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“Plenty.” is her answer to me.
“Well, I am not worried. Your brother is not going to let anything upset me. I trust him.” It’s true. Over the past week, he has proved how serious he is about protecting not just me but my heart as well and he has done a good job, so far.
“Oh, I know that. I have never seen my brother like this before. He is like a little boy at Christmas when he is around you. It is good to see him in love.” I shake my head.
“Oh, I don’t think…I mean he is not...Right?” It’s too soon for love…isn’t it? Holy hell. Is this love? Am I in love with him?
“My flower. Are you ready?” he walks into the kitchen, kissing me.
“I just need a few minutes to get dressed.” I jump off the stool and run upstairs. Alaine brought me a Black and gold jumper with a halter strap and pockets. It is both slick and dressy. I decide my hair is better down with this, so I brush it out and I am done. “All set.” I tell him, walking back downstairs.
“Reconsider, sis?” he asks her.
“Nope. Not for all the money in the world.” I would sure like to know what really happened between them.
“Well, thank you once again for helping Lilah.”
“It’s no problem, big brother. She’s a gem.” Blushing, I lower my head. I still don’t like compliments and attention it seems.
“Trust me, this I know. Shall we?” he opens the door and escorts us both out. On the ride over we talk about his job and the new expansion to the public library which has me really excited because of the nineteenth century literature exhibit they are building. When we pull up to his childhood home, a shiver comes over me. Nothing about this place says love, hearth, or home. From the outside it is cold and uninviting. “Let's get this over with baby.” taking his hand, we walk up to the front door. I note there are quite a few cars in the parking lot. I thought this was a simple dinner party.
“Good evening Mr. Cochran.” a gentleman I assume is the butler answers the door.
“Horace.” Blake answers back. “This is Lilah Reyes.” he simply nods at me before closing the door behind us.
“Darling you made…Oh. I didn’t realize you were bringing a guest.” His mother says as she greets us at the door. Did I mention she is not hiding her disdain for me?
“That’s funny considering I told you ‘we’ would be here today.”
“I must have not heard you. Very well. I am sure I can squeeze her in somewhere. She won’t be able to sit with you as it is. We are pretty full.'' She turns and walks into the sitting room. “Now that my son has arrived, dinner is served.” I watch as everyone in attendance walks into the other room. As she stated, there are many people here. “Lulu…” I hear the name being called and like everyone else, I am looking around the room to see who she is talking to. “Lulu…” when I look at her and see she is looking at me, it hits me. Apparently, I am Lulu. Oh boy.
“It’s Lilah, mother. Her name is Lilah.”
“Yes, well am I expected to remember the name of every stray you take in? Anyhow, I managed to find a spot for you down here. “She points to a chair that doesn’t match the others. It clearly was just pulled into the mix. I look at Blake and see he is seated next to...holy crap. Is that Angelica Witherspoon? Wow. She is only one of the top paid models in the industry at the moment and right this second, she is leaning into Blake’s ear and touching his shoulder. A part of me wants to rip her fake eyelashes off. The other part of me wants to run and cry. I do neither. I smile at Blake, who looks like he wants to skin everyone in this room alive. He stands no doubt to fix this situation, but I shake my head telling him I am fine and don’t want to cause a scene. Besides, it’s just dinner. Even if she did just embarrass me by calling me a ‘stray’ like I just wandered in from off the street. Lashing out at her would only make Blake look bad and I don’t want that for him. I can do this. I can endure her dismissal of my existence for an hour or two.
I am seated beside a nice older gentleman who introduces himself as the head of Global research for the CDC. The conversation is interesting, to say the least. Topic of conversation...the AIDS epidemic. Not that I am not interested in his interesting stories, because I am, but during the entire conversation I can feel Blake’s eyes on me, searching for the slightest hint I am uncomfortable or unhappy. Plus, I am pretty sure he is pissed that another man has my attention. When the first course comes out, I take a deep breath giving thanks. Something is able to grab the gentleman’s attention. Truthfully, I am also glad it is a simple salad. I have been on pins and needles, worried that the food is going to be something I cannot pronounce and am going to scrutinize as I eat it. But this, a Caesar salad, I can handle.
