“When you get a chance, Ian, we need to go over a couple things regarding Prim.”
“Okay, Adalynn. When’s good for you?” I asked as I pulled the calendar up on my phone.
“How about Monday morning at ten?” she replied.
“Ten it is.” I smiled at her.
She stood there and looked at me with a cocked head. “I like that you’re happy. You’re a different man, Ian Braxton.”
“Thanks, Adalynn,” I said as I got up, walked over, and hugged her. “It looks like we both are getting everything we want.”
“Ahem,” Rory said as she stood in the doorway. “Are you flirting with my best friend?” she asked me.
“Why? Are you jealous?” I replied with a smile.
“No. You’ll know when I’m jealous, my love.” She smiled back and winked.
“Adalynn, as much as I love you, you need to get the hell out of here now!” I told her.
“How rude, Ian.”
“Not rude, darling, it’s called desperation. I am desperate for my beautiful girlfriend over there to show me what happens when she gets jealous.”
Adalynn sighed and rolled her eyes. “Good lord, you two make my head spin.”
She turned around and gave Rory a light hug. “I’ll see you soon. Try not to hurt him too much.” She winked.
****
“I swear that I’m going to make you jealous every day,” I said as I kissed her lips.
The bed was in shambles and we were both drenched in sweat. Still trying to catch her breath, Rory looked at me with that smile. The smile that told me she wanted me to fuck her again.
“Sweetheart, are you trying to kill me?”
“Of course not.” She laughed.
“You need to remember that I’m ten years older than you.”
“Not a full ten for a couple of weeks. What do you want to do for your birthday?” she asked as she ran her finger down my chest.
“I don’t know. I haven’t given it any thought. I do know that I don’t want a party.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to spend my birthday with you and only you. How about we take the yacht out for a couple of days?”
“I would love that.”
I kissed the tip of her nose. “Good, then that’s what we’ll do. Now, let’s get these sheets off the bed, shower, and then order dinner. How’s Thai sound?”
“Thai sounds great. Are we taking a shower together?”
“Do I ever shower alone anymore, sweetheart?”
She jumped up out of the bed and went into the bathroom to start the shower. I grabbed hold of my semi-hard cock and looked down.
“Here we go again.”
Chapter 14
Rory
Ian was already waiting for me outside on the patio with an open bottle of wine and the table set.
“Our food should be here shortly.” He smiled as he poured some wine into my glass.
“Great. I’m starving.”
“We sure did work up quite an appetite,” Ian said as he walked by and lightly kissed my neck.
As I sat down at the table and took a sip of my wine, Ian walked back with the Thai food. He set the cartons on the table and then took his seat across from me.
“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” he said.
“What is it?”
“I found your father.”
I almost choked on my food. “What? Where is he?”
“That, my darling, you’re never going to believe. He lives in Los Angeles.”
“What? You mean like less-than-an-hour-away Los Angeles?” I asked in utter shock.
“Yeah, that Los Angeles, sweetheart.” He chuckled. “He owns a bar called the Piano Bar in Hollywood.”
I felt sick to my stomach and I put down my fork. It was hard to believe that my father lived so close, but yet so far. A man I knew nothing about except that he was a coward who abandoned his children.
“Are you okay, Rory?” Ian asked.
I sighed as I stared down at my food. “I don’t know, Ian. I’m not going to lie to you. It really upsets me that he’s so close and I’m scared, but I need to see him, talk to him, and get some answers.”
Ian got up and walked over to me. He grabbed my hand, helped me up from the chair, and wrapped his arms around me.
“Listen, I know you’re scared, but I’ll be with you every step of the way. If you feel that strongly about seeing him, then do it. If you feel like you just can’t, then I’ll support you. It’s your decision, sweetheart, and only you can make it. You need to do what’s best for you.”
My grip around him tightened. I never thought in a million years that I would have found someone who loved me and supported me like Ian did. “Have I told you how much I love you?”
“Yes, but please tell me some more.” He smiled.
Ian broke our embrace and grabbed our wine glasses. “Come on; let’s go down by the water,” he said as he held out his arm.
I smiled as I looped my arm in his and we walked down to the beach. As we were sitting in the sand, Ian told me about his golf date with Andrew tomorrow. As much as I didn’t want him to go, I didn’t dare tell him that. I didn’t like Andrew and I didn’t like Ian hanging out with him.
“Oh, by the way, I have an event dinner to go to next week and you’ll be joining me. I want you to go shopping and find a nice dress to wear. But nothing too sexy, understand?”
“Yeah, whatever, Ian.”
“No whatever, sweetheart; nothing sexy.”
I was silently laughing to myself. If he didn’t want sexy, then he’d get frumpy. That would teach him to tell me what I could and couldn’t wear.
“Okay, my love. Nothing sexy.”
“Thank you.” He smiled as he kissed my head.
****
Another restless night between thinking about my father, and Ian’s command about not wearing a sexy dress to the event we were going to. Ian was already in the bathroom, getting ready for his golf day with Andrew. I got up, walked into the bathroom, and wrapped my arms around him, laying my head against his bare back as he shaved.
“Good morning, sweetheart. I hope I didn’t wake you.”
“Good morning, and no, you didn’t.”
I gave him a soft kiss on his back and then went downstairs for some coffee. Since it was Sunday, Charles had the day off, so I made a pot of coffee. As I was waiting for it to brew, Ian walked into the kitchen.
“What are you doing today?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I really hadn’t thought about it.”
The coffee finished brewing and Andrew walked into the kitchen. “Good morning, all.” He smiled.
“Andrew.” I nodded.
“Look at you, Rory. Looking sexy, even with the ‘I just rolled out of bed’ look.”
“Would you like a cup of coffee, Andrew?” I asked because I wanted nothing more than to throw it in his face.
“Nope. Ian, let’s go. We can stop on the way and grab some breakfast.”
“Sounds good, man. Bye, sweetheart. Have a good day and I’ll be home later,” Ian said as he gave me a kiss goodbye.
“Have fun.”
I ran up the stairs to get dressed and to give Mandy a call.
“Hello.”
“Hi, Mandy, it’s Rory. I was wondering if you and Molly would like to come over today and go swimming. Ian is out with Andrew for the day and I thought it would be fun to hang out.”
“That sounds like fun, Rory. Molly and I would love to come over. Thank you for the invite.”
“You’re welcome and I’ll see you later.”
I was excited. I really liked Mandy and it was going to be nice to visit with her as friends and not on work time. I decided that we needed a treat. I went through the cupboards and gathered all the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies. As soon as the first batch came out of the oven, Mandy arrived with Molly.
“Oh my gosh, Rory, it smells so good in here.” She sm
iled.
I smiled back and looked at Molly. “She’s beautiful, Mandy.”
“Thank you, Rory.”
“Come on; let’s go out to the pool.”
Mandy climbed in with Molly and I followed behind. The sun was shining, and it was overall, a perfect day.
“So Mr. Braxton is with his friend?” she asked.
“Yeah, he’s with douchebag Andrew. I can’t stand him and I wish Ian wouldn’t see him anymore.”
We had Molly in a baby float that Mandy brought over and I pulled her around the pool. She was laughing and splashing her little hands in the water. Mandy confided in me that she was seeing someone and that he was really good with Molly.
“What’s going on here?” Ian asked as he stood by the pool.
“Ian, you’re home already?” I asked.
“Hi, Mr. Braxton.”
He looked at Mandy and said hi. “I’ve been gone four hours, Rory,” he said with an attitude.
Now I was pissed. There was no reason for him to come home the way he did with an attitude.
Mandy and I climbed out of the pool and I took Molly from her float and held her on my hip. “Ian, meet Molly, Mandy’s daughter.” I smiled.
He stared at me with a not-so-pleased look. “I said, meet Molly,” I whispered through gritted teeth.
“Hey there,” he said as he looked at her.
“Let me take Molly inside and get her changed,” Mandy said as she took her.
I took the towel from the chair and began drying myself off. It seemed that Ian thought it was a good idea to start with me.
“What the hell are you doing, Rory?”
“Having a lovely afternoon with my friend,” I replied.
“Mandy is the staff, not your friend.”
As I stared into his serious eyes, anger began to brew inside me. “So let me get this straight. Because she works for you, I can’t be friends with her? So now you’re choosing my friends?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, sweetheart.”
“The only one being ridiculous here is you, Ian. I don’t care if she works for you or if she’s homeless. She’s my friend and we’re hanging out whether you like it not,” I snapped and stormed into the house.
Mandy changed Molly back into her clothes and, before they left, I gave them a hug goodbye. Ian walked over to the plate of chocolate chip cookies and, as he grabbed one, I snatched it out of his hand and threw all the cookies in the garbage.
“What the fuck, Rory!”
“You don’t deserve one of my cookies. You’re rude and I don’t want to talk to you right now.”
“How the hell am I rude?” he asked as he threw his hands up in the air.
“Mandy may be your employee, but she’s also a human being and she’s my friend, and if I want her to come over on her day off to hang out, then I’ll have her over. I don’t know if she really has many friends, considering she puts in long hours working for your ass and then going home and taking care of her daughter.”
He stood there and stared at me. “I’m going to take a shower and then I think I’ll go to dinner with Andrew.”
“Go to dinner with Andrew, Ian. I don’t fucking care.”
He shook his head and walked upstairs. I wanted to tell him so bad what Andrew said to me on Thanksgiving, but somehow, I didn’t think he’d believe me. I sat down at the piano and began to play. After a short while, Ian walked into the living room.
“I’ll be home later,” he growled.
I didn’t even look up at him. I couldn’t bring myself to. He walked out of the room and out the front door. I slammed my hands down on the keys as hard as I could and tears began to fall from my eyes. As I lightly pressed the keys, one at a time, I thought about what Ian said about my father. I ran upstairs to change, grabbed my keys, and drove away.
Chapter 15
Rory
I stood outside and looked up at the sign that read “Piano Bar.” My stomach was twisted in knots as I pulled the door open and stepped inside. I looked around at the people that were gathered at the table; talking, laughing, and having a good time. A man was playing the piano that sat in the corner of the room. As I walked over and took a seat at the bar, a red-haired woman came over and set a napkin down in front of me.
“Welcome to the Piano Bar. What can I get for you, honey?”
“I’ll have a cosmopolitan please,” I replied.
“One cosmo coming right up.”
The bar was simple. Nothing fancy and certainly not uptight.
“Here you go. Enjoy.” The bartender smiled as she set down the drink in front of me.
I gave a polite smile as I picked up the drink and sipped it. As I reached in my purse to pull out my phone, I heard a man say, “Rosie makes the best cosmos in the world. You’re lucky she’s working tonight.”
I looked up at the man and gasped. He looked exactly like Stephen; almost a spitting image of him. I gulped and forced a small smile. My heart was racing and my skin started to sweat. It was him; my father. I knew it. I could feel it. I needed to know for sure.
“I agree. This is the best cosmo I’ve ever had. Hi, I’m Rory S—” I immediately stopped myself. If I gave him my last name, he would know. “Sanders. Rory Sanders.”
“Nice to meet you, Rory Sanders. I’m Jimmy O’Rourke, the owner of this bar.” He smiled.
I was right; it was him, and suddenly, I just wanted to throw my arms around him and tell him that I was his daughter. After all these years, I finally met my dad; a man who didn’t even know who I was.
“Nice to meet you, Jimmy O’Rourke.”
I scanned his hands to see if he was wearing a ring. He wasn’t.
“Are you new in town?” he asked. “I haven’t seen you around here before.”
“Yeah, I am.”
“Welcome to the Piano Bar. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some piano to play.” He winked.
I watched him as he walked over to the piano and took a seat. He stretched out his fingers before he began to play. His fingers delicately stroked each ivory and black key. The melody he made was amazing.
“He’s the best there is,” the redheaded bartender spoke. “I’ve never seen anyone play with more passion than him.”
“Yeah, he’s great.” I smiled. “Do you know him well?” I asked.
“I’ve worked for him for over ten years. We’ve been through a lot together.”
I was starting to get the impression that they were a couple. “Is he married?” I blurted out.
“That’s an odd question to ask,” she said.
“I’m sorry. That came out completely wrong. I was only asking because someone as talented as him would certainly have a significant other. Can I have another cosmo, please?”
“Sure. Coming right up.” She smiled. “By the way, I’m Rosie or Rose. Jimmy likes to call me Rosie.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Rory,” I said as I threw back the last of my first cosmo.
It was starting to get really packed in the bar. As soon as Jimmy hit the last key, everyone in the bar applauded. He stood up and took a bow. Rosie set down my second cosmo just as Jimmy walked back behind the bar. I picked up my glass and held it up.
“That was really cool. You’re really good.”
“Thank you, darling.” He smiled.
I had my phone sitting next to me and I saw the screen light up with a text message from Ian.
“Where the hell are you? I came home, you’re not here, and you didn’t say you were going out.”
“It’s none of your business.”
“You are my business. Now tell me where you fucking are!”
I didn’t feel like arguing with him, so I lied.
“I’m at Jordyn and Ollie’s place, visiting. I’ll be home in a while.”
“Come home now.”
What the hell was his problem?
“No, Ian. I will come home after I’m done visiting.”
“Don’t expect to get fucked tonight.”
/>
Really? Did he really just say that to me? Now, I was pissed as hell.
“Don’t worry. I won’t.”
I waited for a response and one never came. He was pissed. I was pissed, and at that moment, I didn’t care. As Rosie was walking by, I asked her if anyone could play the piano. She told me that it was open to anyone that had the talent. I asked her if she could watch my drink for me, and then I got up and walked over to the piano. I stretched my fingers, just like my father did, and gently placed my fingers on the keys. I began play a song that I felt was very fitting for the moment, “Only Human.” I closed my eyes and lost myself in the melody. After hitting the last note, I went right into Chopin. The bar grew quiet and all eyes were on me. I didn’t have to look up; I could feel it. I breathed life into the music and, when I finished, the patrons of the bar applauded and whistled. I smiled as I got up and walked back to my seat. Jimmy walked over and stared at me for a moment before speaking.
“Wow. That was amazing, Rory. Where the hell did you learn to play like that?”
“Thank you. I’ve been playing since I was a kid. I learned the basics and then pretty much taught myself the rest.”
“You don’t learn talent like that, honey. You were born with that gift.” He smiled.
I looked down at my drink. I finished it off and asked for another.
“You are welcome here to play any time you want.”
“Thanks, Jimmy.” I smiled.
Rosie brought me over another cosmo. I was already starting to feel the effects of the last two. “Round of shots on me,” Jimmy said as he looked at me and Rosie.
He grabbed the bottle of vodka and poured us each a shot. Jimmy held up his glass.
“To a very talented woman.” He smiled.
“Cheers,” I said as I threw back the vodka.
As I sat on the bar stool, I was feeling really good. Too good, in fact, and there was no way I could drive home. It was now midnight and my phone chimed with a text from Ian.