“Good thing I reminded you. We both sponsored it, so we have to be there.”
“No problem, Rory and I will be there. I suggest you bring someone along.”
“Don’t worry, friend. I intend to. I knew there was no way you would leave Rory at home.”
“Good, as long as we’re clear on that.”
“Are you up for some golf tomorrow? It’s Sunday.”
I did miss playing golf and maybe it was a good idea to spend some time with Andrew so he’d get off my back about Rory. “Sure. How about nine?” I said.
“Great, Ian! I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. See ya, buddy.”
I hung up and continued going through my messages. I was going to have to tell Rory about her father and I was still trying to decide when to do it.
“You look like you’re in deep thought,” Rory said as she stood in the doorway.
I looked up and gasped when I saw her standing there in a floor-length red dress. She looked like an angel.
“Do you like?” She smiled as she spun around.
“You look gorgeous, sweetheart, simply stunning. Is that the one?”
“Yeah, I think so. I love it and so does Adalynn.”
“It’s perfect.” I smiled.
“I’ll be sure to tell her. I’m going to go change.”
“Okay. I’ll be done here in a few minutes.”
I watched her beautiful body turn around and walk away. I decided that maybe it was best to tell her about her father tonight, over a couple of drinks and some Thai food out on the patio. I unlocked my top right hand drawer to get out my checks and, as I pulled them out, I stared at the white envelope that I’d kept tucked away for the past five years. A white envelope that was addressed to me. There was no return address on it, but I knew who it was from and I had no desire to or intention of reading it. I didn’t even know why I kept the damn thing. I shut the drawer just as Adalynn walked in.
“When you get a chance, Ian, we need to go over a couple things regarding Prim.”
“Okay, Adalynn. When’s good for you?” I asked as I pulled the calendar up on my phone.
“How about Monday morning at ten?” she replied.
“Ten it is.” I smiled at her.
She stood there and looked at me with a cocked head. “I like that you’re happy. You’re a different man, Ian Braxton.”
“Thanks, Adalynn,” I said as I got up, walked over, and hugged her. “It looks like we both are getting everything we want.”
“Ahem,” Rory said as she stood in the doorway. “Are you flirting with my best friend?” she asked me.
“Why? Are you jealous?” I replied with a smile.
“No. You’ll know when I’m jealous, my love.” She smiled back and winked.
“Adalynn, as much as I love you, you need to get the hell out of here now!” I told her.
“How rude, Ian.”
“Not rude, darling, it’s called desperation. I am desperate for my beautiful girlfriend over there to show me what happens when she gets jealous.”
Adalynn sighed and rolled her eyes. “Good lord, you two make my head spin.”
She turned around and gave Rory a light hug. “I’ll see you soon. Try not to hurt him too much.” She winked.
****
“I swear that I’m going to make you jealous every day,” I said as I kissed her lips.
The bed was in shambles and we were both drenched in sweat. Still trying to catch her breath, Rory looked at me with that smile. The smile that told me she wanted me to f**k her again.
“Sweetheart, are you trying to kill me?”
“Of course not.” She laughed.
“You need to remember that I’m ten years older than you.”
“Not a full ten for a couple of weeks. What do you want to do for your birthday?” she asked as she ran her finger down my chest.
“I don’t know. I haven’t given it any thought. I do know that I don’t want a party.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to spend my birthday with you and only you. How about we take the yacht out for a couple of days?”
“I would love that.”
I kissed the tip of her nose. “Good, then that’s what we’ll do. Now, let’s get these sheets off the bed, shower, and then order dinner. How’s Thai sound?”
“Thai sounds great. Are we taking a shower together?”
“Do I ever shower alone anymore, sweetheart?”
She jumped up out of the bed and went into the bathroom to start the shower. I grabbed hold of my semi-hard c**k and looked down.
“Here we go again.”
Chapter 14
Rory
Ian was already waiting for me outside on the patio with an open bottle of wine and the table set.
“Our food should be here shortly.” He smiled as he poured some wine into my glass.
“Great. I’m starving.”
“We sure did work up quite an appetite,” Ian said as he walked by and lightly kissed my neck.
As I sat down at the table and took a sip of my wine, Ian walked back with the Thai food. He set the cartons on the table and then took his seat across from me.
“There’s something I need to talk to you about,” he said.
“What is it?”
“I found your father.”
I almost choked on my food. “What? Where is he?”
“That, my darling, you’re never going to believe. He lives in Los Angeles.”
“What? You mean like less-than-an-hour-away Los Angeles?” I asked in utter shock.
“Yeah, that Los Angeles, sweetheart.” He chuckled. “He owns a bar called the Piano Bar in Hollywood.”
I felt sick to my stomach and I put down my fork. It was hard to believe that my father lived so close, but yet so far. A man I knew nothing about except that he was a coward who abandoned his children.
“Are you okay, Rory?” Ian asked.
I sighed as I stared down at my food. “I don’t know, Ian. I’m not going to lie to you. It really upsets me that he’s so close and I’m scared, but I need to see him, talk to him, and get some answers.”
Ian got up and walked over to me. He grabbed my hand, helped me up from the chair, and wrapped his arms around me.
“Listen, I know you’re scared, but I’ll be with you every step of the way. If you feel that strongly about seeing him, then do it. If you feel like you just can’t, then I’ll support you. It’s your decision, sweetheart, and only you can make it. You need to do what’s best for you.”