“Are you coming home or do I have to embarrass you and come get you?”
I couldn’t respond because I couldn’t type, so I dialed his number.
“What the fuck is going on, Rory?” he answered.
“I need you to come get me,” I slurred. “I’m sorry I lied to you, Ian.”
“What are you talking about? Are you drunk?”
“Yeah, and I can’t drive unless you want me to kill me and someone else.”
“Don’t be fucking stupid, Rory. Give me Jordyn’s address.”
“I’m not at Jordyn’s.”
“WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?” he screamed into the phone.
My head was already pounding. I started to cry.
“I’m at the Piano Bar.”
“Stay inside. I’m on my way.”
I finished the last of my cosmo and held up my glass for another one. “There’s no way you can drive home, honey.”
“Well, now we don’t have to worry about that, Rosie, because my sexy boyfriend is on his way to pick me up,” I slurred. “Bring on the cosmos.” I smiled.
“One more and only if he’s picking you up,” she said with seriousness.
“He is. I just called him.”
She made another cosmo and set the glass down in front of me. What was I doing? Did I even know? Between Ian being a prick about Mandy coming over and seeing my father for the first time in my life, it was too much. I picked up the glass, brought it to my lips, and drank as much as I could before Ian took it away from me. I turned my head and looked at him. He stared at me and shook his head.
“Rory, why?”
I held up my finger to him. “Don’t ask me questions I can’t answer.”
“You’re drunk off your ass.”
“So what.”
“Can I get you anything?” Rosie asked Ian.
“No, thanks. I’m good.”
I looked up at Rosie. “Rosie, this is my boyfriend, Ian. Ian, this is my new friend, Rosie. She makes the best cosmos in the world.”
Suddenly, Jimmy walked behind the bar. “Excuse me, sir, but you best remove your hand from her.”
Rosie put her hand on his arm. “It’s cool, Jimmy. He’s her boyfriend. He came to pick her up.”
“Oh, I’m sorry about that.”
“Nah, it’s okay. And you are?” Ian asked as he cocked his head.
“Jimmy O’Rourke, the owner,” he said as he stuck out his hand.
Ian turned and looked at me and then back at Jimmy as he shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Jimmy. I’m Ian Braxton. Thank you for looking out for my girlfriend.”
“No problem. She’s a real talented woman. You should be proud of her.” He smiled.
“I am and I know she is. Come on, sweetheart, let’s go home,” Ian said as he helped me from the chair, picked me up, and carried me outside.
The cool air felt good, but I still felt sick to my stomach. Ian put me in the car and helped me buckle my seat belt. As I laid my head against the window, Ian looked over at me, but didn’t say a word the entire ride home. The only thing I wanted to do was curl up, go to sleep, and forget tonight ever happened. Ian pulled into the driveway and told me not to move. He walked around to the passenger’s side, opened the door, and helped me out of the car. I was really dizzy and I felt like I was going to throw up.
“Ian, I’m not feeling so good,” I said before he picked me up.
“Not feeling good as in you’re going to be sick?”
“Yes. Like right now!” I exclaimed as I ran over to where some bushes were and began vomiting.
“Really, Rory? There?”
Ian walked over to where I was on my knees and pulled back my hair. “This is what happens when you drink too much. It was unnecessary.”
Unnecessary to him, maybe, because nothing seemed to bother him. “This is no time for a lecture,” I said as I threw up again. He softly rubbed my back until I was finished.
“Are you done?” he asked.
“I think so.”
“Come on; let’s get you in the bathtub. You smell, sweetheart.”
Ian picked me up and carried me into the house. He set me down on the bed and told me to wait there while he started the bath. He walked over to me and undressed me, then helped me up and walked me to the tub.
“Be careful. I have you,” he said as he helped me into the tub.
I sat down in the hot water and brought my knees up to my chest. Ian took my chin and lifted it so I was looking at him.
“Look at you. You’re a mess.” He smiled as he took the wet washcloth and wiped the mascara stains from under my eyes. “Why, Rory? Why did you go there without me?”
“I don’t know, Ian.”
I leaned back my head while he wet my hair and then closed my eyes as he shampooed it.
“Why did you lie to me about where you were?”
I took in a deep breath. “I didn’t want you to get mad.”
“But, sweetheart, you were going to tell me eventually, right?”
I nodded my head.
“Then I would have been triple mad because you lied to me, and one thing I will not tolerate in a relationship is lying. Do you understand me?”
I turned my head and gave him a stern look. “Why do you think it’s okay for you to talk to me like that?”
I’d had enough of him and his commands. He was really pissing me off and I didn’t deserve to be talked to like that.
“Excuse me?” he said.
“Sometimes, you talk to me like I’m a child. I’m not a fucking child, Ian.”
“Sometimes, I beg to differ.”
God, why did he have to be such an asshole right now? Of all times, why when I’m drunk and not feeling good.
“Get the fuck out!” I yelled.
“Rory, stop.”
“Don’t tell me what to do!” I yelled as I raised my hands to him and he grabbed them.
“Rory.”
I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I broke down and sobbed as I stared at him. He took his hand and placed it on my cheek. “Sweetheart,” he said as he looked into my eyes. He wrapped his arms around me and held me while I cried into his shoulder. When I began to calm down, Ian helped me up and out of the tub. He wrapped a large towel around me and walked me over to the bed.
“Let’s get you in your pajamas and into bed.”
He dried me off and pulled my nightshirt down over my head. After he towel dried my hair, he pulled back the covers and I got into bed. He climbed in next to me, wrapped his arms around me, and pulled me into him.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I love you,” he whispered as he kissed my head.
“I love you too,” I whispered back before I closed my eyes and fell fast asleep.
Chapter 16
Ian
“Good morning, Charles,” I said as I strolled into the kitchen.
“Good morning, Ian. Coffee for you and Rory?”
“Just for me. Rory is still sleeping. She had a very late night last night. Actually, I’ll have that coffee when I get back. I’m going for a run.”
“Very well. Your blueberry muffins will be waiting for you as well.” Charles smiled.
“Thank you, my friend.”
I put on my running shoes and headed out the door. It was a cool morning, but it felt good. I needed to think about yesterday and what had happened last night. For Rory to go and see her father for the first time by herself really angered me. As I was running along the shoreline, deep in thought, Rory ran up next to me. I looked over at her and smiled.
“I didn’t think you’d be able to get out of bed this morning.”
“It was hard, but I needed this run.”
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Meh. Nothing a little bit of coffee and a blueberry muffin won’t cure.”
I shook my head at her and smiled. I loved her so much, regardless of how much she pissed me off sometimes.
“I’m sorry about last night,” she said.
/> “Me too. It’s just when I came home yesterday I was looking forward to being with you alone. When I walked in and saw Mandy, I just kind of got upset, and then seeing you in the pool with her kid. Rory, I love you more than anything in this world, but I don’t want children, ever, and you need to understand that.”
I had hoped this wasn’t starting a fight, but I needed to be very clear about where I stood as far as kids were concerned.
“I know that, Ian,” she said and I could sense a tone of disappointment.
I stopped running and asked her to please stop with me. As I turned to her, I put my hands on her hips and I pressed my forehead against hers.
“I’m sorry about yesterday. I promise you that I’ll try to be a better boyfriend and not tell you what to do. I know sometimes I can come off harsh and I’m sorry about that. I’ll work on it. We’re going to say things and make mistakes along the way, but we’ll figure it out and we’ll learn from our mistakes.”
Rory wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me as tightly as she could. “I love you so much, Ian, but damn, stop treating me like a child.”
“I love you too, Rory, and I promise I’ll work on it. I seriously don’t mean to.”
She softly kissed my lips and smacked me on the ass. “Let’s go; I need coffee.” She smiled.
We ran back to the house and Charles poured us some coffee and set it on the table. As I grabbed the creamer out of the refrigerator, Mandy walked into the kitchen. She was wearing her sunglasses.
“Good morning, Mandy.” I smiled.
“Good morning, Rory. Mr. Braxton,” she said nervously.
“Good morning, Mandy,” Rory said.
“If you don’t mind, I’m going to start on the upstairs today,” she said.
“No, that’s fine,” I replied.
I needed to shower and head over to Prim. Rory and I took our coffee and went upstairs. When we walked into the bedroom, Mandy was taking the sheets off the bed. She looked up at us and I was startled. She had a very noticeable black and blue bruise across her cheek.
“Mandy, what happened?” Rory asked.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I should have come in here last,” she said.
“What happened to your face?” I asked.
“It’s nothing. I ran into the door. Thank you for your concern. I’ll come back and finish later.”
Something was off with Mandy. She seemed like a nervous wreck and it was like she couldn’t get out of here fast enough.
“Poor girl. Look what you did to her,” Rory said as she started the shower.
“What I did? What the hell did I do?”
“Your behavior yesterday towards her. You make her nervous.”
“Rory, that’s not true.”
I stripped out of my clothes and Rory did the same. We made love in the shower and I was late meeting Adalynn at Prim.
****
“You’re late!” Adalynn exclaimed as I walked through her office door.
“I know. Damn traffic.” I smiled.
“I don’t think the traffic had anything to do with it.”
I took a seat in the leather chair across from her desk. “What’s going on?”
“Can you be more involved here at Prim?”
I looked at her in confusion as I shifted in my seat. “Why?”
“Daniel and I are going on a month-long honeymoon to Europe and I need you here.”
“A month? Who goes on a honeymoon for a month, Adalynn?”
“Two people who are in love with each other, get married, and want to spend time alone before coming back to reality and all the bullshit. Maybe you should try it some time?”
“I don’t need to be married to go away on vacation for a month with the person I’m in love with.”
“Says you.” She smiled. “Anyway, you’re going to need to be here to oversee things while I’m gone.”
I once again shifted in my chair. “Why? You have capable staff here that can oversee things.”
“Renee is going on maternity leave right before the wedding and she’s my right hand.”
“Then maybe she should stay and not go on a maternity leave,” I said.
“Ian, you’re an idiot.”
I put my hands up. “Okay, okay. I’ll be here.”
“Don’t worry about any of the creative stuff. Just be here for the business end of things. How are things going?” she asked.
“Good. Things are good.”
Adalynn looked at me and smiled. “Don’t fuck things up with Rory. She’s good for you and you’re good for her. Love her, Ian.”
“I do love her, Adalynn.”
“I mean really love her.”
I gave her a half smile as I got up from the chair. “Don’t worry about me and Rory. I’m doing everything possible to make sure she’s happy. Why are you so concerned?”
“Because I know you’ll do something to fuck it up.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Adalynn,” I said as I walked out of her office.
As I slid into the back of the limo, my phone started to ring. I pulled it from my pocket and saw Rory was calling.
“Hi, sweetheart.”
“Hi, Ian. Listen, I just got a call from Hudson Rock and they’re taking Stephen over to the ER. They said he’s sick. So, I’m heading over there now.”
“I hope it’s nothing serious. Do you want me to meet you there?” I asked.
“No. I just need to be there to make sure he’s okay. I’ll keep you posted. I love you.”
“I love you too, sweetheart. I’ll talk to you soon.”
I hung up and concern washed over me. If they were transferring him to the ER, then something serious must be wrong because the doctors at Hudson Rock were more than capable of treating an illness.
“Joshua, take me to the ER instead of the office. Rory’s brother is being taken there.”
“Sure thing, Ian.”
Even though Rory said it wasn’t necessary for me to come there, I was doing it anyway. I didn’t want her there alone and with no support. As I walked into the ER, I asked the nurse at the desk where Stephen was. She took me back to the curtained room, where I saw Rory sitting in the chair and holding his hand.
“Hey, sweetheart,” I said as I walked over and kissed her head.
“Ian, what are you doing here?”
“Hey, buddy.” I smiled at Stephen. How are you?”
“Not too good, Ian,” he whispered.
He was pale and he looked weak. “Don’t worry; the doctors here will take good care of you.”
I grabbed a chair and set it down next to Rory. She grabbed my hand and smiled at me.
“Thank you for coming.”
“No problem, sweetheart. What did the doctor say?”
“They haven’t been in yet. The nurse came in and drew some blood and said the doctor will be in shortly.”
“He probably just picked up a virus or something.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
The doctor walked into the room and introduced herself as Dr. Kullen. She walked over to Stephen and examined him.
“Stephen has all the symptoms of the flu virus. We’ll keep him here overnight for IV fluids and we’ll monitor him. The virus just needs to run its course and he should be fine in a couple of days.”
“Thank you, doctor,” I spoke.
“Yes, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Get better, Stephen.” She smiled as she gave his arm a light squeeze.
“We should go, sweetheart, and let Stephen get some rest,” I said.
“I don’t want to leave him just yet. You go. I’ll be home later.”
“I’m not leaving you here. I’ll stay with you. I’m just going to run to the office and grab a couple of things and then I’ll be right back,” I said as I kissed the top of her head.
I could see the worry in her face and in her eyes as she sat there and held Stephen’s hand. I called Joshua and had him come pick me up from
the hospital and drive me to the office. Once I grabbed what I needed, I headed back to the hospital and stayed with Rory until she felt comfortable enough to go home.
Chapter 17
Rory
I tossed and turned all night. Even though the doctor said not to worry, and the virus would run its course, I couldn’t help it. Ian had his arm around me as I wiggled my way out from under him as carefully as I could so I didn’t wake him up. The clock read four a.m. I made my way to the bathroom, shut the door, turned on the light, and looked at myself in the mirror. The bags under my eyes were not a pretty sight. As I splashed cold water on my face, there was a light knock on the door.
“Sweetheart, are you okay?”
Shit. I didn’t mean to wake him up. I opened the door and looked at Ian. “I’m fine. I just couldn’t sleep. Go back to bed. I’m sorry if I woke you.”
He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. “If you can’t sleep, then neither can I,” he said.
I looked up at him and ran my hand lightly down his cheek. He always looked so sexy in the morning. I softly kissed his lips, and then my soft kiss turned passionate. He picked me up and carried me over to the bed. Before laying me down, he took down the straps of my nightgown and it fell to the ground. His mouth instantly gravitated to my breasts as he forcefully took them in his mouth. I hooked my thumbs in the waistband of his boxers and pulled them down, feeling his hard cock, which was ready and waiting for me. I knelt down and softly wrapped my lips around the tip, gently sucking before letting my tongue lick around it in circles. He gasped and then moaned as his hands gripped the sides of my head.
“I can’t have you make me come this way, sweetheart. I need to come inside you,” he said as he lifted my head.
I lay down on the bed and he hovered over me, not hesitating to plunge two fingers deep inside me. “You are incredible, baby,” he whispered as he kissed me.
His mouth explored my neck and his thumb make small circular motions around my clit, exciting me more than I already was and bringing me to the verge of an orgasm. My body tightened and shook and one last stroke was enough to send me over the edge. I threw my head back and let pleasure take over my body. I opened my eyes as he stared at me, smiling with delight.