“I have a house in Tucson, Mom.”
“Of course, you do. Valentina is okay with this?”
My guess would be yes because Valentina didn’t care about money. She cared about…quality time. This house meant nothing to her. She was impressed by it, but this estate wasn’t her idea of a home because it didn’t hold any of her childhood memories. At least in Tucson, her family and childhood friends were there. Would she consider it an insult if I changed my mind to please Mom? Especially after I’d made a mess of things earlier today.
“Yeah,” I said when Mom stepped back to look me in the eye.
10
What Else Did You Lie About?
Valentina
First, she bailed when Zack met me at the stairwell. Now she lurked in the gardens like some kind of thief. What the hell was going on with Ana? I was so wrong about her before. She had no interest in Derek. That was all Lilly’s crazy plan.
The good news was that Ana could be an ally. She was close to Lilly. She could help me figure out how to get on her good side. Day one had not gone as I had expected at all. Yeah, I’d figured there would be some awkwardness meeting Lilly for the first time. But this morning had been a real disaster. Did I blame Derek for that? A little.
I followed the garden path, through the tall oak trees, keeping Ana’s house lights in front of me. Getting lost in this massive maze was easy during the day because I had no points of reference outside of it. But now that night had fallen, the two houses were like beacons.
Near the creek, I found Ana sitting on her side of the property tinkering with a canvas she had propped up on an easel. I glanced up the huge tree keeping me from view. Its branches and leaves swayed in the warm breeze. Standing there, I watched Ana. If I had to be honest, Lilly wasn’t wrong in choosing her for Derek. She had her long blond hair perfectly pinned into a chignon. I ran my hands through my hair, which I’d been unable to keep under control since we landed. Her blue gaze was full of determination as she delivered strokes onto the canvas. I found it hard to believe Derek didn’t want to be with her.
“She’s not you,” Derek had said. Was that enough?
She looked like some fairy-tale princess sitting in this beautiful place, surrounded by greenery, colorful flowers, fireflies popping in and out along the trickling water, cicadas chirping. She belonged here, just like Derek. She was part of what he considered home. Who wouldn’t want that?
Until Derek told me he didn’t want to be with me, I had to keep fighting for him. Right now, Ana was the key to get to Lilly. I couldn’t stay here, feeling sorry for myself, worrying about what Derek deserved or didn’t deserve. I had to push and do what was right for my family. I smiled at the thought. Derek, Max, and I were a family. I elbowed myself off the tree trunk and ambled over to her.
When I approached, she put an index finger up to her lips. My eyes went wide as I tried to see more in the twilight. It wasn’t exactly dark yet, but shadows crept along the tree line.
I sat on the wooden barstool next to hers and whispered. “What is it?”
“Someone was watching me before.”
I glanced toward the Cole house; the tall bushes and trees made it impossible to see anything except the lights coming from the rooms upstairs. I focused on the tree where I’d spied on her, but I was sure she couldn’t see me. Not from here. I shrugged. “I don’t see anything.”
“Maybe it was just me. It freaked me out. This place is always so quiet and lonely. Maybe my head is still buzzing from all the activity over there.” She pointed her chin toward the house.
“Did you grow up here?” I had to stay on track. Ana was my only chance at making friends with Lilly. I had to do this for Derek. If I wanted to marry him, I needed his family’s blessing. I hadn’t forgotten about that. What would he do if his mom asked him to let me go? Would he oblige? Or be fine with never seeing his mom again? Either option would break my heart.
“Yes.” She glanced down at her hands. “Though after our parents died, my brother Charlie sent me to a boarding school. He was in college so he had no choice, really. It was fine.”
I hadn’t asked her if she liked her school. But she gave me her rehearsed answer anyway. “But now you’re back?”
She nodded. “I finished college a couple of years ago. I spent some time traveling, but I missed home. It’s just me here, but it’s still home, you know?”
“That’s great. This is my first time leaving Arizona. Imagine that? Where’s your brother? Is he coming?”
She shook her head, rubbing the handle of her brush. “He’s a Marine. I don’t know if Derek told you about us.”
“No, not really. Sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. Anyway, him and Wesley are very close. If Wesley’s here, it’s only a matter of time before my brother shows up too.” She plastered a smile on her face. Her brother would come because Wesley was here, but what about her? She seemed so alone I wanted to hug her.
From the corner of my eye, I saw a shadow move just on the other side of the picket fence. I did a double take, and Ana reached for my hand. “You saw it?”
Was I not the only one spying on her? I peered at the trees and bushes behind the fence, but it was too dark to make out anything. “Yes. Should we call the guards?” I pulled out my phone. “I’m texting Derek.”
“No, look.” Ana pointed at a small fox rushing out of the woods. Creases flashed across her forehead. “I’d hoped it was someone else.”
“Like who?” I leaned forward. It was weird how comfortable I felt with her, as if I’d known her for a long time. Maybe I was still a little drunk from the wine.
“No one.” She shrugged. “I’m glad you’re finally here. Now that everyone is back, it feels like old times. You still haven’t met Tyler and Matt. They’ll be here next week for the engagement party.”
“Great. More family. I can’t wait.”
“Come on. It can’t be all that bad.”
I wiped my hands on my dress. “I’m glad I got to meet you. It will make this month go by fast having someone to talk to. Someone who doesn’t hate me.” Surely, she knew who I was talking about.
“What do you mean this month? I thought you were staying. Lilly said you were.”
“We’re not staying.” My hands turned cold at the idea of staying here under Lilly’s command for the rest of my life. I wanted to marry Derek, but that was a high price tag. One he hadn’t told me about.
“Oh. I must’ve misunderstood.” She waved her hand in dismissal, slanting a glance toward the trees. Who was she hoping was out there?
“Okay, I have to be honest. You seem nice. Lilly loves you. I need your help.”
“Absolutely.” She sat up a little straighter on her barstool. “What do you need?”
“Why does Lilly hate me? How do I fix it?” I was begging, and I didn’t care.
“She doesn’t hate you. She…um.” She winced. “She thinks you were the one keeping Derek away before. Though it sounds like she might be right if you’re still planning to go home after this trip.”
“How could she think that we’re staying? My son isn’t even here.” Was she hoping Derek and I would break up while visiting? Crap, if that was her original plan, she’d almost succeeded. And on the first day. I rubbed my temple. The slight headache I’d had since I ran into the tree earlier today had turned into a full-on migraine. “Wait. No one is keeping Derek away but himself. I can’t tell him what to do.”
“I like you.” Ana covered my hand with hers. “Derek wants to live in this house.”
“Did he tell you that?”
“The way he talks about it, I assumed so.”
She was right. From the beginning, Derek had been so proud of this house. He even mentioned living here and asked me to make the place a home for us. Jesus, how could I be so stupid? I was so worried about his mom I didn’t consider the fact that he might not want to be in Arizona anymore. I couldn’t leave home.
“Is that Lilly’s beef
with me?”
“Yes. When Derek divorced, she figured he had a second chance at fixing his life.”
Derek’s life didn’t need fixing. He was happy in Arizona. Wasn’t he? Did he lie to me? Did he think that if I spent a month in this mansion, I’d agree to leave everything behind and move here? Everything he’d done since we left home would point to that. I took a deep calming breath. Why did this feel like entrapment?
“What do you think are my options? Move here or stay in Tucson without Derek?”
“Derek loves you. No way he’s letting you go. You didn’t see what I saw.” She fanned herself, giggling.
“When? Where?”
“In your bedroom. Before. When I have sex, that’s what I want. Someone to want me like that.”
Whoa. What? I dropped my head in my hands, cheeks burning hot. “I didn’t think you knew what we were doing. You didn’t exactly react. But of course, you saw.”
“The guy was shirtless!” She squeezed my leg, laughing. “I have a pretty good idea of how things work. I didn’t react because I was more afraid of going back out.”
Was that why she seemed younger than me even though she wasn’t? She was so beautiful, in a refined kind of way. She was funny, smart, and obviously very talented. “How did you make it through college without guys not making an effort with you?”
“They did. I wanted something special. I guess it never came.” She shook her head as if chasing a thought away. “But don’t change the subject. How are we going to fix your little situation here? What do you want?”
“I don’t know. A part of me is mad at Derek for not being more forthcoming with me, but if I’m being honest, I never really told him what my expectations were. I assume he knew I wanted to live in Tucson with him and Max, my son.”
Everything that’d happened since Vail kept going round and round in my mind. Derek was in a hurry to get me out of Tucson. Supposedly, to throw Bridget off and get her to leave town. Now it turned out he wanted to stay in Atlanta permanently.
“Sounds to me like you two have a lot to talk about before the wedding.”
“Yeah, sounds like it.”
“Hey, I keep losing you in the maze.” As if we’d summoned him, Derek jumped over the low fence, picked his way across the creek separating his property from Ana’s, and joined us. He kissed my cheek. His body heat seeped through my dress, and I leaned against him. A life with Derek was all I wanted, but…
“I lost track of time talking to Ana.”
“It’s Anabelle. These guys insist on treating me like Charlie’s little sister.”
“What’s wrong with Sweet Ana?” Derek tapped her nose. “You’re very sweet.”
Could he be more clueless?
“See what I mean?” She rolled her eyes.
“I’m sorry. Anabelle.” I smiled at her. “Thank you for talking to me. This was very helpful.” I gave her a meaningful look, and she giggled.
“It’s late. Dinner’s ready.” Derek gripped my waist. His intentions were so obvious.
“Good night.” I waved at Anabelle.
When we reached the gardens, he led me down a path that dead-ended in a cozy area with a small water fountain and a stone bench.
“We need to talk.” He gestured for me to take a seat.
My heartbeat spiked. I had questions too, but that stern look made me pause. “No.” I stood my ground. “First explain to me how it is that your mom thinks you’re staying here indefinitely?”
“She doesn’t think that.”
“She told Anabelle.”
“I had no idea. I promise.”
“You keep saying that. You have promised a lot of things since we got here. But at every turn, I find out you want something different.”
“I want you. That hasn’t changed.” He cupped my face. His tone of voice went from determined to wavering.
“Answer me this. If it were up to you, would you stay in Tucson? I want your truth. Not what you think I want to hear.”
He dropped his arms to his sides and stared at me. Anabelle was right. This was his home. “It no longer makes sense for me to be in Arizona.”
“That’s it?”
“I want to be with you. Are you asking me what the perfect world for me would look like? Fine.” His blue gaze pierced through me.
I backed away from him, hoping he wouldn’t say it aloud.
“I want us to live here. You, me, Max. We can be a family here.”
“You should’ve said that before you got me here. Or were you hoping your mom would fix it for you?”
“What?”
“Since the moment I walked in, she’s been pushing me out the door. And you let her. As if you wanted her to chase me away so you wouldn’t have to do it yourself.”
“No. That’s not it at all. I was an idiot. That’s on me. If I could do today over, trust me I would.”
“What else did you lie about?”
“I didn’t lie about anything.” He rubbed his chest, breathing out. “I would do anything to marry you. Anything you ask.”
“Even living in a place where you feel you don’t belong?”
“Yes.” He answered without hesitation. This was his truth. He’d do anything to be with me.
“For how long? How soon before you expect the same from me?” I had my answers, shitty as they were. “Let me be very clear with you. I don’t want to live here.”
He shuffled away from me, his eyes wet. Even if he loved me enough not to ask me to move my family here, he’d hoped I’d come willingly somehow. The disappointment was written all over his face. I couldn’t stand it. My head spun and throbbed with everything he said and didn’t say.
Taking a deep breath, I turned and left him standing there. I needed to be alone. When I reached the edge of the gardens, I glanced back, expecting to see him. Since I met him, he’d always given chase whenever I got too scared. But this time, he wasn’t there. I wasn’t surprised, though it still hurt like hell.
I trudged upstairs. Zack tried to talk to me on my way to the bedroom, but I waved him away. I couldn’t deal with Derek’s family right now. I had to make a list and figure things out. Was I ready to leave now? I shut the door behind me and leaned on it, hugging my stomach, gasping for air.
In the bathroom, I rummaged through my toiletry bag, looking for ibuprofen. I couldn’t think with this headache. I popped the pills in my mouth and drank out of the faucet. It was late. I couldn’t make plans for anything. Tomorrow. I lay on the bed and glared at the clock on the bedside table. The digital numbers faded in and out until the sun came up.
Derek never came.
11
Technically, That Was a Fat Lie
Valentina
I followed the garden path down toward the pool house. On the other side of it, a greenhouse peeked over the hedges, perched on a hill. That would be a good hiding place for the day. After Derek didn’t show up to sleep with me last night, I’d decided to give him space and think things through. For one, I had no idea what to say to him because I didn’t know how we could make Atlanta work. What would Max think of that? Would he like it here?
When we FaceTime’d earlier today, I hinted that we might move here, but the idea didn’t register with him. He shrugged it off and moved the phone to show me how he and Pirate were getting ready to take a nap. The lazy cat was already fast asleep, cuddled next to Max’s side. I wanted to hold him so badly.
But after all Derek and I have been through, I knew leaving Max with Em and my parents had been the right thing to do for him. I didn’t want him to see me making a mess of things with Derek.
Inside the glass building, the humidity had to be 100 percent. A long wooden table pushed against the north wall was covered with pots of orchids of different sizes. I ambled into the bright room, smiling at the soothing sound of trickling water created by the stone fountain crowding the center. The pungent flower scent tickled my nose and made me sneeze.
“Bless you.” A male voice cam
e from the other side of the greenhouse where tall palm trees dotted one corner. He hunched over a sink, washing his hands the way surgeons scrub in before going into an operating room.
“Thank you. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.” I turned to leave.
“You must be Valentina. I missed you at breakfast this morning.” He wiped his hands on his apron and put out his arm. “I’m Liam. Derek’s dad.”
Why did Derek not tell me his dad had come home from his conference? So much for making a good impression with his family. “Dr. Cole, nice to meet you.”
“Just Liam. Please. Sweet Ana has told me all about you, which is a good thing because Derek never tells me anything.”
I let out a nervous laugh. Liam was practically an older version of Derek, but without the intimidating stare or intense energy about him. Derek must’ve gotten that from his mom. Liam’s blue gaze was friendly and inviting. He regarded me as if I were one of his patients, some five-year-old kid who needed to be put at ease.
“Anabelle has been very kind to me.”
He raised both eyebrows and covered his smile for a moment. He couldn’t be older than sixty. His hair was a mix of blond and silver. “I’m all caught up on Lilly’s unsavory welcome. Please don’t take it personal.” His eyes softened as soon as he uttered his wife’s name. “She’ll come around. I promise you. It’s just going to take a while longer for her to get used to the idea of letting go of Derek and this house. She can be stubborn, but she can also tell when she’s in the wrong. Give her some time.”
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Derek tells me you grew up here.” My gaze followed the glass panels toward the high ceilings. “This place is incredible.”
“Derek did a great thing saving this house. It certainly didn’t look like this when I was growing up. Mom would’ve loved to see her greenhouse restored to its former glory.” He gestured toward the wooden table and the potted orchids heavy with colorful blooms. “Those were her favorite. Maybe when you and Derek move in, I can show you how to care for them.”
Unravel You: A Hot Billionaire Romance (Cole Brothers Series Book 1) Page 10