Lie Next to Me (13 page)

“You’ll find out when we get back to the house.”

“Huh?” I said.

He grabbed my hand and helped me from the couch.

I rolled over and smiled as I looked out the window at the sunrise over the ocean waters. As I lay there for a few moments, I heard a soft knock on the door.

“Come in.”

Ian stood in the doorway and smiled at me. He looked incredibly sexy in his black sweat pants and black t-shirt, which clung to every definition his upper body had.

“You’re not out of bed yet?” he asked as he walked over and sat down on the edge. I sat up and stared at him as he took a hold of my hand.

“I sort of fell back asleep. That nightmare last night drained me again.”

“Your first duty as my assistant today is to call Dr. Neil. I thought maybe once Stephen was found and you knew he was safe, the nightmares would’ve stopped.”

“They’ve always been there. I can’t remember a night when I didn’t have them, except when I was drugged up for two days after you found me.”

Ian smiled as he brought his hand up to my face. “We’ll figure this out and get rid of those nightmares for good. Now, get dressed. We have a run to go for before we start our day.”

I stepped out of bed and threw on my yoga pants and tank top. When I went outside to meet Ian, he was standing by the water with his hands on his hips. Even the back of him was sexy, and I could sit and stare at him and his body all day.

“Hey, I think you’re falling behind, buddy!” I yelled as I ran past him.

“No fair.” He smiled as he ran and caught up to me.

I slowed down my pace and we ran together. I was curious to know more about Andrew, so I asked Ian about him.

“Tell me about Andrew,” I said.

“Why do you want to know about him?” he asked as he looked at me.

“He’s your best friend, and I want to know about your friends. Is something wrong with that?”

“No, I guess not. Andrew and I have been friends since we were thirteen years old. We’re like brothers. His dad died a few years back and left him his entire estate and business.”

“What about his mom?” I asked.

“He doesn’t see her very often. His parents divorced when he was sixteen and his mom started dating some guy that was twenty years younger than she was. As soon as his dad found out, he took her out of his will and left her with nothing.”

“Have you ever thought about looking for your mom?”

Ian suddenly stopped, and when he looked at me, anger consumed his eyes. “Why the fuck would you bring her up?” he asked in an angry tone.

“I’m sorry, Ian. I just wondered.”

“Well, stop wondering and don’t mention it again. It was a one-time deal, me talking about her to you that night and it won’t happen again,” he snapped.

“You’re right, it won’t happen again,” I said as I ran ahead of him.

I finally saw the anger that consumed him about his mother, and it frightened me. The rest of the run was silent as we headed back to the house. I took a shower, changed into my business clothes, and walked down the stairs. Ian was walking through the foyer when he glanced up and immediately stopped in his tracks.

“You look amazing, Rory. The business look really suits you.” He smiled.

Thank you, asshole,
is what I wanted to say
.
“Thank you.”

“Follow me to my study. I have something to show you,” he said.

We walked to his study, and I went over to the new cherry wood desk that sat against the sidewall from Ian’s desk.

“This is your desk. I’ve supplied yo
u with everything you’ll need and the computer is fully loaded with all the software you’ll be using.”

I looked at Ian and twisted my face. “There’s that adorable look again. Now, what?” He smiled.

“You never had an assistant work from home, have you?” I asked.

Ian put his hands in his pocket and casually walked over to his desk. “What makes you think that?”

“Because this desk wasn’t here the last time I was in your study and I don’t recall ever seeing another female in the house besides your maids and sex partners.”

I
an sighed and looked down at his desk. “Please don’t refer to those women as my sex partners, and you’re right, there was no assistant.”

“So you lied to me?” I asked.

Ian stepped away from his desk and walked over to me. He put his hands on my hips as he tried to explain to me what I’d asked him.

“Technically, no. I’d been planning on hiring someone all along. You came along and I thought you were perfect. End of discussion,” he said as he kissed my lips.

“Excuse me, Mr. Braxton, but I do believe we’re on company time. I would hate to think that you kiss all of your female employees on the lips.”

Ian chuckled. “Only the special ones.” He winked. “I do have to head to the office. I have some contracts here that need to be typed up. You’ll find the program on the computer. If you have any questions, just call me or Adalynn. She knows my software and she could probably help you.”

“You never told me that you’re partners with her at
Prim
.”

“Should I have? I didn’t really think about it,” he said.

“No, I guess not.” I sighed.

Ian smiled and left his study. I sat down in the plush black office chair and opened the first file for the contracts that needed to be typed up.
I turned on the computer and a picture of the most amazing flowers filled the screen. I smiled because he remembered how much I loved flowers. As I became familiar with the program, and started typing the contracts, an hour had passed, and Mandy, one of Ian’s maids, knocked lightly on the study door.

“Come in, Mandy.”

“I brought you some coffee, Miss Sinclair, and a chocolate chip muffin. Charles made them per the request of Mr. Braxton.”

“Thank you, Mandy, and please call me Rory. Tell Charles I said thank you.”

“I will.” She smiled.

Mandy was a cute girl. She looked to be about mid-twenties with short black hair and green eyes that resembled cat eyes. She was very attractive. As I finished up the contracts, I ate my muffin and drank my coffee. The day went by pretty fast as I sat on the computer all day, studying the software that was loaded in the computer. Ian sent me a couple of text messages, asking me to make some phone calls for him. I got up from my desk just as Mandy walked in with a beautiful arrangement of flowers.

“These just arrived for you, Rory.”

“Oh
my gosh. They’re beautiful.” I smiled as I took them from her and set them on the desk.

There was an envelope that was sticking out from the top, so I pulled out the card that was inside.

For a beautiful assistant.

Welcome to Braxton Development.

Best, Ian

My smile widened as I took note of the word “beautiful” he had called me again. I stuck my nose in the flowers and took in their amazing scent, then picked up my phone to send Ian a text message.

“Do you always call your assistants beautiful? Thank you very much for the flowers.”

“No, because I only have one assistant who’s beautiful and you’re welcome. 2 more days!”

After my work was finished, I left Ian’s study and walked to the kitchen. I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Ian’s father, Richard, sitting at the table.

“Well, well, I thought you moved out,” he said.

I walked over to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water before replying to him.

“I did move out, Richard. I’m working as Ian’s assistant. Today’s my first day.”

He looked at me and knitted his eyebrows while giving me a sinister look. “Really? My son hired you?”

Remain calm. He’s nothing. You’ve handled far worse.
“Yes, Ian did hire me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” I smiled as I began to walk out of the kitchen.

“You’re not excused, little lady. Get back here!” he exclaimed.

I slowly turned around and stared at the so-called man before me. He got up from his chair and walked over to me.

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-three,” I replied.

“You’re just a baby. No wonder why my son is keeping you around. If
it’s money you want, name your price.”

His words were unbelievable to me, and I felt like a ticking time bomb ready to explode any second.

“I don’t have a price, Richard. Ian was kind enough to take me in and help me out. He’s given me a chance to start my life over, and I will always be indebted to him for that.”

“You poor, naïve little girl. My son will break you. When he tires of you, which he will, he’ll break your spirit and then he’ll go on with his life as if you never existed.”

“Dad of the year, right? You taught him well. You should be so proud,” I said.

“Rory! That’s enough!” Ian yelled.

I quickly turned around to find Ian standing there with anger displayed all over his face. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

I couldn’t answer him because it was apparent that he walked in on what I said, and he didn’t hear the rest of the conversation. I shook my head and stormed past him, bumping into his shoulder as I walked by. As I went down to the beach to try and calm down, I was burning mad at the way that man talked to me and also at how Ian walked in and yelled at me
without hearing what his father had said.

“He’s an asshole; what can I say?” Ian said as he walked up behind me.

“Yeah, well, you didn’t hear the things he said to me.”

“Then tell me, Rory,” he whispered as he put his hands on my shoulders.

“He told me to name my price.”

I wasn’t about to tell him what his father had said about him. So I just left it at that.

Ian’s hands lightly squeezed my shoulders. “I’m sorry. He’s just looking out for me. He doesn’t trust you because he thinks all women are after my money.”

“I don’t care about your money. But I will tell you this: you better set him straight or I will quit being your assistant and you won’t ever see me again.”

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back. “I know you don’t give a shit about my money and don’t talk crazy. You aren’t going anywhere. Two more days,” he said as he lightly kissed my neck.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you know how many times you’ve said that today?”

“Yes. Can you tell how impatient I am?” he said as he kissed my head.

I brought my hands up to his arms, which held me tightly. “Thank you again for the beautiful flowers.”

“You’re welcome. I’m having dinner with Andrew tonight so I have to get ready to leave. Are you going to be okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m going to head home anyway. Enjoy your dinner,” I said as I broke from his grip and started to walk away.

“You can spend the night again,” he said.

I didn’t respond. I just put my hand up and waved. Grabbing my purse from Ian’s study, I got into my new car and drove away.

I was up all night, thinking about Ian. He plagued my every thought, my every dream, and completely invaded my existence. There wasn’t a second that I wasn’t thinking about him. I threw on some sweats and drove to Ian’s house to change for work. As I walked through the door, Andrew was walking down the stairs with two women following behind him.

“Morning, Rory,” he said with a wide grin.

“Tell Ian thanks for last night.” The woman with the long black hair winked.

“Morning, Andrew,” I replied as I walked past him up the stairs.

My stomach was twisted in knots at the thought that Ian was with one of those women last night. I shook my head as I rummaged through the closet, pulling out a short, black skirt and a fuchsia-colored shirt. I headed downstairs and, as I walked into the kitchen, Charles handed me a cup of coffee. Andrew was sitting at the table, eating eggs.

“Hey, sunshine, you’re looking good.” He smiled.

“Is Ian out for a run?” I asked.

“Yeah, but I don’t know how after last night. That boy has to be exhausted. He probably only got a couple of hours of sleep.”

“Well, I’m glad the two of you had fun,” I said with a smirk. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some work to do.”

I was bothered by the fact that Andrew was so smug. I got the impression that he didn’t like me very much. So far, I was not impressed by the people in Ian’s life, with the exception of Adalynn. I walked into the study and sat down at my desk. I looked at the flowers that were displayed beautifully and smiled as I took in their scent. There were some more contracts sitting on the desk that needed to be typed up. I turned on the computer and got to work. A while later, Ian walked in with a smile on his face.

“Good morning, beautiful,” he said as he walked over and kissed me on the head.

“Morning,” I replied without even looking at him.

“Uh oh, what did I do now?” he asked.

I figured I better play it cool because I was in no mood for an
argument.

“Nothing. Why would you ask me that?”
I said as I looked up at him.

“Just the way you said ‘morning.’ I got the feeling that you were pissed off at me.”

“No. I was just concentrating on getting these contracts done. Why would I be pissed off at you? I haven’t seen you since yesterday.” I smiled.

“Just making sure. Anyway, I have a few things I need to give you and go over with you today.”

He opened his desk drawer and pulled out a bankbook and card. “I opened up a bank account for you in your name only. Your checks will get direct deposited in there. Here’s your bankcard to use. I told you that you’d be getting health insurance, so I’ve added you to my plan and your medical card should be coming soon. Since I won’t be needing you every day, I’ve decided that you’ll have Tuesdays and Thursdays off as well as the weekends, unless I need you to travel with me. Sound good?”

“Thank you, Ian. It sounds great.”

He shot me that sexy smile and sat down at his desk. I turned back to my computer and resumed what I was doing. I didn’t want things to be awkward, especially after what he did for me, so I asked him how his night was. I wanted to see how much he would tell me, if anything.

“How was your evening last night with Andrew?”

“It was good. We had a great time.”

I bet you did.
“I was surprised to see him here this morning.”

“He had too much to drink last night and his car was here, so I just told him to stay.”

“He seems like a really nice guy,” I lied.

“He is. Like I told you before, we’re like brothers.”

I didn’t say another word because I didn’t want him to start to get suspicious.

“How was your evening?” he asked.

“It was good. I watched a couple of movies and then tried to get some sleep.”

“Did you have the nightmares again?”

“I sure did. In fact, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to call Dr. Neil and set up an appointment.”

“That’s a good idea, Rory.”

I took my phone from my desk and stepped into the guest bathroom that was next to the study. I felt like I couldn’t breathe, and I needed to get out of there. I sat down on the toilet and called Dr. Neil’s office. I told the receptionist who I was and that Ian had spoken to Dr. Neil already. She set my appointment for later that afternoon. After I collected myself, I walked back into Ian’s study.

“Well?”

“I have an appointment this afternoon.”

“Good. I think it’ll be good for you. Now, come here for a moment,” he said as he held out his arms.

I walked over to him and he pulled me onto his lap. “One more day,” he whispered as he traced my lips with his finger. “One more day and I’ll be inside you, fucking you, and giving you the most pleasure you’ve ever felt. And you’ll be giving me the most pleasure as well.” He smiled.

The pit of my stomach fell deeper. The thought of those women walking down the stairs crept into my mind. I brought my hand up to his face and gave him a fake smile.

“After your appointment with Amanda, I’m taking you somewhere for the night. Because once the clock strikes midnight, you’re mine,” he whispered as he kissed my lips.

“I thought I accepted this job on my terms, and my terms clearly stated that there was no flirting or kissing during work hours.”

“Fuck your terms. You’re here and you’re too hard to resist.”

Damn it. Damn him. Damn it all to hell. Why does he do this to me? Why does he have such a hold on me?
“Where are we going?” I asked, as I was curious to know where he planned on taking me.

“My yacht. You don’t get seasick, do you?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been on a boat before. I guess we’ll find out.”

“You’ll be fine and I have some medication on board in case you do get sick.”

“I didn’t know you had a yacht. You never mentioned it before.”

“I guess there wasn’t the need to.”

“Is there anything else you may not feel the need to tell me?” I wanted to see if he would talk more about last night.

“No. I don’t think so. Is something bothering you, Rory?”

“Not at all. I’m just wondering what else will pop up that you didn’t think to mention.” I smiled.

He lifted me from his lap and set me on the edge of his desk. “One day, I’m going to take you right here on top of my desk,” he said with seduction.

“It better be after work hours, Mr. Braxton.”

“Oh no, it
will
be during work hours, Miss Sinclair. I have a tendency to break all the rules.”

He smiled, kissed me on the head, and told me he had a meeting to get to. “Good luck at your appointment, and I’ll see you back here later for our night together.” He winked.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
Suddenly, I didn’t care about him being with another woman last night. He wanted
me,
and he wanted
me
bad. Nobody had ever wanted me, and for him to come along and tell me how beautiful I was and pay me so much attention; of course, I was going to fall head over heels for him. This was one area that I needed to talk to Dr. Neil about. I hopped off the desk, went back to my seat, and finished up the contracts. I went upstairs to the bedroom to see what I could pack for tonight. The thought of being on a yacht with Ian excited me. Just the two of us, out in the open ocean, without any distractions. I would have him all to myself and that made me happy.

****

“It’s nice to meet you, Rory. Please have a seat.”

“Thank you, Dr. Neil. I appreciate you being able to fit me in today.”

Her office was beautifully decorated. It was made up of beiges with burgundy accents. I took a seat on the leather couch while Dr. Neil sat in the leather chair across from me.

“Why do
n’t you tell me what’s going on,” she said.

I began telling her about my childhood and Stephen. We were in deep conversation, and before I knew it, our time was up and our session was over.

“We have a lot of ground to cover, Rory. I would like to see you at least two days a week.”

“Thank you, Dr. Neil. I think that would be okay.”

“Good. Now I don’t want you to worry because we’re going to get those nightmares to stop. Would you like me to prescribe you a sleeping pill?”

“No. I don’t think that’ll be necessary. I’d rather not start taking medication.”

She smiled at me as she walked me to the door. “I’ll see you in a couple of days”

I walked out of her office, feeling pretty good. Even though I ha
d told Ian about my past, it felt different when I talked to Dr. Neil. I pulled my phone out of my purse when I got into the car and sent Ian a text message.

“My appointment just ended. Going to stop by my apartment to pick up a few things. I’ll be over soon.”

“See you soon. A few more hours left.”

When I pulled up to my apartment, I noticed there was a piece of paper taped to the door. It was a notice from the city that the building was being shut down for safety issues, and I needed to find a place to stay until further notice.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Are you kidding me?
I ripped the paper off the door and walked inside. I looked at my phone and dialed Ian.

“Hey, is everything okay?” he
asked when he answered.

“You’re never going to believe what I came home to,” I said, distraught.

“Rory, calm down. What happened?”

“My building is being shut down for safety issues, and I have to move out until further notice.”

“Is that all? You had me scared something bad happened.”

“Ian, this is serious! What the hell am I going to do?”

“You’ll stay with me until it’s okay for you to go back. It’s only temporary.”

Ian was right. I always had a room at his house and this was only temporary. “Okay, I’ll see you soon,” I said as I hung up the phone.

I grabbed the big duffel bag and started packing it with everything I thought I’d need. I grabbed my laptop, put it in the car, and drove to Ian’s house. As soon as I pulled up, Ian walked out and grabbed my bag from the backseat.

“Welcome to my home, Miss Sinclair. I hope you enjoy your stay and that your needs are fully satisfied.”

“Shut up.” I laughed.

Ian chuckled and took my bag upstairs. I followed behind. When I entered the room, there were five bathing suits, all bikinis, spread out on the bed.

“What’s all this?” I said as I walked over and picked up the black one first.

“Some new bathing suits for you to choose from. I really don’t think you’re going to need them, but just in case.”

“You think of everything. Thank you, Ian.”

He smiled softly as he grabbed my hand and brought it up to his lips. “You’re welcome. We leave in about ten minutes. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

****

I stood in front of the docked yacht and stared at it as Ian walked ahead of me.

“Rory, are you okay?” he asked as he turned and walked back to where I was standing.

“I’m fine. I’ve never seen a yacht before and I just can’t believe it. It’s amazing, Ian.”

He chuckled and grabbed my hand. “Come on; wait until you see the inside.”

We stepped onto the yacht
, and I felt like I was entering a whole new world. I couldn’t help but stare at the fine furnishings and beautiful woodwork.

“I could live here,” I said.

“I’m glad you like it.”

A man dressed in all white came to the living area and took our bags. “Good evening, Mr. Braxton.”

“Good evening, Roland. This is Miss Sinclair.”

“Very good to meet you, Miss Sinclair.” He smiled as he bowed slightly.

He took our bags and walked away. I looked around and tried to take it all in, but it was difficult. I felt like I was in a dream and that I was going to wake up any second. Moments later, another man, also dressed in white and wearing a chef’s hat, told Ian that dinner was about to be served. Ian took my hand and led me up to the top floor of the deck where a table was elegantly set for two. Sitting in the middle of the table were beautifully lit candles that flickered in the night air.

“Ian, I—”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” he asked as he pulled out my chair for me.

“Beautiful isn’t the word for it,” I said as tears sprang to my eyes.

“We’re going to start with a wonderful dinner and then we’ll have a couple of drinks on the lower deck while we stare at the night ocean,” he said as he sat down.

We enjoyed a wonderful dinner. It was probably the best food I’d ever had in my life. When we were finished, Ian took my hand, grabbed the bottle of wine, and led me to the deck below to some lounge chairs that sat facing the ocean. The crew told Ian that everything was set and then he dismissed them. We set sail and it was just the two of us on board. I could get used to this real fast. Ian came back and wrapped a sweater around my bare shoulders.