by Trisha Grace
“My aunt. Nigel and I went to live with her after our parents … you know.”
“Nigel’s condition.” Which was what Helena had called it. “Was that because of what happened?” Liam didn’t want to ruin the lighthearted mood, but he wanted to know. He wanted to know everything about Helena.
She nodded slowly and turned to face him after taking a pot out of the cabinet. “What did your online search tell you?” she asked and hugged the pot to herself.
“There was a burglary. Your parents were killed. Your brother was injured.”
“That’s the gist of it.” She licked her lips and her gaze dropped to the floor. “We moved into that apartment after getting evicted from our mansion. We’d only been there for four nights when someone broke in. Nigel and I were sharing a room. I woke him up when I heard the commotion in our parents’ room. At first I thought they were just fighting. They had been fighting a lot.
“But then they sounded so frightened. Nigel made me hide in the closet and made me promise I wouldn’t leave it no matter what. Not until he came back to get me.” She looked up at Liam. “He never did. It was the police who came to get me. I never really found out what happened to Nigel until I was old enough to read the articles.”
“He saw what happened.”
“The police think so. I remember still hearing my parents’ voices when he left the room, so they were still alive then.” She sighed. “I shouldn’t have hid. I should’ve gone with him, or I should’ve gone to check on him when he didn’t come back.”
“You can’t blame yourself for what happened. How old were you then?”
“Six.”
“Of course you didn’t know what to do.”
She put the pot in the sink and turned on the faucet. “Since then, his post-traumatic stress disorder always kicks in whenever it rains. Probably because it was raining that night. Aunt Beth sent him to therapy, and for a while, he was okay as long as he took his meds. But as he got older, he refused to keep taking his medication. He much preferred drugs.”
“Drugs are expensive.”
“Bobby has money.”
“So he’s willing to sponsor your brother to remain close to you.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know why Bobby’s always shelling money out for Nigel’s drug habit. He knows I hate it when he does that.” She put the pot on the stove. “My aunt’s tried a few times to get him into rehab. So far, nothing works.”
“If it helps, I know a great place.”
Helena’s brows drew together.
“Not me. One of my half-brothers.”
“Half-brothers. How many of them are there?”
“I’m sure there’s too many to count. There are four who won’t leave me alone.”
She cracked a smile. “Do they come here much?”
He shook his head. “I don’t like to be disturbed.”
She scooped some salt into the boiling water and poured some pasta in. “Aren’t you going to ask what I’m cooking for lunch?”
He shrugged. “I’ll eat whatever you cook.”
“What if it tastes disgusting?”
“I won’t mind.”
She laughed softly and got back to work. Liam asked several times if there was anything he could do. He had never cooked before, but he didn’t like to see her so busy while he stood around doing nothing.
But she always told him that she could handle it.
“Do you like cooking?” he asked.
“It’s okay, I guess. I liked cooking with Aunt Beth. It’s kind of like bonding for us, and she has the best stories to tell along with her food.”
“Stories?”
Helena’s head bobbed up and down. “She’s a photographer. She’s traveled all over the world, and she would always tell me about something that happened in the place she picked up the recipe for the dish.”
They continued talking about her aunt, how she put her career on hold to raise Helena and Nigel.
“She sounds like a great person,” Liam said.
“She’s the greatest.” Helena grinned. “We used to drive my parents crazy. Aunt Beth’s always breaking all of my parents’ rules. When we got in trouble, she’d lie for us and try to let us get away scot-free. It’s a wonder we’re not tyrants.”
“And where is she now?”
“Now? India.” Helena sprinkled mozzarella cheese on top of the pasta, chicken, and tomato sauce in the casserole dish. “Once I was in college, she picked right up where she left off.”
“Does she know you’re here?”
He helped close the oven after she put the tray in.
“No. I don’t like to tell her about Nigel’s messes. I think she feels guilty about leaving me here to deal with Nigel.”
“But it isn’t fair that you’re the one who has to deal with it.”
“Why not? I didn’t help him then.”
“Helena,” he said. “It wasn’t your fault.”
She licked her lips.
“So you don’t intend to tell your aunt that you’re here?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” She leaned back on the countertop. “Now we wait.”
Liam moved next to her. “Do you like cooking here?”
“I’m okay with it.”
“If you don’t want to cook, you could just watch Kelly prepare the meals. I’ll let her know.”
“Please don’t.”
He frowned. “Did she say something to you?”
“No, but I get the sense that she doesn’t like me very much.”
He snaked his arm around her waist. “I don’t want you speaking to her if I’m not around, okay?”
“She really hates me, doesn’t she? Why?”
Liam shook his head. “Just ignore her.”
Helena nodded after a moment. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“So many things.” She beamed at him, then went over to the fridge and opened the freezer. “I bought ice cream too. Feel free to take whatever you want.”
In the freezer were half a dozen small containers of ice cream. “You didn’t see the ice cream being made either.”
“It’s sealed. Somebody working in a factory or a restaurant has no reason to harm me.” She closed the fridge.
Liam replayed what she said in his head. “Has someone tried to harm you before?”
Her chest rose sharply as she took in a deep breath.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to pry.”
“I’ll tell you, just not today. I don’t feel like talking about it today.” Her lips curled. “I’m having a really good day.”
Liam couldn’t help smiling. He extended his hand toward her, and his heart swelled—as it always did—when she slipped her hand into his. He tugged her against him and held her close. “Whatever you need, you let me know. You don’t have to tell me why.” He rested his chin on her hair. “And I promise I won’t run any online searches to try and find out why.”
She laughed and wrapped her arms around him. “For that, I’ll bake you some brownies.”
Chapter 10
Helena groped around for her phone as she sat up in bed. She’d gone to bed late last night. She’d spent almost the whole day with Liam. When she was on her own, she started new sketches for the lead character that she was almost done with.
Before, she’d always felt something was missing from the character. She’d found some new inspiration yesterday. It was the eyes. They needed more ferocity.
When she got back to her room after dinner, she kept drawing and drawing. She didn’t really want to go to bed, but she wanted to wake up early so she could have breakfast with Liam.
But she might already be too late. It was already eight. He usually got up at five, exercised for an hour, then had his breakfast.
After washing up, she opened the bedroom door to find large boxes, paper bags of different colors—with different logos—and shoe boxes lined up in the hallway. “What’s this?”
The door to L
iam’s study opened. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” She stepped out and gave the boxes another scan.
“Umm, surprise?” He scratched his head.
“All these are for me?”
“I think so.” He stepped out into the hallway with her. “I wasn’t expecting this much.”
“What do you mean?” She lifted the lid of one of the boxes and opened up the soft black tissue paper to reveal neatly folded clothes. “Clothes?”
“I thought you might appreciate having something that fits you.”
She put the lid back on and looked at the brand logo on the box. “Designer clothes.” She looked over at him. “You got Kelly to go out and buy these?”
“No. Cassian’s, one of my half-brothers’, mother is a fashion buyer. She has access to whatever brand you like.”
“I’ve never even heard of most of these brands,” she said as she studied the boxes.
“You don’t like them?”
“Not that. I’m usually just a jeans and T-shirt kind of girl, but I really appreciate this.” She pursed her lips. “Must be expensive, though.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
Helena wondered if she needed to speak with Liam about managing his finances. “This is way too many clothes for me to wear.” She put the bag down and counted the number of shoeboxes. “Thirty-six!” She opened one of the Jimmy Choo boxes. High heels.
“I can get you something else if you don’t like them,” he said with a frown while he stared at the clothes. “I’m sorry. I should’ve asked instead of trying to surprise you.”
Helena wanted to kick herself for being so ungrateful. “I like that you did this.” She licked her lips. “I’m just not sure if I can pull them off.”
“You can return whatever you don’t like.”
Helena turned at the unfamiliar voice.
A clean-shaven man, with his hands stuck in the pockets of dark royal blue slacks, smiled at her. Blond wavy hair, blue eyes. He looked kind of like Bobby.
“Cassian,” Liam said with a nod.
Cassian. One of Liam’s half-brothers. That explained the resemblance.
But while Bobby had a boyish look, Cassian seemed more refined. His features were sharper, his blue eyes more piercing. His clothes were more stylish than most people’s, too. Brown shoes and belt. Light gray suit jacket over his white shirt.
She would never choose such a combination herself, but Cassian was the son of a fashion buyer and he made the ensemble look great.
Cassian glanced up toward the ceiling. “The lights are on.” Then he dropped his gaze to the boxes. “Looks like my mother got excited that you have a woman to buy clothes for.” He gave Helena a head to toe scan. “I’m pretty intrigued myself.”
Helena moved closer to Liam when Cassian gave her another scrutinizing scan.
That caused Cassian to arch a brow. Even then, he didn’t look directly at Liam.
“Cassian Pearce.” He pulled a hand out of his pocket and extended it toward her.
“Helena Shaw.” She shook and released his hand. “Please thank your mother for me.”
“Will do.” Cassian clapped his hands. “Let’s see what she bought. Trevor, Killian, and Elias are on the way. You can throw us a fashion show.”
Helena looked over at Liam in a panic.
He ran a hand down her hair. “I’ll be right back.” He moved forward and grabbed Cassian by the arm. “Thanks for the clothes.” He dragged Cassian down the hallway. “Tell the others to turn around and go back.”
Cassian glanced over his shoulder at Helena. “Nice to meet you, Helena. The rest of us—”
Liam jerked him forward. “Won’t be bothering her.”
Helena watched them disappear down the stairs, then sat and dragged a heavy box onto her lap. She opened it and lifted out a lovely pastel pink dress. The long dress was beautiful. Nothing she would have chosen for herself, because she really was a T-shirt and jeans kind of woman.
“Hmm …” She took the dress into the bedroom and changed into it. She stepped back out into the hallway just as Liam returned.
He stopped and stared at her.
“So?” She twirled. “Can I pull it off?”
“Definitely.”
She ran her hand down the soft, flowing material. “It isn’t too much?”
“You look beautiful.”
She laughed softly.
“Do you want to have breakfast with me?”
“You haven’t eaten?”
“I thought you might want to eat together.”
“I’d love that.” She pointed toward the bedroom. “I should change out of this.”
“Why?”
“I don’t want to get it dirty.”
He took her hand and gave it a gentle tug. “Don’t worry about it. Do you want to share my breakfast or make something for yourself?”
“I can make something. I don’t want to steal your food.”
Liam went to the kitchen with Helena and watched her pour cereal from kids’ size boxes.
“They’re individually sealed,” she said when she noticed him staring.
“Isn’t that too little for you? Do you do this at your own apartment?”
She pursed her lips.
He frowned at the boxes. “You don’t like leaving unsealed food unattended. You can keep them in your room if it makes you feel any better.”
“It’s okay.” She poured out milk from a small carton.
“Coffee?”
She licked her lips. “I couldn’t find individually packed instant coffee.”
Liam moved over to the pot of coffee Kelly always left on the counter and poured her a mug. “Milk? Sugar?”
She nodded.
After adding the milk and sugar, he took a sip and handed it to her.
She took the mug from him. “I’m sorry, Liam.”
“Whatever for?”
“Being like this. I’m sorry you have to be my … food taster?”
He didn’t mind being whatever she needed. He smiled and ran the back of his index finger down her cheek. “I told you. Whatever you need, just ask.” He tipped his chin toward the coffee. “Try it. Let me know if it’s okay.”
She took a sip and smiled. “Perfect.”
He took the mug from her and grabbed her bowl of cereal.
“So, Cassian’s your half-brother? Did he buy the couch downstairs too?” she asked as they made their way up the stairs.
Liam shook his head.
“You guys must be close.”
Liam swallowed the sigh that bubbled up in his throat. He supposed he knew Cassian would show up after getting Liam’s text. He had never asked Cassian to get him anything. Cassian’s mother always sent over clothes for him, but Liam never wore them. Not until yesterday.
He was on his own most of the time. He didn’t see any point in dressing up. No one would see him anyway. Even when his half-brothers dropped by, Liam never bothered. T-shirts and sweatpants were good enough for him.
At least Cassian hadn’t made any comments about what Liam was wearing.
Of the four half-brothers Liam hung out with, Cassian was the most charming of them. Because of what his mother did for a living, Cassian hung out a lot with stars and models and he could chat up anyone.
Even Liam, who never felt comfortable around anyone, could feel at ease with him.
Helena opened the door to the study and leaned back against it so he could enter.
She settled on the couch while he took the lazy boy.
“Killian bought the couch. Elias bought the lazy-boy chairs.”
She looked at his untouched tray of food. “You shouldn’t have waited for me.”
“I don’t mind.”
“What do you have planned for today?”
“You sound like you have something in mind.”
“Interested in a fashion show?” She jerked her thumb toward the door. “You can tell me which outfits to keep and which to return.
”
“I’m not sure if I’d be the best judge.”
“Just tell me if I look ridiculous.” She stood after taking another mouthful of cereal. “Go on with your breakfast. Is it okay if I change in the bathroom?”
“Sure.”
She grinned and headed out to grab a bag.
He took another bite of sandwich, then went out and grabbed a few more bags and boxes for her.
“This is cute,” she said as she came out of the bathroom in a simple but classy sleeveless black dress that was way too short. She smoothed down her dress and waited for him to say something.
“It’s … nice.” He put the bags down.
“You don’t like it?”
“No.” He wouldn’t have a problem with it if she was going to wear it around the house. Liam cleared his throat. “It looks great on you.”
“You sure?”
He nodded.
Helena looked down at her dress with a small pout.
“Hey.” He put his hand on her back. “You look great in it. I just thought it was a little short.”
“It’s not that short.”
“Right. Right. Right.”
She chuckled. “You should’ve told Cassian your rules when you told him to get me the clothes.”
“No rules.” He gave her a sheepish smile.
“I’m going to wear this out to dinner with Jude.”
“Actually,” he gave her another scan, “I don’t think it looks that good on you.”
Helena nudged him with her elbow. “I’m keeping this.”
“I’m going to find it and burn it,” he mumbled to himself.
“I heard that.” She went back into the bathroom. She changed and came out in another outfit—an even shorter peach, backless dress.
He shook his head. “You know what? I think you look best in my clothes. We should just return all of these.”
“I’m going to wear this out on my next date.”
“Over my dead body.” He was going to spin her around and march her back into the bathroom so she could change out of the dress, but she hooked her hands around his neck. “You could ask me out. I’d say yes.”
He wanted nothing better than that, but there was one problem. He didn’t go out.