Redeeming The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 5)

by Christina Tetreault

  Most times Jake’s banter wouldn’t faze him. His cousin was one of his closest friends and they’d grown up teasing each other. He also realized that he’d never tell Addie anything that would affect their relationship. Still, that didn’t mean he wanted his girlfriend to know he’d slept with a bedroom lamp on until he was seven or that he’d had a favorite stuffed dinosaur named Rex that he’d slept with until his eighth birthday. His parents thought he’d thrown it away when he turned six, but he’d hidden it and just taken it out after going to bed. In fact, even after he’d stopped taking it to bed every night, he hadn’t been able to part with it. Instead, he’d stashed it in his closet where it had stayed until he stumbled upon it when he was packing for his first year at Harvard.

  “You have reinforcements for what?” Courtney Belmont, his cousin, asked as she entered the room and sat in an empty armchair.

  “Our dear cousin was kind enough to share some of my embarrassing childhood memories with my wife,” Jake answered. “I thought I’d repay the favor.”

  His younger cousin considered Jake’s answer, then looked at him. “Don’t worry, Trent. I have your back. I’ll let Addie get to know you better before I let Jake expose her to all your secrets.”

  “Traitor,” Jake teased.

  “Now you have me intrigued. Maybe I should give you my phone number, Jake. Then you could call me and share these stories with me,” Addie said, joining the conversation.

  Immediately, Jake pulled out his phone. “Great idea. What’s your number?”

  “Whose side are you on away?” Trent asked. While pleased that she felt comfortable enough to join in the conversation, he didn’t relish the idea of her calling his cousin to discuss his secrets.

  “In this case, your cousins,” she answered and then proceeded to give Jake her phone number.

  The easygoing banter continued as they changed topics, and perhaps twenty minutes after they arrived Callie and Charlie joined them. Other than the small amount of weight she still carried from her pregnancy, his cousin looked great. In fact if not for the baby still asleep on Dylan’s chest, he never would’ve guessed she’d given birth just a few days earlier. Next to her, Charlie looked as relaxed and friendly as the last time he’d met her.

  “Have you and James been like that since we left?” Callie asked after she greeted Trent and Addie.

  Dylan readjusted his outstretched legs before he answered. “I didn’t want to wake him. Did you have any problems upstairs?”

  “Of course not. I told you I would be fine. Charlie stayed in the bedroom and looked at a magazine while I showered. I didn’t need any help.”

  “But you may have.” Trent heard the concern in Dylan’s voice and understood it. Although he’d never witnessed it, he knew childbirth was hard on a woman’s body.

  “Dylan, I’m okay. I had a baby not a heart transplant. Women do it all the time. I’m tired and sore, but not about to collapse on the floor. You need to relax a little.” Callie placed her hand on her husband’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze.

  “She’s right, Dylan. Callie’s doing well,” Charlie said. “But she does need to take it easy.”

  Trent watched in fascination as Callie scooped up her son, who’d just yawned and moved a tiny leg. “Would you like to hold him now that he’s awake, Trent?”

  “Wait a minute,” Jake said, sounding put out. “Shouldn’t his uncle get to hold him first? I saw him for five minutes yesterday before he started wailing to eat and Dylan’s monopolized him all morning.”

  “I’d love to,” Trent said with more passion than necessary just to annoy Jake. Then unable to resist the opportunity, he glanced around Addie toward his cousin. “Sounds like you’re jealous. I think you need a son or daughter of your own.”

  Callie handed him the tiny bundle, showing him how to hold the baby and support his neck, then she stepped back. His initial gut reaction was to hand the baby back to her. In his large hands, James looked so small and fragile. Then the infant’s little fist gripped his finger, the small gesture tugging at his heart. As he stared at the baby, he studied each perfect detail from the tiny fingers to the blue-gray eyes. And just like that he envisioned holding a baby of his own, one with Addie’s chestnut brown hair and his dark blue eyes.

  “I agree with Trent, Jake. James needs a cousin.” Callie’s voice shook him from his vision.

  “And he’ll have one in time for Sara’s wedding.”

  Something similar to jealousy, perhaps envy, swept through him before happiness took its place. “Congratulations,” he said before anyone else in the room responded.

  “Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” Callie hugged first her brother, and then her sister in-law. “When is the baby due?”

  Both Jake and Charlie beamed with happiness. “April 4th. About two and half months before Sara’s wedding,” Jake answered.

  The cousins would be less than a year apart, like him and Jake. If Jake and Charlie had a son, Trent wondered if he and James would be as close as he and Jake had been.

  “We’ve only told Mom and Dad so far. We thought we’d stop and tell Charlie’s family this weekend, but Sean’s out in California. Maureen and Ray are at a friend’s retirement party in Portland and her sister has a sleepover with friends.”

  “I didn’t know you had a sister.”

  “Half-sister,” Charlie answered as his eyes went back to the baby in his arms. “She’s twelve and I only met you this summer.”

  ***

  The sun warmed her face as Addie leaned back on the stone bench. She and Trent had retreated outside to one of the well-manicured flower gardens. All around her pink and purple asters bloomed, as did some Russian sage with its blue flowers and silvery foliage. Sprinkled throughout the garden were Lemon Queen sunflowers, which bloomed in the late summer and early fall. Along the wall the gardeners had planted some yellow orange helenium, which if Trent hadn’t told her differently she would’ve assumed were just plain old daisies.

  “Do you know what is growing on the stone archway?” she asked. Thus far Trent had surprised her knowing several of the flowers and plants she didn’t recognize.

  “I think it’s sweet autumn clematis, my mom had some in her garden, but I’m not positive.” Trent spread his arms out along the back of the bench and stretched out his legs.

  Her eyes roamed over the garden, amazed at all the variation and how well they blended together. “What about that one? Do you know what it is?” She pointed towards an electric-blue flower with five petals.

  “Not a clue. You’ve exhausted my knowledge of plants.” Since they’d come outside he’d named at least ten or twelve different types of plants and shrubs.

  Addie closed her eyes and enjoyed the soft breeze that blew around them. All too soon the temperatures in New England would start to drop and the snow would fall. “Oh, well. You still amazed me with how many you knew. You really learned all about them from your mom?” Trent didn’t talk much about his mom, but he had shared that information.

  “She adored flowers. In the summer she spent a ridiculous amount of time both in the gardens and in her greenhouse. Gray and I spent hours playing in the dirt while she planted and pruned her babies. I think she did more work than the gardeners my father paid. I guess I listened to her more than I thought when she talked about them.”

  She wanted to ask more about Donna Sherbrooke. Other than the fact she’d liked flowers and died years earlier, she knew nothing about the woman. Granted, a search on the Internet would have provided plenty of information, but she resisted doing that. She wanted to learn about the woman from Trent, yet she didn’t want to pry if he found it too difficult to talk about her. Perhaps in time, he’d open up and tell her more.

  “You’re right, I do like your family.” She opened her eyes again. “You guys sure like to give each other a hard time.” She thought back to the conversation when they’d first arrived. While she’d been joking about Jake calling her to give up Trent’s secrets, he�
�d immediately taken her number and then given her his. And while she was more than curious about Trent’s past, she knew she’d never call Jake and ask.

  “They loved you.”

  Much like all his answers since they’d come outside, his statement remained short. In fact, Trent had more or less only spoken when she asked him a direct question since lunch.

  Addie turned so that she faced him, tucking on leg under her. “Are you okay?”

  Trent looked at her. “Of course. Why?” He let his fingers brush against her shoulder.

  “You’ve been quiet this afternoon.”

  “I have a lot on my mind, including a new resort up in Vermont.” Trent fell silent again; the only sound was the rustling of leaves when the breeze blew. “You looked natural today holding James.”

  She had enjoyed holding the newborn. “I did a lot of babysitting for my neighbors. They didn’t have any family in the area, so I’d often go babysit on Saturday nights so they could go out.” Addie did the math in her head. “The oldest is fifteen now and her sister is almost twelve.” Wow, time flew. “You looked comfortable yourself.” The sight of Trent with the infant had turned her heart into mush.

  “I liked it.” Trent sounded surprised by the fact. “And it made me realize something.”

  Did she dare ask? “What?” she asked with hesitation.

  “Someday I’d like a family of my own.” The fingers on her shoulder stilled. “What about you?”

  Sure she envisioned herself a mother at some point, but she’d never considered when. “A family would be nice.”

  “Large or small?” he asked. “We both come from big families, and maybe you disagree, but I liked growing up with a lot of siblings. Yeah, they drove me nuts, hell, they still do, but there was always someone around. Callie was an only child growing up. She told me she always dreamed of a brother or sister.”

  Addie could relate to Trent’s comments. Her brothers drove her insane, but she wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world. “My cousin Chloe is an only child. I think that’s why she spent so much time at my house growing up. I’d want at least two children.”

  “Two.” He considered her response. “I was thinking more like three or four, but if you want two I’d be happy with that.”

  Addie said a silent thank you that her butt was already planted on the bench because if she’d been standing she’d be flat on her behind at the moment. “I thought you were talking in general terms,” she said when her brain began sending messages to her mouth again.

  Trent sat up straight and looked at her. “I’m not saying we should get started now, but that’s how I see you. Where I want us to be someday.”

  “Me, too,” Addie said around the lump in her throat. He hadn’t proposed or anything, but he’d made his intentions crystal clear.

  The serious expression on his face faded. “Of course if you want to practice, I’m all for it. We could head upstairs right now.”

  “You’re impossible,” she said tickling his side.

  “What? It’s not like anyone would notice.”

  She tickled him again. “We can start practicing all we want when we get home tomorrow. Believe it or not I’d like to spend more time with your family.”

  Chapter 15

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come?” Trent asked as he added another undershirt to his suitcase.

  “Positive. I’ll use the time to get some extra work done. Besides, you’ll only be away two nights. We’ll both survive.” Three weeks had passed since their weekend in Connecticut and in that time they’d not spent a night apart.

  After adding some underwear and socks to the bag, he zipped it up. “If you say so.”

  “Just think how happy I’ll be to see you when you get back.” The security panel near the bedroom door beeped and Addie hopped off the bed to answer it. “I bet that’s Chloe. She’d said she’d stop by.” Pushing the answer button on the panel, she greeted the doorman downstairs. As she suspected, her cousin had arrived. “Please send her up.”

  “Now I get it. While I’m gone you two are going to party,” Trent said, his lips turned downward in a frown as he took her into his arms.

  She pasted on her best guilty look. “You guessed it. While you’re up in Vermont, we’re going to prowl the city for men.”

  Trent’s eyes grew wide. “I thought you just had a big house party planned. But if that’s the case you’re definitely coming with me.” They both knew full well she had eyes only for him. “I might even handcuff you to my side.”

  “If anyone should be worried, it’s me,” Addie said. “With all those beautiful, rich women running around.” The purpose of Trent’s trip was to meet with the managers of an exclusive ski resort and spa that Sherbrooke Enterprises had just acquired. The resort, located on Stratton Mountain, had been visited by big name celebrities and an heiress. From the little she’d read about it, the resort wasn’t the type of place you took the family for a ski trip unless your yearly income included seven figures or more.

  Trent’s expression became serious, his eyebrows coming together and he gripped her shoulders. “You have nothing to worry about. I love you.” From the hallway the doorbell rang, but he kept his hands on her shoulders. “Addison.”

  “I was teasing, Trent. I’m not worried.” She didn’t lie. Thus far he’d given her no reason not to trust him and believe that he loved her. “And I love you.” The bell rang again. “Come on, let’s go downstairs.”

  Before he released her, he kissed her. “Go ahead. I’ll be right down.”

  Chloe looked poised to ring the bell again when Addie pulled open the door. Still dressed in the clothes she’d worn to the bakery, she had a large canvas bag slung over one shoulder and held a pastry box in her hands. “You did say to come over after work, right?” She followed Addie into the living room. “I can come by tomorrow otherwise.”

  “I was upstairs helping Trent pack.” She accepted the box and turned, intent on going to the kitchen.

  “Actually, I brought those for Trent,” Chloe said before Addie moved another inch.

  “Brought what for me?” Trent entered the room, his leather jacket on and his suitcase in hand.

  “Uh, some cannoli. Addie told me how much you like them.” She toyed with her gold hoop earring as she spoke.

  Trent didn’t hesitate. He moved in and removed the pastry box from Addie’s hands. “Fantastic. These babies are coming with me.” He dropped his suitcase and opened the box. “I don’t know if these will last the whole ride up.” He looked in Chloe’s direction. “Thank you, Chloe,” he said before he turned back to Addison. “I need to go. I’ll call you tonight.” He kissed her as if her cousin didn’t stand just feet away. “I love you.”

  Despite all the kisses they’d shared, he still somehow managed to take her breath away. “Love you, too. Have a safe trip.” She watched him leave before collapsing into a chair. It was going to be a long two nights.

  “Oh, my god! How do you live with him and get anything done?” Chloe said, her voice animated and full of excitement. “I’d sit around here all the time and just look at him.”

  Addie laughed and tossed a pillow at her cousin. “You’re nuts, you know that.”

  In return Chloe tossed the pillow back, aiming for Addie’s head, but she ducked and it sailed right over the chair. “It’s true. The guy is crazy hot.”

  Rather than admit she did find herself just staring at him from time to time, she jumped to her feet. “How about a tour before we look at those paint samples you brought?”

  Ready for a place of her own, Chloe decided to move out of the apartment she shared with two roommates and rent Addie’s place with the plan to buy at some point.

  “Please. I’ve been dying to see this place.”

  Like a perfect host, Addie gave her cousin the grand tour of the two-floor penthouse. In each room Chloe gushed over something whether it be the furniture or the view. It reminded Addie of her internal thoughts the fir
st time she walked in. Even now, a few months since her first visit, the place overwhelmed her sometimes. On more than one occasion she’d come home and stared, amazed that she now lived here.

  “This place is incredible,” Chloe gushed as she retrieved her bag with the paint samples. “I bet you’re not mad that I sent that picture into the paper now.”

  Chloe’s words drifted into the kitchen where Addie stood getting drinks from the refrigerator. Maybe I misheard. Maybe she said, “you’re not mad about the picture.” “What did you say?” She gripped the two bottles of flavored water, the plastic cold against her skin.

  “That you’re not mad about the picture in the Gazette.” She placed the canvas bag with the paint cans and the unpainted wood blocks on the table. “You were furious when it came out.” Chloe began to spread newspaper on the kitchen table. “At first I thought maybe I’d made a mistake sending in the picture.”

  Addie slammed the water bottles down onto the table. “You sent that in?” In the blink of an eye, her shock changed into anger. “Why would you do that?”

  Her cousin looked down at the table and cleared her throat. “It seemed like a good idea at the time. I thought maybe it would help your business.” She raised her head and met Addie’s eyes, but her fingers fiddled with the edges of the newspaper. “I thought you’d figure it out after awhile.”

  The last person she’d ever even consider was Chloe. There had been several customers in the bakery that day and she’d assumed it had been one of them. “I can’t believe you did that, Chloe. You should’ve told me sooner. For weeks it drove me nuts. Trent even had his campaign advisor look into it.”

  Shit, Trent. She’d have to tell him. How would he react? The picture itself hadn’t upset him much. At least it appeared that way then, but Chloe had violated his privacy, too.

  “Come on, Addie. Please don’t be mad at me. Your business did improve, so did all the bakeries. Nothing bad happened.” Chloe pleaded in the same manner she had when they had been children and she’d done something wrong. “And it’s just a picture of you two drinking coffee.”