The Billionaire Playboy (13 page)

“I'll be sure to
return the favor if the need ever arises,” Dylan replied with all seriousness.

Jake saw his
father take off his reading glasses, a signal that he was ready to get down to
business. Cursing under his breath he took the other seat in front of the desk.
“None of it's true,” he said before anyone else could say a word.

“Are you sure? You
were with Blair for several months. Accidents happen.”

No kidding? Really? Wasn't Callie proof of that?
Jake wanted to
say but held back. Being a wise ass toward his father wasn't going to help with
anything. “She'd have to be at least four months pregnant for it to be mine. I
ran into her a few weeks ago and there's no way Blair is that pregnant.” Jake
shifted in his seat. Even though he was an adult he still found it
uncomfortable to discuss his sex life with his father. With his brother it was
one thing, but it didn't feel right with his father.

“Are you sure
about that? Could you be confused about the dates?” his father asked.

Jake heard Dylan
cover up a half laugh with a fake cough and threw him a dirty look. “I ended
things with her over 2 months ago and before that I was in England for over a
month. You know she didn't come with me.” Even if it'd been a normal trip he
wouldn't have taken Blair, but this trip had been anything but typical. “Before
I left we hadn't been spending a lot of time together. Besides we always used
something.” Though he hadn't ended things with her until coming back, he'd
known their relationship wasn't working before he left for England.

How could he
have been so wrong about Blair? He'd known she wasn't
the
woman for him, but he never would have guessed she'd pull this
stunt.

“I see. Have you
spoken to her? Any idea why she's coming at you like this?”

Jake watched as
his father drummed his finger tips on the desk telling him he was deep in
thought trying to examine the problem from all
 
aspects.

“Damned if I
know.” He raked a hand through his hair. “We talked recently and she didn't
mention a thing to me then. She just asked me to meet her in New York for the
weekend. I already called my lawyer.” Jake wanted his father to know he was
already on top of things.

“What did he
say?” Dylan asked.

“He's pushing
for an ultrasound and DNA testing.”

“I want to get
Marty and our lawyers involved with this. They should be able to get this mess
cleared up before it does too much damage to the family.”

More than
anything he wanted to avoid having the family's team of lawyers and Marty
Phillips involved in this. There was no denying that Marty Phillips knew what
he was doing. Jake didn't like him, especially not after the way he'd treated
Callie the year before. And while the lawyers that worked for Sherbrooke
Enterprises were some of the best around, he had full confidence in his own
hand-picked lawyer.

“No. Don't get
them involved. I will take care of this problem.”

When his father
didn't immediately respond, Jake assumed he was preparing his counter argument.
Not that it would do any good. He'd already made up his mind and nothing his father
said would change it.

“Are you
positive? They'll be able to get things to happen quicker.” Warren leaned back
in his chair.

“I've got this
one, Dad.” Jake said in tone that let his father and brother know he was done
discussing the situation.

“Callie told me
you brought a date,” Dylan said changing the topic of their conversation. “You
must have just met her. Last time we talked you planned on flying solo.”

Jake didn't miss
the curiosity in his half-brother's voice or the raised eyebrow his father
threw in his direction. He could imagine the questions floating around in his
father's head. Though Dylan knew he wasn't the player the media made him out to
be, his father didn't.

“Met her in
North Salem. Her family runs the bed and breakfast where I've been staying.”

“What do you
know about her?” his father asked, reaching for his coffee.

It was a valid
question especially considering the current situation with his ex, but it still
irked him. Who he spent his time with was no one's business but his.

“She's a Navy
doctor stationed in Virginia. And I should save her from Callie before she
bores her to death with wedding details.” Jake came to his feet and started to
walk toward the door, pleased that he could use this opportunity to get away
from the grilling and back to Charlie. “I'll see you both at the rehearsal
dinner,” he called over his shoulder before heading off in search of Charlie
and his sister.

***

The view from
the guest bedroom reminded her of something out of a movie. Actually everything
in Cliff House looked as if it belonged either on some classic movie set or in
a museum. Antique furniture filled the rooms. Priceless paintings hung in
gilded frames on the walls and marble fireplaces were located in each room.

Although she'd
grown up in New England and had visited Newport a few times, she'd never toured
any of the mansions that lined Bellevue Avenue.
 
Before today she'd only seen pictures of these
American castles and none had really prepared her for being inside one of these
magnificent homes built by the ultra wealthy of the 19th century as summer
cottages.

“If I had a view
like this, I'd never leave,” Charlie said. She, Callie and Callie's best friend
Lauren sat on the balcony off Charlie's room drinking freshly brewed iced tea. As
Jake had predicted she really liked his half-sister. She was friendly and down
to earth. Charlie suspected that might be partially because she hadn't grown up
in the world of the super rich.

Callie nodded, a
smile spread across her heart-shaped face. “I agree. I have trouble leaving
every time I come.”

“I think the
only reason she does leave is because Mrs. Sherbrooke doesn't allow her and
Dylan to share a bedroom when she's around,” Lauren said refilling her glass.

“Seriously?”

Callie nodded. “Elizabeth
doesn't like Dylan and me to share a room when she's here. She's a little
old-fashioned sometimes. That's why you have your own room this weekend. But
don't worry Jake's just down the hall.”

Trying not to be
obvious, Charlie glanced at her watch. More than an hour had passed since Jake
left her to meet with his father, and although she was comfortable in Callie's
company she wondered what kept him.

“They'll
probably be done soon.” Callie picked up her glass of iced tea. “Dylan and
Warren both know you're here.”

No sooner did
Callie speak the words than Jake walked in. Charlie could tell something was
bothering him the second she saw him. The easy-going smile that usually graced
his face was gone and had been replaced with a somber look. Whatever his father
wanted to see him about had obviously upset him.

“Not sure I like
the looks of this. What stories have you been telling her about me Callie?” Jake
walked over and dropped into the cushioned chair next to hers.

Though he tried
to keep his voice light and carefree it sounded strained to her, and she
couldn't help but try to cheer him up with a little teasing. “Who said we're
talking about you. I know you find it hard to believe, but you're not the only
man in the world. Callie was telling me about a friend she has coming to the
wedding and she thinks he's perfect for me. She's going to introduce us so we
can dance.” Though her teasing statement lacked much originality she hoped it
would at least elicit a laugh from him. Instead it seemed to have the opposite
effect as a stormy look of anger passed over his face.

“Don't think so
Doc. I've already filled up your dance card for tomorrow.”

She wanted to
come back with a sassy reply, but she didn't have one. A blank slate now
occupied her mind. She wasn't used to men being possessive of her actions. With
anyone else, she knew she would resent it. For some reason though, Charlie
didn't find the comment offensive coming from him.
He's
just playing around too.
And you did open yourself up for it.

In the end
though it didn't matter that she didn't have a smart come back because Callie
changed the topic of the conversation to Jake's work in North Salem. While she
could have added to the discussion, Charlie remained silent, only speaking when
Jake or Callie directed a question her way. By doing so she got an up close and
personal look at Jake with his family. Something she guessed few people got.

“Before I
forget, the Marshalls are coming,” Callie said after Jake finished answering
her question about recovery efforts.

Charlie assumed
this was somehow significant because the second the words left Callie's mouth
Jake groaned.

“All of them or
just Richard and Janet?”

“All. Sorry. Your
mom insisted we couldn't leave them out.”

Charlie glanced
from Callie to Jake and finally Lauren who was attempting to stifle a laugh. “What's
wrong with the Marshalls?”

“What isn't?”
Jake replied.

Callie tossed
her brother a dirty look and then answered. “Richard and Warren grew up
together and have stayed close. He and his wife aren't the problem. Evidently
their youngest daughter has always had a thing for my brother. When they were
all here for New Year's Eve she wouldn't leave him alone.”

“More like she
stalked me all night, even though I had a date.”

“How old is she?”
The person in question must be very young. She envisioned an infatuated fifteen
year old following Jake around the ballroom.

“A little
younger than Sara, right?” Callie looked over at Jake for confirmation.

Jake slumped
back in his chair and put his feet up on the railing. “Yeah. I think she's
twenty-two.”

Okay, maybe not
so young. Someone that age should know better. “Don't worry I'll protect you
from her.” Charlie patted him on the knee.

“He just might
need it,” Lauren added with a half laugh. “Her behavior on New Year's Eve was
obsessive.”

***

The wedding
rehearsal began promptly at four-thirty. Charlie got the impression that
everything around here started and ended exactly on time. She found this
strangely comforting. She liked things to happen when they were supposed to. It
just made life simpler. More organized.

From her seat on
the lawn she watched as the wedding planner explained what each member of the
wedding party needed to do. Though she'd never been in a wedding, she didn't
really see any great need for a rehearsal beforehand. The chances of anyone
there not having been to a wedding before or at least seeing one on TV were
slim, so unless the bride and groom had something unusual planned, a rehearsal
seemed like a waste of time. Even if it seemed pointless to her, it did give
Charlie another chance to observe Jake with his family. Not to mention it gave
her a chance to enjoy her surroundings. With its well-manicured gardens,
sprawling lawns and view of the ocean the property around Cliff House was just
as magnificent as the mansion itself.

Despite the
breathtaking scenery, Charlie didn't find herself focusing on that. Instead her
eyes zeroed in on the interaction between each of Jake's family members. The
camaraderie between Jake and his half-brother Dylan and between Jake and Callie
spoke volumes. At the same time Charlie could sense tension between Sara,
Jake's full sister, and everyone else. Especially between Sara and Callie.

What is the deal between them?
While everyone
else appeared relaxed and bantered back and forth, Sara remained rigid and
spoke only when someone drew her into the conversation.
 
Perhaps she'd ask Jake; assuming they got some
time alone together. So far it hadn't happened. They'd been surrounded by
people since getting there, though Jake promised they would get plenty of time
to themselves before the weekend ended.

Charlie hoped he
was right. She'd made the trip with him for that very reason even though she
knew her time would be better spent back in North Salem. Not only could she
provide help to anyone who needed an extra hand, but she could be mulling over
her own decisions without Jake around as a distraction. She'd hoped getting
away from Norfolk for a while would help her make up her mind about her career
in the Navy. Yet she'd been in North Salem for weeks now and she was still up
in the air on whether to stay in the Navy or return to civilian life.

True she still
had time. The final decision didn't have to be made this month, but she wanted
to decide soon. Leaving things up in the air drove her crazy. The sooner she
made up her mind the better. If she chose to leave the Navy, she opened herself
up to a whole new world of decisions and opportunities. If she stayed, life
would proceed pretty much as it had for the last several years. So the big
question was did she want to enter uncharted territory or stay with the safe
and familiar.