Holt's Holding part two (The Holt's Series) (25 page)

“I think it’s time I have a talk with Prescott.”
 
I sighed.

“What makes you think he’s going to tell you anything?
 
Thus far he hasn’t been very
forthcoming.”
 
Brady shook his head in
disapproval.

“Brady, what happened in Vegas?”

“I don’t know, I’m not sure what I overheard, but I didn’t
like the implications.” He paused rubbing his chin, “Sebastian was on his phone
with Prescott Sr., I heard him say something to the effect of making sure that
he would handle you”.

“Handle me?”
 
I raised
a brow confused.
 
The idea of being
handled had me suffused in curiosity.
 
What the fuck was I missing here?

“It was something about the way he said it.”
 
I watched as Brady stood up and paced a
bit.
 
“What do you remember about Henry
and Prescott when it came to you?”
 
He
stopped his pacing and looked down at me.

“Hmm, I’m pretty sure Henry and Prescott once toyed with
the idea of me and Sebastian, something about what a great merger that would
be.”
 
I laughed cynically at the comment,
“However, there was something about Charlie.
 
I got the sense that I was off limits to him.”

“How so?”
 
Brady
paused his pacing and looked to me with an intense gaze.

Biting my lip, I frowned looking to the ground.
 
“When I was younger, I had fallen, busted my
knee wide open.
 
Charlie was out on the
patio and I guess saw it happen.
 
He ran
down and picked me up carrying me to one of the lounges and his father and mine
looked like he had committed some horrible act by touching me.
 
I thought perhaps it was me and my autistic
nature to lose my shit when anyone touched me, but I was fine Brady”, I looked
up at him “I didn’t flip out nothing, I remember feeling safe.
 
However, his father just laid into him.
 
I don’t really recall much of anything
else.
 
The next time I saw him was at our
Prom, remember he and Sebastian were here with Prescott.
 
That night, I had stayed in their room.
 
My memory is fuzzy, but that morning, the two
were arguing about me being an off limit and if Prescott found out something,
that Charlie would be in some serious shit.”

“Why would you be an off limit for Charlie and not
Sebastian?”
 
Brady sat back down to the
lounge reaching for my watered down tequila.
 
“There is something to this Lilly.”

“I’m not sure, nor do I care Brady.
 
If this is about Henry and Prescott’s fantasy
of Sebastian and me then they both can keep on dreaming.
 
As far as Charlie is concerned, he and I have
no future, we had a weekend.” Swimming over to the ladder, I had forgotten that
I was nude.
 
“Um Brady, you may want to
close your eyes, I’m in the nude.”

“Oh, yeah.
 
Eyes
closed”

Pulling up from the water, Brady had his hand covering his
eyes while he held out my dress.

Grabbing the dress from him, I lowered it down and stepped
into it.

Looking up my eyes caught Sebastian leaning in the doorway
of my house by the patio.
 
He had his
head slighted and a devious grin on his face.
 
Shit.
 
Reeling in my sense, I
pulled my dress over my wet and very naked self.

“I always wondered if the two of you were fucking.” he
smirked then made his way to the pool.

Brady was quick to look to Sebastian, “How did you get in?”

He took the words right out of my mouth.

“The door was cracked open, I did knock.” He smiled at
Brady then looked back at me.

“So, what do I owe the honor of having a visit from Sebastian
Vaihn, un announced if I may add.”

“I see you’re as feisty as ever.”

Crossing my arms, I raised my brows, “And you’re standing
in my home, making accusations that are completely unfounded”.

“Hmm.
 
Doesn’t sound
like your denying it either.
 
Is Sam
aware that the two of you are well…” he paused smirking some more.

“God, I hate you.
 
What do you want?”
 
Reaching down,
I grabbed the empty glass from Brady’s hands.
 
As he sat there amused with the entire thing.
 
“I need a drink, do you need anything?”

“I’m good; Sam should be here any minute.”

Walking up, Brady followed behind.
 
Pausing for a moment in front of Sebastian,
he stepped aside and let me pass.

“You’ve yet to answer why you are here?”
 
I yelled back to him, as I made my way into
the kitchen, fixing another drink; knowing I would need it.

“I was in town and wanted to see you.” He offered in his
normal smooth voice.

I laughed to his comment.
 
“Yeah sure, one, you don’t know me, two, I don’t like you in the
slightest.
 
So we can beat around the bush
or you can just be honest?”

“Wow, I feel hurt Lillian.
 
Have I done something to you to qualify such strong feelings of dislike
towards me?” he grinned.

What an asshole.
 
The
nerve, he was standing in my home, uninvited and putting me on the spot.

Brady walked over to me and grinned mouthing, “I told
something is up”.

Slighting my head and pursing my lips, Brady was
right.
 
Something was up.
 
Thinking to what Brady had said it dawned on
me.
 
Sebastian was here thinking that
Charlie might stop by.

“Let me guess, you’re here checking up on whether or not
Charlie would stop by?”
 
I grinned
knowing this was the real reason.
 
“As
you can see he’s not here.
 
I haven’t
spoken to Charlie in over eight months.
 
You can leave now.”

“Oh, Lillian, I’m not here for Charlie, I’m here for
you.
 
I thought that maybe we could start
fresh. I also thought it might be a good time to put the past away.
 
Our fathers were friends; I was hoping that
perhaps we could be as well.”

Before I could answer his bullshit, the sound of a car horn
grabbed our attention.

The sound of car doors opening a closing echoed thru the
house.
 
Hmm, sounded like more than one
car.

Sam came running in.

“Where’s my man!!” her voice rang thru the house and she
quickly ran in finding Brady.
 
Within moments,
she was in his arms. “I missed you baby” she kissed him quick and hard.
 
Yes, she was a woman very in love.

Taking my drink, I smiled to her display.

She broke her kiss and looked over at me smiling. “Miss me
yet?” she laughed at me.

“How could I miss you?
 
I was with you no more than an hour ago.” I laughed back at her.

“Um, you have incoming in the drive way.” she raised her
eyebrows up and down.

“Incoming?” I asked quizzically as she turned and notice
Sebastian.

“What is he doing here?” she cocked her head in his
direction.

“That seems to be the question of the day?
  
Apparently he wants to be friends, but only
after accusing Brady and I of fucking.”

“Hey she was the one in the nude, when I got here.
 
It was a natural reaction” Sebastian offered.

“Yeah, that’s doubtful and never going to happen.” She
laughed and looked to me then Brady “that thought is disgusting.”

“Tell me about it,” I laughed.

“Hey bitches!! Hope you didn’t miss me!!” Julie’s voice
rang through.

“Oh, Julia don’t you have any manors?” Patricia’s voice
followed.

Fuck, now I had a full house.

Pouring myself another drink, I was going to need it.

Julie came running in and almost shit her pants stopping
next to Sebastian. “What are you doing here?”

Sam and I instantly broke out laughing.

“Sebastian, how nice to see you.” Patricia walked up to him
as he turned to greet her. “Why don’t you go out to the car and help your
brother with the groceries.”

Sebastian looked to me and pursing his lips. His expression
was one of “I told you so.”

Before I could say anything, Patricia was pulling me into
an embrace. “Oh Elizabeth, I’m sorry for us intruding on you like this.
 
Julie assured me this would be ok.
 
I have to admit, I was excited about seeing
your home. I hope you don’t mind our intrusion.
 
We brought groceries and thought perhaps we could have a nice dinner
here?
 
Charlie is quite the cook and my
son hasn’t cooked for me in ages.”

“Patricia you are always welcome in my home.
 
Dinner sounds like a wonderful idea. Thank you
for picking up the groceries.
 
I’m afraid
I don’t have much here since I’ve been away.”

“I figured as much. It’s the least we could do.” She paused
looking around the house. “This truly is a beautiful home Elizabeth.”

“Thank you Patricia.
 
Please make yourself comfortable.
 
Is there anything I can get you to drink?”

“Do you have any wine?” she turned back to me.

I paused as my eyes caught sight of Charlie walking in with
the groceries. I felt frozen.
 
Not having
seen in, my heart dropped from my chest.

“Mother, Lillian has a wonderful selection of reds in her
wine closet. If you give me a moment, I can pull one that I’m sure you’ll
love.
 
It seems the two of you have very
similar tastes.” He offered coolly as his eyes held mine.

“I didn’t realize the two of you knew each other?” she
looked from Charlie to me. “When did the two of you meet?”

“We met a few times Patricia, Charlie and Sebastian had
been around my father when he was alive. The first time we met, I believe I was
fifteen.”

“Oh, yes how could I forget?
 
Prescott and Henry were friends at one point
as I recall.
 
But leave it to Prescott to
fuck that up too.” She shook her head.

“I don’t understand?
 
They had a falling out?”

“Mother that’s enough.
 
You promised that we wouldn’t talk about my father.” Charlie interrupted.

Charlie walked over and stopped in front of me. Looking up
at him, I felt frozen and trapped. He leaned down and kissed me on my cheek
slowly. “I’m sorry, I know you weren’t expecting me here or anyone else.” He
whispered then lifted up.

Sucking in a deep breath, his cologne assaulted my senses.
I missed him and my heart all of the sudden ached.

“It’s ok Charlie.” I offered in a shaky and whispered
voice. “I’ll go fetch a bottle of wine,” I added.

Walking from him, I went to the wine closet off the kitchen.
 
Looking around, I found a bottle that I was
sure Patricia would enjoy. Turning, I almost dropped it when Charlie surprised
me.

“Oh Jesus, you scared the shit out of me.”

“I’m really am sorry” he smiled apologetically. “This was
not my idea. I picked up my mom and Julie up and they conned me into coming
here.
 
I tried to talk them out of this.”

“It’s fine Charlie.
 
I was just taken off guard. But truly it’s fine.” I lowered my gaze
afraid to be this close to him. His hand cupped the side of my face forcing me
to look up at him. “It’s good to see you Lil.”

Before I could form a thought, Sebastian found us. “There
you two are. Patricia looks like she really needs a glass.”

Charlie released his hold and stepped back, allowing me to
pass. Not bothering to look at Sebastian, I made my way back to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Brady walked over putting an arm around me
and kissing my head. “How are you with all this?” he whispered. My eyes on
Patricia she was looking at Brady and me very quizzically.

"I’m good Brady.” I offered in a whisper.

“I have to say Elizabeth you and Brady look very alike? Are
you related?” oh fuck, she was very observant. Most never questioned it but she
did. Sebastian and Charlie walked in and it seemed like her question held
everyone’s attention.

Smiling, I looked up to Brady then to Patricia, “Actually
we are related. Brady is my first cousin.
 
Not many know that as we don’t air it out to the public.”

“Well that makes bloody sense.” Sebastian offered.