My Best Friend's Brother

by Candy Gray

  “Then, why don’t you? Could you get Ella, please?”

  “I don’t have the patience for most people. You and I could have had fun. It’s a shame.” She stepped away from the door, still not acknowledging my requests to see Ella.

  “Is Ella even home?”

  “This isn’t her home, but no, she’s not. She’s out with Halle. You can come up and wait if you like. I’ll try to be hospitable.” She lifted her shoulder and looked me up and down.

  “No, thanks. But could you please tell her I stopped by?” I knew the moment I asked the answer was a big, fat hell no.

  She gave me a big toothy grin. “Sure thing, lover.” She shut the door in my face and on my way to the car I decided to stop and text her. I couldn’t trust Sadie to pass along any message, and if she wasn’t far out, I’d wait in the area and come back when she got home. I ducked to the side of the walk and heard laughter from across the lawn.

  When I looked up, I could see between the house and a small garage to where the driveway led back to the side entrance. Parked there was my mother’s car.

  I put the phone in my pocket and started for it wondering if I could be mistaken, but the closer I got, I could hear the shrill laughter that I knew was my mother’s, accompanied by what could only be Nola Blue’s. I caught a glimpse of the women who were sitting on the back patio under an umbrella by the pool, and my blood turned cold.

  I’d told my mother about Ella’s relationship to Scott Blue, that Nola had no knowledge of the relationship, and though she’d insinuated that she hated the woman, there they were laughing it up like old friends. I wondered what all my mother had told her, and if she was here to learn more about Ella.

  I’d yet to invite her over to meet my mother, and though I knew it irked her, it wasn’t mine or Ella’s fault. She’d been bogged down by work and the day she’d come over, my mother hadn’t been home.

  I decided to leave and question my mother about it later, but as I walked to my car, my mother came around the building on the way to her car with Nola Blue in tow.

  Nola spoke before my mother had the chance. “Aiden? You must be looking for Ella.”

  “Yes, but Sadie said she’s off with Halle?” At least I’d find out if she was gone or if the twins had her upstairs locked away in their closet.

  “They had some appointments, but she should be back later. I’ll tell her you dropped by. If you’ll excuse me,” she turned to my mother, “I’ll call you later. Thanks again for stopping by on such short notice.”

  As Nola walked away, my mother gave me a tight grin. “Aiden. I guess you’re wondering what I’m doing here.”

  “Yeah, I’m hoping you’re not checking up on me or Ella.” I was livid but trying to keep my composure.

  “Nola called me over. She’s got some property for sale, and I was just getting her listing. I thought maybe you had recommended her, but she said that wasn’t the case.”

  “No, I didn’t, but I’d like to know what property she’s listed.” I had a feeling I already knew.

  “It’s a place out on the beach, just down the way from yours, actually.” Ella’s house. Patricia didn’t have to say it, but I knew.

  “Could you take me by there?” I wanted to go see the property up close and take some time with my mother to find out what Nola’s game was and how she ended up with the property to sell in the first place.

  Mother handed me the paper she held in her hand. “Here’s the address. I’ll follow you there.”

  The two of us headed out, and sure enough, my mother led me right to Ella’s property. I thought about it on the way and remembered Ella had told me that the house had been taken by the bank. If that were true, then why did Nola have it to sell.

  It was the first thing I asked my mother. “Is this place in Nola’s name?”

  “Well, she couldn’t sell it otherwise. She’s supposed to fax the paperwork over later, but I’m sure she knows better.”

  I stood with her as she unlocked the door and then we walked into the home where Ella was raised. It was a beautiful place, nice and homey, cozy and clean. I could see her growing up there, coming down the stairs, all knees and elbows, her bright smile growing from a young girl’s face to a woman’s. “There’s no bank involved?”

  “A bank? No, she claims it’s hers free and clear.”

  I walked through the house and imagined Ella in each room. Baking cookies with her mother in the kitchen, watching cartoons in the living room as a kid. I remembered what she’d told me about the garage, how her mother had it made into a workshop. I walked out and found it lined with counters and cabinets, a sure sign that the place was used the way she’d said it was.

  “They seemed to turn this place into a workshop of sorts, but it can be converted back to a garage.” My mother had no idea of the blasphemy she spoke.

  This was Ella’s workshop.

  “I want to buy this place.” The words came out with so much certainty that I didn’t blink, but my mother was taken aback.

  “Excuse me? You want this place for you? Your home is so much nicer, and if you’re buying it for Zep—

  “It doesn’t matter why I want it. I’m buying it. I’ll transfer the deposit as soon as she sends you the proof of ownership.”

  My mother knew better than to argue with me over something I wanted to buy, but she tilted her head and gave me a narrow-eyed look. “You’re buying it for that girl, aren’t you?”

  “Ella. Her name is Ella, not that girl. And yes, considering this is where she grew up, I’m buying it for her. I want you to make sure that Nola has ownership before you agree to anything.”

  “What’s going on, Aiden? There’s more than you’re telling me.” She grabbed my arms and looked me square in the eye. “You can tell me what’s going on.”

  “See if you can trace the deed back to Layla Ford or her bank, and do not tell Nola Blue that I’m the buyer. Don’t tell her anything.”

  Patricia nodded. “You think she stole it, don’t you? From Ella?”

  “Either her or her dying mother.”

  “Wait, you think she stole this place from Layla Ford on her deathbed?” My mother’s eyes hardened, and she bared her teeth. “If you’re right, then she’s in a whole lot of trouble, and I’m not sure we need to be mixed up in it. Don’t you go making any accusations unless you’re absolutely sure? We don’t want a lawsuit on our hands, but I promise, son, I’ll do all I can to find out how she secured the property, even if I have to ask her.”

  “She’ll lie.”

  “No offense, son, but let’s hope it’s not Ella who is lying about this house. Maybe she grew up here, but this place could have been in her father’s name. Scott could have taken care of her until her death, and if that’s the case, then Nola has every right to sell this place.”

  “And if that’s the case, I’m fine with it, but I’m still buying it. It’s Ella’s home, and she should have it. She learned all of her mother’s talents right here in this room. She has a bright future, and she’s been given a rough deal in life. I’m going to make sure she’s got a second chance, and that things will go better for her from here on out. She’s a hard worker, a good person, and she deserves the best.”

  “You really care about her.” My mother wasn’t asking. She pulled me in for a tight hug and then tousled my hair. “I’ll let you know as soon as I find out.”

  “Thanks, mom.”

  She smiled and pinched my cheek. “I like the sound of that.”

  Chapter 25

  Ella

  Aiden had to be the most patient man in the world to put up with me and my busy schedule with the twins. We hadn’t gotten to spend much time together, but we cherished every moment we got together, especially the times we had alone.

  I’d spent the past week running to meetings and even taking two trips out of town to different locations, and so when the girls had finally gone out on their own and insisted they didn’t want me along, I was relieved instead of offende
d. We’d spent enough time together, and I’d tried not to make myself sick knowing I was related to the whiny brats.

  Halle had talked to Zep every day and even had him ride out to meet her at one of the locations and he’d apparently been briefed on being her new love interest. If he was going to hang around, they were going to put him to work. It was their way.

  I called Aiden to tell him the good news. “I’m free. Please tell me you’re not busy.” Aiden often times had to go check property with his mother and stand in for his father’s role in various charities. Although I’d often wished my mother had left me with a fortune, I knew I wasn’t capable of handling things the way Aiden had. He was a proper heir and knew how to take care of business.

  “I’m free too. I’ll be over in ten.”

  “Ten? You live much farther away than that.” I knew my tone was suspicious, but he laughed.

  “I’m down the road. I was on my way to kidnap you. I hoped I’d get a chance to make a real valiant scene. I was going to swoop in and whisk you away.”

  “No need. There’s no one here but me and Millie, and she already thinks you’re my hero.” Millie loved Aiden, and I was quite sure that if she was a bit younger and not my grandmother, I’d have to fight her off of him. She was always carrying on about how handsome he was and how he reminded her of one of her favorite classic movie stars.

  “Millie’s a good lady.”

  “No doubt. I’ll tell her you’re on the way.”

  “Hey, instead of telling her that, tell her you’ll be stepping out for a bit. I have a surprise for you.”

  “Another surprise? Is this like the last one? You have someone you want me to meet?” Aiden had arranged for me to meet Delaney Graham and that had turned into a wonderful opportunity. I could only imagine how he was planning to top that.

  “I think it will be even better. But I’m not telling. You’ll have to wait and see.” I kept him on the phone until I walked out and opened the car door.

  He hung up his phone and smiled as I got in the car. “So, about this surprise.”

  “No, no. You’re not going to sweet talk me into telling you what it is. You’ll see soon enough.” He took off down the drive, and I hurried to buckle myself in. Then he headed out onto the main highway and in a few minutes, I realized he was headed out to his beach house.

  But instead of heading to his house, he pulled up at mine. The sold sign was sitting atop the realtor sign, and I realized by the little crown logo, that his family must have been the one’s to sell my old home.

  “What are we doing here?” I didn’t want to see the place. It brought too many memories that were painful knowing it now belonged to someone else.

  “It’s your home, Ella.” He shrugged like it was no big deal and I tilted my head to search his expression for any sign of his sanity. But the slow, sweet smile that spread his lips, lighting up his entire face, sent my mind to reeling.

  “What do you mean, Aiden?” My heart pounded in my chest, and I knew that I was either about to get the best news of my life or the biggest letdown.

  “I bought it for you. It’s yours.” I barely registered the feel of his hand on mine, and then I squeezed it, holding onto him for something, anything to keep my down to earth, to keep me from floating away and soaring to the heavens. But then it hit me much differently that I’d even imagined.

  “Wait, what?” I couldn’t let him give me a house. As much as I knew he cared about me, it was just too much. “Aiden, I can’t accept this.” My eyes pooled with tears but he leaned across the distance and pulled me into his arms.

  “I want to do it, Ella. There’s no undoing this, it’s done. I won’t take no for an answer.” He got out of the car and walked around and opened my door. Then he led me into the garage, the workshop my mother had designed, and it was exactly the same except it had been cleared out. I leaned against the counter and tried to catch my breath. I was light-headed and couldn’t believe I was standing in my house again. That it was my house again. I couldn’t accept it.

  “But it’s so much.” It was much too extravagant of a gift, especially when I didn’t even have a ring on my finger or a promise of forever. I’d always expected when a man bought me a home it would mean I was his wife.

  “Nothing is too much for you. When I heard that Nola was selling—

  “You mean the bank?” Nola? Did he say, Nola?

  “Wait, you really did think the bank took it?” I’d told him all about how the bank had come to collect.

  “Yes, Aiden. The bank took it. But you just said that Nola was selling it? How is that possible?”

  “Right. Ella, I don’t know what’s going on, but I think you need to talk to Scott and Nola.”

  I fell against him and closed my eyes. I was so sick of the lies and secrets. I didn’t understand what had happened with the house and how Nola could have had ownership. Perhaps my father had too. “Aiden, I—

  “Sh. Let it go for a moment. Just breathe, Ella.” I put my arm around him and pulled him to my lips, kissing him nice and deep, slow and languid. I felt like it was all too much to handle and if I could escape, my opportunity was right in front of me.

  “Make it all go away, Aiden.” I didn’t have to ask twice.

  He stood against me, his body pressing against me, pinning me against the counter as we kissed. His mouth trailed down my body, kissing my breasts, his hands working my shirt up to take it off.

  I quickly stripped off his pants, tugging the front until the row of his button-fly jeans popped open, and then I reached in and rubbed his hard length which was growing harder by the second. I slipped my hand into his pants to feel his bare flesh, and then he stepped back. We each finished undressing to hurry the process.

  As soon as I was naked, he lifted me up and placed my ass on the counter, then he centered his cock and plunged into my depths in one long stroke. I cried out and ground against him. He worked his hips, pumping into me until I was panting and calling his name, begging him to take me harder.

  He pulled away, and I slid off the counter and turned around to face it, tilting my ass upward as an offering. He gripped both cheeks and spread them, leaning over and licking my tender slit, and letting his tongue slide across my tight little star, which he pressed hard against with this thumb. I cried out, wondering if he wanted to take it, but then he centered his cock at my slit and pushed himself in, returning to my depths, his hard shaft working my g spot with each thrust.

  Soon he had found a steady pace, and he reached around to stroke my tender bud with one hand as he worked one of my nipples with the other.

  He worked me steady until my release was on the horizon and then his finger found my tight little star and pressed against it again. He slipped his other hand into my mouth and offered me his finger which I took into my mouth, sucking the salty digit until it was nice and soft. Then he pulled it free and reached down to stroke it against my ass, and then as his cock was buried to my depths, he slipped it into me, fingering my ass. I gripped it and his cock too as my release exploded from me, rippling across me like a tidal wave. I cried out his name loudly, “Aiden.”

  “That’s right, Ella. Come for me.” I waited for him to ask me where I wanted it, expecting him to pull free and spill his hot come all over my lower back. I could imagine it dripping down my ass or pooling hot on my back, but instead, he worked me through another release.

  I was having a hard time standing by the time he slowed his pace and turned me around to face me. “I want to look in your eyes when I come.” I thought maybe, in this position, with me leaning back across the table but not enough to take my feet completely off the floor, that he’d shoot it all over my chest, and my pussy tingled thinking about it.

  But he never asked like those other times. Instead, he worked himself up to a frenzy, pumping in me so hard I thought I’d collapse, that if he pulled out or pulled away, I’d drop to the floor in a puddle. And that’s when I felt his cock grow fatter in my channel, stiffenin
g even more before bursting his hot streams of come into my channel, soaking me to my depths.

  And he didn’t stop, he continued to pound it in deep, his seed mixing with my own nectar from my previous releases and with each thrust it ran down my thighs.

  Then he stopped moving, and held himself inside me, his forehead resting against mine. “I’ve wanted to do that so bad since we first fucked. I wanted to claim you and mark you. Tell me you’re going to keep the house, Ella.”

  “I’m going to keep the house.” The words spilled from my lips, and at that moment, he could have made me say anything. I was completely his.