Only You, page 12
To my surprise, my sister strolled in, her cheeks flushed with the November chill. And she was alone.
I frowned as I stood. “Where’s my gorgeous wee niece?”
“Downstairs with her dad. I just thought I’d pop up and see you before we leave.” Arro looked around my suite, a frown furrowing her brow. “I wish you’d move out of here and in with one of us.”
“This is still home to me, Arro.” I sat on the edge of the bed. “It might be filled with strangers, but this is where we grew up.”
Sighing heavily, Arro sat in a chair across from me. “Speaking of … I bumped into Monroe in Golspie today. We had coffee.”
My pulse picked up. “And?”
Arro studied me carefully. “I didn’t get a lot out of her. It’s hard to catch up on eighteen years over coffee with a baby in hand, but I saw enough.”
Curiosity pricked at me. “I’m not interested.”
“Aren’t you doing the school musical with her?”
I shrugged. “We’re not really interacting.”
Concern filled my sister’s eyes. “She didn’t say it, but she’s not happy, Brodan. I’m worried about her.”
“You speak to her for all of five minutes, and you’ve deduced that much?”
Arro scowled. “We talked for an hour, and she was very good at being vague about her life and her feelings. Something you two have in common.”
“Arro,” I warned.
“Don’t you care? She used to be your best friend in the entire world.”
“Christ.” I pushed off the bed, walking away from her toward the window. “You sound like Arran.”
“Well?”
“Well what?” I spun on her. “Arro, I don’t know that woman anymore. She’s nothing to do with me, and I wish my family would stop trying to make it into something it’s not. I couldn’t care less about her. She’s a stranger to me now.”
My sister stood up, glaring at me. “I’m going to pursue a friendship with her.”
“Do what you like.”
She scoffed and shook her head. “It’s funny you should say Roe’s a stranger to you now … Because, honestly, I feel that way about you.”
Her words hit hard. They fucking hurt. “What does that mean?”
Arro shrugged sadly. “Just that I don’t know you anymore. My funny, charming, affectionate, loving brother came back this autumn a guarded, aloof man hiding behind a false smile. I see it, even though you think I am too busy as a new mum to notice. You’re not happy, Brodan, and you won’t admit it. You won’t talk to me about it.”
I smirked to hide the way her words struck a nerve. “You said it yourself—you’re busy with Skye.”
“Not too busy to talk if you need it.”
“I don’t.”
Arro sighed. “That’s what I mean. You’re lying to me right now.”
“What do you want me to say?” I snapped. “That my fucking life is in the toilet? That I don’t know what I’m doing or what I want? That life didn’t turn out the way I thought it would and seeing fucking Monroe Sinclair every fucking where takes me back to a place that kills me!”
The words rang through the spacious room, shocking us both.
Arro took a step toward me. “Yes, Brodan. I want you to tell me those things.”
“I can’t,” I said between gritted teeth. “Because if I don’t keep it together, I’m afraid …”
“Afraid of what?”
“That I won’t be able to pick up the pieces.”
My sister rushed me, throwing her arms around me. I hugged her back, holding on to her slight frame as if she were a lifeline.
“Talk about the things that bother you, Brodan. Or it’ll all explode out of you one day in a way you don’t want it to.”
I nodded. Though I wasn’t ready to talk, I shuddered, holding her tighter.
Arro rubbed my back. “It’s okay, big brother. Just know I’m here when you’re ready to let it all out.”
14
Monroe
I’d never wanted to kill an Adair more in my life. It was no surprise that Brodan could make a placid, nonviolent person turn bloodthirsty. How had I never realized what an annoying arsehole he really was? Seriously.
However, I chose to look at it this way: being enlightened to Brodan Adair’s true self was good for me.
The day had not started well. I had to drop Mum off at a doctor’s appointment, so I was late to rehearsals for the musical, and not just late but in a foul mood. I’d tried asking Mum about Dad again on the way to the hospital, and she’d bitten my head off.
“He never loved you, so I don’t know why you’re so determined to find him,” she’d spat venomously.
I’d tried not to let her see how much the words cut, but as soon as I sped away from that hospital, the tears fell. Furious that I’d let her get to me, I’d pulled over, fixed my makeup, and strolled into work trying to knock that chip off my shoulder.
Unfortunately, David also had a doctor’s appointment that morning, and Ellen had scheduled the school’s music teacher to help us with rehearsal. Two weeks of rehearsing, and Brodan had ignored me at every opportunity, to the point where Lewis was picking up on it and it felt as if he was acting distant with me.
Anyway, if two weeks of his dismissive behavior wasn’t bad enough, Brodan had ramped things up by flirting with our music teacher.
Ms. Ava Reid was barely out of teacher training college and giggling like a wee girl at everything Brodan said.
I rolled my eyes for the hundredth time as Brodan leaned over Ava where she sat at the piano. They murmured together while the noise level among the kids increased in tandem with their growing impatience. I caught Ellen’s gaze.
Her lips pursed, unamused. “Mr. Adair, perhaps we should continue.”
Brodan straightened and threw Ellen his boyish smile. “Ms. Reid and I were just discussing changing the tempo of ‘We’re Off to See the Wizard’. Give it something a bit different and unexpected to the audience.”
I tensed. “Unfortunately, we don’t have time for changes at this stage. We need to forge ahead with what we have.”
The son of a bitch didn’t even acknowledge me. He turned back to Ava, murmured something in her ear that made her giggle, and pointed at the songbook on her piano.
My cheeks burned with frustration, and my heart ached. When I glanced along the rows of children, I noted Lewis staring at me with a frown between his brows.
“Mr. Adair,” Ellen’s voice snapped like a whip, and Brodan straightened again.
“Yes, Mrs. Hunter?” he drawled.
“I’m not sure if you couldn’t hear Ms. Sinclair over Ms. Reid’s simpering,” Ellen said pointedly, throwing Ava a sharp look, “but we don’t have time, nor the legal right, to make changes to the musical. Let’s put our attention on the children, please.”
Chastened, and amused by it, Brodan gave Ellen a militant nod, laughter on his lips. At that moment, I didn’t find anything about him charming. He was an immature man-child, and I was beginning to think I’d made a lucky escape when he abandoned me all those years ago.
Half an hour later, more flirting was exchanged, but at least we were getting somewhere with the children. However, when I asked Lewis to stand in a certain place, he ignored me. I had to repeat myself, and Brodan’s gaze narrowed on his nephew as Lewis pretended not to hear me.
Patience thinning, I hardened my voice. “Lewis, please respond when spoken to.”
He looked at me, shifting on his feet, hesitating.
“Lewis,” Brodan warned.
Lewis gave his uncle a confused look but followed my instructions. Irritation thrummed through me, and I had to stop myself from spearing Brodan with angry eyes. Didn’t he realize he was the reason Lewis was acting up? He watched his uncle like a hawk, and what he saw was Brodan disrespecting me at every turn. So, clearly, he’d deduced there was a good reason.
While the children were preoccupied, I strode toward Brodan and stood directly in front of him so he couldn’t dismiss me. His gaze flickered over my face before dancing above my head.
“Mr. Adair, I’d like a word in private, please.”
“I’m busy.”
“A word in private. Now.”
He sighed heavily but nodded and followed me to the other side of the gymnasium. Still, Brodan wouldn’t look at me, his attention on the kids. I saw Ava watching us curiously. Poor girl. She had no idea she was being toyed with.
“Two things, and they’re both about your professionalism. I’m sure you’ve had to work with other actors who you didn’t like very much, just as I’m sure that you sucked it up and were a professional. This is no different, Brodan. Lewis watches your every move, and he’s learning from you.”
His head snapped toward me. “If Lewis doesn’t like you, that’s not my problem.”
Anger swelled in my throat, almost choking me. “Lewis and I got on wonderfully before you arrived, and you know it.”
“I know nothing.”
Was he always this obnoxious?
Brodan’s expression tightened at whatever he saw in my gaze. “Anything else, Ms. Sinclair, or may I return to my duties?”
I stiffened at the disdain in his voice. “Yes. Stop flirting with our music teacher. First, she’s barely out of school, and second, it’s highly inappropriate in front of the children, and the only person who’ll end up looking bad is Ava. So stop.”
His expression remained flat, unemotional. “I can flirt with whoever the fuck I feel like flirting with. You, however, should really do a better job of hiding your jealousy.”
“Jealous?” I scoffed, hating him at that moment. “Sorry to deflate your ego, Adair, but immature, obnoxious man-children don’t really do it for me.”
Brodan’s eyes narrowed. “Or maybe you’re just jealous because Ava’s a young woman in her prime, and you’re a middle-aged spinster.”
I stared at him as if I’d never seen him before—because I hadn’t. Whoever had returned to Ardnoch, it wasn’t my childhood friend.
Noting my reaction, the muscle in Brodan’s jaw ticked and then he hissed out, “Fuck,” and marched away from me.
Hot tears built behind my eyes, and I turned away, pressing my forefinger and thumb to my nose to stem them. I hate him, I decided. I truly hated him.
“Ms. Sinclair, are you all right?”
I jumped a little at the sound of my head teacher’s voice and blinked back the tears as I turned to her with a bright smile. “Ms. Cooley, what brings you here?”
Anita searched my face, concern evident. “I thought I’d drop by and see how rehearsal is going.” She repeated, “Are you all right?”
“A bit of a headache,” I lied. “I was just taking a moment.”
“If you’re certain.” Anita turned toward the children. “I’ll observe from here. I don’t want to distract them.” Her gaze moved to Brodan, who was back at the piano, chatting with Ava. “It’s all very exciting, isn’t it?”
However, it wasn’t long before Anita’s excitement died in lieu of disapproval. Brodan had returned to flirting with Ava at every opportunity, and while rehearsals were moving along, I could see Anita’s irritation building.
And unfortunately, just as I knew would happen, her annoyance was not directed at Brodan.
Finally, with a huff, Anita strode across the gymnasium. As much as Ava’s unprofessionalism peeved me, I worried about her as Anita led the young teacher from the room. I moved toward the children as Ellen had Callie repeat some lines she was struggling with. Ava returned a few minutes later, eyes downcast, cheeks bright red … and she wouldn’t even look at Brodan.
Aye, she had been well and truly chastened.
Brodan spoke to her, and she just gave him a tight nod without looking at him. He frowned and moved away to direct the kids.
I couldn’t help myself. As soon as everyone was fully engaged elsewhere, I sidled up to Brodan’s side. I could sense him tense at my proximity and I smirked, feeling a vindictiveness rise in me that no one had ever provoked. “Ava was reprimanded by her boss. That’s the world we live in, Brodan. Fair or unfair, it’s a fact. You know quite well that you’re untouchable here. A powerful man. So what does it matter if you make a young woman look bad in front of her boss as long as you’re having fun? But then, looking back, you always were a selfish prick.” I strode away before he could speak and joined Ellen on the other side of the stage.
My heart raced from the confrontation, but satisfaction numbed a little of the hurt he’d caused.
15
Brodan
Monroe was done playing nice.
I’d say I preferred her being honest over her fake bullshit “professionalism,” but there was no denying she’d pissed me off yesterday.
Mostly because what she said was true.
I’d been so busy trying to make sure she knew how little I cared about her I hadn’t taken Ava Reid’s position into consideration. I’d put her in a bad spot with Anita Cooley. It was selfish.
I fucking hated that it had given Monroe an opening.
Then again, after the way I’d treated her, I deserved it.
This whole situation with her had me off-balance. One second I was seething, channeling every shitty thing that had happened that weekend I found her with Arran into my fury. Then once I’d made it clear how little she mattered to me I’d swirl in a clogged drain of guilt. Her face yesterday when I’d said that about her being a spinster …
I had a feeling she really, truly hated me now.
It was for the best.
Even if the knowledge of that was pressure crushing my chest.
During the break in Friday morning’s rehearsal, a bake sale would open for business. We had bake sales back when I was a kid at Ardnoch Primary. Every term, the kids and parents baked cakes, sold them at break time, and the money helped fund the school.
So as soon as the break bell rang, the kids took off for the cafeteria behind the gym for the sale. Monroe disappeared too.
Lewis caught up with me. “You coming to the sale, Uncle Brodan? Mum’s there with Eilidh.”
“Of course, wee man. I’m going to fill my belly with whatever she’s baked.” Regan had proven herself awesome in the kitchen.
Tables and parents and kids packed the cafeteria. It smelled amazing. I wasn’t really a cake guy, but now and then, I liked a treat. I was unsurprised to see Walker stride into the cafeteria behind us with a visitor’s badge hanging around his neck. He’d insisted on having access to the school in case I needed him for security. Regan had talked about the bake sale at dinner last night, the dinner to which we invited him, and despite his muscular physique, Walker Ironside had a sweet tooth. He had tight control over it, but once a week, he bought pastries for breakfast and then ran a few extra miles to work them off.
“What are you doing here?” I teased.
My bodyguard scowled at me. “The place is packed. Thought it best I be here for you.”
“Sure. That’s believable.”
He cut me a dark look before a nearby table of cupcakes stole his attention.
“None of that.” I wagged my finger at him. “If you’re buying, you’re buying from the Adair table. Regan’s going to kick everyone’s arse.”
“It’s not a competition, Uncle Brodan,” Lewis informed me.
I frowned. “It was when I was a kid.” We always bragged about whose table got cleared first. It was never me. Dad didn’t bake, so it was left to Lachlan and Thane to put something together after Mum died, and let’s just say they weren’t natural bakers.
Following Lewis through the crowded room, Walker at my back, we reached Regan’s table only to discover she was sharing it. Apparently with Callie, our Dorothy’s mum.
Callie’s mum was a very attractive, very young blond.
“Brodan, Walker,” Regan greeted us with that dimpled smile as she rounded her table to hug Lewis into her side. She looked down at her stepson. “How was rehearsal?”
Lewis shrugged.
Guilt pricked me. He’d been off the last couple of rehearsals, and I was worried Monroe might be right about him picking up on the animosity between us.
“Uncle Brodan, I helped Mummy make scones!” Eilidh drew my attention to where she stood with Callie and the blond.
“They look amazing,” I complimented, rubbing my tummy for emphasis.
Regan pulled Lewis behind the table with her as she gestured to Callie and the blond. “This is Sloane Harrow and her daughter Callie. Though, Brodan, you know Callie already from the musical.”
“I do. She’s our wonderful Dorothy.” I reached across the table and held out a hand to Sloane. “Nice to meet you.”
People reacted one of two ways to meeting me: awkward starstruck delight or deliberate indifference as some manner of “putting me in my place.” Sloane, however, reacted normally. She gave me a pretty smile and shook my hand like I was just the guy next door. “It’s nice to meet you too,” she said, her American accent unsurprising. “Callie is having a lot of fun, aren’t you, baby girl?”
Callie nodded shyly. Apparently, she was one of those kids who came out of her shell on stage but turtled back inside as soon as she was off it.
“This is Walker Ironside.” I gestured to Walker, who was eyeing the cakes in front of Sloane like a starving man. To be fair, the cupcakes were decorated to perfection. They looked professional. As did the pie and madeleines she’d baked.
Sloane’s eyes lit up with interest at the sight of Walker. It wouldn’t be the first time a woman had thrown me over for Walk, the handsome bastard that he was.
“You work security at Ardnoch, right?” Sloane asked.
Walker looked up at her, his gaze searching. “I know you … you’re the new housekeeper.”
“You’re a housekeeper at Ardnoch?” Regan asked.
Sloane nodded, still gazing up at Walker. “We started around the same time, I think.”
“Right.” Walker’s attention dropped back to her cakes, oblivious to how her eyes raked his shoulders and chest.
