Bidding On The Billionaire (The Sherbrookes of Newport Book 8) (6 page)

“You’re no fun sometimes, but okay. Besides, there’s something I want to ask you.”

The last time a female relative made a similar statement, he’d ended up roped in to the foundation’s ridiculous auction. He hoped whatever Addie wanted to ask now didn’t lead to an equally unpleasant evening for him.

“Go for it. I’m listening.”

“Ever since I talked to Brooklyn, I’ve been trying to think of any friends I have who she might get along well with,” Addie began.

He couldn’t have been any more surprised by her choice of topics than if she’d said aliens lived downstairs.

“She seems so sweet. If Tom or Frank lived closer, I’d introduce her to them, but Frank’s in California and Tom’s headed to Texas next month.”

He’d never met either Frank or Tom, two more of Addie’s older brothers, but if they were anything like Rock, he couldn’t picture them with Brooklyn.

“I was thinking about my cousin Shane. He’s a year younger than you and lives in Cumberland. He really enjoys spending time outside. He goes rock climbing and hiking almost every weekend, even in the winter. And he got his certification to scuba dive either last summer or the one before. I wasn’t sure if she’d enjoy those types of activities.”

Addie’s choice of topics had him wishing he’d gone home straight from work after all, because the last thing he wanted was to help her play matchmaker. “She’s afraid of heights and dislikes open water. She has some thing about not being able to see what’s swimming around her. Never understood the big deal, but she insists.”

He didn’t make a habit of lying, but tonight he couldn’t stop himself. Both he and Brooklyn had learned to scuba dive together, and he’d once seen her scale up the wall at the rock climbing gym, so Shane sounded like someone she might enjoy spending time with.

“Then she’d never get along well with Shane. He hates being cooped up inside. What does she like doing?”

Derek considered all the time they’d spent together at the beach or out on the
Affinity
. Her love of the open water rivaled his own. “I don’t know. Stuff.” He shifted on the couch and hoped Addie moved the conversation on to something else.

“She’s one of your closest friends. How can you not know?” she asked, sounding annoyed.

He gave a halfhearted shrug. “She likes swimming as long as it’s in a pool. I think she was on the swim team in high school. And she enjoys reading. Seeing movies. She bakes a lot too.”

“That’s real helpful.” She rolled her eyes.

“Don’t stress about it. Brooklyn doesn’t need you to set her up. She goes out all the time.” So what if it was either with him or one of her other friends. “She actually had a date tonight.” He clenched his teeth as he said the words. He still couldn’t believe her damn father, using Brooklyn to arrange a relationship so he could grow his own company.

“Oh.” Addie’s single word hung in the air and she studied him.

He’d seen a similar look on his twin sister’s face. Addie was trying to dissect him by running through every word he’d said since he walked in and opened his mouth.

“Oh,” she said, the word again in a tone that suggested she’d reached some kind of conclusion.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Addie gave him a wide-eyed innocent look. “Nothing. Who did she go out with tonight? Anyone I’ve met?”

Derek didn’t buy her answer. If it’d been his sister sitting there, he would’ve pressed for a better one. He wouldn’t do it to Addie. “I doubt it. His name is Trevor Jones. He’s a professor at Brown University.” In his arms, Kendrick fidgeted, and he readjusted his position so the baby’s head rested against his shoulder.

“You’re right, I don’t know him. But what’s wrong with him? You make it sound as if dating him is the end of the world.”

How had she derived that from his simple sentence? “He’s too old for her.” He couldn’t complain they had nothing in common because honestly he knew very little about Trevor. They may share all the same interests.

“Brooklyn must not think so if she accepted his invitation out.”

Before he could provide an answer, Trent joined them. “Derek, when did you get here?”

“Not long ago.” He watched Trent sit next to his wife and put an arm around her shoulders. He’d never imagined his oldest brother settling down, but not only had he gotten married, he now had a son. “She didn’t go out with him because she wanted to.”

“Are you talking about Brooklyn and Trevor Jones?” Trent asked. “I saw them leaving together when I walked in the building tonight.”

Derek nodded. “Her father arranged it.”

“Ouch.” Addie cringed. “Getting set up on a first date is hard enough. I can’t imagine going on one my dad arranged for me.” A slight tremor went though her body. “But who knows, it might work out for them.”

Why couldn’t anyone but him see how wrong the whole thing was? “Novak’s hoping Brooklyn and Trevor get together because he wants to acquire Atlantic Coast Marketing; it’s Dimension’s biggest rival.”

Addie scrunched up her eyebrows. “Back up a little because I don’t know what or who you’re talking about.”

Occasionally he forgot Addie had only entered Trent’s life the previous summer and wasn’t familiar with all the people they knew. “Brooklyn’s father owns Dimension Marketing in New York. Trevor’s grandfather, Lawrence Jones, is the president of Atlantic Coast, another big firm. Novak wants to acquire Atlantic Coast, and he’s hoping a marriage between his daughter and Jones’s grandson will seal the deal.”

“No way. People don’t do those things anymore. Brooklyn’s dad must think they’ll get along well together. Maybe they have a lot of things in common.”

“I’ve met Brooklyn’s father and Lawrence Jones, and wouldn’t put it past either of them to do something like that,” Trent offered.

“I’m not making it up. She promised her father she’d get to know him.” Pain radiated along his jaw, an indication he was clenching his teeth again. It happened whenever he thought about the situation between Brooklyn and Trevor.

Addie frowned and shrugged a shoulder. “Still doesn’t mean they won’t have fun together.”

“Novak’s an ass for asking her to do this.” He kept from saying such things to Brooklyn, but with her not around, he could say how he really felt. “He could’ve asked her sister instead.”

Trent choked on the drink he’d swallowed and coughed several times. “Milan with Trevor, now that’s an entertaining idea. And maybe Addie’s right. Trevor’s okay. Maybe things will work out between him and Brooklyn.”

He’d had enough of this particular conversation. Trevor could be on his way to sainthood and still not be the right person for Brooklyn. “Do you think we can move on to something else?”

Addie stared at him for a few heartbeats, once again making him feel as if she were tearing apart his personal thoughts. Then she suddenly smiled and nodded. The gesture had him wondering what she thought she’d suddenly discovered about him.

“I had lunch with Aunt Marilyn yesterday,” Trent said, taking control of the conversation and obliging Derek’s request.

Since they worked in the same building, Trent and their aunt often had lunch together during the week. Once in a while, he even joined them when it fit into his schedule. However, since she’d made her surprise visit to his condo, he hadn’t spoken to her or stopped in her office to say hello.

“All she talked about was the upcoming auction. I still can’t believe she talked you into it.”

Great. They went from one annoying topic to another. Perhaps he should’ve taken Gray up on his offer and joined him instead tonight.

“Scott agreeing makes sense. But you?” Trent smirked and Derek wished he could wipe the expression off his face. “Almost wish I could go and see you parading around on the stage. Are they going to make you put on a swimsuit?”

“It’s not a beauty pageant, moron.” Why had he thought visiting his brother was a good way to spend an evening? Kendrick moved in his arms, and he looked down at him. Right, he’d wanted to spend time with his nephew. For him, he could deal with his brother’s harassment.

Addie nudged her husband in the side with her elbow. “Leave him alone. It’s for a good cause.”

“Good cause or not, I would’ve made a generous donation before ever getting up on stage. What if the highest bidder is someone like Tasha Marshall or Zoe Laurent? There’s no way I’d survive four dates with either of those two. What the hell will you do if you end up the prize for one of them?”

Since he’d arranged it already so it would never happen, he had nothing to worry about. Trent didn’t know his plan, and he couldn’t risk telling even his brother about his and Brooklyn’s arrangement. The more people in on a secret, the greater chance of it getting out.

“I’ll survive if they do,” Derek said, playing it off as if he wasn’t bothered by the possibility.

“Either you lost your mind or you’ve figured out a way to get out of the event before it happens. My money is on the first,” Trent said.

In his arms, Kendrick started fussing, and Derek took that as his cue to leave. “I think this sound means someone needs you,” he said, carrying Kendrick over to Addie.

“He probably needs a change.” She took the baby from him before she said, “I can show you how. You never know when you might need to know.”

He loved his nephew and would do anything for him, but he drew the line at changing diapers. “Thanks, but I doubt I’ll need that particular skill anytime soon.”

“Don’t say I didn’t offer.” She glanced over at Trent. “Since he needs a change anyway, I’m going to give him his bath too.”

Before she left, Derek gave Addie a kiss on the cheek. “I’m going soon. I’ll see you later.”

“I’ve got some advice for you. Be sure you pick out something to match your eyes for the auction. If you need help shopping, I’m sure Addie will help you,” Trent said once his wife left.

Derek stifled a groan. Until the damn event happened, he suspected his brothers would be constantly giving him a hard time about it. Of course, if Trent were the one participating, he wouldn’t be able to resist either. “Shut up, Trent.”

“Are they going to record the event so I can watch it later?”

Dear God, he hoped not. “No idea.” He started walking away. Now seemed as good a time as any to go and visit Gray. With any luck, he hadn’t heard about how their loving and caring aunt had trapped him into the fundraiser. However, since Trent knew, there was a decent chance Gray did too. The joys of a close-knit family.

“If not, maybe Addie can record it for me with her phone.”

Trent’s comment stopped him. “Addie’s going? Who else will be there?” Great, just what he needed, all his female relatives in attendance to witness perhaps the most degrading moment of his life.

“Courtney.”

Well, her presence made sense. Aunt Marilyn was her mom.

“Callie and Leah plan on going too,” Trent said, naming two more of their cousins. “Of course Abby will be there.”

Several of his cousins and his stepmother in attendance, wonderful. Maybe all his female relatives should go and turn it into a family affair.

“Fantastic. I’m sure one of them will record it for you if you ask.” Derek didn’t wait for a response.

***

Derek exited the elevator and stifled a yawn. He’d spent the last three hours with his brother watching
Terminator
and eating pizza. Only once during the entire time did Gray mention the auction, and then it’d only been to let him know their stepmom had invited Kiera to join her. Thankfully Kiera had to work, so at least one less person he considered family would be there.

“Have a nice night, Mr. Sherbrooke,” Dion said from where he still sat at the security desk in the lobby.

“You too.” Derek headed for the stairwell door, which led down to the parking garage, but it opened before he reached it.

“I believe tonight’s show was the best performance of
Hamlet
I’ve seen outside of London,” a male voice he didn’t recognize said moments before Brooklyn appeared in the doorway.

“The only time I’ve seen
Hamlet
on stage was in high school. The drama club put it on my junior year.” With her head turned toward Trevor behind her, she couldn’t see him standing near the security desk.

“Ambitious choice for a high school production.” Trevor appeared next to her as they entered the lobby.

Derek couldn’t stop from giving Brooklyn the once-over. At the office she wore professional business suits, and when they hung out together she stuck with jeans and yoga pants. No one would ever call her dress tonight provocative, but it immediately called his attention to her curvy figure. Although he insisted she looked great, he knew Brooklyn was constantly trying to lose a few pounds. Looking at her now in that dress only reinforced what he already knew: she didn’t need to change anything. The side glances the security guard kept sending her way proved his point. He doubted she’d noticed though.

“Perhaps, but —” Brooklyn paused and changed direction so they were headed toward him rather than the elevators, indicating she’d spotted him. “Derek. Hey, how are you?”

He noticed how Trevor moved a step or two closer to her when they stopped. “Good. Just leaving Gray’s. He’s single for the evening, so I kept him company.” Derek switched his attention to Trevor and extended his hand. “Nice to see you again, Trevor. It’s been a while.”

“One of your family’s New Year’s Eve parties, I believe.” Trevor shook his hand and then placed his palm on Brooklyn’s back. The possessive gesture had Derek clenching his teeth again. At this rate, he saw a trip to the dentist in his future.

“I believe you’re right.” He didn’t know when or where they’d last seen each other, and honestly it didn’t matter. “I heard you mention
Hamlet
. Did you see the show tonight?” If Trevor wanted to show Brooklyn a nice night, he should’ve picked something besides a Shakespeare play. He knew she’d never been much into literature predating the nineteenth century.

“We did. It’s at the Performing Arts Center until the end of the month,” Brooklyn answered. “It was well done.” She smiled as she spoke, but he heard the truth behind her words. She’d been bored to death during the performance. He didn’t blame her. He would’ve been bored too, especially if he had Trevor as a companion for the evening.