When I Lie With You (6 page)

Rory

Ian and I were up in the bedroom
, packing for New York, when Mandy knocked on the door.

“Mr. Braxton, your father is here.”

I rolled my eyes. “Great.” I sighed.

Ian chuckled as he kissed my head. “Be nice, Rory.”

“I’m always nice. I’m going to finish packing and I’ll be down after.”

“Okay, sweetheart,” he said as he walked out of the room.

I’d only seen Richard a couple of times since we’d been back from Paris and, each time, he wasn’t any nicer to me. I wished he wasn’t such an asshole and that we could have some kind of friendship, for Ian’s sake. I finished packing and headed downstairs. Ian and Richard were sitting on the couch, having a drink and laughing.

“Seems like you two are having some fun.” I smiled as I walked into the room.

“Rory,” Richard said as he nodded his head.

“Richard,” I replied.

“Hi, sweetheart.” Ian smiled as he got up from the couch. “I’ll go grab those papers for you, Dad.”

Ian walked out of the room and left me alone with Richard. Talk about an awkward moment. But I was pleasantly surprised when he spoke to me.

“How are you doing, Rory?”

“I’m doing great, Richard. How are you?”

When he got up from the couch, he walked over to the bar and poured himself another drink. “I’m fine, and I owe you an apology for the things I’ve said to you in the past.”

I almost needed to sit down. I couldn’t believe these words were coming out of his mouth. Suddenly, I became frightened.
Was this another one of his tricks? Was there some ulterior motive behind his apology?

“Thank you,
Richard.”

Just as I was about to say something else, Ian walked back into the room and handed his father some papers.

“Well, I’ll let the two of you get ready for your trip and I’ll see you when you get back.”

“You don’t have to leave, Richard,” I blurted out.

Ian gave me a strange look.

“Thanks, Rory, but I have some things of my own I need to do. Have a safe trip and I’m sorry again, Ian, that I’m already using the plane.”

Ian and his father hugged lightly. “It’s okay, Dad. I’m looking into buying my own company plane anyway.”

“Do me a favor and hold off on that purchase,” Richard said.

“Why?” Ian asked in confusion.

“Because I may be buying a new one and you can have mine. I won’t even charge you.” He winked.

Something odd was going on. Why was Richard being so nice all of a sudden? It was like he became a new man overnight. Richard gave me a small wave and Ian walked him to the door.

“What’s going on with him?” I asked.

“Nothing. Why?”

“Because he was being nice. He apologized to me for the things he said in the past.”

Ian walked over to me and picked me up, carrying me up the stairs. “He can be a nice guy and that makes me happy that he apologized to you.”

I kissed him on the cheek. “I’m so happy we leave for New York tomorrow. I can’t wait to see baby Julia. She’s so adorable.”

“Yeah, she’s a pretty cute kid,” Ian mumbled.

****

I was restless. I could feel it as I was trying to wake from my nightmare.

“Rory, sweetheart, wake up. You’re having a bad dream
,” I heard Ian say as his hands gripped my shoulders.

My eyes flew open as I sat up and tried to catch my breath. Ian reached over and turned on the lamp and then turned to me with concern.

“Are you okay?” he asked as he stroked my hair.

“I’m fine. It was only a dream,” I said with bated breath.

“Your dad?” Ian asked.

“Yeah. I’m going to go downstairs and get bottle of water,” I said as I turned to Ian and placed my hand on his cheek.

“Let me go for you.”

“No. I’m going myself,” I snapped. “I’m sorry, baby. I just need some fresh air. I’m sweating.”

“Okay. Go do what you need to do, sweetheart.”

I softly kissed him on the lips and got out of bed. The dreams of Jimmy O’Rourke stayed with me even after I’d woken up. I went downstairs and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. I looked over at the bottle of wine sitting on the counter that Ian and I shared earlier and put the water back. I grabbed a new glass from the cupboard and filled it with alcohol. I unlocked the patio door and stepped outside. The wind was light and the air was cool
, but I didn’t care. It felt good to breathe fresh air. I headed down towards the sand and stood there, staring at the water.

“You’re worrying me,” Ian’s voice said from behind.

I turned around and smiled at him. He walked up behind me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and rested his chin on my shoulder.

“Hmm, is that wine?”

“Yes.”

“I thought you were going for water.”

“I was. Then I saw this and it sounded better. Would you like a sip?”

“No thanks, sweetheart. Tell me what you want to do about your dad. You can’t keep going on like this.”

“Can you find him?” I asked.

“Yes, I can.”

“Then do it. I need to put Jimmy O’Rourke to rest.”

Ian picked me up in his arms and carried
me back to the house and up to our bedroom. He laid me down on the bed and covered me with the sheet. As he climbed in next to me, he wrapped his arms around me.

“As soon as we get back from New York, I’ll look for your father. Until then, I don’t want you give him another thought. Now, go to sleep.”

“Thank you. I love you, Ian. I love you so damn much.”

“I love you so fucking much, sweetheart. Good night.”

****

As I was talking to Stephen in the courtyard, he looked over my shoulder and a smile spread across his face. I looked at him and then behind me and saw Ian standing by the door. As soon as I gave him a smile, he walked over to where Stephen and I were sitting, gave me a kiss
, and then shook Stephen’s hand.

“Ian, how are you, man?”

“I’m good, Stephen. How are you?”

“I’m okay. No complaints,” he replied.

“Honey, what are you doing here?” I asked.

Ian sat down next to me. “I finished up early and I thought I’d stop by and see how Stephen’s doin
g before we leave for New York.”

“Thank you, Ian.” Stephen smiled. “Look at the two of you. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little jealous.”

“Stephen,” I said as I looked sadly at him.

“Rory, don’t give me that look. You deserve it.
You took care of me your whole life and now it’s time for someone to take care of you. You’re taking care of my sister, right, Ian?”

Ian looked at me and smiled. “I think I’m taking very good care of her.”

“You are taking very good care of me.” I smiled back as I laid my head on his shoulder.

“That’s all that matters to me,” Stephen said.

The announcement that visiting hours were over came across the speakers. We all stood up and Ian and I hugged Stephen goodbye.

“Have fun in New York, sis.”

“Take care, Stephen. I’ll see you next week.”

Ian took my hand and we walked out of Hudson Rock and straight to the limo where Joshua was waiting to take us to the airport.
After we climbed in, Ian put his arm around me and pulled me into him.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“I’m fine. Now let’s go to New York City!” I said excitedly.

Ian chuckled as he tightened his grip around me.

****

Ian unlocked the door to our room and when I walked inside, I gasped. As I stood th
ere, I looked around the suite.

“Rory, are you okay?”
he asked with concern.

“This room, it’s—”

“Welcome to The Trump, sweetheart.” He smiled.

It was the most amazing hotel room
I’d ever been in. Not that I’d been in many. Ian took our bags into the bedroom and I followed behind, throwing myself on the luxurious king-sized bed. Ian smiled as he sat down next to me and stroked my hair.

“I’m happy you like the room.”

“I love the room. Would it be wrong if I never wanted to leave?”

“No, but this is New York City, sweetheart. We just can’t sit in the hotel room the whole time we’re here.” Ian
chuckled. “This is what we’re going to do. We’re going to make love first and then we’re going to change and get ready for dinner. I want you to experience Jean Georges. It’s one of the restaurants here in the hotel and it’s one of my favorites.” He smiled as he leaned over and his lips brushed against mine.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him on top of me. “I love that idea.”

“I knew you would,” he said as he began unbuttoning my top.

After a session of crazy sex that pretty much destroyed the bed, Ian and I showered and got ready to go down to Jean Georges. As I was putting the finishing touches on my makeup, I heard Ian on the phone.

“Can you send up the maid to fix our bed? We’ll be leaving the room in about ten minutes. Thank you.”

“Ian!”

“What?” he asked.

“How embarrassing!”

“What’s embarrassing?”

“You having the maid come up here and fix the bed. She’s going to know what we did and how crazy it was. Look at it,” I said as I pointed to the bed.

Ian laughed and he wouldn’t stop. “Rory, this is a hotel. People fuck in hotels. Half the time, that’s why they come here. The staff is used to it and won’t give it a second thought.”

“Well, I don’t want to be here when she gets here.”

Ian walked over to me and wrapped his arms around me. “You’re too cute and you make me laugh. I love you, sweetheart.”

“I love you too,” I said as I kissed him and then walked over to the bed.

“What are you doing?” he asked as I picked up the sheet from the floor.

“I’m trying to make the bed more decent.”

“Rory, stop.” He chuckled as he grabbed my hand.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. “Maid service.”

“What the fuck! You told them ten minutes, Ian.”

Ian laughed and walked over to the door and opened it. The maid walked in and straight to the bedroom where I was standing. I was so humiliated at what she must’ve thought, I looked at her and said, “I’m sorry, so sorry.”

Ian sighed, grabbed my hand, and led me out of the hotel room. We walked down to the restaurant and were promptly seated. It was a beautiful restaurant and I was happy Ian wanted to eat here. As we were looking over the menu, a beautiful woman walked over to our table.

“Ian Braxton, how wonderful to see you.” She smiled.

Ian looked up at her and then at me. I could tell he was nervous. “Michelle, nice to see you,” he said as he got up and lightly kissed her cheek. “I want you to meet my girlfriend, Rory.”

She looked at me, lightly shook my hand
, and then turned her attention to Ian. “Girlfriend, eh? Ian Braxton doesn’t do girlfriends. At least that’s what you told me,” she said.

“Things change, Michelle,” Ian said
calmly.

“Things may, but people don’t.” She smiled as she looked at me. “Nice seeing you again, Ian,” she said as she walked away.

Suddenly, I was very uncomfortable. The waiter brought my cosmopolitan and I grabbed it from his hand before he had a chance to set it down on the table. I did more than take a sip.

“Rory, I can tell you’re pissed.”

“No. What gives you that idea?” I asked sarcastically. “One of your many women, I assume.”

Ian rolled his eyes and leaned back in his chair. “Yes, I won’t lie to you.”

I nodded my head as I threw back my cosmo. “Okay. I guess it’s something I have to learn to deal with around the world.”

“Rory, that’s not fair.”

“No, what’s not fair is me having to be subjected to that every time we go out!” I snapped.

“It’s not like I hid who I was before I met you, so you can’t hold it against me.”

In a way, he was right, but now that he was mine to keep, seeing the other women and knowing he fucked them in ways he probably would never fuck me burned the blood that ran through my veins. We ate our dinner in silence. It wasn’t until after the waiter gave Ian the bill that he decided to say something.

“You need to stop behaving like this.”

I took in a deep breath and looked at him. “I’m hurt and upset, Ian. I’m sorry if you think I’m behaving like a child. See, the thing is, you don’t ever have to worry about running into someone like that from my past because there’s only you.”

“Rory.”

I threw my napkin on the table, got up, and walked out of the restaurant. I walked out of the hotel and onto the busy streets of New York City. I didn’t care where I was going, I just needed some fresh air. Was I being ridiculous? I think so. This was all new to me. As I was walking, I felt someone grab my arm.