My eyes fell to his cock before they raked up his glistening muscles.
“You answered the door like that?” I asked.
“Why? Is the wife jealous?” he asked coyly.
I shook my head at him again as I sat up in bed. But he didn’t hand me my food. Instead, he stuck a straw in what looked to be the most incredible glass of limeade I’d ever had and held it to my lips. I tried to wrap my hand around the glass, but he brushed it away.
“Everett, you don’t have to feed me.”
“Drink, Andrea.”
I wrapped my lips around the straw and the second that sweetened limeade hit my tongue, I was done. I gulped down the green drink in mouthfuls as Everett sat there, holding the glass to my lips. I closed my eyes. My throat felt as it if was burning from the cold. My swallowing was audible as my body replenished what it had lost, and by the time I opened my eyes the glass was completely empty.
“Oops,” I said.
“Don’t worry. There’s a reason why they always bring up to glasses,” Everett said.
He plucked the straw from the finished drink and put it into another before setting it on the table beside my bed. He lifted the silver domes and filled the room with its wonderful scent and I couldn’t take it any longer. I held out my hands for the plate as he set it on my lap and I quickly grabbed the fork. I was starving, much hungrier than I remembered being. I stabbed at my salmon and inhaled my grilled vegetables, and with every bite I took my stomach begged for more.
“This is incredible,” I said.
“I’m glad you like it.”
The sound of Everett’s muffled voice forced my head up and I found him smiling at me. He had his fork jammed between his lips with a little bit of juice tumbling from the side of his mouth. Without thinking, I reached up with my thumb and wiped it off, catching it upon my skin before it trickled down any further. Everett’s eyes fell to my finger as I pulled it away, then I wiped it haphazardly on the sheet next to me.
“It was about to fall,” I said.
But when our eyes connected, I could tell there was something he wanted to say.
“Everett?” I asked.
His eyes fell down my body before slowly grazing back up to my own.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“We should eat,” he said.
He pulled the fork from his muffled mouth before taking another massive bite of his food. And for some reason, I felt disappointed.
I just didn’t know why.
EIGHTEEN
Everett
“Hello?”
Hearing that sweet voice in my ear flipped my stomach in on itself.
“Andrea. It’s Everett.”
“Oh, hey there! I was wondering when I was going to hear from you. Have you heard back from the lawyer at all?” she asked.
“I actually wanted to get together with you sometime today and talk about all of that. Is it possible for us to get together?”
“I’ve got a pretty long day at the youth center. I’ll be here until well after six. But if you wanted to come over to my place, I could whip us up something quick? It won’t be fancy or anything, but I don’t know if I’ll be up for anything other than my apartment after today.”
“That’s fine. It doesn't matter to me. Shoot me your address and I’ll be there around six thirty?”
“Make it seven just to be safe.”
“Seven it is. I’ll keep an eye out for your text.”
“No need,” he said, chuckling.
My phone lit up against my face and I looked down to see a text from Andrea. And when I opened it up, my body both reveled in it and grew fearful. I had Andrea’s address. A far cry from what I figured she would give me after our trip in Vegas. It had been a week since we had all gotten back, and we all had walked into a shit storm. Andrea was dealing with issues that fell to the wayside at the youth center while she was gone, and I walked right into the fire marshal telling me that the burning down of our mansion was ruled intentional.
Someone had burnt the property down on purpose.
My brothers and I had been so busy running around with my parents trying to figure shit out that I hadn’t had a chance to sit down and talk with Andrea since we had gotten back. I had her number, but I hadn’t been able to use it. Either Lucas was venting to me about what was going on or my father was calling me trying to come up with a plan or Junior was readily losing his mind or Drew was calling me for more details as they unfolded.
We got back from Vegas and walked into a minefield.
“I’ll see you at seven then, Andrea.”
“What do you like to eat?” she asked.
“Whatever you prepare will be just fine. Okay? Don’t go to so much trouble. We’ll be talking more than anything.”
“Are you sure about that?”
I drew in a deep breath as the memories of our weekend together made the veins in my groin throb.
“Very sure, unfortunately.”
Her giggle filled me with such a soothing delight.
“Well then, I’ll make sure it’s ready by the time you get there. See you at seven.”
“See you then, Andrea.”
A call from Colton came in just as I hung up the phone and I picked it up before the first ring even finished. He was exactly who I had been trying to get in contact with all damn week. Where the hell had he been? Why had he not been taking my phone calls?
“Colton, we need to talk,” I said as I answered the call.
“Sorry for the absence. Been dealing with some things in New York.”
“So, you have something,” I said.
“I have a lot of something. Can you meet me at Serpentine’s in about an hour?”
“Yeah. Of course. What’s going on?”
“I’ve got some information you’re going to want to know.”
“I’ll be there in an hour,” I said.
I immediately hung up the phone and texted Cash and my father. Then, I prepared myself for the meeting at hand. I didn’t think it was a good idea to bring Lucas to this meeting, especially since he and Colton didn’t get along well. I made my way to the bar a few minutes early, ensuring that I could get us a back booth where no one could hear us. I ordered myself a beer and sat back, waiting for everyone to show up.
And one by one, they trickled in.
“Hey there, Everett.”
“Cash. How are you, man? We missed you in Vegas.”
I got up and clapped my brother on the back before he sat down across from me.
“A whiskey sour, please,” he said to the waitress.
“Dad not with you?” I asked.
“He’s not too far behind. He’s making some last-minute adjustments with the insurance company while he’s got Flynn’s attention.”
I nodded my head slowly as I bit down onto the inside of my cheek.
“Get over it, Everett. Everyone else is. We all make mistakes. Remember when Lucas forgot to—”
“I know we all make mistakes, but none of them have cost us two million dollars,” I said.
“We can absorb it. We’re fine. Get over it and keep moving forward. And honestly? Now that this is arson? Once we figure out who it is, we can sue them for twice that, easily.”
I nodded my head before a familiar voice appeared at my side.
“You gonna scoot over for your old man?”
I chuckled and shook my head as I slid over in the booth.
“Paradise Lost in a bottle, please,” my father said.
“Ah, the imperial IPA,” I said.
“I still don't know how you guys choke down beer,” Cash said.
“It’s an acquired taste. Don’t worry. It isn’t one I’ve developed either.”
Colton came walking up to us and my father immediately stood. He shook the man’s hand before Cash stood up from his seat and ushered for Colton to be the one to scoot. He slid into the booth before he ordered his traditional Scotch on the rocks, then he turned his attention back t
o us.
“Sir, nice to see you again,” Colton said.
“Been a while. How have you been?” my father asked.
“No worse for wear, though I do come bearing news,” Colton said.
“What’s going on?” Cash asked.
“Colton’s been in New York for the past week or so and he’s got some information for us,” I said.
“What news?” my father asked.
“You haven’t filled them in on our little meeting, have you?” Colton asked.
“Son?” my father asked.
I shifted myself to look at him as I launched into my story. I told them about how I went to see Colton the week of the fire and how there had been some chatter about other properties in the state burning down mysteriously. How they were all ruled out because of electrical issues, like ours almost was until the fire marshal stepped in. About how a lot of city investors are branching out into poorer states in the U.S. because of the ballooning real estate investment economy. About how the small town at the border of North Carolina and South Carolina was just discovered to have a nice stock of natural gold in the dirt and water that runs beneath the town.
“What?” my father asked.
“It was just confirmed a couple of days ago,” Colton said.
“You’re talking about a second age gold rush here,” Cash said.
“That’s exactly what I’m talking about,” Colton said.
“The theory is that it takes a lot of money to correct outdated electrical issues. And even more money up front to correct the houses that burned down due to them,” I said.
“What does this have to do with our property?” my father asked.
“I gave your son the card of a man who gave me a wonderful little lecture the last time I was in the city about this exact topic, sir. How the city markets have no properties worth investing in. How they’ve reached their peaks. How they’re about to topple over and how the real money in the next three decades going forward will be in the poorer states of our country,” Colton said.
“And?” my father asked.
“He also said he was looking to invest in the area, sir. Asked me about the main players in the real estate investment industry down in South Carolina. Really picked my brain when he figured out I was stationed in Charleston,” Colton said.
“And what did you say?” Cash asked.
“Nothing. I own the game this man plays in this area. I’m not giving out my trade secrets,” Colton said.
“Then how did you know to tell my son about it?” my father asked.
“Because he already knew about the infamous Wilder family,” Colton said.
“He what?” Cash asked.
“Yep. Specifically asked me about you guys, actually. That’s what threw a red flag up in the back of my head. And when the mansion burned down, and Everett reached out to me, I was more than willing to speak with him,” Colton said.
“So, what did you learn on this newest trip there?” my father asked.
“Well, I figured out who this man works for. It’s a company called Cinder Block Enhancements. Don’t know much about it. There isn’t much chatter about it or its practices in the greater New York area,” Colton said.
“Which means they’re probably new,” my father said.
“But with the knowledge they have of the marketplace, they aren’t new people dealing in a new industry,” Cash said.
“Exactly,” Colton said.
“Do we have a name for this man?” my father asked.
I dipped into my back pocket and pulled out my wallet. I slid the card Colton gave me two weeks ago over to him and he picked it up. He did exactly what I did with it. Turned it over and around, looking for anything other than the name and the number on the piece of rectangular paper.
“This isn’t a business card,” my father said.
“No, sir. The man gave me his personal information. I had no want to use it until now,” Colton said.
“Why now?” Cash asked.
“Turns out, Cinder Block Enhancements has purchased a lovely property three blocks down from a rather infamous mansion that just burned down,” Colton said.
My eyes panned over to Cash and I could see his cheeks tinting with anger.
“What?” he asked.
“Yep. Heard it through the grapevine before I got a lovely little phone call from that personal number. How he got my information, I’ve got no idea. I sure as hell didn’t give it to him,” Colton said.
“So, this shadowy figure who can track down personal phone numbers and create companies out of thin air has purchased a mansion three blocks down from ours that burned to the ground,” I said.
“Yes,” Colton said plainly.
“We’ve got to go to the police, Dad,” I said.
“It’s a hell of a lot of coincidences, but it’s nothing substantial. The fire marshal nor the police will be able to do anything about it,” my father said.
“He’s right. It sucks, but he’s right,” Colton said.
“Then what can we do?” Cash asked.
“I’m not done with my story,” Colton said.
“Then finish it up, would you?” I asked.
“Son, be patient. He’s doing us a very big favor we didn’t ask him to do,” my father said.
“Thank you, sir. But the thanks isn’t required. I’ve known Everett for a few years now. Knowing you guys are going through this breaks my heart,” Colton said.
“Well, know you have our sincerest thanks as well as a favor for in the future should you need it,” my father said.
“So, what’s the part you’re not done with?” Cash asked. My eyes connected heavily with Colton’s as a grin slid across his cheeks.
“Apparently, one of my old friends from back in my Los Angeles days has been dancing a fine little waltz with Cinder Block Enhancements,” he said.
“You’ve got someone on the inside,” I said, grinning.
“Hell yeah, I do. Excuse my language, sir,” Colton said.
“You’re fine. That type of reveal deserves a hell yeah,” my father said with a grin.
“What does this insider man of yours say?” Cash asked.
“That this company is actively trying to take out the competition,” Colton said.
“Wait, so he knows this for sure? Can he prove it?” I asked.
“We’re working on it. But it’s a slow process. Getting the kind of paperwork and recordings one would need to prove something like this takes stealth and time. But, he’s working on it,” Colton said.
“We have to go to the police once we have that information,” I said.
“Once we have it, yes. But until then, all we can do is keep our heads down. Because if this is really as serious as your friend paints it to be, then people like these stop at nothing to take out the competition. Which means we’re in danger,” my father said.
No. Not said.
Growled.
“We’ll handle it from here,” my father said.
“Well, I’ll still have my insider man reporting to me, so if anything comes up that I feel could be of use to you guys, I’ll pass it on, sir,” Colton said.
“Thank you for your time and all that you’ve done for us. Boys, you coming?” my father asked.
I shot Cash an odd look before we both slid from the booth. My father removed his wallet and tossed some money down onto the table before I looked back at Colton. He watched us curiously, clearly just as confused about my father’s reaction as we were. Cash and I walked outside with him and escorted him to his car, and it wasn’t until he opened his door that he turned and spoke to both of us.
“Not a word to anyone, you hear me?” he asked.
“Dad, what's going on?” Cash asked.
“Promise me, boys.”
“We promise. Now what’s going on?” I asked.
“We’re going to handle this the way it needs to be handled. And unless Colton wants to get together and talk again, I don’t want to hear anot
her word about this,” my father said.
“You’re acting strange, Dad. I don’t like it,” I said.
“Keep your heads down until I can figure this out,” my father said.
Then he dipped into his car and drove off into the night.
“What the fuck just happened?” Cash asked.
“I don’t know,” I said as I squinted my eyes.
I watched Colton come out of the bar and wave at us before he headed to his car and drove off as well.
“Got any plans for your evening? I haven’t eaten yet,” Cash said.
“Actually, I do. I’ve got someone I’m meeting in…”
I looked down at my watch and saw it was ten minutes to seven.
“Shit. I’m going to be late. Gotta go. Rain check?” I asked.
“I’m holding you to it!” Cash exclaimed.
I jogged over to my car and quickly slammed myself into it. I needed to get to Andrea’s. We needed to talk about how to proceed with all of this stuff. She wouldn’t be happy with me that I hadn’t made as much headway on this as I originally want, but I had been a little busy since we’d all gotten back from Vegas. I sped out of the parking lot and tore onto the road, then typed her address into my GPS. It still rolled my stomach that she lived where she did. It wasn’t the nicest part of town, especially if she was walking back home from the youth center in the dark by herself. Fuck, I hoped she wasn’t. I hoped she had more brains than that as a single woman living in downtown Charleston.
But I couldn't help it as my eyes scanned the sidewalk.
I looked for her in everyone, making sure she wasn’t running by herself and walking home alone. I rolled by the youth center and saw the parking lot empty, then I took the route my GPS asked me to in order to get to her place. I didn’t see her on the drive, which made me feel a little better. But I still didn’t know what her car looked like. So, it wasn’t as if I could see if she was actually at her place or not.
I felt this urgent need to protect her. And I didn’t know where it was coming from. I blamed it on the paranoia bleeding over from the meeting I just as with Colton, but deep down I knew that wasn’t it.
Accidentally Wild: An Accidental Marriage Romance (The Wilder Brothers Book 2) Page 15