don’t think I have ever seen such perfect dimples and white teeth.
“Façade?” I frown.
She rolls her eyes. “I’m a hot mess. I’m lucky enough that Joshua earns enough so that we can have a cleaner, a gardener and all that.”
I smile gratefully. She obviously doesn’t come from money and she knows how lucky she is.
“The house would be pure chaos without them.”
I smile into my glass and nod.
“What about you, Ashley. Tell us about yourself.” Adrian smiles.
My heart drops and I hesitate. “I’m in my final year of medicine.” My eyes flicker to Cameron. “I’m one of Cameron’s interns, so I’m really not supposed to be seeing him at all.”
Joshua winks at Cameron who grins in return.
“Vous serez le stagiaire le plus chanceux au monde pour me rendre visite”
Translation: You will be the luckiest intern in the world to date me.
I laugh and fire back, “Ou le plus stupide, je ne suis pas encore terminé avec vous. Voyons ce que vous avez chanceux ce soir.”
Translation: Or the stupidest. I’m not finished with you yet. Let’s see how lucky you get tonight.
Adrian’s and Natasha’s eyes meet across the table. “German?” Adrian asks.
“French.” Joshua smirks. Oh shit. He speaks French, too. I drop my head embarrassed that Joshua has understood what I just said.
“So, you two met years ago?” Natasha smiles as she puts her hands under chin dreamily.
“Yeah.” I smile, embarrassed.
“She fucked my brains out,” Cameron adds as he shovels a mouthful of food into his mouth.
Natasha and Joshua choke on their drinks, and the table bursts into laughter.
My mouth drops open in horror. “I did not. I’m a virgin!” I chuckle. “C-Cameron,” I splutter. “Please use your table manners.” I shake my head. “You are uncouth.”
Cameron smirks. “You love it, Bloss.”
Our eyes lock. He’s right, I do love it. I love everything about him. Even his family are beautiful.
“But then...” I hesitate and sip my champagne and narrow my eyes. “Cameron.” I bring my hands up to accentuate the word. “Lost…” I smile broadly. “His phone.”
“I did lose my fucking phone that night.” He fires back. “Back me up here Stan. Did I lose my phone that night?” he asks.
Joshua smiles and nods. “Affirmative. He did.”
He points at me across the table. “And I was pissed that I lost your number.”
“I was kind of glad to be honest. I think I dodged a bullet.” I smile cheekily. The table erupts into laughter again.
This is a fun night. I can be myself and I feel comfortable.
“You won’t be dodging anything when we get home,” Cameron fires back.
“Ash, I have a charity ball on the weekend. You must come.” Natasha smiles.
My face falls. “Oh. Um…” I glance at Cameron.
His face lights up. “Yes! We can go away again.”
“You went away at the weekend?” Adrian asks, clearly surprised.
“I took Ash to New York.”
Natasha and Adrian’s eyes meet across the table in some kind of unspoken acknowledgement.
“Why didn’t you take the plane?” Joshua asks.
Cameron frowns. “Because then it would have been a thing and I would have had to explain who Ashley was.”
Joshua looks at Cameron, deadpan. “Then you bring her to my house three days later?” He raises his eyebrows. “That makes perfect sense.”
I burst out laughing. I like this guy. He’s dry as all hell. I clink my glass with Joshua’s and he smirks.
“He didn’t tell me we were coming here tonight,” I add.
Cameron sips his drink and smiles across the table.
“Why didn’t you tell her you were coming here?” Natasha asks.
“Because she probably wouldn’t have come.”
The table’s attention turns back to me. “Why wouldn’t you have come?” Adrian asks, surprised again.
“Honestly?” I smile bashfully.
“Yes, honestly?” Joshua replies, and I get the feeling that they are all really interested in my answer.
“Because
Cameron hardly knows me and I didn’t want to be in the position of letting anyone down. Especially him. I think it was a bit too soon for me to be meeting the family.”
Joshua frowns, intrigued by my answer.
Cameron smiles softly across the table. “You’re refreshingly honest, Bloss.”
Our eyes lock and I feel a pull to him that can only be explained as magnetic.
“So will you come?” Natasha smiles. “At the weekend?”
My eyes flicker between her and Adrian. “What’s the dress code?” I ask.
“Black tie—”
“But you don’t need to worry about that. I’ll buy you a dress,” Cameron interrupts.
“No, that’s fine.” I smile softly. “Maybe I’ll give it a miss and come to the next one, if that’s okay. Thank you so much for the invitation, though.”
Cameron’s face falls. “Why don’t you want to come?”
God. Why is he so pushy? “You go with your family and I’ll just see you when you get back.” I smile.
“No. I want you to come. I’ll buy you a dress,” he asserts.
I frown. “Not now, Cameron.” God, he’s so annoying.
“Don’t not now me,” he snaps.
I glare at him. This money thing is really starting to piss me off. “You’re not buying me a dress. I’m fine without one.”
“What’s the big deal. He has the money. Let him buy you a dress,” Joshua intervenes as he sips his wine.
I turn my attention to him with a frown. “With all due respect, Joshua, butt out. This is none of your business.”
Joshua’s face falls in shock, and Natasha and Adrian burst out laughing. Adrian grabs my hand over the table. “Oh, I love you, Ashley.”
“Don’t worry about them, they have no idea.” Natasha smiles. “They have no idea how it feels to have a man buy you things. You feel owned,” she adds.
I smile, grateful that she gets it.
“This was really hard for me to get used to in the beginning.”
My eyes hold hers.
“We’re about the same size, aren’t we?” she asks.
I shrug, embarrassed that I just snapped at Joshua. My eyes flick to him and I can see he’s just as shocked as I am. God, I’m a rude bitch. I drain my champagne glass in one gulp.
“Adrian, I have lots of dresses that would fit Ashley, don’t I?”
Adrian smiles broadly. “Of course.”