Chapter 10

She followed him to a large, hefty Chrysler with dark-tinted windows and a dazzling chrome grill. Before unlocking the door for her, he opened the trunk and loaded her things. As soon as she climbed into the passenger seat, buttery leather engulfed her. Despite being an unattractive corporate car, it was really comfy.

He turned to face her as he climbed into the driver's seat and grinned.

He acknowledged that it was pompous, but the clients were impressed.

That was understandable, of course, it was. She simply smiled and nodded as she watched him drive the tank of a car onto the freeway and out of the parking lot.

She shakily said, "So, Nathan, what did you have to talk to me about?"

Oh, okay, I almost forgot, he said. He gave her a fleeting glance. "I have a big favor to ask of you."

She said, "Oh, sure," feeling let down that it wasn't the proclamation of love she had anticipated. "Anything."

He said, "One of Ainsley's bridesmaids pulled out." "I don't recall the specifics, but she got sick or fractured her leg or whatever. Anyhow, we require a replacement for her. If she weren't my stepbrother's girlfriend and I couldn't simply ask him to resign as a groomsman since my stepmother would throw a rage, I wouldn't ask.

She answered, "Ooh, the mysterious stepbrother," hiding the crushing sadness she was experiencing as a result of being invited to be one of his bridesmaids. "You mean I get to actually meet him?"

He laughed. "Don't get your hopes up," he said. He's extremely stuck up and a bit of a jackass.

Is he not the country's youngest billionaire? It was her. "And doesn't he run his own airline?"

You ought to be aware, he said. You just got off a Colleen Aviation jet, right? How on earth did you manage that? Do you have anything to withhold from me?

"Oh my God, he owns Colleen Aviation?" She shrieked. It's a tiny world, holy crap. They gave me free tickets because they are one of my clients. Brian Colleen is your brother?

That's him, yes. You've now met him, right?

She gave a headshake. No, I was probably talking to his assistant because we've only ever communicated via email. He might not respond to his own email.

Nathan muttered. So anyhow, do you believe you could pull it off? he said. Despite the short notice and all, Ainsley is freaking out over the images being crooked or something.

"Sure," she replied, not really convinced it was such a good idea after all, "but you don't think it will be awkward?"

He was perplexed and questioned, "Awkward?"

Given our past, "Well..."

He laughed. She has no knowledge of that, therefore no. She just is aware that you are a longtime family friend.

Cassie said, "Oh," feeling hurt. Although she hadn't anticipated him telling his future wife that his longtime fuck buddy would attend the wedding, she had hoped for a little more than just being referred to as a family friend.

He took her hand and leaned over to the gaming console. Hey, you can say no if it makes you uncomfortable, he added.

She shook her head and replied, "No, it's alright. Wouldn't want crooked pictures on your special day.

He kissed her on the knuckles and whispered, "You're a lifesaver Bae.

It wouldn't matter since there wouldn't be a wedding if she had her way. And wouldn't it be more likely for her to ruin the relationship from within the wedding than from the outside? It did imply, though, that she would have to accept Irish's invitation.

I have some news, um," she added hesitantly.

He gave her a short glance and said, "Yeah?"

She hurriedly announced, "I'm seeing someone." He is coming tonight.

She observed a muscle in Nathan's jaw jerk as his expression went blank. He did not gaze in her direction.

"Oh? He inquired in a controlled voice, "Are you bringing him to the wedding?"

Well, because I didn't indicate on my RSVP that I would be bringing a visitor, I don't anticipate him being present.

Nathan bit his teeth and muttered, "I'm sure we can make room for him." What's another one of the hundreds that are on their way?

She grinned broadly. Nathan's expression of coolness revealed his displeasure at her news. She was a little enraged by that, so she had to restrain herself from saying something hurtful. She brought a date, and Nathan responded in the most cruel way. Why could he date yet she couldn't? God forbid, he was getting married; why couldn't they just go on a date?

Brian placed his iPad away, closed his eyes, and sat back down in the vehicle. As it traveled northward toward his mother's new house, the automobile coasted along the highway. Before learning that his stepbrother was Blue's ex, she had offered him a room in their McMansion, but he couldn't imagine anything worse than spending the week in close proximity to his stepbrother.

He had spent the majority of the journey reviewing emails and updating Madeline's task lists for him to complete while he was away. Even if it was just for a little period of time and he could stay entirely in touch electronically, he detested leaving the workplace. His urge to be in charge was calmed by something about being at the office and keeping an eye on things.

But his working while they were driving hadn't been motivated by a need to feel in control. No, Blue was entitled to that accolade. In an effort to avoid having to think about her and Nathan alone together, he had made a valiant effort to immerse himself in his job. He wouldn't rule out the possibility that his stepbrother might stop at a motel on the way home so they could have a short fuck with his mistress.

Fuck. Nathan's mistress was Blue. Cassie wasn't your mistress; Nathan was. He had all of Blue.

He was joking, but who? When Nathan learned that Brian had slept with her, he was going to be furious since this was a problem. Brian didn't give a damn about Nathan's feelings; all he cared about was keeping Blue out of the fray.

However, it's also possible that after seeing Blue, Nathan understood what he was sacrificing. Perhaps the moron who was his stepbrother had a flash of insight and saw what a wonderful lady Blue was and how fantastic it would be to have her in his life permanently. After all, wasn't it what she desired? Didn't he want her to be content as well?

Yes, he did, but only because he didn't want her to be content with Nathan. Brian wished he could be the one to bring her joy. He desired to be the one who caused her to catch her breath and for her eyes to shine. He desired to be the one to wet her underwear, cause her nipples to protrude, and feel her legs around him as she sobbed in the heat of passion. Without a doubt, he didn't want Nathan to be in charge of any of it.

When the vehicle came to a stop, Brian peered out the window at his stepfather's beautiful mansion. Despite his wealth, he had a godawful taste.

The motorist opened his door after getting out and turning around. Brian exited the vehicle and expressed gratitude to the driver.

Brian said to the other man, "Just leave my bags in the foyer. I have a car here that I will drive to my hotel."

“Very good sir,” the driver answered as Brian turned and proceeded up the steps to the front door. He pressed the doorbell while buttoning his suit jacket.

His mother met him with outstretched arms as soon as the door opened. He gave in to her hug, his arms around her petite frame, and held her close.

She sobbed as she said, "You're here.

He whispered "I'm here," into her hair.

She laughed as she backed away from him, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Come inside, please. In the den are Patrick and Nathan.

She led him inside and down the hallway. Brian entered the smoke-filled room when she flung open the door with a flourish. Nathan and his father Patrick were smoking cigars while seated in a pair of large leather Chesterfields.

Patrick stood up and extended a hand to him. He pumped Brian's hand and added, "Brian, good to see you again son."

Nathan also got up. Nathan shook Brian's hand and murmured, "Good to see you, man," with a shaky wrist. It is like shaking a corpse fish.

Brian responded with a phony smile, "Good to be here." He would much rather be anywhere else, ideally with Blue, than here.

Nathan responded awkwardly, "Hey, thanks for being a groomsman. "I was a little scrambling for a while there because Ainsley had so many bridesmaids."

"No problem," Brian answered politely.

But he threw his arm around Brian and steered him away from their parents, saying, "I do have a favor to ask. "Ainsley was having a little meltdown because the bridesmaid who was supposed to be your partner had to withdraw."

"Oh?" Brian questionably lifted an eyebrow. And how can I make that right?

Nathan waved his worry aside, "Oh nothing. "No, that has nothing to do with what I require. Well, sort of, anyhow.

Brian's patience was wearing thin, so he responded, "Why don't you just explain the issue to me and I'll see what I can do to assist."

It's kind of sensitive, all right. You see, I asked my, ah, excellent buddy who is there at the wedding to stand in for Ainsley's bridesmaid.

In an effort to understand what Nathan was trying to express, Brian responded, "Okay," slowly.

She will be your wedding companion, so I was wondering if you could, you know, take care of her. I'm aware that it's a little awkward, but I'd hate for her to say something and reveal to Ainsley that, you know, we had a past.

And is it, right?" Brian questioned.

Nathan nodded while grinning. He said, "Well, at the moment it is," with a smile and a backslap.

The one thing Brian wanted more than anything was to smash his stepbrother's arrogant face with his clenched fist. Instead, he took a big breath and cracked his neck.

Brian answered, "I'll see what I can do," adding, "But I have to warn you that I brought a date."

His mother, who was approaching him with a wide grin on her face, inquired, "Did I hear you say you brought a date to the wedding?"

Brian's own face grew softer in response to his mother's expression. "I did," he said.

When will we get to meet her, then? Maree enquired.

If you have no other plans, tonight," he added.

His mother gave him a handclap. "Wonderful," she said.

Nathan said, "Ainsley and I have plans for tonight, but we can meet her tomorrow at the luncheon.

Brian gave a nod. When he entered that luncheon with Blue, Nathan was about to get the shock of his life. Additionally, if he had correctly deciphered Nathan's previous rambling, Blue would be his wedding companion, which was both amusing and amazing at the same time. He wasn't sure how he felt about Nathan asking him to watch over Blue for him so that she wouldn't tell Ainsley the truth. In order for Blue to be with Nathan, he didn't want to disrupt the wedding, but he also didn't want Nathan to achieve all he desired. It was a riddle.