Chapter Twenty Four #2
“I won’t do that again.”
The look on Annie’s face was so serious that I had to fight the urge to laugh.
After we finished breakfast, the twins started to yawn in unison.
“Hmm, guys, what do you say about a nap?”
To my astonishment, both of them agreed. I remembered one thing clearly from when I was a kid—I usually fought sleep like hell.
“I’ll go upstairs with them and then clean up.” Allison gestured to the table.
“No, I’ll clean up,” I said. “I made the mess, and I really don’t mind.”
“Oh, okay,” Allison said with a huge smile. She’d been doing this all by herself for so long, and I could tell she was pleased with the help.
Once they’d gone upstairs, I immediately called Frances.
“Good morning!” I said as soon as she answered.
“Hey, Nick. What’s going on?”
“Listen, I need you to organize some movers for me today.”
“Absolutely. What do you need them to bring you?”
“The couch from my cinema room.”
“I’m on it. I can get someone there in probably an hour.”
“There’s no rush. If it’s not here until the evening, it’s more than fine.” She really was a great person to work with. “And thanks a lot for organizing everything yesterday.”
“The missus liked it?” she asked.
“She absolutely loved it. You did fantastic.” I’d already put in her raise with HR, so she’d see that in her next paycheck. She was a great asset to me and my team.
“Thank you! I’ll have your couch delivered ASAP.”
“Thanks.”
Even though I wanted as few people as possible to know about our arrangement, I’d told my assistant the truth. Otherwise, conversations like this would be fucking awful.
After finishing the call, I quickly cleaned up. I’d just started the dishwasher when Allison came down the stairs.
“They went out like a light. I think they were still exhausted from yesterday.” She yawned. “As am I. God, I really do need a coffee.”
“Which reminds me,” I said, turning around. “I’d like to bring something else here besides my couch.”
“Oh?”
“My coffee machine.”
Allison laughed. “That was the first thing I saw in your kitchen, and I thought, ‘How is he going to survive on my poor little Nespresso machine?’”
“So, you don’t mind?”
“I won’t say no to barista coffee,” she assured me with a wink.
Suddenly, I had the urge to move everything I needed here and never leave. Strange…
I took out my phone and said, “Let me just text Frances. I’ve already arranged with her to have my couch moved here, and the guys can pick that up too.”
“That was quick. I’m impressed. So… she knows about everything?”
I nodded. “I figured it was easier. She’s tight-lipped and knows how to keep a secret.”
Just as I finished texting, I looked up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about double-checking with you.”
“No, that’s fine. It’s just a bit weird. I don’t even know what we should keep secret and what we shouldn’t.”
“I think the only people who need to know the truth are those closest to us. Everyone else must think this is a real marriage.”
Allison nodded in agreement.
I wiggled my eyebrows and walked closer to her. She backed up right into the counter. “We should definitely keep what happened in the dressing room a secret,” I said.
It was high time for me to come clean—at least with myself. I couldn’t stop flirting. The more I fought it, the more I seemed to be doing it.
“My God, Nick.” Then she narrowed her eyes and playfully pushed me away. “Wait, so you didn’t share that with anybody in your family?”
“Why in the ever-loving hell would I do that?”
She licked her lips, which only fueled my imagination more. They were plump and perfect, needing to be kissed.
“I don’t know… Yesterday, it felt like everyone sort of knew more than they were letting on.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to explain it.”
“I do. It’s a general thing in my family. Everyone thinks they know more than you do about your own life. Mom and Gran made some comments to you that were insinuating.”
“Oh, you heard those? I was starting to think I’d just imagined them.”
“No, you didn’t. They both said it loud enough for me to hear it too. That’s just their way of putting ideas into your head.”
“About you and me…? Nope, I’m not going to finish that thought!”
I chuckled. “That’s for the best.”
She lowered her arms, and I noticed her nipples were peeking through the fabric, which had absolutely not been the case before. She looked down and immediately crossed her arms over her chest again.
“But that means that they’re getting their hopes up, right? That this is something more.”
“That’s not my problem. Or yours. Gran’s been getting her hopes up about us all getting married for years.”
“But everyone else is married, or at least engaged.”
“True, and Gran has been playing matchmaker for some time.”
“Really? Oh, I’ve heard about meddling grandmothers. Mom used to say that her own grandma was like that, but she passed away long before Nora and I were born.” She smirks. “So, Jeannie was successful, huh? Considering that all your brothers are taken.”
“How do you know that they didn’t just change their minds?” I challenged.
“Pfft.” She waved her hand. “Because men are stubborn. Usually they don’t see what they need even if it’s dancing naked in front of them.”
Or standing in front of them in pajamas with their hair in disarray and nipples peeking through their shirt. I was starting to get her point.
“She was successful with quite a few of my brothers,” I admitted. “But not all of them needed her involvement.”
“And she thinks you do?”
“I never know where I stand with Gran. But it’s safe to say she was happy yesterday.”
“I wonder what that means.”
I gave her a half smile. “So do I.”