Getting by (A Knight's Tale) (19 page)

“Emma,” he called after me, but I ignored him.

*

The next morning, we headed to wine country. Ed asked me about work and why I decided to go into marketing and advertisement. It was hard to pinpoint the reason because mind manipulation didn’t count. Though, as an advertiser I told people what to eat, wear, drink, and read. As a marketer I got to develop new ideas and trends, give a makeover to products we grew up with and keep them in the market. I got to guarantee a product would have a long life span.

Ed owned several businesses, like father like sons. The man loved wine and owned a couple of vineyards in Chile and France. He spoke about his passion for wine, the thrill he got by mixing different juices in the search for a new concoction which could be rich, crispy, elegant, dry, flowery or fruity. A tasteful character that he’ll enjoy and subsequently others will too.

Not too long after the vineyard talk began, he invited me to France. They owned a house in a town not far from Paris. Plus the one built in the vineyard. Rachel seconded the invitation, and she gave me a quick schedule of my future vacation. If I had time, they’d take me to Monte Carlo and Cannes. Two of my favorite places; Jake had taken me several times to both. We stayed a few times at a high end hotel where the presidential suite had a piano. He’d play for a long time while I sat next to him or worked.

No, my mind had changed for me longer than eight months ago. When did I fall in love with that man?

I declined the invitation to both places, how could I visit with my ex-lovers parents. Run, the signs yelled. It’s impossible to mingle with his family—you can’t close a book forever if you leave a bookmark in it.

Jake wasn’t a chapter, he was a complete book that needed to be closed and returned to the nearest library. I went out with him longer than Gaby dated Cade. They fell in love and created a story together which will continue to exist forever. For the last two years, I traveled and had sex with a man who only did lightly, but made me fall deep and hard. The memory of him on top of me in Gaby’s room made me blush. What was I thinking yesterday? I felt him hard and ready when we were rubbing against each other. Definitely my lust needed a time out, or a huge punishment. We couldn’t have sex; I stopped taking the pill almost four months ago. The man was my past, and I had a future which involved cute and complicated and wouldn’t be his. But I wished with all my heart it had been.

We split after two winery visits. The men went to golf, while the women visited an exclusive spa where Ed treated us with a seaweed wrap massage, a facial and a pedicure. Damn, I had one scheduled for the Mothers, Gaby and the bridal party on Friday. I wondered if this pit stop would interfere with the other, but forgot while Ron continued massaging my back, releasing any and all thoughts I had. Thursday’s bowling alley seemed like a breeze when we left the premises. Tonight we had a free pass. Rachel, Ed, and the Clements would dine with the happy couple at one of San Francisco’s most expensive venues, Gaby’s choice.

Mitch didn’t like it, because Ed was paying and Gabby knew it. A gold-digger move, he mentioned. I defended her, but he chose to ignore me, and continued bashing my friend. Cade didn’t have much money; Ed and Rachel supported him since his mother died, even paid for his college education since Cade’s dad washed his hands of his own responsibilities as a father. The Knights not only paid for the wedding, they gifted them the honeymoon and a small cushion to start. That was the last contribution from them to Cade Muir.

“Gaby thinks my parents will continue to accommodate them,” Mitch told me. “Cade shared as much with me recently.” He put his arm around me as if we were best friends. “My cousin sucked more money from my parents than the three of us—together—for the past few years. I’m not complaining, we don’t care, but Dad told him this was it. He had to support his own family—be a man. His children—us—became independent at the age of eighteen.” I knew little about it, Jake and I didn’t discuss much about his job or businesses. “We invested our small trusts and began to make money.”

With a shrug, I confessed my ignorance on the Clement girl subject. “I don’t know what to tell you.” Gaby and I shared a childhood, but beyond that, we only shared a few things. “You got me on this one.”

As Jake touched the elevator button, he turned to look at me. “Get dressed, baby.” I frowned at his demand. “Fancy. We’re taking you to dinner.”

As we stepped inside the elevator, Jake arched an eyebrow at me and I nodded, agreeing to go with them.

“You okay?” he asked and I nodded again. I doubted he’d understand that after Mitch’s comments, an alarm sounded. The thousands of questions bursting at once made me doubt one of the most important relationships of my life. The only one I had left. Gaby lived in New York, but we had barely hung out since she moved there. She was busy with school or other activities and she never specified which activities they were.

They dropped me on my floor and continued on their way to their suite. I went to take a quick shower, and dressed in a red spaghetti strap dress and a pair of red pumps. As I applied lipstick, my phone chimed.

JAK: Ready, Em? Heading toward your room.

ELA: Yeah.

They took me to the second best restaurant in San Francisco. Mitch knew the owner and got us the best table.

“We could’ve gone to a pizza place,” I told them, but they ignored me. Jake’s hand on the small of my back directed me to a private section. “This is worse than only going out with you.”

A wicked smile crossed his lips, but faded when I glared at him. Not just one handsome guy, but three flanked me; one in front—Mitch, Jake by my side and Liam behind us. Jacob Knight knew I hated attention. The small place with the private atmosphere had a perfect selection of organic food. Mitch and I shared the crab salad for starters. He promised to make a better version if I visited him in New York, and we exchanged addresses.
Wait!

Another alarm sounded, but this time it was a louder one. When did we become friends? His armor disappeared and the friendship sprouted. We clicked, like a match made in heaven. Not the romantic kind, the best friends forever one. I didn’t do relationships—of any species. This family had no respect for personal boundaries and affiliation impediments.

“Order the cod,” Jake interrupted, while I debated between that and the risotto. “We’ll split-share.”

Agreeing with the brothers on what I’d order, we enjoyed most of the menu. I ate less than a third of each dish—if not only a bite. The three understood I liked to taste from other plates and didn’t have issues sharing. Yet, I learned my guy hated when people tried to touch his food.

“You tamed him,” Mitch said. “Jay would stab you with his knife if you got too close to his plate.” With a wicked smile I took a fork full of risotto, ate it and gave Jake a kiss on the cheek.

“See, he’s not dangerous,” I told Mitch, then turned to Jake and took another full fork of his dish. “Right, baby?”

Jake shook his head and continued eating.

Dessert consisted of chocolate mousse, some meringue and cheesecake with amaretto sauce. The latter wasn’t my favorite. Again, Mitch promised to prepare something better that I’d love.

“I noticed you didn’t order from the specials,” the chef said, introducing himself to the table and giving Mitch a hard time. “New York destroyed your adventurous palette?”

“My brother’s girl,” Mitch retorted, pointing at me with his head. “She’s not into frogs and other delicacies. But I’ll visit you on Friday and judge your wimpy menu.”

By then I ignored any and every comment they made. Confused, tired and with no stamina, my entire body screamed, I want to walk. Jake agreed, ditched his brothers for an hour and took me to the Yerba Buena Center. We enjoyed the fountain’s tranquil rhythm that was attuned with the night and light display. It was a perfect Zen moment interrupted an hour later by a text from Mitch, who reminded us our alone time was over and we should head to the car.

Jake drove us back to the hotel, where we said our goodbyes in the lobby, while their parents waited for them in their room. They had some family meeting I wasn’t privy to, nor wanted to be a part of.

After saying goodbye to everyone, I retired to my temporary sanctuary. The lustful eyes Jake gave me scared me more than yesterday’s make out session.

Chapter 23

Jake

I AVOIDED MY PARENTS, mainly Mom for the most part, but they decided it was time for a family meeting.

“Any ideas of what they want?” Mitch asked sarcastically. I growled, while Liam shook his head ignoring us both. That’s when his phone rang and he answered the call.

“Liam Knight,” he said, and listened, simply nodding a few times. “Pro-bono?” Liam held a chuckle. “Brightmore? Mind if I ask why Sanders isn’t working on your account?” Pensive, he tilted his head and gave me a look, one that could only mean business. Pro-bono didn’t bring business, I wanted to inform him, and I didn’t want to tangle with the new rich guy. He was too pompous and loud for my taste. “I might have the person for you, sweetheart, I’ll give her your number and she’ll jump into this project sooner than you imagine.” He smiled. “Rebecca, we got your back, though K&W might not be the one working with you.” I frowned. “No, you’ll get my support too, but this will go to my new company. Though, if your non-profit needs anything, call me, I have other resources to help you. Looking forward to meeting you, have a pleasant night.”

Mitch crossed his arms waiting for an explanation as I headed toward the door of the suite, because Mom had little to no patience when she called the family meetings.

“The Brightmore Foundation is expanding,” Liam said, grabbing my attention. “That was a call from the girl who runs the charity side. For some reason she didn’t explain why, but Sanders is no longer subsidizing the foundation, or has a backlog. I didn’t want to get too deep into the competition’s issues. She’s looking for ways to cut cost and keep most of the money they have going toward the causes.”

“Lovely, now can we go?” I interrupted.

“That’s where you come in, Jay.” I did a double take. “Rebecca needs a company with our resources—low cost.”

“Emma,” I said, finally understanding him and he nodded. “She’ll take that as soon as you mention it. The company, want to open it?”

“Do you want to do this, Jake?” Mitch asked. “Once we invest in Emma’s baby, you’re going to have to deal with her forever.”

“Mitch, you adopted the girl.” I looked at him, then Liam. “Our parents love her, so I’m stuck with her for eternity. In what capacity, I don’t know. I love that girl; that much is obvious.”

“Let’s go and see what Mom wants, Jake.” Liam walked toward me and I opened the door. “I will tell Emma about the call tomorrow.”

We headed to our parents’ room, and after Liam knocked, Dad opened the door and let us in. The three of us sat on the couch, and it was like the time when Mitch and I stole his car. We were thirteen, and the laws in Brazil for driving were blurry at best. I drove on our way to the lake, he did on the way back, and we ended up parking the car on a tree. There were no broken bones, only a totaled car. Liam was smart enough to stay behind, but got grounded along with us for not tattle-telling.

I crossed my arms and waited for whatever my parents had to say. Have I mention I was too old for this? Not that either one of them cared.

“Emma,” Mom began. “Can you explain her to me, Jake?”

“Witty, quirky, inexplicable at times. She likes to be a loner but apparently has no trouble getting along with the Knight family.”

“I noticed,” Mom said, crossing her arms. “How long has she been acquainted with Jacob Knight?”

“Seriously, Mom, I think I’m old enough to—”

“Have a relationship with a lovely girl and hide it from me?” She uncrossed her arms, and set her hands over her hips. “Jake, the two of you are like a married couple in the middle of their honeymoon, sweetie. You’re more in love with her than Cade is with Gaby, and I can attest the same about Emma. She adores you, have you seen her face when she looks at you?” Without waiting for an answer, Mom turned toward my brothers. “And you two, as always, covering for him, but why?”

“Not me,” Mitch said. “I heard about her throughout the years.” Mom gasped and turned to look at me. Darn, my brother knew how to screw me. “But I only met her this week, just like you, Mama.”

Mama? Jesus, he was a first class kiss ass. The woman’s eyes softened with his words and sharpened when Liam talked.

“It started as a fling, Mom.” Liam’s formal voice didn’t help his case of covering up. “What was there to say? Hey, Mom, Dad, Jay’s doing a girl that works for me?” He shrugged. “We’re old enough to know better, Mom. Yes they adore each other, and well, you get to see the old Jay when he looks at her.” Mom and Dad looked at me and smiled.
Darn, the baby of the house isn’t as stupid as I thought.
“But as they both keep saying, it’s over. Emma broke your son’s heart and sent him on his way.”

I scratched my head and looked for an escape route. This wasn’t a conversation I wanted to have with any one of them; parents or siblings. Emma broke up with me; she wasn’t going to continue what we had. Light and uncomplicated. I got it, was that it. Mom just said it, Emma seemed to adore me. Was she in love with me, like I was with her? I closed my eyes, assimilating the newfound information.

“Under that thick armor there’s a fragile girl, Jay,” Mom said, and made me open my eyes.

“I know it, Mom.” Instead of staying in the same position of lectured boy, I stood up and leaned on the wall. “Emma’s everything to me. I love her.”

“What’s stopping you, boy?” Dad asked.

“She deserves better.” I shrugged and placed my palms on the wall to push me from my position. “There’s not much I can offer her, I’m broken. What if I hurt her during a night terror, or do something stupid?”

“Jay.” Mom’s anguished voice made me stop my walking from one side of the room to the other. “The two of you have slept together…don’t confirm that,” she blurted, before me or my brothers said something inappropriate. “I don’t need to know that information. What I’m trying to say is, think of those nights and how you reacted around her. She’s pretty safe with you, and there’s so much you can offer.”