The Attraction

Chapter 4

Chapter Four

FORREST

W hat is wrong with me?

Why do I keep thinking I need to jump in to save a woman who doesn’t think she needs saving?

This is going to be a nightmare.

There is no way I’m going to be able to live with Harper in my home without one of us trying to kill the other, on a daily basis. The only chance we have of getting through this is hoping that we are both working so hard that we are hardly ever in the apartment, basically just here to sleep.

It’s just the weekends that will be a problem. Surely, she spends time with her family, or I can get Flynn to make sure they have lots of girly days organized. Then it’s her security team’s problem and not mine.

I only need to take care of her at night while she is in bed.

Fuck, I don’t need to be thinking about it that way.

I’m stronger than that. I won’t give in to her flirting or innuendos.

I made a promise to myself that the next woman I’m with will be with the intention of a long-term relationship. It’s why I have given up dating the socialite women who are just doing the rounds of the room and trying to find the next rich guy to pay for their easy life. I’m sure they aren’t all like that, but for some reason, they’re the ones I keep attracting, and I’m not interested.

I know I need more than that.

I deserve more than that.

It’s the connection I want, that soul-deep one that I have now seen my brother and friends find. Why isn’t it that easy for me?

As I have been reminded several times by my mother and brother, everyone assumed it would be me that settled into the long-term serious relationship long before Flynn. And to be honest, we all doubted it would ever happen for him. But of course, life has a funny way of changing people’s directions without them realizing it.

I think they call it fate or some shit like that.

Rem and Sandon are sitting down together at the Kentwall Estates office while the rest of us plan the security detail needed to cover Harper. Flynn and Felisha are driving Harper home tonight and helping her pack up her things to bring up to my apartment that is four levels above hers.

I offered to help, but Flynn didn’t think that was a good idea, and he’s probably right.

Instead, I came home and worked out in the gym to try to take my anger down a notch or two.

The moment Rem told me some idiot was stalking Harper, instant rage started rushing through my system. Not that I’m sure it was any different for Flynn or Rem when they heard, but they weren’t stupid enough to put their hand up to be her babysitter. I’m still trying to work out why I did it, but there is no backing out now.

The workout wasn’t helping until I picked up the boxing gloves and started on the punching bag, and I could see this Chester guy’s face in front of me. I’m not a violent person, but there is a certain type of therapeutic relief from the repetitiveness of boxing against the bag. I have a feeling this bag is going to get a workout while Harper is living here.

And that’s the thing I didn’t really think through properly. We don’t really know how long this thing is going to go on for. But I can’t worry about that until this Ashton guy turns up in a few days and we know the whole story. It’s a bit weird that he has the same surname as Flynn and me. Taylor is a common name, but still, weird all the same. Maybe we’re distantly related.

After showering, I would normally just pull on a pair of track pants and not worry about a shirt, but I figure I need to get dressed properly before Harper gets here.

Dragging a black t-shirt over my head and running my hands through my hair, I don’t bother brushing it. My face is clean-shaven as always because I can’t stand the itch I get after the first day of trying to grow it out, and by day three, it’s driving me crazy, so I just don’t even bother trying anymore. The funny thing is it makes me look younger than Flynn some days, and it pisses him off when people assume he is the older brother.

We both have a bit of gray starting to creep into our hair, and I couldn’t give a shit about it. I’d rather be gray than bald. But I think because Flynn has the stubble and sometimes a short beard, it makes him look older. Our father went gray early and fully gray by the time he was fifty, so I’m heading there faster than I would like. Mum used to tell him she loved his hair like that and that he was her silver fox.

I sit at my desk in my home office, eating a meal I prepped early this week of curry chicken and vegetables with a small side of rice. I make sure I get the right amount of protein intake each meal, and I like being organized so I don’t have to waste time cooking during the week. I could hire a chef, but I have lived on my own for so long and done the same routine that it is just second nature now. Plus, as everyone likes to tell me, I’m a bit of a control freak, so preparing my own food makes me feel like I have control over what fuel I’m putting in my body. I never do a full seven days’ worth of meals because there are always at least one or two nights I’m out at a meeting over dinner or a social occasion.

My phone starts dancing on my desk with the vibration of an incoming call. I hate the annoyance of a loud ringtone, so it’s always on silent.

“Hi, Mum.” I put my earpiece in so I can keep working while I chat with her, because I know that once Harper arrives, I won’t get anything else done for the night.

“Hi, love, how are you doing?” She is always the one who calls to check on us. Dad is just not that sort of man. He cares and is glad to hear all the news Mum relays to him, but he does not like to use the phone much.

“Everything is fine with me, how about you and Dad?” I know I shouldn’t answer with an open-ended question like that, but I’m tired and wasn’t thinking.

“You know your father, he never says much, but I think he needs to go to the doctor because he seems to be getting constipated more often these days.”

And there it is. The reason I should not give Mum the opening to tell me things that I just don’t need to know about. I wonder if Flynn gets conversations like this. I doubt it because he wouldn’t bother to ask. To him, Mum and Dad will live forever, and I worry too much.

“I got him a laxative drink to take each night, and he says it’s helping a bit but has not fixed it completely and sometimes gives him the runs instead. I told him the problem is that he doesn’t drink enough water, but I’m sure he just switches off listening to me. I read on the internet that he should be eating prunes or some grapes or drinking some juice mix. But they also said he could have a problem with not eating enough fiber and that’s why he is blocked up.” I’m stopping her before this gets any further.

“Mum, we have talked about this before, do not search the internet for medical advice. That’s why the men in white coats go to university and train in hospitals for many years, to help diagnose you when there are problems. If you are worried, then book an appointment with his doctor.” I stop what I’m working on to concentrate and make sure she understands that you can’t believe everything you read on the internet.

“But doctors are expensive,” she replies.

“Damn it, Mum, I have told you before, I will pay for anything you need, especially a doctor. Have you looked in your bank account lately? I’m sure you can afford a doctor or ten.” I maintain all their investments that I have set up, and neither of them know that I have also been slowly depositing money into their everyday account so there should never be an issue that they can’t afford anything, because my dad will always be too proud to ask. He never got over the fact that I gave them money when he was out of work and insisted on paying it all back to me, so I lied about how much I had given them, and I think he paid back about a third of it. Then of course I just drip feed it back into his account anyway.

“But it was from a site that had the word medical in it,” she replies with such innocence of a woman in her late sixties and totally ignoring my comment about the money as she usually does.

Smacking my forehead, I try to explain this to her… again.

“Mum, please listen to me. The internet can be very useful, but it can also be a load of rubbish. Just because you read it there doesn’t always mean it’s true. I mean, look at all the crap that was written about Flynn and Felisha after the video was leaked. None of it was true.” I lean back in my chair and close my eyes at this conversation that I’m sure we have had at least twenty times.

“But it was true that it was his cute little white bottom on the internet.” Her little giggle rings through my ear.

“God help me, Mum, seriously. Yes, it was his ass, but that was the only truth in what they said. Now can you just make an appointment for Dad with a proper doctor? Let me know what they say, and for the love of God, can we stop talking about Dad’s bowel habits?” I put my fingers back on the keyboard and set a reminder to check in a week that she has done something about this and seen a doctor.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Forrest, of course.” Hardly stopping to take a breath, she changes direction with her conversation. “Have you found a nice girl to date yet?”

Fuck, now I’m thinking I should have stayed with the talk about shit!

“No, Mum, no girlfriend on the horizon. Maybe you should call Flynn and check on him and Felisha and how the wedding plans are going. He might need some help or suggestions.” Deflection is my only option here. He will kill me, but I can’t do this phone call tonight with Mum, I just don’t have the mental strength.

“Oh, good idea. He hasn’t told me one thing about it yet. Do you know anything about his plans?” The excitement in her voice that at least one of us is getting married makes me kind of sad. This poor woman has been waiting for grandchildren for so long, but just because Flynn is getting married, it doesn’t mean there are any plans on the horizon to have a baby.

“No, I don’t know a thing, best to ask him.” I see a message from Flynn pop up on my screen to let me know they are in the elevator and will be here shortly, which gives me a good excuse to get off the phone.

“Anyway, lovely to hear from you and give my love to Dad as well, but I have to run, I’ve got a delivery coming to the door. Love you and talk next week.” I get up and walk with my dish to the kitchen and put it in the dishwasher as Mum says her goodbye.

“Okay, lovely to hear your voice. Love you too, and I’ll give Flynn a call now. Ta-ta.”

I can’t help smiling to myself as I hear voices outside my door and Flynn say the words, “Hi, Mum.”

The light knock I know is not Flynn, that’s for sure.

Opening up I find three people.

Felisha with a grateful look on her face that I’m protecting her best friend so she doesn’t have to worry.

Flynn, who is looking at me with daggers as I can hear Mum on his phone telling him I suggested she give him a call and then going off on her million and one questions about the wedding.

And of course, Harper, who looks like she would rather be anywhere than at my front door with her life in bags around her.

I can’t help but laugh. “You could at least look like you are happy to be here.” I grab the first bag that Felisha had obviously been pushing.

“I’m not, so can you just move out of the way so we can get out of the corridor?”

Oh, this is going to be fun… not.

I step to the side with the suitcase in my hand and hold the door open for the girls, and Harper mumbles as she passes me. “Wipe that smirk off your face, it’s not fucking funny.”

Which of course only makes me laugh out loud now.

“Yes, Mum, that is Forrest’s laugh. I’m just here helping his… girlfriend move into his apartment.” He makes sure I’m paying for the phone call he just received.

“You prick!” I mouth at him as he passes by me at the door, flipping me the bird. I’m just thankful the girls didn’t hear his comment. But I can guarantee my phone is about to blow up with phone call after phone call from my mother.

“Oh, he didn’t tell you? Well, it’s new, and I’m sure when he is ready, he will share it all with you. You know how he is, such a private person. Anyway, I have to go, but yes, I will pass on to Felisha your offer to help with the wedding. You know it’s a girl thing, and I’m just happy with whatever she wants.” There is a pause and then he replies, “Love you too, bye, Mum.”

Felisha has already taken Harper down the hallway to the spare bedroom, which she knows where it is because she has stayed there before with Flynn.

“You’re an asshole, why would you do that to your elderly mother?” I ask, smacking him across the back of the head as I come up behind him.

“Ouch. That’s payback for being a dick and telling her to ring me.”

“Well, if you called her more often, she wouldn’t need an excuse to ring you.” It’s something I’m constantly reminding him, that they are getting older and we should be checking in on them more. But it shouldn’t have to be me all the time. I carried the load for the fifteen years he was in Australia working, so he could at least share the responsibility now.

“Just be thankful they don’t live close by, otherwise she would be here on your doorstop in ten minutes flat.” He chuckles as he starts down the hallway to the spare room as well. I can feel my phone vibrating in my pocket, stopping, then starting up again. Pulling it out, I see Mum has already called three times, one after the other. Sending her a message is the only way to stop this.

Forrest: Ignore Flynn, Mum. He thinks he’s funny, but he’s not. I have Harper, who is Felisha’s best friend, just staying in my spare room for a few days. There is nothing to it.

As I shove my phone in my pocket and head down to the room with the last suitcase, I feel a message notification on my phone in my pocket. I know it will be Mum because it would have taken her that long to type it out.

Mum: You said you were getting a delivery, but you didn’t say it was a girl. I love Harper and she is perfect for you. I think I need to come for dinner.

“For fuck’s sake, I’m going to kill you,” I say, looking at Flynn who is smirking, knowing it will have been from Mum, so I say my reply out loud as I type it. “Sure, Mum, Flynn said he and Felisha will join us too. He will cook for us. I’ll be in touch with a date. Bye.”

“What have you done?” He is glaring at me now.

“Checkmate, little brother. The four of us are now having the pleasure of dinner with Mum and Dad, here, and you get to play chef again.”

“Oh, touché, I will give you credit for that move.” Flynn starts laughing now.

“Ummm, so why did we get dragged into this? They aren’t our parents,” Harper grumbles, clearly still in a pissed-off mood.

“Call it payback for the punishment you are about to inflict on me. Besides, they are Felisha’s future in-laws, so she has no choice.” I lean against the doorjamb.

“You two boys are awful. I’ve met Maurice and Marion, and they are so sweet. Your mother just wants her sons to be happy and loved. So, I will happily have dinner with her anytime. And if she wants to be involved in the wedding, I’m sure we can find her a little job that will make her feel important, can’t we, Harper?” Felisha is trying to lighten the mood in the room.

“Sure. I mean, unlike her son, she is lovely and so approachable. I did wonder where he came from actually, because after meeting his parents, they are nothing alike.” She’s staring at me with her hand on her hip and her head tilted a little as if to say, come on, what’s your reply to that? But I’m smarter than to piss her off any further than she already is today. If she wants to project all her anger at me for what she has been told today, I’m strong enough to take it.

That’s what I’ve signed up for. To protect her, keep her safe, but also to be someone she can lean on until we get her through it.

“Beautiful, be careful what you wish for here.” Flynn walks up behind Felisha and wraps his arms around the front of her, kissing her on the top of her head. “You might earn the title of bridezilla when the time comes, and that’s perfectly okay, but my mother will become your worst nightmare by getting in the road and constantly fussing.”

“So, you will put up with me being a crazy woman but won’t give your mother a little bit of leeway? I hate to tell you but out of the two mothers, I will take bets that mine will be ten times worse. It’s why I have taken the organization out of Harper’s hands, and she will just be overseeing the wedding planner, who I’m sure I’m going to have to pay a lot of money to cope with it all. Especially now that this has all blown up today. It’s the last thing Harper needs to be worrying about.”

Looking around the room, everyone looks tired, and I know the stress has gotten to all of us today.

“Well, I’m sure we can debate whose mother is the worst after we have that dinner, but for tonight, why don’t we let Harper settle in. Make sure to set up her dartboard on the back of this door with my picture in the middle of it so she can take out her annoyance of being in my presence in a more constructive way than maybe using my kitchen knives.” And although it was only there for a second, there was the slightest hint of a smile on her face.

Flynn laughs. “Wow, your jokes are improving. Have you been reading a few joke books in your spare time?”

“Time to leave. I’ve hit my Flynn quota for today.” I hike my thumb over my shoulder at the door.

“Yeah, yeah, I get when I’m not welcome anymore,” Flynn replies as I’ve already turned and am heading back toward the front door with him following closely behind me.

Felisha has stayed behind with Harper for a moment.

As Flynn and I stand looking at each other, the joking from a minute ago is gone, and he looks at me seriously.

“Watch out for her, Forrest, she’s more fragile than we realize.” And I can see the care and compassion in his eyes.

“I know, and as much as we butt heads, I care about her and won’t let anything happen on my watch. She doesn’t understand why I brought her here yet, but she will. Hating me will be the best distraction she has to stop her thinking about the outside world.” And I can tell he totally appreciates my motives.

But then he shocks the hell out of me with his reply.

“Keep telling yourself that, Brother. You care way more about her than you are prepared to admit to yourself. But I’ve been there, and eventually those walls will break. And when they do, I can tell you it’s the best thing that will happen to you.”

For the first time in my life, I feel like Flynn truly sees me deep down behind all the facades that I have up.

Taking a breath, I reply the only way I know how to. “My walls aren’t the problem.”

The sound of the girls coming out of the bedroom puts an end to the discussion, and I’m grateful because this is not a discussion I want to continue.

HARPER

“You look exhausted.” Felisha stands in front of me, pointing out the obvious.

“I’m actually too tired to even argue with you that you’re wrong.” I sit down on the edge of the bed and take time to look around me.

“Do you want me to help you unpack?” She sits beside me on the bed, resting her hand on my leg.

Part of me wants to say yes, but I know she is as tired and stressed as I am, so I don’t want to keep her here. She needs to go home with her fiancé and forget about me for the rest of the night.

“No, it will give me a reason not to have to deal with that grump out in the living room.” Both of us have a little giggle, and I rest my head on her shoulder just for a minute to try to ground myself.

This morning, I woke up to a normal chaotic day on my schedule, threw in a chat with my family and the board meeting from hell, but I had no idea that it would end like this. Me living with Forrest and some guy in the US stalking me online.

After we sit here for a few minutes in silence, Felisha speaks softly. “He’s a good guy, you know,” she says, giving my leg a squeeze.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t make him any less of an asshole,” I mumble.

“True, but just remember, he didn’t have to do this.” She looks at me with sympathetic eyes.

“You know it’s just so he can control the situation, don’t you?” I lift my head to look at her.

“Yep, and one day you will thank me when I tell you this little secret I discovered. Giving up control in certain places with a man is a nirvana you never knew existed.” With that, Felisha stands, and I shake my head at her.

“So you say.” To be honest, I don’t even want to think about anything, let alone her sex life.

“Call me if you need me, even at three am. You know our rule.” She holds up her hand, and I hook my little finger into hers.

“Okay.” I remember back to when we left home for the first time and moved into an apartment near the university. We made a pact between us that no matter where we were or who we were with, if we needed each other, we would pick up the phone and be there. Including in the middle of sex, which has happened on the odd occasion, but I’ve never told her. Because she will always mean more to me than any guy. Although I’m not sure she could say the same now with Flynn in the picture. But I understand that and know that she would still take that phone call if I called, and Flynn would be annoyed at her if she didn’t.

“I’m going to hug you now and don’t you dare push me away. I don’t care if you need it or not, but I do.” Smiling at me, she leans down and wraps her arms around me and squeezes me tight, and I won’t admit it, but I desperately need it too.

“Thank you,” I whisper and then pull back because it’s been long enough.

Felisha just nods at me and then turns and leaves me in the room on my own.

The décor is nothing like I imagined it would be. But to be honest, he likely probably just paid someone to come in and decorate the whole apartment when he moved in, and I doubt he would have changed it since. Nothing like me, who renovated my last apartment three times before I purchased my new one. I might have given it a paint and all new furniture when I moved in, but this renovation is a ridiculous one. It would have probably been cheaper to buy something new, but I love the location and layout so much that I was prepared for the pain I’m currently in to come out the other side with the most perfect home that I will love.

Don’t get me wrong, this guest room has got a masculine hint to it, but it’s more feminine than what I would think suits Forrest. Which confuses me a little, because the rest of the apartment that I have seen so far screams forty-four-year-old bachelor, with a color scheme of navy, grays, and browns in different combinations. Stainless-steel appliances, and of course, a television that is so big it’s like he is compensating for something. Except I know he’s not, after that time I had my hand on his cock.

My five suitcases staring at me aren’t going to put themselves away, and if I want to get into the shower any time before midnight, I need to get up and move.

The murmur of voices at the front door has gone quiet, and my heart thumps a little harder with anxiety knowing that I’m now alone here with Forrest, and I just don’t even know what to say to him.

If I close the door, hopefully he will leave me alone for the rest of the night.

Except that is so rude to ignore the man who has given up his home for me, even if I’m not sure why. But I must believe there is goodness behind it.

Before I get motivated enough to get up off the bed, Forrest is standing at the door. He leans on the doorjamb again, and how did I not notice before that he has gray sweatpants on.

Really, could he have given me at least one night to get myself together before he starts torturing me? Every woman knows that is like female Viagra, standing in front of me with pants that show me exactly what he is packing and doesn’t leave anything to the imagination.

“I know it’s been a day, but do you want me to give you a quick tour of the place so you know where everything is? And then I’ll stay out of your hair for the rest of the night, because you have made it perfectly clear you don’t want to talk to me, and I’m okay with that.” It’s the sweetest I have ever heard him speak to me, and it puts me off.

“Look, can we have this discussion tomorrow when my head is in a better place? I know I should be apologizing, but I just don’t even have the words right now. So can you just give me a quick rundown before I fall into bed and crash?” My mother would be appalled at how rude I’m being, but she has no idea what is going on, and that’s the way I want to keep it. Plus, if she saw Forrest on a normal day, she would agree with me that he is the most arrogant man she has ever met… well, maybe, but I’m not debating that in my head tonight.

“Okay,” is all he replies as I stand and walk toward him.

“This is where my bedroom is if you need me, and the other door on the left is another guest bedroom. Let’s head back this way.” He starts walking and doesn’t make any eye contact with me, giving me plenty of personal space as I drag my feet behind him.

As we pass through the living room/dining area, he points out the obvious and then shows me where a few of the basics are kept in the kitchen cupboards.

“On this side of the apartment is my office which is where I spend a lot of time when I’m at home. And I don’t want any workaholic comments because we both know you are just as bad. Tomorrow I will organize to have the extra guest bedroom set up as a temporary office for you. Just let me know what you need, and it will be done by the time you get home from work tomorrow night.”

Looking into his office, I’m amazed at the set-up. It almost looks like a control room with so many screens on the desk and the ones on the walls that look like they have just rolling data of different stock prices.

“Wow.” That’s all I can say.

He doesn’t reply but takes a few more steps down the hallway and points to the next door.

“And that is my playroom which you are welcome to use, but I am fussy about the machines in there, so please talk to me before you go in there the first time.”

Oh my God, the first thought that comes into my head is just not possible. I never would have guessed that about Forrest in a million years.

“Umm, what sort of playroom are we talking about?” I ask, trying not to show one ounce of judgment on my face.

He looks confused, and then it dawns on him. “Shit, no, not that, um, not even close.” He almost runs a few steps to fling the door open so I can see what is inside.

“I collect old gaming machines from when we were kids, you know like Pac-Man and Space Invaders. Pinball machines, and I even have one from the sixties diner era.”

For the first time since I met Forrest, I see the slightest blush on his cheeks.

“You’re right. Not what I was thinking.” And now I can feel myself blushing as I say something that I should have kept to myself. “Not that I would have minded if that’s what it was, but this is cool too.”

His head snaps back to look at me, and now I know it’s time to get out of here.

“I’m tired, yep, so tired. I’m off to bed. See you in the morning.”

I’m almost running to my room and close the door so quickly it makes a bang.

I wouldn’t even know what to do in one of those rooms, so what the hell was I thinking saying that?

I flop face-down on the bed and just wish I could close my eyes, count to ten, and start this day all over again, because the number of holes I have dug myself into today is ridiculous, and tomorrow I need to work out how to get back out of them.

Pretend like it never happened. Yes, that sounds like the best plan.

Not like Forrest is going to bring it up, with the way I embarrassed him when I said it.

Far out, Harper, how do you get yourself into these situations?

Snap out of it and get this under control. Tomorrow is a new day. Get it together, bitch, and start acting like you can handle this, because nothing ever keeps you down.

And this won’t either.