Before either of them could say more, the waitress who’d delivered her iced tea earlier returned and took their lunch orders. “I’ll go put these right in. If you need anything else, my name’s Sandy.” She collected the menus and walked away.
“We did something similar last year too, although we visited an amusement park in Pennsylvania instead. We went up to New Hampshire later on in the summer,” Trevor said, picking up their conversation where he’d left off. “Katelyn and Heather have been friends for a long time and have identical interests. They’re both only children, and they’ve developed a sisterlike relationship.”
Even though she didn’t always get along with her sisters growing up, she couldn’t imagine being an only child. “My cousin and I are close like that. When I was younger, we’d pretend we were sisters.” Actually she often wished Cheyenne was her sister instead of Paris and Milan. “It’s important to have close friends.”
“I agree. And it’ll be a fun weekend.” He paused when the waitress delivered his iced coffee. Once she left again, he continued. “But I’m sorry it means we can’t do something together.”
“No worries, I understand. Family is important.”
Trevor reached across the table and took her hand. “Next week I’d love to see you. I’m dropping Katelyn off with her mom Sunday night when we get back. She’ll be there until the following Sunday. I understand during the week after work isn’t ideal for you, but maybe next weekend we can get together. I haven’t gone to see WaterFire yet this season. I try to get to it a few times a summer. Maybe we could have dinner and see it next Friday. If the weather isn’t nice, we can think of something else.”
Time to lay it out there. “I’m not sure then will be a good time either, Trevor. Have you heard about the fundraising event Helping Hands Foundation has planned?”
He made a face as if he’d just taken a large bite out of a lemon. “Hard not to.”
He had a point. All the local television stations as well as the Providence Gazette had run stories over the past several weeks. It had also popped up all over social media sites too.
“I take it you’re going?” The I-just-ate-a-lemon look remained on his face.
“Mom purchased tickets for the four of us. It’s for a good cause.” She’d tried rehearsing a speech last night and this morning, but no matter what, nothing sounded right. “And my friend Derek is participating in it.”
“Not surprising. It sounds like something he’d do.” A tinge of sarcasm laced Trevor’s voice.
“Actually, he’s only doing it as a favor to his aunt. And since he really doesn’t want to participate, he asked for my help.” Trevor’s comment annoyed her, and her voice took on a defensive tone.
The tiny crow’s feet near his eyes deepened as his eyebrows furrowed. “It’s a bachelor auction, correct? How can you help him?”
She licked her bottom lip. “Well…” She paused and took a sip of her iced tea to combat the sudden dryness in her mouth. “This is going to sound crazy, I know.” She cleared her throat and took another drink while she searched for the words. “His ex purchased a ticket and will be there.” A little fib right now allowed her to avoid the true reason. “She wants to give things a second try. Derek doesn’t and he’s afraid she’ll put in the highest bid, forcing them to spend time together. The highest bidder gets four dates with the bachelor they win.” Pausing again, she took another long sip from her drink. “Since she’ll be there, he asked me to make sure I’m the highest bidder when it’s his turn.”
“Dishonest but effective, I guess. Since the auction is Friday, the rest of the weekend remains open for us.”
Either Trevor was the most understanding man in the world or he didn’t completely understand what she was telling him. Regardless, she needed to make sure he fully understood what she’d promised Derek. “True.” She pushed up her eyeglasses. There was no sugarcoating what she needed to add. “The media is going to be all over this event. Everyone’s going to expect Derek and me to go out on some romantic dates. If we don’t, people will suspect it was a charade.”
His hand slipped away from hers and he cleared his throat before he spoke. “I see.” Trevor fell silent, but his severe frown conveyed his feelings.
Whether or not it was his intention, Trevor’s expression made her shift in her seat, unable to meet his eye. “Derek and I have been friends since college. I’m only doing this to help him. And it won’t be much different than when we spend time together now. After the required dates are done, the media will be happy and things will go back to normal between us.”
Trevor folded his hands together, his frown still locked in place making him look older and reminding her of the twelve-year age difference between them. “And while you help him, your life goes on hold? Is that how this agreement works? Sounds like Sherbrooke is getting the better end of the deal. Or do you get something in return?”
For the first time since she’d met Trevor, she didn’t like him. Even if there was some way for her to benefit from the agreement, which there wasn’t, why did he assume she would? She never helped a friend because she expected something in return. “I’m helping Derek because he’s a good friend, and he’d do the same for me. And no, my life won’t be on hold. I can still spend time with other people.”
He looked away, a clear indication he’d heard the annoyance in her voice and realized how much she disliked his questions. “I apologize. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s a rather peculiar situation.”
“That’s a great way of describing it. And I understand if you’re having second thoughts about seeing me again. But either way, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone else about this.” She didn’t know who he was well acquainted with, but one word to the wrong person could spell disaster.
Trevor reached over and took her hand again. “I’d never betray your trust like that, Brooklyn.”
Relief swept through her, and her body relaxed.
“Despite your odd arrangement, I want to see you again soon.”
She’d expected a different answer from him, perhaps even hoped for a different answer. Brooklyn ignored her disappointment and smiled. “Great.” Look on the bright side. Dad has only one reason to give me hell.
***
“Scott is waving us over,” Jake, holding his three-month-old son, Garret, said nodding toward the opposite side of the room.
Derek glanced to where his cousin and his father stood. He hadn’t spoken to either in a while, but before he got pulled into any other conversation, he wanted to check on his sister. Actually, he’d been searching for her since he arrived, but for the last forty-five minutes, he’d been greeting the many family members filling his dad’s house instead. Every living Sherbrooke and their significant other was in attendance for tonight’s pre-wedding party. Even his cousin Brett, who rarely made it to family events because of his military obligations, had made it this weekend. Of course the fact that the youngest daughter of Warren Sherbrooke, the President of the United States, was the one getting married probably helped his cousin get to Rhode Island.
But with his and Jake’s conversation interrupted, he intended on dodging any further ones until later this evening. “I want to check in on Allison first. I haven’t seen her yet. Tell Scott I’ll find him later.” He clapped his cousin on the shoulder. “If I don’t see you again tonight, I’ll see you at the wedding tomorrow.” He left the room and ducked into the hallway before anyone else stopped him.
Several minutes later, he entered the library and spotted his sister and her boyfriend, who held Kendrick, sitting with Addie.
Across the room, his cousin Sara spotted him and waved. He returned the gesture but continued toward his sister, who accepted their nephew from Rock before catching sight of him and shooting a smile in his direction. Before Derek could return the gesture, Allison looked toward their sister-in-law as Addie spoke. Although still too far away to hear what they discussed, the way they suddenly glanced at him as they spok
e made him think he was somehow the topic of their conversation. Something he didn’t want to be tonight.
“You didn’t tell me about the bachelor auction! And how in the world did Aunt Marilyn convince you to do it?” Allison asked before he could say hello to the small party. “What about Alec? Did she ask him too?”
It sounded as if she’d just learned about the upcoming fundraiser. He’d assumed she’d heard about it already from either a family member or the media. It wasn’t like it was some kind of secret or anything. As for not telling her himself, he didn’t even care to think about it, never mind talk about it. Rather than answer her right away, he clapped Rock on the shoulder. Although not the type of guy he’d imagined his sister ending up with, Rock loved Allison and made her happy. “How’ve you been?”
“Good. Trade these things in soon for a cane.” Rock touched the crutches leaning against the sofa. “You?”
“Not bad. Addie, you look great tonight.” He’d let his sister wait a few more minutes for the answers she wanted from him.
“That’s his way of saying I brushed my hair and my clothes match tonight,” Addie said with a small laugh.
While he’d never say anything, he’d noticed on some of his past visits his sister-in-law hadn’t looked her best. He guessed having a newborn tended to have such an effect on a new mom.
“Trent surprised me and sent me to the Magnolia Day Spa this morning. I spent the entire day there while he stayed home with Kendrick.”
“And both he and Kendrick survived. I think he secretly called in some reinforcements, although he denies it,” Allison added, her attention focused on the baby in her arms.
He’d seen his eldest brother with his son, and while at one time he would’ve thought Trent incapable of taking care of an infant, he seemed to do a fantastic job. “I doubt it.”
Allison gave a tiny shrug before she repositioned the baby in her arms and looked at him again. “Anyway, Derek, you didn’t answer me. Come on. Spill it. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Didn’t think to. Honestly, I’ve been trying not to think about the event at all.”
“Don’t blame ya there,” Rock said.
Allison didn’t give him a chance to say anything else. “How did Aunt Marilyn get you to agree? Did she threaten you with something or use some thumbscrews?”
“No threatening involved, although if I hadn’t agreed when I did, she might have resorted to the thumbscrews.”
“And he’s been unpleasant to be around ever since,” Trent added, joining the little group.
He’d known he hadn’t been himself lately, but he hadn’t realized anyone else picked up on it.
Trent perched himself on the arm of the sofa next to Addie before he continued. “I don’t blame him either, considering who he might get saddled with next weekend.”
“I can’t believe you’re doing it. Scott I can understand, it’s his mom, but you?” Allison stopped and frowned. “Not unless you have some plan to get out of it at the last minute. But I don’t see how you can unless you end up confined to a hospital bed. Even then, Aunt Marilyn might want a doctor’s note confirming you’re really too sick to participate.”
“Can we drop it? I agreed and Friday night I’ll be up on the stage with the other poor souls. End of story.” His sister’s comment came a little too close to the truth.
The troubled expression remained on Allison’s face, but before she said anything else, Addie cleared her throat and spoke. “I bumped into Brooklyn earlier this week.”
Derek mentally groaned. He didn’t want to talk about her either tonight. Around noon, he’d popped in Brooklyn’s office and asked her to join him for lunch. She declined because of a lunch date with Trevor. He hadn’t seen her again before he left for the day, yet he couldn’t get the image of her and Trevor sharing an intimate lunch somewhere like Mon Soleil or Lucerne out of his head either.
“I saw the beautiful floral arrangement her new boyfriend sent. He has excellent taste in flowers.”
Had Brooklyn referred to Trevor as her boyfriend or had Addie assumed as much? How she labeled the guy shouldn’t matter to him, yet the idea of Brooklyn calling Trevor her boyfriend set his teeth on edge. “I think they’re only friends.”
Addie gave him the same mind-reading stare she had the week before, and he forced himself not to look away. “Huh, maybe. She did say they’d only gone out once so far. But considering he sent her flowers, I’m guessing it won’t be long before something develops between them.”
“Who’s Brooklyn dating?” Allison asked. “Someone nice I hope, and not one of those creeps you tell me her sisters and mom try setting her up with.”
“A university professor named Trevor Jones,” Addie answered before he could reply.
His sister’s eyes got wide. “Really? How’d they meet? He’s a lot older than us, but he seems nice. At least the few times I’ve seen him.”
Nice, boring, and all wrong for Brooklyn. Sooner or later, she’d realize it, even if he had to beat it into her head. Let her damn father find another way to gain control of Atlantic Coast Marketing. “It won’t work out. They’ve got nothing in common.”
“You don’t know Trevor well, Derek. They might get along great together.”
Allison’s comment contained more truth than he’d like to admit, which only frustrated him further. “Fine. I’m sure you two are right. Trevor and Brooklyn will be heading down the aisle any day.” His words came out harsher than he’d intended, and he searched for an excuse that would get him away from the little group. He couldn’t take another word about either the auction or Brooklyn and Trevor’s relationship. “Dad wanted to talk to me earlier. I’m going to see what he wants. I’ll see you all later.”
A chorus of good-byes followed his statement, and then he hightailed it out of the library.
Derek’s reprieve from the unpleasant conversation didn’t last long.
“I’ll have a club soda with lime,” he said to the bartender his father had hired for the evening.
He sensed his sister behind him before she spoke. He’d known she’d come searching for him again tonight, but he’d hoped their nephew would keep her distracted for a bit longer.
“I thought you planned on checking in with Dad.” She stopped next to him and rested an elbow on the bar.
Before he answered, he accepted the drink from the bartender. “Already did. Then I needed a drink.” He held up his glass as if to reinforce his statement.
Allison eyed him critically. “That was a quick conversation.” She turned her attention toward the bartender and said, “I’ll have whatever he has, please.” Her order placed, she set her sights on him again. “So what has your panties in a knot tonight?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Derek took a long swig from his glass. Perhaps later, after he’d eaten, he’d have something stronger than club soda, but for now, this would suffice.
“Please. You have this aura of grouchiness around you.” She accepted her drink and then linked her arm through his and started walking, making it impossible for him to get away. “Trent says you’re in a bad mood because of the fundraiser next week.”
Derek allowed her to lead him across the room and away from the family members because trying to escape her was pointless. She’d only hunt him down again.
“He’s right. I’m dreading it.” He wasn’t looking forward to the auction, so he wasn’t lying to Allison. “I noticed Tasha Marshall on the guest list. It’ll be a nightmare if I end up with her at the end of the night.”
Pushing open a door, she stepped outside. “Not buying it. You’ve got something up your sleeve to make sure that doesn’t happen. I don’t know what, but I know you do.” Allison brought them over to the patio chairs and dropped into one. “Besides, you didn’t get super testy until Addie mentioned Brooklyn.”
He took another long swallow from his glass and wished he’d ordered a Scotch or something instead. At times like this, he wished Alliso
n didn’t know him so well.
“If she’s found someone she enjoys spending time with, you should be happy for her. That’s what good friends do. Or are you jealous because, for perhaps the first time ever, she’s with someone instead of you?”
“Jealous? Come on, Allison. We both know if I wanted a woman next to me right now, I’d have one.” His comment might sound pompous, but that didn’t make it untrue. He never lacked for female companionship when he desired it.
“Wow. I don’t know how you fit your head through doorways.” She gave his arm a little nudge and sent him a small smile. “Seriously, what’s the problem then? You’ve been friends for what, ten years? Did you have some kind of falling out?”
He needed to give her an answer because Allison shared the same Sherbrooke stubbornness as the rest of the family. “Brooklyn’s father set her up with Trevor because he’s hoping it will help with a business deal. She promised she’d see where things went with him.”
“Talk about a little old school there. But if they get along well and Brooklyn enjoys spending time with him, so what? Maybe it’ll work out for them. Even if it doesn’t, you shouldn’t get so angry about it. Her father didn’t ask you to date Trevor.”
“He’s not the right person for her. I’ve tried telling her, but—”
“Who says Trevor’s wrong for her? You? How would you know? You don’t know much about him except he’s a professor at Brown.”
“He’s not.” He gripped his glass tighter, the condensation on the outside making his hand damp.
“Okay, Mr. I Know Everything, who would be right for her? I don’t think she’s ever had a boyfriend, has she? So how would you know what type of man she wants? Has she shared her heart’s secret desires with you or something?”
His sister had a valid argument there. He’d tried more than once to come up with the names of men Brooklyn had been in relationships with; he’d had no luck. So perhaps he didn’t know exactly the type of person Brooklyn was attracted to. However, he knew enough about her to know Trevor wasn’t it. “What do you think?” Derek narrowed his eyes and glared at his sister. “But I know her well enough to know who might make her happy.”
Bidding On The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 8) Page 7