Although Jake only voiced the thought he’d had himself, the urge to punch his cousin took root. “Thanks a lot,” he said his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Trent’s sarcasm didn’t seem to bother Jake. “Come on, Trent. Put yourself in her shoes and then think about it.”
Even if he agreed with his cousin, he had no intention of admitting it. “Something big? As in expensive big?” If it would help, he’d buy her the most expensive gift he could find.
Jake walked away as he shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.” He pulled another beer from the refrigerator. “Want another?”
Trent nodded. He’d more or less known his cousin wasn’t referring to a big expensive gift. That would be too easy. “I need to make a big emotional gesture, right?” He said even though he already knew the answer.
He must have made a pained expression because Jake laughed at him as he handed him his beer. “You screwed up big time. Did you think a simple solution would magically appear? You need to prove to her that you love her. That you would give up anything for her. You need to shed some blood in order to fix this one.”
At the moment he wanted to shed some of his cousin’s blood. “How did you patch things up with Charlie when she left you?” Although now married and very happy by the looks of it, Charlie had broken up with Jake a few months into their relationship.
“Believe it or not that wasn’t my fault. Actually it wasn’t either of our faults. Rather it was misunderstanding. She misinterpreted something she saw and jumped to the wrong conclusion. After a while she figured that out and came to me.”
Trent guessed Jake gave him the condensed version of events because Charlie didn’t strike him as the type to jump to conclusions.
“Going by what you told me, Addie didn’t misunderstand anything and every one of her reactions was justified.”
Trent put down his bottle of beer. “I need something stronger tonight.” Between his meeting with Marty and now his conversation with Jake, he needed something that would help him forget for a little while. A few shots of his favorite cognac would accomplish the job.
As he hoped, three extra large shots of cognac combined with the beer relaxed him enough that for the first time since Addie left his thoughts didn’t remain fixed on her. In fact, the only thing on his mind was his bed. So not long after he finished his third drink, he left Jake watching television and headed upstairs. He’d managed to stay awake long enough to strip off his shoes and shirt before he fell into his cold empty bed. Thanks to the cognac, however, Addie’s absence on her side of the bed didn’t register, and within minutes he was asleep.
Unfortunately, he didn’t stay asleep. Whenever he drank more than he should he fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow, but he never managed to stay asleep. He assumed it had something to do with how the alcohol affected the brain because it always happened and tonight was no different.
The clock on the nightstand read two, and Trent stared at the ceiling wide awake. With the effects of the alcohol gone, his brain registered the empty space where Addie should be. As he examined the ceiling, he thought back to his conversation with Jake. He needed to make a grand gesture. Proposing would be considered such an act, but he couldn’t do that. Even if she hadn’t already said no, she’d take it as part of his plan for fixing his image. No, it had to be something else. But what? Damn, he wished he could just buy her a gift and win her back that way. He could come up with half a dozen gifts without even putting any thought into it. He knew that method would never work with Addie.
Come on Sherbrooke, you’re intelligent. Think of something. Maybe if he focused on what his gesture must accomplish that would help. Whatever he did must prove that he loved her for her, not because she made him look like a decent guy. It also had to prove she came before everything else, including his political career. Slowly an idea formed. By the time the clock numbers read three, he believed he had it. Now he needed to see her. What he had in mind couldn’t be expressed in a text message or over the phone. Considering the fact she never returned his phone calls, getting a one-on-one meeting might prove impossible.
Turning onto his side, Trent punched his pillow. Today he’d try calling again. If she didn’t answer he’d stop by her house. It may take more than one trip, but eventually she’d let him in if for no other reason than to tell him to stop bothering her. Once they were in the same room he’d put his heart on the table and hope for the best.
***
After thanking her friend Lydia, a friend from high school who worked as a nurse at Rhode Island hospital, Addie hung up the phone. That’s what she got for not reading the information sheet included with her prescription. Never had she heard that antibiotics could reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills, and when her doctor wrote the prescription for her strep throat, she hadn’t mentioned it. According to Lydia though, her prescription should’ve have come with a fact sheet listing the side effects. Although the sheets contained important information, Addie always tossed them without even glancing at them. She’d never had a problem until now. And what a problem she had.
Learning of Trent’s deception had crushed her heart, but at least she’d assumed she’d never have to see him again. A baby would make that impossible. Or would it? If she never saw him, he’d never know about the baby. In an ideal world all children would have two parents who loved them, but plenty of children were raised by single parents. Her baby wouldn’t lack for love either, even if Trent were not around. Her parents might be disappointed when they first found out about the baby and no marriage, but they would get over it and spoil their grandson or granddaughter. Then of course there were her brothers. Her baby would have four loving and protective uncles. Although there would be the possibility they’d be loving uncles from behind bars after they killed Trent for getting her pregnant.
Addie let the idea of not telling Trent simmer and soon her conscience came online. The memory of Trent holding James in Connecticut formed, and their conversation from the garden replayed. For all his faults, Trent would be a good father. Plus, he’d be able to give their child so much more than she ever could. If she kept the baby a secret, not only would she be depriving Trent, but also their child.
Addie dropped her head in her hands. If she told him, Trent would always be involved in her life. A constant reminder of their relationship and how he’d used her. When he did marry, she’d have to see him with some beautiful wife on his arm. She’d likely see him with more children as well. How could she ever handle that? Just the mere thought made the tears flow.
It’ll get better. It won’t always hurt this much even if he does have a beautiful woman on his arm. She wiped away the tears from her face and eyed her cell phone. She had to tell him. Her emotions didn’t matter, telling him was the right thing. With a sniffle, she checked her watch. Outside, the sun had disappeared and now only the moon and stars filled the sky, but even so it couldn’t be that late.
Ten o’clock—no that couldn’t be right. Addie grabbed her phone. Sure enough the phone read ten o’clock. So much for calling and asking to see him tonight. Her news would have to wait one more day.
Chapter 20
“Damn it, Trent. I wish I’d never come up.” Jake wiped the blood from his lip. “Last night you got drunk and passed out. Now this.”
Trent rested his forearms on his knees as his cousin took care of his bloody lip. “You agreed to practice with me. It’s not my fault your ground fighting sucks.” They’d both taken up boxing and ground fighting in boarding school. Trent still practiced regularly with a personal coach, but he didn’t know about his cousin.
“I only agreed because I thought it might improve your mood. You’ve been an ass all day.”
He had no smart reply for that. Even he recognized his foul mood, which had set in after he called Addie and got her voice mail yet again. As the day wore on and no return call came his mood digressed further. Hoping that some physical activity would distract him, he’d asked
Jake to spar. So far the exercise had only gained him a sore jaw from Jake’s elbow. On the plus side, though, it had killed some time and given his cousin a bloody lip.
“The split lip improves your appearance.”
Jake wiped his bloody fingers on his T-shirt. “Give me a minute and I’ll improve yours, too.”
“You can try.”
With no warning, Jake lunged at him, taking Trent down. The two men struggled for the upper hand, neither willing to concede until the cell phone rang.
“That’s yours not mine,” Jake panted, as the ring continued.
Trent jumped up and sprinted across the gym for his cell phone. Finally. Addie’s name and number filled the screen. “Addie,” he said a little out of breath himself.
At first only silence came though the phone. “Hi, Trent. I can call you back if this is a bad time.”
“No, it’s fine.” He tried to get his breathing more normal. “I’m glad you called.”
Silence again greeted his ear.
“If you’re home, can I come over? We need to talk.” Reluctance filled her voice, but he ignored it. She’d called and wanted to see him. That was all that mattered.
“Come on over anytime. I’m home.”
Still seated on the floor, Jake listened and gave him a thumbs up when Trent told Addie to come over.
“I’m at the office so I should be there in about five minutes.”
Shit. That didn’t give him much time to clean up, but he couldn’t see her like this. Sweat covered him and he smelled about as good as a dirty gym sock, not to mention he hadn’t shaved. “Okay, see you then.” He ended the call, and then looked at his cousin. “Jake, when Addie gets here, let her in. I need a shower.” He didn’t wait for a reply. Right now time wasn’t on his side.
***
Addie stepped off the elevator but made it no further. She’d spent the night before and early morning preparing what she’d say. A client appointment in the afternoon distracted her from the task ahead, but now her mind swirled again as her insides practiced the jitterbug. How would he react? An illegitimate child with a woman couldn’t be good for his precious new image. Although, if he became the doting father it might redeem him in the eyes of many voters. After all, this wasn’t the nineteenth century. People did have children all the time without getting married.
With that, another thought popped into her head and sent ice through her veins. What if Trent demanded sole custody? These days most judges awarded joint custody except in extreme circumstances, but who knew? He could argue that he had the resources to raise a child while Addie didn’t. Trent also had money and connections; he could use both and sway a judge in his direction.
Maybe she shouldn’t tell him. What were the chances she could avoid seeing him over the next nine months or so? Her office was only floors below his. More than likely, they’d bump into each other at some point. If he saw her tomorrow he’d never suspect anything, but what if he saw her in seven months. He’d notice then.
“It’s the right thing,” she whispered for the hundredth time. Crossing the floor, she got the impression this was how prisoners during the French revolution felt walking to the Guillotine.
The door opened only moments after she rang the bell, but not by the Sherbrooke she wanted. “Addie, come on in,” Jake said. He stood in the doorway, his face sweat stained and blood on the shirt he wore.
Addie hesitated, and then stepped forward. “Is Trent home?” She clasped her hands behind her.
“You mean Grumpy? Yeah, he’s in the shower.”
For the moment the purpose of her visit faded. “Grumpy?”
“Yeah, you know like the dwarf from Snow White. He’s about as pleasant as that.” Jake paused then shook his head. “No, I’m wrong. He’s worse.”
Great, Trent in a bad mood. Who knew how a grumpy Trent would take the news? “If he’s in a bad mood maybe I should come back later.”
“And have him split my lip again?” He pointed to his bottom lip, which looked swollen. “Unless you don’t care for my well-being, I suggest you stay.”
Addie cracked a smile despite the seriousness of her visit. Jake had a knack for making people laugh. She’d noticed that in Connecticut as well. “I guess I’ll stay then.” Behind her back she tightened her grip. “You two were fighting?”
Jake took her by the elbow and led her further inside. “I thought it would improve his mood. This was all it did.” He gestured toward his mouth again as he sat.
Since it appeared appropriate, she followed suit and took the armchair across from him. At first neither spoke, instead Jake studied her.
“I’ve never seen him like this,” he said, breaking the silence. “This situation with you is tearing him up.”
Yeah, because his plan went down the drain. “I doubt that.”
“I’ve known my cousin a lot longer than you and this isn’t him. He loves you,” Jake said his voice a mix of kindness and authority.
“Did he tell you why I left?” Maybe he didn’t know the truth about her and Trent’s relationship.
Jake crossed his arms and leaned back, disgust on his face. “Yeah, he told me everything. What can I say? My cousin can be an ass at times. But, he loves you. His proposal had nothing to do with any plan.”
If she could only believe Jake, but how could she? Wouldn’t Trent’s cousin say anything in his defense? “I know you believe that—”
“But you don’t,” Jake interrupted her. “I get it. At least think about it and hear what he has to say. Despite his flaws he’s a good guy.”
“Addie,” Trent said.
She looked toward the stairs as he came down. Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, his hair looked damp and he’d not bothered with any shoes. Right away, the sight brought tears and she prayed she could hold them back long enough to say what she’d come for.
“I’m sorry I kept you waiting.” He stopped near the coffee table but made no move to touch her.
“It’s okay. I haven’t been here long.” Up close she noticed the nicks on his face from shaving and the dark circles under his eyes.
“That’s my cue.” Jake stood and, without another word, left.
In her lap, she squeezed her fingers. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think that you might have company.”
Trent pointed his thumb toward the stairs. “He’s more of an annoyance. I’d rather see you. Actually, I planned to stop by your house tonight.”
She offered him a weak smile. “I guess this saves you a trip.” She cleared her throat. “Trent, I have something important to tell you.” She’d known this would be difficult but not this bad.
“So do I.” He sat down on the coffee table his knees mere inches from hers. “Do you mind if I go first?”
Addie shook her head. If she opened her mouth now she feared the dam holding back her tears would burst.
“You already know about Marty’s plan. I wish it wasn’t true but it is. There’s nothing I can do about the past.” He took both her hands in his. “But Addie from the very first time we met, you intrigued me. You wouldn’t even let me buy you a new coffee after I spilled yours even though you recognized me.”
His words brought back their first encounter and her chest tightened.
“That’s why I sat down that day. I’d been thinking about you and suddenly there you were. From the very start I thought of you as a woman I enjoyed spending time with. I never saw you as some pawn in a plan.” Trent paused and swallowed. “Then before I knew it, I was in love with you.”
Trent’s thick and unsteady voice pulled at her and tears slid down her face.
“When I asked you to marry me, it was because I love you, not because Marty says I need a wife.” He released her hands and wiped a tear from her cheek. “This time without you has been unbearable. I need you, Addison.” His voice cracked and his eyes glistened with tears.
Could she believe him? More than anything she wanted to. What if this was all just an act? “Trent, how do I know this
isn’t just ploy? A way to get me to fall in line with your plan? I love you and want to believe you, but I just don’t know if I can.” She spoke with as reasonable a voice as she could manage.
He wiped another tear away, and then took her hands again in his. “I know. That’s why I’ve decided not to run for the Senate. Marty let all the media outlets know at four o’clock this morning that I have no intention of running. It was on the front page of all the papers and on the morning news. Someone else can have Senator Harrison’s seat.”
Addie’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
“You’re more important than some seat in Senate. If it means you’ll marry me, I won’t ever go into politics. I’ll stay with Sherbrooke Enterprises for the rest of my life. Or come and work for you. Hell, if it makes you happy I’ll be a stay at home dad when we have children.”
Her mind reeled from his words. “You won’t ever run for office?” Her voice came out as a mere whisper.
“I’ll never enter politics if that’s what you want,” he said repeating his previous statement.
Her mind worked on processing his words. “But it’s important to you, Trent.”
He raised their joined hands toward his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “You’re more important. Please say you’ll marry me.” Trent released her hands then pulled out the diamond engagement ring he’d proposed with before.
Please answer me. Addie sat across from him staring at the ring. He’d said what was in his heart and she’d at least listened. But had it been enough? So far she’d said little. “Addie, do you need time?” It would kill him if she left tonight without answering him, but he’d give her more time and space if she needed it.
Addie met his eyes, tears falling down her cheeks. “No, I don’t need time,” she said in a broken whisper. “I can’t let you give up your goals. If you don’t run someday, you’ll regret it and blame me. You’ll resent me.”
Redeeming The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 5) Page 21