Three Thousand Miles (38 page)

“Baby what are you doing?” I blush but I maintain my position.

“Do you mind if I watch you shave?” He lets out a dark laugh and he makes a nod towards me. He switches off the tap and then he applies his shaving foam. He gently begins to shave and I cannot tear my eyes away from him. His fluid motions are mesmerizing to me and I could watch them all day. He rinses his face and then gently pats it dry. He reaches over and grabs his cologne and he splashes a few drops onto his neck. I catch a whiff of the scent and I breathe it in. He slips on his massive gold Rolex and then he makes his way back into the room. He approaches me and I grab onto his bare chest. He holds me tight as I run my fingers along his back. We kiss and then I break free.

“
I will let you get dressed,”

Adrian walks into the lounge and he is
breathtaking
. I instantly smile at him as
I clutch the little box that I have for him. He strides over to me.

“Adrian I have something for you,” I say as I hand him the little black box. He wrinkles his forehead at me and then he
reaches for the gift
.

“What is this?” He says in a firm voice.

“You are always buying me gifts am I not entitled to return the gesture?” Adrian rolls his eyes at me as he slowly begins to unwrap the outer packaging. My heart gently races as I await his reaction. He opens the box and he smiles at my gift.

“Thanks baby,” is all
that
he manages to say. I watch as he puts the cufflinks into place. I smile at him and then he grabs onto me.

Adrian walks me along to Sophie and Emma’s room. He knocks firmly on the door. Emma answers and she instantly smiles at her brother.

“Wow
,
you two look amazing,” she gushes.

“Alanna
and I have dinner plans with my…
” Adrian trails off and I know that he wants me to finish his sentence.

“We are having dinner with Mr Jenkins and his wife. They are Adrian’s adoptive parents.” Emma quickly senses that Adrian is uncomfortable talking about this subject so she quickly changes the topic.

“Okay well I am going to have a qu
iet
night so I guess I will see you in the morning.” Adrian smiles at his sister and then she closes the door.

Adrian escorts me down into the reception of the hotel and he ushers me out into the cold night of London. We walk over to his black Range Rover and Adrian quickly opens the door for me. I jump in and I lean back into the plush leather seat. The car speeds away and Adrian grabs my hand as he drives. I look out onto the city and I cannot contain my smile. The London Bridge is mesmerizing and the London Eye is breath taking in the dark night. Big
B
en chimes through the city and I again smile at the sound. Adrian’s phone rings and he pushes the steering wheel gently to answer his call.

“Hello Jeff,” Adrian says in light voice.

“Hello mate
,
how’s it going?” Jeff says in a strong British accent. I smile at the sound and Adrian quickly notice’s my reaction.

“I have you on speaker and Alanna is laughing at your accent.” Adrian says in a sarcastic voice. My face flushes hot and I narrow my eyes at Adrian. He smirks at me and then I hear Jeff.

“Oh really then I must meet this girlfriend of yours.” Adrian looks at me and he instructs me to answer his friend.

“Hello Jeff,” I say awkwardly.

“Hello darling I was sorry to hear about your attack.” Jeff says in a compassionate voice.

“Thanks but that’s all in the past now.” I say as I make loving eyes towards Adrian.

“So can we meet sometime? I am dying to see this girl that has Adrian so whipped.”

“Jeff you have s
een
me before.” I reassure him.
             

“Yes but we never properly met. I bet you cannot even remember what I look like?” I frown, as I know that he is right. The only thing I can remember about that night was Adrian. I know that there were many people around but none of them mattered.
I only had eyes for Adrian
and no one else stood a chance of being noticed around him.

“Okay you caught me,” I say. Adrian pushes his hair back and he again begins to talk.

“Jeff have we secured the Henderson deal?”

“No
,
not yet that’s actually what I was calling to talk to you about. They are refusing to sign the deal unless they talk to you in person.”

“Okay then, arrange a meeting,” Adrian instantly says.

“That’s the thing, we already arranged two meetings and you never turned up. So they are insisting that you come to them.” I sigh as I look at Adrian and I
know that I am the reason he never showed up to his business meetings. Guilt again takes over my body and I slightly hang my head in shame. The car stops at a red light and Adrian turns to me. He notices that I am uneasy and he gently caresses my chin. I smile at my Adrian as he replies to Jeff.

“Clear my meetings for next week and arrange for me to go to Edinburgh,” My heart stops at his words and I immediately think of Adrian’s father.

“Okay boss and see you soon Alanna,” Jeff says as he hangs up. I instantly turn to Adrian.

“Edinburgh?”

“I know what you are thinking but I cannot meet my father.”

“Adrian please,
don’t
get mad at me but I really think that you should at least try to see your father. You have never met him and I feel that you need to. The anger that you have is mirrored in his abandonment of you. I feel that you will never be able to move on from your past until you meet him. Please say that you will think about it?” Adrian is silent as he drives and I am glad that he did not shout at me. I hated seeing him so angry the other night and I do not know what I would do if I saw him like that again.

We pull up at a massive white house that is fully lit and has luscious gardens at the front. The huge black gates are closed and then they instantly begin to open. Adrian drives slowly up to the door of the house and he stops the car. I begin to feel nervous as Adrian opens the door for me. He takes my hand and walks me up to the front door
of the house
. I grip him and he senses my anxiety.

“Don’t worry baby,” he whispers. I try not to worry but I cannot escape my feelings. I am about to meet the couple who saved Adrian’s life in so many ways. I know how much they mean to him and I hope that they like me. Not only am I feeling anxiety because Mr Jenkins and his wife mean so much to Adrian but they are also Michael’s parents. Their son saved my life and I owe everything to him. I really want to make a good impression on them because if they did not like m
e then I don’t
know what I would do. Adrian and Michael are the most important people in my life right now. I hate to think of losing
them and I will do everything in my power to get Mr Jenkins and his wife to accept me. Adrian rings the doorbell and I take a deep breath as we wait for an answer.

The door pushes open and there is Mr Jenkins. He stands in the doorway with a wide grin on his face. I take in his looks and he reminds me of Michael. He has the same dark hair and the same light blue eyes. However, he is not as tall as Michael is and not nearly as beautiful. He has friendly eyes and I smile at him as he ushers us into the grand house.

“Welcome home son,” he says as he firmly shakes Adrian’s hand. I gaze at Adrian, he looks so happy right now and I could almost cry at the sight.

“Alanna my dear it is nice to see you again, how is your father?” He says as he softly kisses me on the cheek.

“My dad is good,” I say as I smile at Mr Jenkins.

Adrian and I follow him into the lounge of his stunning house. I gaze at my surroundings and I can honestly say that this is most beautiful house that I have ever seen. The walls are cream and have stunning art hanging from them. The furniture is dark and classic. The carpets are white and there is soft lighting all around the room. Cabinets are filled with family pictures and crystal vases are filled with white roses. In the corner of the room there is a grand piano with bunches of flowers lined along its shiny surface. The sound of Michael
Buble
echoes around the house and I smile at the sound.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Thanks Mr Jenkins,” I say as I take a glass of champagne from him.

“Please child call me Charles,” I nod at him as I take a sip of my drink.

“Adrian my dear,” Mrs Jenkins says as she enters the room. Adrian quickly embraces her with hug and I am shocked at his affection. She pulls back from him and as she focuses her eyes on me. I take in her looks and her beauty stuns me. She has piercing blue eyes and light blonde hair. She is dressed in a classy, black cocktail dress and her shoulder length hair is hanging freely. She
oozes sophistication and her posh English twang is captivating. I smile at her as she makes eye contact with me.

“You must be Alanna?”

“Yes
,
it is nice to meet you Mrs Jenkins,” I say politely. She quickly embraces me with a kiss on each cheek. She pulls back.

“Please call me Tabatha.”

Charles and Tabatha escort us into the dining room. We sit at a massive table that is plastered in every kind of food you can mention. Mr Jenkins sits at the head of the table with Mrs Jenkins next to him. I sense a little tension in the room as Mr Jenkins urges the servers not to begin dishing out the food. I glance at Adrian and he quickly asks what is wrong.

“Charles is there something that we should know?” Mr Jenkins clears his throat.

“No son but your brother will be joining us for dinner.” I feel my heart beat faster as I think of Michael. I did not tell Adrian that I saw him earlier and I fear what his reaction might be if he found out. I quickly try to put that thought out of my mind as I focus back on the conversation.

“He is late then?” Adrian insists.

“Yes but he called to say that he won’t be long,” Tabatha adds. I stare at the face of Michael’s mother and I cannot help but feel thankful to her for bringing him into the world. Without her, Michael would not exist and that does not ever bear to think about. I slightly shudder as that thought enters my mind. I gaze at Tabatha as I feel that she has more that she would like to say.

“Adrian my dear, how is things between you and Michael?” Adrian gazes at me and then he replies.

“Things were strained at first but now I feel that we have healed our wounds.”

“I am glad to hear that nothing upsets me more than when my boys are arguing.” Tabatha says to Adrian. I listen to her words and I wonder how she feels about her other son, Chad. Sur
e
ly she must miss him and crave to have in
him in her life. No mother would want to spend years away from her son. She must think about him every second of every
day. If she doesn’t then what type of person is she?

“Sorry I am late,” Michael says as he and Katharine burst into the room.

“Well you are here now; take seat son and who is this lovely girl?” Char
les says as
he greets Michael.

“Mother, Father this is Katharine.” Michael says as he pulls out a seat for her. I watch as Katharine beams at the sight of the room. Adrian reaches over and firmly shakes Michael’s hand. I look up from the table and I make eye contact with Michael. He instantly raises his eyebrows at me and I cannot contain my smile. Mr Jenkins signals for the servers to enter and once the meal is laid out, we begin to feast.

“Adrian
,
how is the business?” Charles asks in a firm voice. Adrian clears his throat as he stares at me.

“Business is fine I am actually going to Edinburgh sometime next week.”

“I thought you signed the Henderson deal?”

“No
,
not yet but I am sure they will sign soon.”

“Enough about business,” Tabatha insists. “Tell me girls how are you enjoying London?” I begin to respond but Katharine gives me no time.

“London is wonderful,” she gushes.

“Have you visited anywhere special since you have been here?”

“I have been so many places it is hard to remember all the names. But I really loved The Palace.”

“Ah yes our royal family, tell me Alanna do you like London?” Mr Jenkins quickly asks.

“I adore London,” I confess.

“And London adores you,” Michael adds. Adrian clears his throat at Michael’s words and he takes a sip of his water. I feel my face flush hot as I remember Michael’s words from earlier. He blamed me for being jealous of him and Katharine. He knew that I dreamt about him and he insisted that I care more for him than I say. I must have a look of despair on my face as Mr Jenkins notices it.

“Child, are you alright?”

“Yes I am fine,” I insist as I smile at him.

“Now as you know I asked you boys here tonight for a reason. This weekend is our thirty-seventh wedding anniversary and we are having a massive get together at the country estate. All our family will be attending and that includes your brother Chad and his wife. Tabatha and I really hope that you two boys will join us in our celebration.” Mr Jenkins looks wide eyed at us as he waits for a response. Michael quickly answers his father questions.