Her Charming Secret (5 page)

She saw Abigail hailing a cab, but just before she could reach her, Alex got there and pulled her hand, “What’s wrong, Abigail?”

She glared at him, but Jo could see she was almost near tears, so she pulled open the cab door pushed Abby in. Climbed in behind her, she gave Alex a
we-will-talk-later
look and gave the cabbie their address. Alex looked at Abigail as they pulled out. She looked so upset and lost and he didn’t know what to do.

“Abby, what happened?” Jo asked softly.

Abigail turned bewildered eyes at her. “I let him kiss me, Jo, but what if I am like all the other girls to him?”

Jo was confused. Why’d she think that letting Alex meet Abigail would be a good idea? She sighed, “I don’t know, Abby. I really don’t know.”

And without another word, they faced the windows trying to figure out the Reid boys.

*  *  *

Alex remembered the time Abigail was in his arms. She seemed to close up, but when her eyes opened from the kiss, she looked at him for a long moment before slapping him hard. “I will not be one of your conquests, Alexander!” she shouted before marching out. Even as he tried to talk to her outside, Jo got in the middle and pushed him aside to pull her away.

Aiden came and stood by him. “What happened, Al?” he asked.

Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I messed up, Aiden, and I have no clue how to fix it!” he said as the taxi with the girl of his dreams rounded a corner and got out of sight.

- Chapter 5 -

Surprising Attraction

Alex stood there staring at the empty street, wondering again what was so special about this girl that had him acting like a complete idiot for even a look from her. He looked at Aiden when he cleared his throat.

“Look, I know this isn’t the best time, but you have to go with Adele tomorrow to meet the wedding planner,” he said.

Alex jerked out of his miserable thoughts to give Aiden an incredulous stare. “Are you serious? What exactly am I going to do there? I know nothing about weddings, and Adele is scary when she doesn’t find things done her way . . . no way am I going. Nope, not for anything in the world.”

“Come on, Al, all you have to do is go along with her and meet the wedding planner to decide the location and nod when they like something. I would go, but I have that meeting with the investors tomorrow, remember?” Aiden said.

“Oh fine, but you owe me one,” Alex said. Looking Aiden’s way, he saw him nod. “It’s getting late. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye, Aido.”

“Goodbye, Al.”

Back home, Alex stood staring at the city bustling around. That was one of the things he loved about his apartment: the view was breathtaking, the whole of Toronto stretched out in front of him like his very own private, constantly-changing painting. He thought of Abigail and how beautiful and full of life she was, how her eyes sparkled and how soft her lips had felt against his, and then the wariness he had seen in her eyes as she had walked away from him. Finally, he just decided to give up and go to sleep, giving in to torturous dreams of hazel eyes and sweet smiles and chocolaty curls.

The rest he would figure out tomorrow.

*  *  *

Jo sat on the couch staring at – but not really seeing – the TV. So much had happened today that her mind was in overdrive. Aiden was getting married! How had she missed something that big? Had she really been so lost in his charm that she hadn’t noticed that he was taken? She groaned and fell back on the couch. To make matters worse, Abigail had walked into her room the minute they got back and hadn’t opened her door since. What confused Jo was the reason she was so upset. Was she upset that Alex kissed her or that he might not be serious about her? Jo didn’t realize that letting Alex meet Abigail would be this big a disaster. She didn’t know how she was going to face Aiden tomorrow, how she would console Abby or not hit Alex when she saw him next.

Groaning, she decided to turn in. On her way to the bedroom, she knocked on Abigail’s door lightly. “Abby, I know you’re upset, but you should get some rest. Didn’t you say you have to meet an important client tomorrow?” When there was no reply, she sighed and said, “Good night.”

She needed to get some sleep to get away from the confusion her life had become, just for a little while. 

*  *  *

Abigail couldn’t believe it! She had just KISSED Alex Reid – the player – and had actually liked it, and then she had slapped him. She buried her head into the pillow in embarrassment. What was she thinking? Wait! Of course! That’s exactly it – she wasn’t!

He had seemed so different from what was printed about him. He was still a flirt and cocky as hell, but he was considerate and nice, and that dance had her tingling. She blushed at the memory. It had been so intimate; bodies pressed close, and had turned to something so magical that when he had leaned in, she couldn’t say no. 
Argh! Why did he have to be so darn handsome?
 She knew it was ridiculous to wish that he saw her as something more than a fling. Knowing him, she couldn’t trust her heart in his hands – because he would just stomp all over it and throw it in her face. Jo slightly knocking on her door pulled her out of her thoughts.

“Abby, I know you’re upset, but you should get some rest. Didn’t you say you have to meet an important client tomorrow?”

Oh! In all this confusion it had completely slipped her mind but she had to go meet a new client tomorrow. One of her older clients had recommended her, and she’d been asked to go meet them tomorrow.

“Good night,” Jo said softly from the other side of the door.

“Good night,” Abby replied, but her voice was barely audible. Sighing to herself, she pulled her comforter snugly around her. She would just concentrate on work for now. Alex Reid would simply have to wait.

With that thought, she drifted off to sleep.

 The next morning, Abigail groaned and turned away from the sunlight falling on her face through the window. Opening an eye, she peeked at the clock on her bedside table. She rolled over, her eyes shooting open as she looked at the clock hoping her mind was playing tricks on her. When the time didn’t change from 7:00AM, she cursed before rushing to shower.

Getting ready in fifteen minutes flat, she looked at herself in the full-length mirror and decided she looked good enough in the white cashmere sweater and beige skirt, her hair up in a messy bun. Slipping on her open-toed white stilettos, she grabbed all the files that she needed, tugged her purse and shouted a goodbye to an amused Jo before running out the door with an apple in hand so she wouldn’t miss her appointment.

Abigail reached the house around 8:45AM and sighed in relief, thankful that she wouldn’t miss her appointment at 9AM. Looking at the house, she couldn’t help but admire the sheer beauty of it. Knocking on the door, she took in a huge gulp of air and waited.

A boy pulled the door open. “Can I help you?” he asked.

“Hi, I’m Abigail Black, the wedding planner. Is Mrs. Reid in?” Abigail asked, politely.

“Oh yeah, please come in. Take a seat. I’ll let my mom know that you are here,” he said.

Walking in, Abby took in all the pictures on the wall, coming to a halt when she saw Aiden in some of them. Reid – Aiden Reid – Oh no! She so didn’t want to be here.

“Abigail?” she heard, groaning at the voice she turned to look at the present bane of her existence.

“Alex, what are you doing here?” she asked.

“This is my uncle’s place, love. The question is: what are
you
 doing here?” he asked and grinned.

“Mrs. Reid called about needing a wedding planner,” she explained to him calmly.

Just as he opened his mouth to answer, she heard a sweet voice call out, “Alex?”

Abigail saw a young lady walking towards them. “What’s going on, Al?” she asked.

“Nothing much. Your wedding planner is here,” he replied.

“Hi, I’m Adele Reid; I guess you have met my cousin already,” she smiled. 
Wow! She looks like Aiden!
Abigail thought.

“Unfortunately, yes. Hello, I’m Abigail Black,” she introduced herself.

Adele pointed towards the couch asking Abby to take a seat. Adele sat next to Alex, who was still staring at Abigail, and asked Abigail about her work. Later on, Abby found out that Adele was the bride. And she was Aiden’s twin. She was a kind person and it was easy to talk to her.

*  *  *

              Adele couldn’t help but notice the looks Alex and Abigail were giving each other. Abigail seemed to be young, but she was experienced. Did they know each other? She heard Ashton’s voice as he walked behind their mother. He seemed to be upset.
Now what was wrong again?

She sighed as they came closer.

“Mom, please! You can’t do this to me,” he begged miserably.

“Ash, listen to me honey, go with Alex. Aiden is very busy,” she replied and stood next to Adele.

“Hello, I’m Adelynn Reid,” she said as she shook hands with Abigail.

“Hi, Mrs. Reid. Nice to meet you.” She smiled and said, “Now I know why Aiden’s accent has a hint of French.”

“Yes, that is because I’m French. And Aiden happened to get that accent because he lived in France for a while,” Adelynn smiled.

“Mom, we were just discussing about the decorations,” Adele spoke. “Alex was asking about the location.”

“Oh! That is fine. Aiden spoke to me about that last night,” she said.

Alex sat up straight at that. “Does that mean I don’t have to come with you?” he asked with a hopeful look in his eyes.

Grinning, Adele shook her head. “Oh no, you are stuck with me and Abigail for the whole of today!” She saw Alex start to grin at that, while Abigail looked like she had a lemon in her mouth. A very sour lemon.

“The whole day? Really? I will definitely enjoy spending more time with Abigail . . . oh, and you too,” he added as an afterthought.
 Hmm . . . who was she and why was Alex grinning like Christmas had come early? 

Abigail looked down for a second, avoiding eye contact with everyone, before looking up towards Adelynn. “Mrs. Reid, I wanted to ask you something, it’s about the cake. I know a very good Patisserie here, and I’m pretty sure they take wedding orders too.”

“No can do, darling! Aunt Lynn has her own patisserie,
La Francaise
,” Alex smirked. “She’s going to make the cake herself.”

Adele smiled and nodded.

“Oh! You own that place? Wow! That’s the place I was talking about,” Abigail said to Adelynn. They then started talking about other details, and before they knew it, two hours had passed.

*  *  *

Later that day, Aiden stretched his arms over his head, trying to provide some relief to the sore muscles in his back. He couldn’t wait for the day to end. There was so much to do, even though he had been working since 5:00AM that morning. He couldn’t help but notice Jo looking at him every now and then. She would stare, but when their eyes met, she looked down. 
Was something wrong?

He had to meet the CEO. His dad wanted to check the documents before he could sign the deal in France. So he walked out and said to Jo, “I’ve a meeting with the CEO now, so if anyone calls, please don’t transfer it.”

She nodded and replied, “Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”

He walked towards his dad’s office and knocked the door. Fifteen minutes later, after discussing about the new deal, he came out to see Adele talking to Jo.

“Hi, is Aiden in?” she asked, politely.

“Mr. Reid is in a meeting. Do you have an appointment, ma’am?” Jo asked her.

“Oh! I need an appointment now?” Adele smiled.

Aiden grinned and walked towards her, “Hey, you! When did I say you need an appointment? Come in,” he smiled and looked at Jo, who was very quiet. She looked gloomy. Oh well! She must have her own problems.

“I thought you had a meeting with the wedding planner,” Aiden said to Adele.

“Look who’s talking! It was so hard with Alex,” she sighed, “He was busy flirting with the wedding planner and we didn’t get any work done. The poor girl looked like she would run the next time he commented. I think for everyone’s sake you should come with me next time.”

“Sure,” Aiden said and opened the door for her. Just then, he saw Alex walking towards them. Grinning, he walked in behind Adele.

Aiden sighed, “What are you doing here?”

Alex plopped down on the couch next to Adele. “You aren’t happy to see me, Aido?” When Aiden didn’t reply, he asked, “Guess who was the wedding planner?”

“Who?” Aiden questioned.

Alex groaned. “You didn’t guess! It was Abigail. Can you believe it?” He smirked.

“Abigail who?” Aiden asked as he took his seat and checked his emails.

“Abigail! Abigail Black! Jo’s friend! We met her last night,” Alex explained.

Adele raised her eyebrow. “So that’s how you knew her!” she exclaimed.

“Umm . . . yeah!” Alex smirked. So he met Abigail again; Adele said he flirted with her. He never changed but last night Aiden saw a different Alex, someone who believed in love and was in pain when Abigail left.

“Grandpa called and said that he wants me to get married in France,” Adele said. “What should I do now?”

“Well, it’s up to you. Do you want to get married there?” Aiden asked.

Before he could say another word, Alex spoke, “Are you having second thoughts about marrying Gabe or something? Because if you are, you can run away with me and we’ll live on an exotic island with exotic beauties and you can cook for me while I flirt with them.” He grinned.

“No . . . but I am seriously considering eloping in Vegas, what with everybody trying to plan MY wedding for me,” Adele muttered.

Raising an eyebrow, Alex looked at Aiden and asked, “What’s with her?”

Aiden shook his head and said, “It’s Grandpa . . . again!”

Alex understood what he was trying to say, and snickered, “Let me guess, he said something like ‘My grandauzer will not marries in ze Canada, zhe will marriez here in Pariz, the zity of luv’ or something?”

Listening to the really bad imitation Alex did of Pierre, Adele burst out laughing, “Thanks Al, I really needed a good laugh,” she smiled, “But yes, that’s almost exactly what he said,” she sighed. “I want a small wedding that’s all about Gabe and me and the love we share but everyone is set on blowing it out of proportion.”