It screamed wealth. Much as I’d wanted to ask I held back. Also because he kind of hadn’t told me that much about his family or business.
I suppose I was guilty of not sharing much about me either but that was because I was so wrapped up in him.
“What did she do to you?”
He pulled in a breath, gazed ahead again then told me what happened to him.
I didn’t realize how hard it was going to be to hear that someone could have treated him that way until a tear ran down my cheek and dropped on to his forearm.
“Hey. Don’t let me ruin the day.” Although he was smiling I could see telling me his story had gotten to him.
“I’m sorry.” I dabbed at my eyes. “And you aren’t ruining the day. I just can’t believe someone treated you that way. It’s horrible.” I shuffled in his arms.
“I know, but seriously I don’t want to spoil our day. I just wanted you to know because it’s something I should tell you.”
I nodded. “I understand. I’m… like the black sheep in my family.” That was me sharing more about me. It was that truth of my life that would always be there no matter what situation I was in.
“What?” He stared at me in disbelief.
“Well you know my crazy Billy story already, so the last thing to tell you is that I’m the odd one out. I never fit in. They’re all in the medical field and as for me all I ever thought about was recipes for all sorts of cakes and pastries. Sweet stuff.”
He laughed. “I like that. I know I’ve never seen chocolate and blueberry yum yums before.”
“My mind is over creative. I can’t stop it from creating whatever I come up with for the day.”
“And don’t.”
“I won’t.” Of course talking about baking made me think of The Spot and my dire situation back home. All back home where I would return in the next few days, if this man didn’t make me lose my mind even more and drag me off to Rome.
“Wren there’s something else I need to tell you, I –“
My phone buzzed in my pocket, buzzing between where our legs met.
Must have been Stella because she’d messaged earlier about catching up. I hadn’t spoken to her since before we left for Paris.
“I can call back. It’s probably Stella.”
“No get it.” He insisted.
I looked at my phone and stood when I saw the unrecognized number. The first thing I thought was something must have happened at The Spot so I answered quickly.
“Hello.”
“Tell Stella not to keep you away from me too long,” AJ mused with a cheeky grin.
“Who is that?” Billy’s hard voice rumbled across the phone and gripped my insides. I moved the phone from my ear and cursed myself for answering.
Shit. I should have guessed it was him calling. An unknown number screamed suspicious but I didn’t take note that it could be him.
“Why are you calling me?” I snapped.
“Where are you? You evil bitch.”
Again, he called me the word I hated so much. AJ saw the way I stiffened and the anger that made my cheeks redden.
“Billy why are you calling me?” I couldn’t control the anger that came out in my voice. I was furious he called me and broke through the bubble of happiness I’d felt for the last few days. AJ stood too and glared at me.
“You think it’s cool that I have to live in my car?” He spat. “I’ve been living on nothing for the past week.”
“You aren’t my problem anymore.” I retorted. “Why don’t you speak to work or something?”
“They fired me when that damn whore, Lisa, turned up here with the same pictures.”
Lisa. That was the skank who’d turned up on our doorstep and started this whole thing. I had to say I would have most assuredly fired him too, after seeing the pictures. Apart from being sickening to look at with a naked Billy being spanked by a dominatrix, they were vile.
“Let me back in the house you bitch. Surely you can’t be this evil and let me live on the road.”
“No. You can’t come back.” I started shaking and felt worse for the thought if I did allow him back in my life, everything would be a mess. More of a mess than everything already was.
“No?” His voice was so loud that even AJ heard him, and that was enough for him to take action. He took the phone from me and pressed it to his ear, ready to launch an attack on Billy.
“Fucking asshole! How dare you call Wren?” AJ roared.
As I watched, I couldn’t help but feel pride and also feel the kind of comfort you felt when you had someone to take care of you. I’d never had that. The people in my family weren’t exactly the type to stick out their necks for me, and when I thought about it, all I had was Stella. But Stella was my best friend. I had never had a man in my life who would protect me like I belonged to him. Not until now.
“Don’t you worry about who I am,” AJ was saying. “You really don’t want to meet me, and if you do, expect your teeth down your throat. Now fuck off, and don’t call Wren ever again.” AJ hung up and passed the phone back to me.
I stared at him, holding his gaze for what seemed like eons. That was what reality held for me.
Confrontation with Billy and having to pick up the pieces of the mess he’d caused.
It grieved me to even think of going back to that.
Chapter 15
Adam
* * *
It was like everything was against me.
Of course since my talk to Chad last night I kept trying to find the right moment to tell Wren who I was.
I’d just found it, then fucking Billy called.
I wished now that instead of taking the time to tell her about Ava I’d told her what was important first.
That would make more sense because these days I rarely thought of Ava.
Wren sunk into a depressive state after she spoke to Billy and now it was like the gloss of being here had faded.
Talking to him opened the door to reality, letting back in all her worries. Worries I’d taken care of. I wanted that to be a big surprise for her at the end of our trip but what was the point of having her miserable for the next few days.
As the hours ticked by guilt gnawed away at my insides, making me feel worse.
By dinner time I thought screw it. If I continued to wait for the right time to talk I wouldn’t find it. Another day couldn’t pass by with her not truly knowing me.
If she mattered to me as much as she did then telling her who I was and that she didn’t have to worry about Billy or losing her coffeehouse would be better.
After we ate I took her out back to sit in the conservatory lounge. There we sat opposite each other on the wicker sofa. I had the envelope in my pocket with the title details for The Spot.
* * *
Wren
* * *
I loved this part of the house because it provided a great view of the lake, the rose garden and the willow trees.
More than anything it had that calming effect.
When I looked at AJ I felt bad. He’s specifically asked me to forget my worries.
Screw the bills and the responsibilities.
But I hadn’t been able to do that. Billy’s call today was a reminder of everything I tried to forget.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been myself today. I didn’t want to waste the day being miserable. Maybe I should just go sleep it off.”
AJ took my hand into his and held my gaze.
“I’m sorry Billy called.”
“Thank you, and thanks for dealing with him for me. I guess talking to him just woke me up. It shows what’s waiting for me when I get back to Chicago.”
“No don’t say that.”
I was trying really hard not to cry and make things worse but it was hard.
“It’s true. Things are pretty bad. Maybe I should escape the problems and go to Rome with you.”
His eyes brightened. “I want you to go with me.”
“It’s so te
mpting…” I reached up and touched his handsome face, running my finger along the perfect angle of his jaw. The idea was warming to me. More appealing by the second. Go to Rome with Mr. Delicious and screw reality. Screw saving my business, my home, my life, and screw finding money to sue Billy’s ass. It would be so easy to say yes to this man.
“There’s something I need to tell you Wren.” He caught my hand, kissed it, then brought it down to join the other that he held. “Maybe it will make things a little more easier for you.”
“What, could that be?” I searched his eyes.
“You know how I said I’d tell you what AJ stood for on our last day here?”
“Yes, Archibald Jupiter.” I smiled, trying to feel like myself but not quite meeting the mark.
“Archibald Jupiter is a cool name, but it’s not my name.” He swallowed hard. “AJ stands for… Adam. Adam Jordin.”
At first I thought his name sounded cool and suited him, also that wasn’t an embarrassing name at all.
Then something clicked in my mind and I realized I’d heard that name before. The minute I thought that it dawned on me and I gasped, mouth dropping, heart stilling, stopping it’s beat within my chest.
Adam Jordin.
I hadn’t heard the name before. I’d seen it. That was the name I saw on the application documents I’d gotten just before I took out my business loan.
“What?” My voice came out on the edge of a breath, barely audible.
He released my hands, reached into his back pocket and pulled out an envelope.
I straightened up and gazed at him.
“What is that?” I asked as he tried to hand it to me.
“Please, take it.”
“No, you’re …him. My loan… The Spot. You’re Adam Jordin. AJ.” I stood up not quite knowing what to do. I didn’t understand.
“Wren, please.” He rose up, towering over me. His eyes never left mine. “I know you’re in shock now but just read it. Adam Jordin is just a name. I am still yours.”
My hands were shaking, I was shaking, but I took the envelope and opened it.
I nearly fainted when I pulled out a certificate, and saw it wasn’t any old certificate.
It was a title of ownership. It said:
This is to certify that Wren Chase is the registered proprietor of 202 Waterford Road. The said property is gifted by my hand, Adam Jordin, on this day, the 21st of April, 2018.
I looked at it several times and tried to process what I was seeing.
Now my soul was shaking.
“The Spot. You’re giving me The Spot?” Tears ran down my cheeks at the recognition of what this meant.
“Yes, and I refunded everything you’ve paid, plus… I took care of a few extra things.”
My hands flew up to my mouth. “I… don’t understand what you mean.”
Maybe I had gone crazy and made up this world for myself. Maybe that whole revelation of finding out about Billy’s scam had sent me right over the edge.
Perhaps that’s what happened because this wasn’t real.
“I gave you all the money back Wren and I took care of the other debts, and Billy. He won’t get the chance to bother you again when I’m finished with him.”
“Jesus,” I breathed. I blinked several times, still trying to understand and get my head around what he was telling me and what I held in my hands.
I wanted to feel happy, elated even, but I couldn’t. What I experienced was a gamut of perplexing emotions that seized me. It left me disorientated.
“Wren...” His voice sounded so far away. “I’m sorry. I should have told you who I was… before now.”
“I… don’t understand why you thought you had to keep your name from me. ” That was perhaps the part that threw me off kilter the most. That was the part I didn’t understand one bit. I’d never shown him that I was after money in any way. “Why didn’t you tell me who you were?”
“I didn’t want to put you off. I don’t know why I thought it would, but I did. I also knew you wouldn’t accept what I did.”
He was right about that. I wouldn’t have.
Well, I guess I now had more insight to the extent of his wealth. My previous assumptions weren’t wrong at all. He was indeed incredibly wealthy.
“You came to the coffeehouse practically every day – what was that about? Were you trying to see if I was managing, or what?”
“I went to see you.”
“Really? How do I know if that’s true?”
“Because you may be mad right now, but you know me. Wren, when you applied for the loan to get The Spot, the bank was going to turn you down. When they called me I looked into it further and your letter got to me. I knew how badly you wanted the place. So, I made it happen.”
That explained a lot about the loan. First the fact of getting all that I wanted to borrow and the fact that there was no interest. Even Stella had commented on the fact that I got an amazing deal.
“Then, I wanted to meet you,” he added. “I didn’t know until the other day that the first time I saw you was when I fell for you. That was how I felt, but you weren’t mine.” He looked down at the white fluffy carpet then back to me.
I looked him over, saw the extent of his care for me but I just…
“I can’t … I can’t accept it.” I heard myself say.
Shock now washed over his face. “Why?”
“Because… I never wanted your money. I wanted you.”
“Wren, if you truly mean that, you’ll understand how I feel too.” He stepped closer. “I shouldn’t have lied, but since I wanted you too all I wanted was your happiness. Be mad at me all you want. Hell, I even get it if this is it for us, but please accept it. It’s a gift.”
My head felt light and fuzzy and my heart squeezed when he stepped back and turned away from me to walk out.
Leaving me to my thoughts.
Chapter 16
Adam
* * *
Fuck. What now?
I slumped down to the ground and threw a stone in the lake. It was pitch black outside but I could still see it skipping across the surface of the water, going off into the distance until it sank.
I was such a fucking idiot sometimes. I should have told Wren who I was from the beginning.
The stupid AJ thing just sort of happened, and I knew it was so ridiculous now. I shrugged out of my jacket and went to toss that too, but I stopped myself.
My phone was in it.
It was times like these when I called Chad.
He told me even before I left Chicago that this would blow up in my face, and it did.
It was just like when I was with Ava. Chad told me that he thought she was cheating on me.
I never believed him, never took it on board that he might be right. I figured the thought of her doing that to me was completely far-fetched, especially after I forgave her for the lies she told about our baby.
But Chad was as right then as he was now. This time I was the idiot, and a bigger idiot for something so small.
I wanted to call him but right now I couldn’t talk to anyone.
I’d told Wren I’d understand if this was it for us, but that was another lie.
I wouldn’t be okay.
How would I be okay with losing the best thing that ever happened to me?
* * *
Wren
* * *
“What are you going to do?” Stella asked, her voice comforted me as usual.
Of course I called her. It was the only thing I could think to do to help me unravel my state of flux. I’d gone up to the library where I could think. I stayed there for a few hours, contemplating, then I called her.
“I’m so embarrassed.”
I went over everything, and the conclusion that I came to was I wasn’t mad, I was embarrassed. I was embarrassed that I needed to be saved, and saved in such a drastic way.
It wasn’t as if I owed a few hundred dollars. It was thousands. Several thousand, and the coff
eehouse alone was worth the price of a small house because of the location.
These weren’t mere gifts.
“I know, and I get it, but sugar please try to get over it.” She advised. “I guess I would feel the same too, but Wren you got yourself an amazing guy there.”
“A guy I don’t feel like I deserve.” I’d gotten myself into serious debt because I allowed Billy to scam me. Then AJ rescued me.
AJ. Not AJ. Adam.
Adam Jordin. I still couldn’t believe it was him. I felt uncomfortable that I needed to be rescued and that I couldn’t be the kind of person he should be with.
I meant it when I said I wanted him, and I didn’t care about his wealth. Of everything I’d ever wanted, I wanted him the most.
“You can’t think like that. Come on Wren. Do you remember what you always said before you got the coffeehouse? It was something your aunt told you.”
Aunt Rena. She would never have allowed herself to get scammed the way I did, and if she met her knight in shining armor she would have been deserving of him. Just like she was for my uncle Pete. They were a perfect match.
“She told me many things Stella. One thing was to be sensible. Obviously I didn’t listen.”
“Yes, I agree, and you’re still not listening. You told me that when you first saw the coffeehouse. You said you had to be sensible. The place was located in the perfect spot to get business. You were right, but there was one thing you told me before that.”
“What was it?”
“You said Aunt Rena taught you to hold on to your dreams for dear life, and to always cherish them.”
I smiled at the memory. “Yeah she did say that, and now I have my coffeehouse. That was my dream.”
“Is that your only dream Wren? I’m pretty certain your aunt said dreams. Plural. I have been your friend forever and I’ve watched you work yourself to a frazzle. Each time you get a new guy I hope it will be someone who will make you happy. I hated Billy, but I hoped he would make you happy. He didn’t. Now you have Adam. Literally a dream guy whose mission it was to make you happy. Embarrassment is nothing Wren.”
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