Never Enough (20 page)
She wandered back, through the huge bathroom and into the closet. Drawers, shoe racks, pegs for hats and bags.
“Erin is in charge of all the soap and other foofy gear in the house. It’s just that I’m hopeless and she gets some insane charge out of making me try all this stuff she stumbles across. She used to dress the dog up too. She’s bossy like that. Anyway, there’s all sorts of bath and body goop in the linen closet over there. I have no doubt she and Ella tucked all sorts of female regalia all over the place for you to use while you’re here. If you need anything, please let me know. I want you to be comfortable.”
And there was the charming again. He made her swoon with some of things he said and did.
“Thank you. It’s lovely.”
He shrugged, casting for unconcerned, but she saw the slight blush at his neck. Which she’d been looking at and then wishing she could lick it.
Going straight to hell for this.
They’d gotten settled in and Adrian had given them the tour of the backyard and side gardens. It had pleased Gillian to see the pink bicycle with the fringed handlebars. Balls of all sizes sat in a box on the deck near the back glass doors.
“Rennie, my niece, she likes to head to the park nearby and ride her bike. Miles, that’s yours over there.” Adrian pointed to a brand-new mountain bike. “Of course I got him a helmet and that stuff to go with it. I got you a bike too. You know, so we can all go riding together when you’re here.”
She appreciated his generosity but the level of extravagance made her nervous. For Miles it was more that she didn’t want to suddenly thrust wealth into his life, especially not without consulting her first to work on how to handle it.
Gillian had watched her mother and sister selling themselves short by hitching their lives to men. She made her own way.
A woman who made her own way didn’t owe anyone anything. She didn’t have to turn a blind eye to philandering or a heavy hand with the drink or fist. A woman who made her own way had choices.
“I appreciate that, Adrian.” She paused. “Miles, can you go and change your shirt and wash up? We should be leaving soon for dinner.”
Miles looked at Adrian, sympathy on his face. “Good luck, mate.”
She shushed him and shooed him with her hands. “Get on with it, boy.”
He obeyed quickly.
“Did I make you unhappy with something?”
Of course he looked all innocent-like and she immediately felt guilty for being annoyed. “It’s just that all this is a lot. Do you understand?” She softened her original tirade. “You can’t just spend all this money on him. Or on me.”
“I’m sure I owe you a few child-support checks. I want to give him things, Gillian. I wasn’t there for a long time. I—I want to do for him, take care of him.”
And she got that. She did, and it tempered her frustration and even the fear. “I understand that. And I appreciate it. He does too. But he’s a middle-class kid. He’s got a middle-class life. You can’t—I’m asking you to please take that into account when you buy things for him.”
“You got to give him presents for thirteen years, Gillian.” Adrian began to pace. “All that time I could have been with him at birthdays and Christmas and I wasn’t. I think it’s pretty fucked to expect me to not want to give him the benefit of my wealth. He’s not a middle-class kid anymore. He’s the son of a millionaire. And it’s a fucking bike.”
Having a man, even one who looked and acted like Adrian, use that kind of language when they were angry around her really pushed buttons. “Look, you.” She planted a hand on her hip and pointed an accusing finger at him with the other. “You’ll speak to me with some respect. You don’t use those words when you speak to me. I don’t give a toss about who you are at home or how much you’ve got in the bank. That is my son and I’ve done a very good job at teaching him to value what he’s got and to work for what he wants.”
Adrian lost his anger and stared at her. If Miles hadn’t been around, Adrian would be on her right then. Damn, she was fierce and pissed off and protective of their son.
“Don’t you get that look either.”
He took a step closer. “I apologize. But whatever do you mean? What look is that? Hm?” He nuzzled her neck and she sighed softly, the rigidity of her spine loosening.
“You know the look I’m talking about. Sex won’t get you out of this.” She pinched his side but there was no real effort in it. He jumped back anyway, needing the space to lose the hard-on he could pound iron with.
“I can’t apologize for getting him a bicycle. Or you one. I bought a bicycle for Rennie. And a tricycle for Alexander. Marti has a wagon. I wanted us all to be able to go on rides. And he needed a room here. I want him to spend time with me. I want him to be at home. And you too.”
“Adrian . . .”
He wasn’t having it. “No. Look, you and I have something. Something I’d like to follow up on.”
“You don’t even know me. You’re going through a lot right now. You’ll get more accustomed to being a dad and you won’t need me around. It’s going to happen.”
He backed her against a nearby post. “Is that what you think? All this energy between us is just me nervous to be a dad?”
And when her eyes widened and she licked her lips he tasted victory. She could claim otherwise all she wanted. But she wanted him as much as he wanted her.
“I—I don’t expect anything from you.”
He took a deep breath. “I know you don’t. But I expect something from you.”
“Wh-what?” She sucked in a breath when he nipped her bottom lip.
“Do you know what? Finding Miles has taught me to be open to all kinds of great things I never expected. You’re one of those things. I want you, Gillian. And I know you want me too.”
“Miles is—”
“He’s in the other room. Also he’s old enough to know his parents date. And why not date each other? Novel, huh?”
“Let’s take this slow.” She looked him over, suspicion clear on her face. “And you’ll speak with me and at the very least inform me when you plan to make some large purchase on his behalf. Please. I know you want to do things for him. And it
is
unfair that you missed so much time. At the same time, I think it’s really important he retains gratitude and having to work for what he gets.”
is
unfair that you missed so much time. At the same time, I think it’s really important he retains gratitude and having to work for what he gets.”
It actually was a reasonable request. “All right. I want to go skiing at Whistler in a few weeks. I have a house up there. Will you both come?”
Before they could speak any more, Adrian heard Miles’s footfalls and eased himself away from Gillian.
“We’ll talk later. Let’s get going to Erin’s.”
He let it go but knew he’d be back to it.
“Are you sure we shouldn’t have brought anything?” she asked him, unsuccessfully hiding her nervousness as they approached Erin’s door.
“You already made me stop and pick up dessert at your friend’s shop on the way over. I love that logo. Clever, retro. Sexy.”
She blushed and it shot straight to his belly. “Who doesn’t like pie and tarts with coffee? And thank you. I assume you know I designed it.”
Before he was able to knock, the door whipped open and it was Rennie who stood there, a huge grin on her face. “Uncle Adrian!” She threw herself at him as he knelt toward her, hugging him tight.
“Yo, Rennie. I missed you, sunshine.”
After he delivered a few kisses, he put Rennie down and straightened before stepping into Erin’s place.
Rennie, being Rennie, didn’t waste any time. She planted herself in Miles’s path and stuck out her hand. “You must be Miles. I’m your cousin, Irene. But everyone mostly calls me Rennie. Did you know they have four gaming consoles here? It’s awesome. You have pretty hair. Most boys like your age have dirty hair. Yours is nice.”
Miles seemed caught off guard and charmed by Rennie, as everyone else always was upon meeting her. He nodded respectfully as he allowed her to pump his arm up and down several vigorous times as she shook his hand.
Brody came into the room, toting Marti, who laughed and reached out when she caught sight of Adrian.
“Come in, please.” Ben stepped forward, extending a hand toward Gillian. “I’m Ben Copeland. I’m one of Adrian’s brothers-in-law. Jeez, Adrian, where are your manners? Invite them in and let’s get their coats.”
Gillian shook his hand, looking as if she dealt with this sort of thing every day. Adrian had to admit to himself how impressed he was, especially as she looked even smaller compared to Ben’s bulk. Miles looked him up and down, a little awed.
Adrian took coats and her bag. He handed the bakery boxes to Elise, who took them with a sweet smile of reassurance.
“Gillian Forrester. Thank you for having us today.”
“We’re glad to do it.” Ben smiled and turned to Miles. “I’ve been waiting to meet you. Welcome to the family, kiddo.”
Miles nodded and stammered his way through a thank-you. Adrian noted the way Gillian would touch him every once in a while, just to give him a little reassurance.
Erin pushed her way through the group, who’d been creeping closer but hadn’t quite broken through their manners to be their normal, nosy selves and push into Gillian and Miles’s personal space.
“Hey there, Miles.” She hugged him, and he seemed a little stunned but then went with it.
“Hey.”
“Gillian, it’s good to see you. I hope you two are hungry. Todd’s out on the terrace grilling up a storm.”
“Let’s get the introductions out of the way.” Adrian put an arm around Miles’s shoulders and a restraining hand on Gillian’s arm to keep her from sidling away. “Everyone, this is Miles and Gillian. We don’t expect you to remember names; there’s a lot of us. But here goes.”
He pointed Miles toward Brody. “This is Brody. He’s my older brother and your uncle. The baby is Martine and we call her Marti. That pretty blonde there is your aunt Elise. She’s Brody’s wife and Marti and Rennie’s mom.”
Gillian gasped, surprising Adrian. “Oh my goodness. Elise Sorenson! I’ve seen you dance many times. I’m a huge fan.” Gillian blushed nearly as deeply red as Elise did.
“Really?”
“I saw you dance
Coppelia
four times. And
Giselle
. Oh, and the
Sleeping Beauty
. Brilliant. You’re amazingly gifted.”
Coppelia
four times. And
Giselle
. Oh, and the
Sleeping Beauty
. Brilliant. You’re amazingly gifted.”
“You did? Where?” Adrian and Miles stood back and watched the two.
“The Met most of the time, and then Lincoln Center. I lived in New York for several years.”
“I’m very flattered. Thank you. Those are some of my favorite roles. You’ve made my entire week.” Elise smiled at Gillian. The two women did have that sort of elegant, graceful manner. Brody had been right about that. Funny how he and his brother seemed to have similar tastes.
“Irene, wait until Miles has met everyone before you go dragging him off somewhere.” Brody looked toward his daughter and she sighed heavily.
“Fine. I just was gonna show him the
Mario Kart
game.”
Mario Kart
game.”
Miles appeared shell-shocked and Gillian subtly moved a little closer, sliding a hand up and down his back.
“Okay, everyone, let’s stop crowding. Why don’t you two sit down.” Adrian ushered them into the living room and sat with them. “So you met your uncle and aunt and two of your cousins. And you met Ben.” He’d discussed the situation with Gillian and they’d both been up front with Miles about it. Miles didn’t seem to care one way or the other, so they left it at that. Gillian told him Miles would come to her if he was having any problems.
“You met Erin. That’s Todd, Erin’s other husband, and Alexander, their son.”
“Yo! Yo!” Alexander waved, pushing from his dad’s grip and heading to Adrian, who scooped him up, settling the boy on his lap.
“Hello, young man.” Gillian took Alexander’s hand and shook it as he tried to gnaw on her. “Oh my, someone is teething. Vexing, that.” She smiled at Alexander, who stopped his pursuit of her knuckle to gaze at her adoringly.
Todd waved at them.
“Last but not ever least are Andrew and Ella Copeland. Andy is Ben’s brother and his lovely wife, Ella, is an old family friend.”
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