Chapter 19 #2
“It was just unsettling to come back home and find my brother’s bedroom wasn’t a few doors away, but a few hallways away.”
“And you don’t get along with his girlfriend?”
“I don’t dislike her.” I mistakenly wince and then force myself to hide the emotion.
“I guess, I get jealous of her. Her parents are so sweet and affectionate, and mine use me as a pawn in their marriage wars. Even little things, like Christie and her mom were on the planning committee, but they decided they wanted some time off. My mother allowed it, like it was no big deal. Yet, she uses me as a microphone while she’s overseas.
It’s just hard watching someone’s life and thinking it’s a lot easier than yours. ”
“I guess I can understand that.”
I laugh at myself. “Well, sure. You look at mine, and it’s way easier than yours. Ugh. I need to stop complaining.”
“Hey,” he coos, clutching my hand. “Don’t do that. There’s so much control in your life. No wonder you want to snap like a rubber band.”
I thank him and lead him into my bedroom. He whistles, looking up at the vaulted ceiling and hanging light fixtures.
“You’ve got some fancy furniture in here,” he says, strolling through the room.
“They’re all antiques. That armoire over there was my great grandmothers. She had it shipped over from France.”
“And this bed is massive. You could have six people in here.”
I chuckle at the ridiculousness.
He grins. “Makes the pool house bed look tiny, is all I’m saying.”
“Miss Ashworth?” Claudia calls, stepping into the room. She jolts back, surprised by Dax. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company.”
“It’s okay,” I say, clasping Dax’s hand. “Dax, this is Claudia. She’s one of the most special people in my life.”
Dax waves. “Hey.”
“Claudia, this is Dax.” I pause for a beat, blushing. “My boyfriend.”
Dax grins and gives a slight nod, approving the official title.
Claudia gasps and lets out a chuckle. “Miss Ashworth, why didn’t you tell me you had a boyfriend?”
Dax nudges me. “Yeah, Miss Ashworth, why didn’t you tell her?”
My blush is in overdrive. “Claudia, it’s on the down-low. I don’t want my father finding out Dax is here.”
“Oh.” She nods knowingly. “Well, it was lovely to meet you. Mister?”
Dax bats a hand. “Just Dax is fine.”
I wink at Claudia. “It’s Mr. Malone.”
Claudia grins brightly, and I tug Dax out of the bedroom. “We’ll get out of your hair.”
Dax waves, following me out. “Bye.”
“Come on, I’ll show you the other side of the house, and then you should get more rest.”
“Believe me, I’m fine. I got more sleep last night than I have in a long time.”
“You seemed pretty restless.”
“Well, I feel better than I have in ages.”
I hold his hand, smiling. “I’m glad.”
When we get back downstairs, I get a jolt of excitement from a nearby room. I veer him closer to the double herringbone doors.
“This is one of the rooms the housekeepers hate the most,” I say, opening the door. “They complain there are too many windows and it’s too hard to reach the chandeliers, even with tall ladders.”
“Wow, this looks like a ballroom,” Dax says, walking across the high-shine herringbone floors and marveling at the exceptionally high ceiling, which boasts three five-tier chandeliers. “Why don’t you have your gala here?”
“We host some events here,” I reply. “But they’re mostly dinners with executives from my father’s companies.”
“You make it sound like this place is low-tier.”
“It just depends on the function. Some events aren’t appropriate to hold on the estate.”
“If you say so. The only parties I’ve ever seen are a bunch of guys getting loaded at the clubhouse bar.”
“Well, our parties are a little more upscale,” I tease.
“No doubt.” Dax pulls me into his arms. “So what kind of stuff happens at a black-tie gala?”
“Oh, it’s a riot,” I say sarcastically. “Old men talk about stocks and bonds, older women drink too many martinis, and my friends rate everyone’s outfits on the harshest scale.”
“Wow. How have I never been before?”
“Wait, how could I forget? There’s also dancing.”
His jaw clenches. “Dancing?”
I stifle a laugh. “Have you ever waltzed?”
His eyebrow raises, and he gestures at himself. “What kind of question is that?”
I giggle and lift my arms into waltz position. “Wanna try?”
He backs away from me. “You’re not serious.”
With my arms still in position, I wave him over. “Come on. Go for a twirl with me.”
“I don’t twirl.”
“If you don’t learn to waltz, I’ll be forced to dance with LJ.”
Without a word, he steps in close to me.
My heart flutters. “That was quick.”
He puts his hands on my waist. “That guy’s not laying a hand on you.”
I pluck his hands off my waist. “Well, right now, your hands are wrong.” I reposition his hand under my shoulder blade, and lift his left hand to hold mine. “That’s better.”
“This feels awkward.”
“Do your ribs hurt?”
“No. It’s just holding you like this feels wrong.”
“It’s not wrong. It’s elegant.”
He rolls his eyes, which makes me laugh. I then instruct him on the correct steps. The fact he gets to lead entices him, but the monotony of the box step has him tensing up.
When his feet fail to come together, I whisper, “Relax your body.”
“This doesn’t exactly feel natural.”
“But if you have these basic moves down, you’ll fit in on the dancefloor.”
Before I can instruct him on the steps again, I squeal as he lifts me into the air. Wrapping his arms around my middle, he hugs me close and spins me around.
I squeal again as we stop spinning, and he lowers me to the ground.
As our chests heave, he smooths back my hair. “Maybe I don’t want to fit in on the dance floor,” he whispers.
Tingles electrify my body, and I grin at him. “Oh boy, I can’t wait to take you to the gala.”
His arms unravel from me, and I instantly clutch his hand. The burst of happiness has me skipping as I tug him out of the room.
He laughs, following behind. “Where are we going now?”
“I want to show you the view from the parlor.” My cheeks hurt from the stretch of my smile. “It’s one of my favorite places in the manor. That is, when we’re not hosting society meetings there.”
“Okay, if it’s got you this giddy, I gotta see it.”
At that, I halt, and Dax bumps into me from the abruptness. I send my hands up to the sides of his face and lock onto his eyes. “It’s you. You make me giddy. I just want to share everything with you.”
Dax’s hands caress mine, and I lower my intensity. “I love how excited you are, but you can slow down. I’m planning on sticking around.”
It’s like my limbs are filled with helium. I’m so weightless and ballooned with joy.
I sigh, lowering my hands. “How’d I get so lucky? I truly believed I’d never find my person.”
Dax smirks. “I never expected to fall for someone like you.”
I bite my lip. “You’re falling for me?”
He brushes back my hair. “Isn’t it obvious?”
I sigh again and lift onto my toes. As I toss my arms around his neck, his arms pull around my lower back. Our lips connect as our chests collide. His kiss sends fireworks of ecstasy over my lips. I almost lose balance as my toes curl. Feeling me wobble against him, Dax holds me tighter.
I kiss him back harder, sending my hands down between his shoulder blades. As I let my hands explore, my ears prick to movement behind me.
“What the hell?” my brother’s voice cuts through.
Dax and I break apart. I spin around to gawk at my brother.
“Ash?” I clear my throat, hoping my cheeks aren’t bright pink. “You’re home early.”
Ash’s eyes pan from me, to Dax, and then back to me. “Yeah,” he drags out the word. “Classes were boring and Christie’s busy with an art project, so I decided to skip out. What exactly am I looking at?”
The flush in my cheeks radiates across my face. “Umm, I’m… We’re…” I turn to Dax, and clamminess sits on the back of my neck. “This is my brother, Ash.”
“Hang on.” Dax’s eyebrow arches. “Ash Ashworth?”
“Ash is his nickname,” I clarify. I glance at my brother, stifling a laugh. “He’s Little Ash.”
Ash groans and rolls his eyes. “Oh, shut it. I haven’t been little in a long time.”
I ignore my brother’s complaint and tell Dax, “He’s the third Thomas Ashworth. A nickname was needed for the baby.”
“Okay,” Ash says, waving his hands in front. “Can someone please explain what’s going on? Since when do you have guys around the manor?”
I shrug coyly. “It’s never been plural. It’s just one guy.”
“Ness?” He drags out my name, waiting for a real answer.
“This is Dax,” I concede. “Can you please promise you won’t tell Dad you saw him?”
Ash’s eyebrows knit together. “Has Dad met him?”
My jaw clenches. “More like he tried to kick Dax off the property.”
Ash folds his arms and narrows his focus at Dax. “Why? What’d he do?”
Dax broadens his stance. “Why are you looking at me like I’ll hurt your sister?”
“Because I don’t know you,” Ash replies.
I step in front of Dax. “He’d never hurt me. He just needs somewhere to lay low while he gets better.”
Ash tilts his head, nodding at Dax. “You’re hurt?”
“I’ll live,” Dax mutters.
“Look, it doesn’t matter what’s going on with him,” I say to Ash. “Just, please, don’t say anything to Dad.”
Ash huffs, unfolding his arms. “When have I ever ratted you out?”
I move forward and wrap him in a hug. “Thank you, Ash.”
When I turn back to Dax, he shifts awkwardly. “I should probably get going.”
My heart sinks. “Are you sure?”
He nods. “I’ll just check in with the others, and then I’ll meet up with you later. You’ll have your driver take you there?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Dax pecks my cheek and squeezes my hand. I then show him the hallway that will lead to the rear of the manor.
“Remember to take the service entrance on your way out.”
Dax lifts his hand in a wave and disappears down the hallway.
I exhale hard and hear my brother’s fingers tapping against his arm.
His tone is dry. “The service entrance?”
“It’s no big deal.”
“Why are you hiding him?”
“It’s complicated.”
“How? Because he’s not part of our circle?”
“For starters.”
Ash lips twist with indecision. “I just hope he’s worth it.”
My chest constricts. “You’re not thinking about saying something?”
He touches my shoulder. “I said I wouldn’t.”
“Phew. Thank you.”
When Ash and I move along the hallway, more footsteps enter the space. Ahead, Murphy and two groundskeeping staff march towards us with different-sized luggage. My heart seizes when I recognize the set.
“Murphy?” my voice trembles. “What’s going on?”
“Darling, you sound positively frightened,” my mother’s voice echoes up the hall. “I thought you’d be excited about my return.”
Ash’s jaw drops. “Mom?”
Our mother comes into view with her arms stretched out. “Hello my darlings. Come and give Mommy a hug.”
My gut twists in on itself.
My heart hammers against my ribcage.
My skin grows pale with an icy chill.
Ash, on the other hand, pushes past me and rushes to our mother.
He hugs her, asking, “Why didn’t you tell us you were coming home?”
Mom rubs a circle on his back. “Don’t you love the surprise?”
Ash pulls out of the hug. “Of course, I do. Does Dad know you’re home?”
Mom smooths down her blazer where it meets the hem of her pencil skirt. “I thought I’d surprise everyone. Vanessa, come over here.”
I oblige and meet them in the hallway. She opens her arms, but I remain stiff. Not wanting to make a scene, Mom leans in and kisses my cheek.
“I’m so happy to see you again, darling,” Mom says, squeezing my shoulder.
“We just spoke on the phone,” I say bluntly. “Why didn’t you tell me you were planning to come home?”
My mother huffs. “I’ve never heard you sound more ungrateful.”
“We’re just surprised,” Ash cuts in. “You never gave us a clue when you’d be back.”
Mom smiles at him, stroking the side of his face. “You’ve become much more handsome than when I left. The video chats haven’t done you justice.”
“I’ll ask Murphy to arrange the helicopter to bring Dad home,” Ash suggests eagerly.
Mom touches his arm, and her smile twitches. “No, don’t do that. I have to get going again.”
His nostrils flare, and outrage fires in his eyes. “You’re leaving?”
Mom chuckles. “Just for a meeting. Don’t worry, darling. I don’t plan on leaving Victoria Falls anytime soon.”
Tension leaves Ash’s shoulders, and he exhales gradually.
My skepticism radar pings, and I stare down Mom. “So this means someone knew you were coming home.”
Mom taps her index finger against her painted lips. “Not exactly.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’m not done with my surprises,” she replies. “I’ve emailed the society ladies about a menu tasting at the country club. Chef Renaldo wants their opinions, and I can’t wait to see the looks on his and the ladies’ faces when I’m there in person.”
Keeping them behind my back, my hands ball into fists. “You want to have a catering meeting? Today?”
A sparkle glints in her eye. “This mother and daughter team is back together at last.”
“What if I’m unavailable today?”
Mom pats her pinned hair, looking down her nose at me. “Considering your only task for the immediate future is planning the gala, I’d say whatever’s on your schedule can be moved around this.”
I suck in a breath to steal some composure. “Even a volunteer shift at the hospital?”
“I’m sure one of your peers can take your shift. You did have a number of them sign-up, didn’t you?”
I look away before she sees the lies in my eyes. “Fine, I’ll move things around. Is the menu tasting soon?”
“Yes. I expect you to get ready.” She then smiles at my brother. “I need to freshen up, dear. I’ll see you at dinner, okay?”
Ash hugs our mother. “I still can’t believe you’re home.”
She smooths a hand down the back of his head. “I’m so sorry I left you for so long. But it was for the best. I hope you know that.”
He doesn’t reply. Instead, leaves the hug with a smile and disappears down the hallway.
“Okay, Vanessa, get changed,” Mom orders. “I need you well-styled for my debut back on the Victoria Falls social scene.”
My jaw clenches, hiding my dismay. “Yes, Mother.”