The Billionaire's Masquerade: Betting On You Series: Book Two (14 page)

Trent couldn’t believe how late he was. He’d left his phone on the jet, and out in the boonies he had no way of reaching her to let her know he was going to be late. The storm that delayed their landing was now making the drive much longer as well. By his estimate he was arriving close to thirty minutes late. He hoped Elaine was having such a good time she didn’t even notice he was late. The chance of that was pretty slim. It was inevitable. He was going to get his ass chewed out. Question was, who was going to be more forgiving, Elaine or his family?

When he entered the hall he could see he must have missed his parents’ arrival by seconds, as everyone was still clapping and his sister, Lynn, was pinning some flowers on his mother’s dress. All eyes were on his mother, except his that were searching the room for one person in particular. When she turned, their eyes met, and he knew he was in trouble even from across the room. Any other woman or time and he wouldn’t have cared; he would’ve found a way to avoid her and the entire situation. She had a right to be angry with him. Elaine was here at his request, and he showed up late. Whatever he had coming, he deserved it.

Quickly making his way through the crowd, he joined his siblings.

“You’re late,” Lynn said.

He ignored her comment and spoke to his mother. “Happy birthday, Mom.” He gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Thank you, Trent. I can’t believe all this is for me. How come you guys didn’t warn me about what your father had planned?”

“’Cause Dad threatened to kill us if we even hinted it to you.” Rose laughed.

“Victor, you tyrant.” She teased her husband and then gave him a kiss.

“Trent, aren’t you going to introduce Elaine to Mom?” Rose asked.

Trent looked at his father who only shrugged his shoulders. Oh, this was not going to be good. That meant his siblings knew there was more than a business relationship. And once his mother got that information, it was all over.

“Who is Elaine?” his mother asked.

Well . . . she was supposed to be an employee only assisting with the party.

“His girlfriend. You’re going to love her, Mom. She is so sweet,” Rose answered.

“And you know this, how?” Trent asked.

“Because we took her out last night so we could get to know her better. That is how we know she is sweet,” Rose said.

“We didn’t want to leave her all alone in a hotel. Hope that was okay with you,” Bruce added.

He hoped she was still going to be sweet to him when they were alone, because he had a feeling he had a lot of explaining to do. That would need to wait until after the party. If he were lucky, maybe she would understand later tonight. Turning around, he found her a few feet away. He smiled. Dressed simply in her elegant, navy dress, she stunned him.
Beautiful.
He had missed her. Missed her smile. Missed her touch. Missed her sassy mouth. Oh, yes, he had definitely missed that mouth. He reached out and took her hand, drawing her closer to him and whispering, “Hey beautiful,” then louder for the crowd around them, “my mother wants to meet you.”

She gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Mom, this is Elaine Manning. Elaine, this is my mother, Mary.”

“Happy birthday,” Elaine said and extended her hand.

Trent watched his mother pull her in for the dreaded hug only a mother could give. “I’m so happy to meet you, Elaine.” When she let go she turned to them all and said, “This is going to be the best party ever.”

“Let’s get this party moving,” Victor said to Mary as they made their way to the dance floor.

Trent stood with his siblings and watched his father and mother take center stage on the dance floor. Instead of pulling his mother into his arms as he thought, his father stepped back several feet away and cued the DJ. Instantly the room will filled with a Latin Tango beat.
When did Dad start ballroom dancing?
Ever so slowly his parents stepped closer, never taking their eyes off each other. As they leaned and glided together, he saw it was a dance of trust, falling into the other’s arms and knowing your partner was there to catch you whether you could see them or not. Every step told a story, one of a life filled with years of love. His parents had been married for over forty years. Though his father had raised him with a firm strong hand, he saw magic between them he hadn’t noticed before. Had it always been there, and if so, why hadn’t he seen it earlier? As the dance came to an end, his father tenderly kissed his mother. Yes, it had always been there, but he had chosen not be distracted by it. He had focused on one thing and one thing only, making money. His parents were average middle class and seemed to have so much more than he did. His eyes found Elaine, who was still by his side, and, for the first time in his life, his thoughts and focus changed. She was the most incredible woman he had ever met. Her beauty radiated from within.
She’s amazing.
Looking back toward his parents as they walked off the dance floor, it hit him.
I want what they have someday.

He didn’t want to ruin the evening by bringing up his late arrival again, but he did owe her an apology.
No time like the present.
Leaning so only she could hear he said, “Elaine, about earlier—”

Elaine interrupted him. Only one word was said, but it said enough. “Later.” He knew exactly what she meant by that. He wondered what an appropriate apology was for something like this. Somehow flowers didn’t seem like they would cut it.

With nothing to lose at this point, he asked, “May I have this dance?”

“As long as you don’t expect me to dance as well as your mother, I would love to dance with you.”

As he held her close to him on the dance floor he pondered if he had made the right decision, bringing her here to meet the Davis clan. He had pictured so many ways things could have gone wrong, knowing his family. He knew Elaine liked her boundaries, and he knew the women in his family had a way of crossing them. Maybe he had been worried for nothing, as something in her eyes told him she was genuinely enjoying herself.

Tonight they would dance and socialize, and with any luck, make it out without getting the third degree from his loving, caring, and well-meaning sisters.

***

All she had thought about last night was wringing Trent’s neck for not warning her he had broken the promise he’d made. Then when he wasn’t there before the party started, something else kicked in; she was worried something could have happened to him, and that was why he hadn’t arrived. When she asked his brothers and sisters if they had heard from him, they told her they had not, and that he was always on time. For a moment she had feared the worst, an accident or injury. When he finally did arrive, she was torn between throwing her arms around him in utter relief or wringing his neck for not having the courtesy to call her. If it wasn’t for them being at his mother’s party, she wouldn’t have left him standing there alone. But two wrongs weren’t going to make it right. That didn’t mean he was off the hook after the party.

As they were saying their goodbyes, Mary came rushing over, grabbed Trent in a fierce hug, and said, “Since we are all together, I think we should have brunch tomorrow morning at the house. Trent, you better have Elaine with you if you know what’s good for you.” Not waiting for a response, she and Victor moved to the other guests.

“That must be our cue we are free to get out of here,” Trent stated.

Attending the party was one thing, but going to their family home was not something she was comfortable with. She couldn’t even remember the last time she had sat down at a dining room table. Apart from Lizette’s. This wasn’t a social event where she could blend in; it was an intimate affair. What would normally be a time of joy for others was usually like salt on an open wound for her. Even thinking about it caused nerves to rise. “Trent, you should go by yourself tomorrow. I’m really tired; it has been a very busy week.”

“My mother wasn’t kidding. If I show up without you tomorrow, she’ll have my hide.”

“Your mother is a sweetheart.”

“She raised five children, and one of them is me. That should tell you a lot.” Elaine stood pondering what to say, but before she could say anything, he took her hand and said, “Elaine, I know my mother asked, but now I’m asking, will you come with me to brunch tomorrow?”

He’s asking and not telling.
For a moment she thought she saw a softer, more vulnerable look in his eyes, and then quickly it was gone.
He’s so darn complex.
Somehow she knew she was going to regret this. “Yes, I will go with you tomorrow.”

The curve of his lips said it all. “You said earlier you were ready for bed, so let’s get out of here.”

“Trent, I believe I said I was tired.”

He gave her a quick kiss and whispered, “Maybe you need me to massage your aching muscles? I think a full body massage would help you immensely.”

Her lack of arguing wasn’t from exhaustion. Why fight what she wanted as well? Elaine kissed him gently then offered her hand to him. Quietly they slipped out of the hall.

There was nothing like walking into a house filled with the aroma of home cooking. It was not something you encountered when entering her apartment. Who needs to cook when you live alone? She told herself cooking was overrated, and if it wasn’t for all the horrible cooks in the world, restaurants would go out of business. The only thing she had not found delivery for was breakfast.

As they made their way from the foyer to the kitchen, she saw Mary taking pecan rolls out of the oven, Rose standing at the stove flipping bacon and sausage, and Lynn making scrambled eggs. Amy, Steve’s wife, was making coffee. There appeared to be enough food to feed an army.

“What can I do to help?” Elaine asked.

“Good morning. We’re almost done. Trent, you should show Elaine around while we finish up here,” Mary replied.

Part of her wished they allowed her to stay and help, and the other part was grateful not to show her lack of cooking skills. All she needed at home was a coffee pot and a microwave oven.

Elaine followed him from room to room. Mary and Victor had a beautiful home. It was too large for only the two of them, but perfect to raise a family. “Is this where you grew up?”

“Yes, we were all born here. Only my parents live here now. Would you like to see my old room?” He gave her a wink.

“I’m not sure that is a wise idea.”

“I promise to keep my hands to myself.”

He turned and headed up the staircase. She was intrigued. She knew what his room looked like as an adult, but there was no hint what he was like as a child, so this, she thought, should be very interesting.

“I hope you’re ready,” he said as he opened the door, and she walked in. It was not at all like she pictured. There were rock-and-roll posters on the walls and an electric guitar and bass in the corner. Walking over to the bureau, she saw high school pictures of him. Picking one up, she couldn’t believe what she saw. He had long hair and an earring. She turned to him, holding it up. “Really?”

“Don’t say a word. That was a long time ago.”

She laughed. “Never.” And she laughed some more. He lived in suits and was as clean cut as a man could get. Somehow she had pictured his room to be filled with trophies from debate club or something. Seeing this was enlightening and once again showed her there was so much more to him than she realized. “Thanks for showing me your room. Do you mind if I keep
this
picture?” she asked, holding a picture of him jamming on his guitar, in leather pants, a spike bracelet, and a torn T-shirt.
Cute and hot.

“That is the picture of me you want near your bed?”

“No. I might need it as blackmail someday.”

He gave her rump a tap and said, “We better go find the others before you tempt me to do more than that.” She followed him downstairs to the back of the house. “I’m sure the others are outside.”

She had a view of the backyard from where she was standing. He was correct. Victor, Bruce, Steve, and Darren, Lynn’s husband, were outside. They were watching four young children, all boys, running in the backyard. She remembered Steve and Lynn saying they each had two children. No wonder they were cooking so much food. She couldn’t make breakfast for two, never mind cooking for fourteen.

She wondered if he knew how fortunate he was to have such a close family, or even to have a family at all. Elaine couldn’t help wonder what it was like to have grown up here, the five of them playing in this same backyard where the next generation now played. She looked around the room and noticed pictures on the walls. There were family photos of them all when they were young and then more about ten years later. There were other photos scattered around the room. This was not just a house. This was a home, a family home filled with so many memories.

She’d spent many nights dreaming of a life such as this. But when she woke, the reality always hit her—it was only a dream. The truth was there was little she wanted to remember, and no place to call home.

Trent must have noticed her in deep thought and whispered, “Are you okay?”

Forcing a smile she answered, “I’m fine, just tired.” It wasn’t a lie. Family functions were not something she attended, and three gatherings in three days were more than she could manage.

Before they made it outside, Amy came up behind them, “Time to eat. I’ll rally the rest of the gang. Why don’t you two head for the dining room so those little hellions don’t trample you when I open the door?” She turned to Elaine and said, “It’s tough being outnumbered by men; we are thrilled to have another woman to help even the odds a bit.”

From what she’d seen of the women so far, they may be outnumbered, but they were a force to be reckoned with and needed no help from her. Smiling, she followed Trent to the dining room where there was a table set to accommodate all of them. The food was already laid out. She was impressed by what the four women had accomplished in such a short amount of time. She would have thought they were short-order cooks. Trent had seen the extent of her cooking breakfast: coffee and a bagel. At least she hadn’t hidden her lack of culinary skills from him.

“Elaine, why don’t you sit up here next to me so we can get to know each other better?” Mary asked.

Please no!
What she dreaded and had always managed to avoid in the past now had her cornered. Spending family time was what most people looked forward to, but it made her feel awkward. Never having a real family of her own, she struggled with the bonding and joking that seemed to come so easily to others with their siblings. Was it just her, or did other people feel that way too? How could she feel comfortable in a room of strangers talking business, but lose her confidence in an intimate setting? Being Trent’s mother only added to the stress. Why had she agreed to come? She should have insisted on returning to New York. She had fulfilled her obligation to Victor and the party had been a success. There was no polite way around it. So she smiled, taking the seat to the right of his mother. She could only hope she’d be able to do more listening than talking.

The brunch was nice with very light, casual conversation while they ate. The men talked business and the children ate quickly then asked to go play. Lynn went to set the little ones up with some games in the other room, and the conversation went south.

Mary turned to Elaine and said, “Victor told me you were able to pull off a miracle and save the party last night. That means so much to us. Thank you.”

“Victor did all the work. I only helped at the last minute. It really was nothing.”

“You are being modest. But since we have seen your talents I was hoping you might be willing to help me on a project I’m working on.”

Oh boy. What did I start?
“What is it you’re looking for help with?”

“I’m not sure if Trent told you about Bruce or not?” she said softly.

Trent hadn’t told her much of anything about his past or family. They’d spent many nights together, but she’d never asked, as she feared if she did, he might ask in return. “No.”

“He was injured while in the Marines. I’m sure you noticed his limp.”

Elaine had noticed the other night at dinner mostly when he got in and out of the car, but didn’t want to pry.

“I have been trying to organize a fundraiser for others who have been wounded, and I really could use your support and suggestions.”

She’d attended many events.
Why does everyone believe I have experience planning them?
“Mary, I’m not an event planner. I’m not sure what help I would be.”

“I have a feeling you have a hidden talent in there. I’m not asking you to do it all. We thought maybe a fresh set of eyes would give us some new ideas.”

Elaine had enjoyed the little planning she did for the birthday party. It was a pleasant change of pace from her work. Maybe assisting a little wouldn’t hurt. She could do it from New York. “I would love to assist in any way I can.”

Mary smiled widely. “Wonderful. We’ll make this a family affair.” She raised her voice a bit louder and said, “Did you gentlemen hear that? Elaine is going to help with the fundraiser. Isn’t that great news?”

Everyone smiled, but Trent met her eyes. He could see she was not thrilled. “Mom, Elaine is very busy. I’m not sure she has time to help.”

“Well, she works for you. Maybe you are working her too hard.”

“Mom, I don’t want Elaine to feel pressured to help. That’s all. She already did us a huge favor by coming here this weekend on her time off to help with the party.”

Mary turned to Elaine and asked, “Do you feel pressured?”

Yeah, like I can answer that honestly?
“Not pressured, but Trent is correct. I’m very busy and won’t be able to give you a lot of time.”

“Shame on you, Trent,” his mother said. “Well, whatever you can do will be appreciated. Don’t worry. We won’t take too much of your time. And I’m sure the way he seems to be working you, you probably need time to see your own family as well.”

Elaine didn’t answer. Only smiled.

“So tell me about your family. Where are you from?”

That was the million-dollar question she’d been searching for all her life and always hated when anyone asked.
And it begins
. “I’m from Rhode Island.” The truth. Somewhat.

“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

Don’t know.
“No.”

“How about your parents, do they live close by?”

Elaine’s hands started to tremble. She couldn’t go down this road. It was obvious from the moment she met them family was important to them. They were warm and loving, greeting each other with a hug. It was something she had always distanced herself from. Such openness was unnerving. “They are . . . well, I . . .” Getting up, she said, “I’m sorry, I have a terrible headache.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I forgot you’ve been going non-stop, and we haven’t given you a chance to stop. Go and rest. You can lie down in Trent’s old room,” Mary offered.

Lying in Trent’s old bed will not help; it’ll only make things worse.
“I hope you don’t think I’m rude, but maybe I should go back to the hotel and lie down for a bit.”

Mary got up and gave her a hug. “No, of course we don’t.” Then Mary turned to Trent and said, “You better take good care of this young lady.” She turned back to Elaine. “It was wonderful meeting you, Elaine. Don’t be a stranger. We hope to see you both more often now.”

“Sure, Mom,” Trent said.

Victor said, “I’ll walk you to the car.”

As they made their way down the walkway, Elaine said, “I don’t want to take you away from your breakfast. It will get cold.”

“That’s what they made microwaves for.” He laughed. Then he became serious and added, “Mary didn’t mean anything by all the questions. She only wanted you to feel welcomed, part of the family.”

Was her excuse that obvious to everyone?
“She is a wonderful person, and I do feel welcomed. I have been burning the candle at both ends this week and it caught up to me. That’s all.” She wasn’t sure he believed it.
Like
father like son.
Both with the gift of reading others.

“Please, don’t be a stranger. We would love for you to come visit again soon.”

As she got into the car, she replied, “I will, I promise.” Elaine couldn’t believe the words when she said them. She had absolutely no intention of coming back. This was a onetime stop intended to make sure the birthday party had gone on as planned. How did it turn into a family event? This was not her world. She needed to get back to her apartment, back to normal.

***

On the way back to the hotel Trent asked, “Are you okay? You were not looking too good there for a while.”

She continued to look out the car window. “Just tired.”

He knew she was tired, but that was not the issue. She had that same look earlier when she was looking at the photos. There was something more going on. Something she wasn’t saying. He understood not talking to his family about it. She didn’t know them, but why not talk to him?

“Elaine, what’s really bothering you? You seemed to be enjoying yourself. Did someone say something to upset you? My family jokes around, but for the most part, they are harmless.”
Unlike me.

“Your family didn’t say anything wrong.”

That left him confused. “Are you still upset I told my father about us? I should’ve told you about that before, but I didn’t realize he was going to tell my sisters and brothers.”

“You’re right, you should have told me about breaking your promise. At least I would have been prepared.”

He watched her. Her expression didn’t change; he knew whatever was bothering her was caused by something else. “Talk to me, Elaine. Why the sudden change?”

“Trent, I don’t want to talk about it, okay?”

“No. It’s not okay.”

“Well, it’s going to have to be okay. You can’t control everything. I knew coming here was going to be a mistake.”

“And why was it a mistake?”

“You know why. I told you before; I can’t go there. What we have was supposed to be private, and these last few days was not something you do with someone who is just a lover. You do this with some who is . . . well, someone else. Not me.”