Redeeming The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 5) (11 page)

Regardless of her exact choice of words, Trent smiled, pleased with her response. “Excellent. I’ll pick you up at six o’clock then?”

“I’ll be ready.”

***

Trent removed his suit pants and pulled on a pair of jeans. On his way out of his room he tossed the pants into his laundry basket with the rest of the dry cleaning. After grabbing a cold can of soda from the refrigerator, he retreated to his entertainment room for a night of mindless television. Long spans of solitude were not his thing. In fact, he’d spent more nights alone since his recent return to Providence than he had in the last five years combined. Yet if the small sacrifice now earned him a seat in the Senate, he’d manage. If only Jake or one of his brothers was around. Their presence would help the situation.

Not too much longer.
This afternoon he’d taken one step closer to winning Addison over. Next week at this time their relationship status would be on the front of every society page and magazine cover. He had no doubt about that. And while Addie had questions regarding his intentions—he’d seen them in her expression that afternoon—she hadn’t hesitated to accept his invitation for that weekend. A weekend he was looking forward to with anticipation and not only because isolation didn’t suit him.

Unlike the numerous women he’d spent time with over the years, and there had been plenty, Addie made him laugh. She teased him and shared information about herself without first worrying about how he might interpret her words. She let her true feelings regarding family show rather than try to distance herself from them as many people he met did. At the same time she never kissed up to him. At least as far as he could tell, she treated him the same way she would any other person or client.

Taking a gulp from the soda can in his hand, he propped his feet up on the coffee table as he planned their upcoming night out. First, they would have a romantic dinner at perhaps Lucerne. One of their secluded tables would do. Then they’d take a stroll down to Waterplace Park to watch WaterFire. Afterward, he’d take her back here for a drink or two. Once back at his place, he’d let her determine just how far things went. While Marty complained things with Addie were moving too slow, Trent disagreed. If he moved too fast it might spook her. While she was a well-educated businesswoman, she came across as a woman who didn’t date a lot. Hell, she even blushed from time to time. Truthfully, it wouldn’t shock him if he learned she hadn’t gone on a single date since the end of her last relationship. And thanks to Marty’s research he knew that relationship ended more than a year ago. Although if that was true, the men she came into contact with must be blind.

Addie didn’t resemble the supermodels that walked the runways in Paris or New York or the actresses that he’d dated over the years. Rather, she reminded him more of
Sports Illustrated
’s recent mega star that had graced their summer swimsuit issue. She had curves in all the right places and didn’t look as if she’d fall over if a strong breeze came through.

A picture of Addie dressed in a bikini like the one worn on the cover of this year’s swimsuit issue formed in his mind, and Trent smiled at the mental image. While he found fashion models and movie stars just as attractive as the next guy, he’d always favored those who looked fit and healthy. Those that looked like they ate more than once a month. His expert eye told him that description fit Addie and he was looking forward to finding that out for himself.

Trent took another swig from his soda, and he considered whether or not to return Marty’s call tonight. He’d left a message earlier in the afternoon inquiring about a status update. Should he call him now and let him know that things were progressing as planned or wait until later that weekend?
Let him wait
. Marty worked for him, not the other way around. If he chose to take things slow with Addie that was his business.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, Trent switched the device off. Then he turned on the television and settled in for another night alone.

Halfway out the door Saturday night, Trent turned and went back into the kitchen. An hour earlier the florist had delivered a dozen long stem roses to his apartment per his instructions. Roses he intended for Addie. It’d be rather difficult to give her the flowers when he picked her up if they remained on his kitchen counter. Rarely did he bring flowers to a woman. In fact, the last time he’d given flowers to anyone it had been as part of his sister’s birthday present. Allison, much like their mother, adored flowers. Addie struck him as the type who’d appreciate flowers, and a lot was riding on their date tonight. Despite their earlier interactions, tonight he needed to make it clear his interest ran deeper than simple business. At the same time, he needed to come across as sincere and the type of man she would want in her life. The playboy in the media needed to disappear.

Confident he had all he needed, Trent closed the door and headed for his private elevator.
Yup, tonight’s perhaps the most important date of your life. Don’t fuck it up.
The elevator door closed on that thought and began its way down to the lobby.

When he pulled into Addie’s driveway a short while later, only her Corolla sat parked in front of her condo. Her windows remained open and when he approached the front door he heard the sound of country music. During their few meetings they’d never discussed music preferences, but he’d pegged her as someone who listened to the latest pop music much like his sister. Country music hadn’t even crossed his mind.

After knocking on the door, Trent waited and took in the neighborhood around him. All the homes on both sides of the street looked identical. Originally built at the turn of the twentieth century for the factory workers and their families, the narrow two-floor homes had at some point in the past decade or so been updated and sold as individual condos. Much like her neighbors on either side of her, she’d added some personal touches to make her home somewhat different from the rest. She’d painted her front door a vibrant red and hung a wreath on it. She’d also added solar lights on either side of her short walkway and hung a wind chime from the overhang above the door.

His eyes had just finished their sweep of the houses nearby when he spotted the sedan driving down the street. While much like the other cars in the neighborhood, Trent got the sense that this one didn’t belong here. True, its slow speed could be due to the driver who wasn’t familiar with the area looking for a specific house number, but something told him the driver had other reasons for being around. As Trent continued to watch, the car pulled to the curb three units down and the driver remained inside.

“Hi, Trent,” Addie said appearing at the door. “Come on in.” She pushed the screen door open for him.

He glanced over at the sedan one last time, then turned his full attention to Addie. This evening she had on a white sundress that reminded him a great deal of the one Marilyn Monroe wore in the iconic picture of her from
The Seven Year Itch
. The snow-white color emphasized her sun-bronzed skin. She’d pulled all her hair up, leaving her neck exposed, and damn if he didn’t want to touch her to see if her skin was in fact as smooth as it looked. Stepping forward, he entered the house and placed a kiss on her cheek. “These are for you.” He held out the bouquet of roses.

Her eyes widened, but she didn’t make a move to take them. Then she smiled and accepted the bundle, bringing the flowers toward her face.

“They’re beautiful.” She inhaled the scent of them, her eyes drifting closed. “Give me a minute to put them in water and then we can go.” She looked back up at him, her expression telling him so much. She wasn’t accustomed to receiving gifts from men, flowers or otherwise.

“Okay. We’re in no rush.”

“I’m all set except for this,” she answered, turning and leading him down the narrow hallway to the kitchen.

Like her arms and face, the skin on her back looked smooth and sun kissed. No tan lines marred the bare flawless skin, and he wondered if she lay out in her backyard topless. With no effort on his part, an image of her in her tiny fenced backyard sprang up. In his vision she relaxed on a padded chaise lounge, her hair tied up much like it was now wearing the bottoms to a string bikini and nothing else. A pair of sunglasses protected her eyes while country music played in the background.

“I’ve never seen roses this color.” Addie pulled a glass vase from a cupboard near the stove. “They’re really gorgeous, but you didn’t have to bring me flowers.”

Trent’s fantasy image evaporated. “I wanted to.” He watched as she trimmed the pink champagne-colored roses. “I made us a reservation at Lucerne. Have you ever been?”

Addie shook her head, the tendrils she’d left free swaying as she arranged the roses in the vase. “No, but I’ve heard about them. The Phantom Gourmet ranked them as one of the best restaurants in New England last year.” She stuck the final rose in the vase and then admired her work. “All set.”

“After dinner I thought we’d head over to Waterplace Park for WaterFire. According to the schedule they have an old-fashioned big band performing tonight. It’s not my kind of music, but it should still be a nice night.” Trent followed her back to the front door, pausing only when she stopped to turn of the music. “If you’d rather do something else, just say the word.”

Joining him at the door, she headed outside. “No, I’ve been looking forward to WaterFire tonight.”

He reached for Addie’s hand as they walked over to his car. He’d done the same thing the afternoon they’d walked though his home in Newport. That day much like now, he’d done it as if on autopilot. The action hadn’t been thought out or planned to elicit a particular response. Rather he’d done it because he enjoyed the physical contact. He liked the way her smaller hand fit inside his, as if they’d been meant for each other. He enjoyed the feel of her soft skin without any flashy jewelry digging into his own flesh. In fact, Addie wore little jewelry at all. Tonight she wore a silver necklace, tiny silver earrings, and a matching silver bracelet. The amount of jewelry she had on tonight was the most he’d ever seen on her. During their previous meetings she’d worn nothing more than a watch. Whether that was because she disliked jewelry or simply didn’t own much he wasn’t sure, but he’d find out. If it turned out she liked it but couldn’t afford it, he’d rectify that situation.

Stopping next to his car, he pulled open the door. “Is something wrong?” he asked when she didn’t move.

“I’ve been seeing that car a lot. Or at least I think it’s the same car.”

Trent followed her line of sight and spotted the same dark-colored sedan that had caught his attention earlier. From her driveway, it appeared empty.

“I thought I saw movement inside, but now it looks empty,” Addie said, a hint of unease in her voice.

“We’ll get the license plate on the way by and I’ll have someone look into it.” Already he had an idea of what the car’s owner was up to. He’d bet his new Bugatti Veyron that the car belonged to a photographer out hoping to get a juicy picture or two.

“You can do that?” Addie asked as she settled herself in the passenger seat.

Trent nodded. “Trust me. We’ll figure out who it is. Don’t worry about it.” Closing the door, he glanced once more time toward the sedan just in time to see a figure move inside, a camera with a long lens blocking his face. Yup, a photographer. Not a huge surprise. Since the first photo of him and Addie appeared in the paper, he’d expected to see more, but as of yet none had appeared. Obviously that was about to change. Marty would be pleased, as it would fall in line with his plan.

At the curb in front of Lucerne, his favorite Italian restaurant in Providence, a uniformed valet accepted Trent’s keys before he walked around to the curb where Addie waited for him. On the short ride from her house into the city, she’d filled him in on the designs for his home, making the ride feel a bit more like a business meeting than a date. He let her go on without interrupting; hoping that by the time they reached the restaurant she’d be more relaxed. Though she didn’t say as much, her stiff posture and clenched hands gave away her anxiety.

“Fred confirmed that he completed the painting of your office. Are you satisfied with the color?” Addie sat in the chair he pulled out for her.

Placing his hands on her bare shoulders, he leaned down toward her ear. “It’s perfect, but that’s the last I want to hear about work tonight. Anything relating to my office or house can wait until Monday.”

Addie turned her head and tilted her face toward his, her lips only inches away from his. Tonight she wore a light pink lipstick and his first instinct was to cover her mouth with his and kiss away every last inch of color.

“Okay. What do you want to talk about then?” Her lips moved before he could kiss her.

“You.” He moved to his own seat before he gave into the temptation to kiss her. While he had every intention of doing that tonight, this wasn’t the time or place.

“Me?” she asked with amusement. “I think it would a more interesting conversation if we talked about you.” She accepted the menu the waiter held out to her, and Trent held back his response until the man left the table.

Putting down his menu, he folded his hands on the table. “Ask me anything you want.”

“You might regret saying that.” Her lips curved into a mischievous smile. “But to start what do you recommend for dinner?” Addie opened the large menu still in her hand.