One White Lie: Barrington Billionaire's Series: Book One (14 page)

“B
ennett, you better be calling with some good news regarding Trundaie.” Brice didn’t know this guy, but with his recommendations, it was wise to heed his warnings.

“Things are stable . . . well, as stable as they get in that country. Asher’s brother Ian played an important part with some diplomatic negotiations. He’s one fucking genius when it comes to diplomacy. You would never know those two are brothers.”

Glad to see you took my advice, Asher.
Bennett was right. Asher was so unlike Ian or any other member of his family. Diplomacy was a term he probably didn’t have in his vocabulary.
Not that I do either.
“Any news about the plant?”

“Looks as though that option is still available for B&H. Now it’s up to you and Asher to decide if you want to proceed.”

He was relieved to hear things could go back to normal. Lena would be able to go back to her apartment.
When I decide to pass along the message. I’m not in any rush to let you go, Lena.

Brice’s night hadn’t been filled with thoughts of his childhood as it had been the night before. This time, all he could think of was Lena and how fucking sexy she was. She’d always been gorgeous, but she’d become more so over the years. Was that because he’d missed her or because he felt so connected to her? He would be lying if he said he hadn’t given her any thought over the last three years. What they had shared before was something he hadn’t ever shared with another person. Letting her go hadn’t been easy, for her or him.
Had I loved her
back then? Is that why I’ve never been able to forget her? I’m not sure I know what love is. Or if I’m even capable of it.

He would need to figure out what he wanted soon. Her assignment was coming to an end, and Nancy had advised him she’d be back next Monday.
Thankfully her mother was recovering well
.
Unfortunately, that meant no excuse for Lena to stay. Lena. Is that what I want now? Do I want her to stay in my life this time? Will she want to? She told me she was mine last night, but was that only in a moment of passion?

His thoughts were cut off when his replacement entered the hospital room. “You look like you’re in deep thought. Something troubling you, Brice?”

“Good morning, Zoey. No changes with Dad.”

“Ignoring my questions? Hmm, let me imagine what could be troubling you.”

He was not in the mood for her games today.
Actually never will be. Someday she will get that.
“I’ve got to get to work.”

Zoey stood in the doorway, blocking his exit. “If it’s not Dad, then what is it? You mentioned issues with work. Did you get those resolved?”

“Work is fine, Dad is fine, everything is great.”
Now stop with the questions already.

She eyed him as she always did. He knew she didn’t believe him, but he didn’t care. It was the only answer she was getting from him.

“So how is your temporary assistant working out?” When he went to answer, she raised her hand. “I know. Great. Did you know we went to lunch together the day you blew me off?”

No, he didn’t. Zoey must have made Lena very uncomfortable with her list of questions or stories about the good ole days.
No wonder Lena acted differently. Knowing Zoey, she must have said something to Lena innocently that rekindled the pain he had put her through.

“She’s really changed. I’d thought you were going to ask her to marry you and give me a nephew and niece.”

“Let’s not take a trip down Memory Lane.”

“Funny, she didn’t seem to want to either. But I can understand her. I mean she obviously has someone special in her life now.”

She talked about Rex? Bennett said he was nothing to her. Was he wrong?
“We don’t discuss our personal lives at work, Zoey.”

“Too bad. She is such a sweet woman, and I bet she is a wonderful mother, too.”

Mother?
“Lena doesn’t have any children.”

A look of surprise came over her face. “Boy, brother dear, you weren’t kidding when you said you don’t talk about anything personal. Yes, she has a child. A son.”

She’s got to be wrong. Lena’s been with me for a few days, and I didn’t see a child when I picked her up. She hasn’t mentioned a child, so there can’t be one.
Whatever Zoey thought she knew she was way off the mark.

“Zoey, like I said before, I have things I need to attend to. Why don’t you stay here and try to keep out of trouble?”

Mondays normally dragged, and she dreaded them. Today had flown by. Maybe it was because it was her last week, or it could be she was still flying high from the weekend with Brice. Either way this day was nearly perfect. Only having Nicholas home with her would make it absolutely perfect.

When she called her mother earlier to let her know she would be down Friday night for Nicholas, she heard her mother’s sadness. “Maybe you can spend the weekend with us before heading back.” Lena didn’t make any promises, but there was no reason to rush back. There wasn’t a job waiting for her yet, but she knew Talent Hunters had lined something up for the end of April. Even though she and Brice were getting along better than she ever dreamed they would, she knew it wasn’t going to last.
Not after I tell him about Nicholas.

He had rejected me, so he doesn’t really have any cause to be angry at my decision.
He had made it clear he wasn’t interested in family, and despite how easy it had been with him these last two days, she didn’t think his feelings on the matter had actually changed. From what she had heard from his siblings, things were heading in the opposite direction.
He had said we would talk, but do I bring it up tonight?
Perhaps I should wait until Friday when I will be leaving him anyway. Leaving him . . . again, and forever this time. It has to be said. No matter the price. It has to be done.
She could only imagine his reaction. He probably was going to think she took the temp job just to weasel her way back into his life so she could drop the news on him. Lena wasn’t calculating by any means. Hopefully, she would be able to make him see this was all coincidence, nothing more.
Except for the one white lie. Nicholas.

Funny, because she was one who never lied, so when she did, she went big.
At least by Friday it will be all over. No more hiding. I’ll have my answer, and he’ll have a son.

When she thought about it, it seemed like it should be simple. But nothing in life ever was, and this was as complex as it could get.

As Brice had promised, he took her to dinner. This time, she wasn’t uptight or forced to go. It was a perfect night for a date. The weather had warmed enough for a stroll after dinner before heading back to his house.

Once inside, they sat in front of the fireplace and chatted like an ordinary couple about their day.

“Any news about the threats?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “It’s safer for you at my house.”

That wasn’t much of an answer, but she understood he didn’t want to worry her. It was nice being taken care of, even if it wasn’t going to be forever. “Oh, I forgot to tell you. A sweet woman called today to invite you to an art auction. Some woman, Emily Harris from New England, is going to be showing her mother’s artwork. I found it so interesting.”

“Why is that?” Brice asked while rubbing Lena’s shoulders.

“The woman who created the artwork was blind. Imagine that. And Emily wants to create a museum to display works of art that the blind can go and see. Well, not see, but feel I guess. I know it sounds crazy to think of a museum for the blind, but from what she was telling me, it sounded amazing. I really think you should go.”

“To a museum for the blind?”

Lena laughed. “No. To the auction that is displaying the artwork.”

“Lena, I don’t take sales calls and don’t go to invites when people decide to call me out of the blue. I’m a busy man, and if I said yes to everything, I wouldn’t ever get my work done.”

“Funny. She said you would probably say that. I was to remind you that you have not been around in a long time. The entire family will be there, and she was expecting to see you. And not just you. The invitation was for all the Hendersons.”

“Who are you talking about?”

“Sophie Barrington, Asher’s mother. She sounded like such sweet woman. Once she got talking I couldn’t get her to stop. But then again, I was enjoying hearing all about it anyway. She even talked about you when you used to play at her house. I can’t picture what you were like as a child. I asked her, but she said it would be better if I heard it from you.”

“Mrs. Barrington. It has been a long time since I’ve seen her. When did she say this event was taking place?”

Lena was pleased she had piqued his interest. It was not only a worthy cause, but it would do him good to go out and mingle with people away from work. “She said you should remember because you used to attend each year.”

He looked puzzled.

Shaking her head she gave him what he asked for. “In two weeks she will host the art auction. It’s always the second week of April for some reason. I asked, but she wouldn’t say why. She said all proceeds this year will support the St. Jude Children’s Hospital. I think it’s something you should go to.”

He arched a brow and said, “There are a lot of things I should do Lena. I choose not to.”

She didn’t want to admit it, but something deep inside her wanted him to ask her to go to the auction. She would have accepted too, even though it would not have been a wise choice. Not with the way things were between them right now. The auction sounded amazing and Lena wanted to be there, but that was nothing compared to the longing within her to know he still cared.
Why, Lena? Why are you accepting his scraps of attention? He isn’t looking for someone for forever, but rather a possession. One he will throw away when he tires of it. You aren’t happy being his sexual plaything, yet here you are, wishing he will ask, so you have an excuse to be with him again.
Her own thoughts pained her. She knew she needed to think this through, to understand her own desires, and to feel wanted by him, even if only temporarily.

Apparently he didn’t notice her disappointment.
Why should he? He’s probably used to disappointing people all the time. Why should I be any different?

“Sounds like you had an interesting day today. I chatted briefly with my sister while I was sitting with my father.”

“That’s great. I knew you didn’t really want to be alone. I’m glad you had someone with you. How is she doing through all this?” Lena knew it was difficult on Brice even if he didn’t want to admit it. Women were more sensitive to these things, so it must have been terrible for Zoey. She should reach out and ask her to lunch. She hadn’t been kind to Zoey the last time they met. But then again she hadn’t known about their father at that time.

“She was her usual self. Full of questions and full of stories.”

“Zoey misses you, Brice. When we went to lunch, she talked about how little she sees of you. How you lock yourself away in your lab and shut out the entire world. Is that true?”

He was quiet for a moment. “Yes, it is. I’ve changed.”

“I see that, but I also see the person you were is still in there. What happened? I mean we never spoke about what occurred but obviously something did.”

“Lena, Zoey likes to talk. That’s all. You can’t take everything she says seriously. You should hear some of the things she believes.”

“It can’t be all that bad. She seems very normal to me.”

“Really? I doubt you’ll think so after I tell you this.”

Sitting back she crossed her arms in front of her. “Did she tell you a scary bedtime story?”

Laughing he said, “Something like that. Really a nightmare for us both.”

“What does that mean?”

“That you are unobtainable.”

Now you really have me puzzled.
“Are you talking in riddles because I have no idea what you’re talking about?”

“Of course you don’t because it’s not true.”

“What isn’t?”

“That you are seeing someone and that you’re a mommy to a baby boy.”

His laughter echoed through her, and she stood up quickly. Her heart was pounding.
He knows, yet he doesn’t. Oh God, help me.
Her worse nightmare had come true. He knew and wouldn’t accept it.
You don’t want Nicholas.
The shock was too great. The room began to spin, and then everything went black.