Chapter 14 Following The Rules
FOLLOWING THE RULES
“What a lovely estate,” Natalie said a few hours later.
“Sorry. What?”
“I said this is a lovely estate. I bet the grounds are beautiful when the flowers are blooming.”
“I guess. I’m too busy looking at you to notice anything else.”
She winked at him as he pulled his rental car to the side where it wouldn’t be blocked in. He’d told her he was leaving as soon as he could, not waiting until the wedding ended.
“I warned you I cleaned up well. Didn’t you believe me?”
There was stunned silence when she walked out of the bathroom in her black dress. The sleeves were long and sheer, the bodice fitted across her chest and waist, then dropped just past her knees.
It was a cocktail dress she’d fallen in love with and received many compliments for at whoever’s wedding she wore it to.
She’d been to enough in the past several years she couldn’t keep count.
“I believed you but didn’t imagine this. Not that you wear baggy clothes to work, but this.” His hand was waving up and down in the car. “With those shoes. Perfection.”
She let out a rare giggle. “Thank you. I try. Good thing I’m used to wearing heels most days.”
Not as high as these, but they were still comfortable and she’d be sitting most of the time.
“Those are pretty special,” he said. “And sexy. Am I allowed to say that? Our contract said nothing about compliments for you.”
“You can tell me I look nice.”
“Not nice. Stunning. Spectacular. You take my breath away.”
“Now you’re being cheesy.”
“It’s not like I called you babe or honey. Not even sweetie. I’m adhering to my end.”
“Yes, you are.” He cleared his throat. “Oh, did you want me to tell you how nice you look in your suit?”
“That would be appreciated,” he said.
“Now you’re being silly.”
“Part of having fun. See, still following the rules.”
She smiled and shook her head. “And you say I’m the rule follower. But you, in this suit.” She kissed her fingers. “Chef’s kiss.”
“Now who is being ridiculous?”
She shrugged and let out another laugh. The two of them walked toward the front door now, his arm around her waist. She’d said he could and it was showtime.
He leaned down close to her ear. “My grandmother is going to grill you. She’s looking out the window now.”
She turned, their faces very close, his lips a whisper away. She hadn’t meant for that to happen and he took advantage of it, placing a peck on her unpainted pucker.
It’s the one thing she never cared to wear, but had applied more makeup than normal.
“Why?” she asked.
“Because she wants to see how we interact without us knowing she’s doing it. She doesn’t realize I’m onto her.”
They got to the front door; it was opened before Arik could reach for the handle and there was an older woman standing there in a navy dress with a lace overlay.
Sophie Crest was close to her height, her light brown hair perfectly arranged, her makeup minimal, her gaze steely, her pink lips not in a smile.
“Grandma,” Arik said. “This is Natalie Bond. Natalie, my grandmother, Sophie Crest.”
“It’s so nice to meet you,” Natalie said. “I’ve heard such wonderful things about you.”
“I heard you had a smooth way about you. You’ll need it with this family, but I expect that guard to be dropped around me.”
She cringed. She could continue on like she planned for the wedding but knew that Arik would appreciate it more if she opened up with the only family member he appeared to be close with.
“I have a cool way about me,” she said. “I admit it. It comes in handy in my job.” She leaned down and put her hand to the side of her mouth and loudly whispered, “Many would say I’m like that all the time, but those that I’m close to see the real me.”
“I see the real her,” Arik said. “All the time. She gives me crap. Don’t let her fool you.”
“I’d hardly say I give you a hard time,” she said.
“Toothpaste in the sink this morning,” he pointed out.
“That’s just disgusting. Rinse it out. No one wants to see a big glob of green in the sink.”
“It could have been worse,” Sophie said. “Did he leave hair in it from shaving?”
“No,” he said. “I shaved before my shower. The glob of toothpaste came after I brushed my teeth a second time. Geez, you’d think I was a slob or something.”
“Considering he lives in hotels and always has someone cleaning up after him, I’m not so sure. Got any secrets you want to share with me?”
“Go,” Sophie said to Arik. “Watch TV or go sit in your room, but let Natalie and me have a few moments alone.”
“Be easy on her, Grandma. I don’t want to lose the one person on my side here today.”
“He’s a wise one,” Sophie said.
“So I see.”
“Have a seat. We don’t have as much time as I’d like so I’m going to cut to the chase. What are your intentions toward my grandson?”
She hadn’t expected this right away. “We are getting to know each other. If you’re worried I’m after him for his money, I can assure you that isn’t the case. I know my place.”
“No,” Sophie said. “There are no places. If you talk like that around him, it’d only piss him off.”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” she said.
“Then what way did you mean it?”
“That what he has is his. I don’t have it and never will. I’ve got family members worth more than him. I interact with them and guests alike from wealthy backgrounds. I can present myself well, but I don’t want to be with him for money.”
This was going to be another hurdle she’d have to figure out.
But since their relationship was only for show this weekend, it was easier to speak with no feelings attached.
If she was feeling more internally, she had to battle it back.
They needed to get through this weekend and deal with the next two weeks before he decided on his next adventure.
Him leaving the island again would break her heart if she let herself open up.
She’d been locked up tight for years and it’d take more than a few fun dates with an attractive, amusing man that she got the body tingles around.
“Why do you want to be around Arik?”
Honesty was the best tactic. She was positive Sophie would report back to Arik, so she’d have to word things well.
“He allows me to be how I am with only a select few. I don’t have to guard my words or actions.
I don’t have to pretend I’m someone who is perfect when we are all flawed.
When those sides of me come out, he doesn’t judge, he doesn’t condemn, and he often adds his own imperfections into the mix to ease my embarrassment. It’s a rare talent he has.”
“It is one,” Sophie said and sat back to relax. “He’s not had an easy life.”
“I think maybe those on the outside would argue otherwise.”
“Because they don’t see what is inside. Do you?”
“I think I do,” she said. “It’s early yet. I knew him before the world he lives in now. We got along well. I had a secret crush on him. He flirted and I wasn’t immune to it.”
“Yet you didn’t date? Why is that?”
“Because he was graduating and moved to Seattle. He’d told me about all his job interviews across the US.
I was returning to my little island where I felt more comfortable.
I crammed to graduate early and stayed over the summer to finish.
I never returned after. Not even to walk the stage for graduation. ”
She didn’t regret that when her parents asked her to do it.
Why? She was only a name and another body to cross that stage.
Getting her diploma handed to her in person didn’t make the sacrifices or hard work any different.
“Despite what many think, Arik isn’t afraid of hard work.”
“I never thought he was. He had to work hard in order to be where he is today. Do I think he might float in the wind trying to find himself? I do. He’s entitled to that, but it won’t change my goals in life.”
“Which are?”
“I love my job. I’ve worked my way up quicker than I thought. I spend a lot of hours there and get lectured on many fronts for it. But if I didn’t love it, I wouldn’t do it. I could move up and hope to in the years to come.”
Sophie waved her hand. “Not career goals. Family goals?”
“Oh. I haven’t had that talk with Arik. I don’t feel right having it with you.”
“It won’t leave my lips. You have my word.”
She could talk her way out of this but wouldn’t. “I come from a large family. We are close and I’d like that with a family of my own one day. Someone who takes my family in the same way I do. It doesn’t mean I’m rushing for it. It will happen if and when it does.”
Sophie nodded her head. “Arik never had a big family that took him in. That made him feel as if he belonged.”
“He has you,” she said softly.
“He does. But it’s not the same as a father he could look up to or a mother who would bake him cookies when he had a bad day.”
“Is that what Arik wants? Cookies on a bad day?”
He didn’t come across that way to her.
“No. It was a metaphor. He wants someone to stand next to him so he isn’t alone to battle demons he doesn’t always want people to know he has.”
She found that odd. “Arik has been clear about this weekend. He’s warned me he doesn’t get along with his father and why. The same with his mother.”
“Did he ever tell you the meaning of his name? Why he’s named after his father but it’s spelled differently?”
“No,” she said. “I was curious, but it hasn’t come up yet. I just recently found out his father’s name was Erik.”
“Well, my son was adamant that his son was going to bear his name. My daughter-in-law felt everyone should have their own identity. Which I agree with. They fought, the compromise was spelling it differently. To this day, Arik’s mother insists it was the first and only compromise she gave to the marriage and she was damn glad of it. ”
“That’s not a happy story to attach to your name. I mean, he told me things could get out of hand today, but I guess I didn’t understand.”
“Who knows what can happen or will? Got to be prepared for anything.”
“I believe I’m going to meet someone named Brandi today?”
Sophie grinned. “The appalled look on your face says it all. I don’t know what is going on with you two.”
“Neither do I.” Which wasn’t a lie.
“But whatever it is, you’re here by his side when he needs it.” Sophie patted her hand and stood. “I only care about Arik’s happiness. He can handle all the other nuisances life throws his way.”
“I’m positive he can.”
“And it seems as if you’re a pro at it too. Don’t judge him too harshly by what you might witness today. He’s not like the rest of them.”
“I’ve got no reason to judge or compare. I like the man I’m getting to know more of each day.”
“If you make it through this weekend without running from the room in frustration, you might just be the one.”
Oh, crap.
She didn’t want anyone thinking along those lines.
“I’m not sure how to reply.”
“No reply needed. Your frightened face says it all. You’ll keep Arik on his toes and sometimes I think he needs that the most.”