Dawn, Dakota - Blessed Times Two (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (27 page)

Needing coffee, she roused herself out of bed. Going through her suitcase, she found some of her old clothes and went to the bathroom to put them on.

In a caffeine-craving haze, she went downstairs and into the breakfast area. Moving straight for the coffee, she made herself a cup then went to sit at a small table. Taking a sip, she savored the brew.

A high-pitched squeal drew her attention to a family three tables over.

“He pulled my hair,” a little girl declared when her parents frowned at her.

“Did not,” a boy a little bit younger looking than the girl said.

“Did so,” she retorted.

“Did not,” he said, defending himself once again.

“Both of you, stop it now,” the woman at the table said then swung her gaze to the boy. “Michael, don’t do that again.”

The little boy scowled. “She doesn’t know who did it. It could have been Micha or it could have been a ghost.”

A copy of Michael walked out of the restroom.

Twin boys.

Pain shot through Branda’s heart. The little boys reminded her of Troy and Trey.

“Micha wasn’t even in the room. If you don’t stop trying to get your brother in trouble, I’m going to call your mother.” Pulling her phone out, she showed it to Michael.

“No need for that, Aunt Mary. I promise to be good,” the boy said with a twinkle in his eyes.

Branda watched as the couple stood and headed for the door.

The little girl followed right behind the couple. The twins stopped for a moment. The one who’d come out of the restroom pulled three muffins from his jacket pocket. Michael smiled then high-fived his twin.

Needing to go to the restroom was obviously a ruse to take a snack and the spat with the sister or cousin was a diversion.

Branda smiled at their craftiness.

“Boys, come along,” the man called from the doorway.

Branda’s gaze followed them out of sight. Would she one day have twin boys? After hearing Sienna talk about Troy and Trey, and watching these two, she knew she would need both Troy and Trey to keep them in line if she did. Twins seemed to equal trouble.

Getting up, Branda made herself another cup of coffee and took one of the muffins back to her room. Once there she drank her coffee, but could only handle two small bites of the muffin. Her stomach knotted at the remembrance of why she was in a hotel. She could be snubbed any day by Sienna’s parents, and the twins were in Italy with no way to contact them.

Life sucked.

Turning on the TV, she tried to watch something to get her mind off her situation. After thirty minutes of flipping through the channels, she turned it off. A headache was forming in her temples, and her stomach hurt.

Easing onto the bed, she closed her eyes, never wanting to get up.

* * * *

Two days later, Branda blinked several times. Her mind must be playing tricks on her. A man looking like Trent was standing over her, frowning down at her. Closing her eyes, she felt for the picture that was her only comfort. Finding it, she clutched it to her chest.

The bed dipped. A strong hand took hers. “Branda, it’s time to go home. We need to get you out of here.”

She glanced at the hand that seemed to be holding hers. “Are you real? No. The door was locked. You’re not real.” Closing her eyes, Branda tried to go back to sleep.

“I am very real, and I’m here to take you to our house. You are going to stay there with me until Troy and Trey come back. You are my responsibility. Now get up and take a shower. While you do that, I’m going down to get you something to eat. You look horrible. When was the last time you ate?”

Jerking her hand back, she let the picture fall. Sitting bolt-upright, she scrambled to pull the covers up to her neck. “Holy shit, you’re real. How did you get in here? How did you find me?”

Laughing, he said, “I have friends. It’s good to see you still have some spirit left.” Holding up the picture, his brow furrowed. “You cannot keep neglecting yourself. I know you are sad, but you have to take better care of yourself. In ten days, you have lost weight, and you have circles under your eyes. I can’t let you keep this up.” Looking down at her, he put the picture down. “Carisa called me yesterday saying she was worried about you. You moved out before they came back. Can you imagine my shock when I found out you had moved out of the neighborhood?”

Trent’s handsome features hardened in determination. “After you eat, I’m moving you into the house with me. There will be no more leaving. Troy and Trey would kill me if something happened to you. Mom and Dad would as well. And if they didn’t get to me for some reason, guilt would. We all love you, Branda. I can’t watch you do this to yourself. Now get your butt moving.” Whipping back the covers, he pulled her up.

Weak legs carried her to the bathroom. After undressing, she stepped into the shower. Trent was right. Branda knew she had to get a grip. The twins would be back soon. They would be disappointed in her if she stayed on her current course. She just couldn’t seem to help herself. She missed the twins so much. Way too much. She felt like an addict without her fix. Cold turkey rehab wasn’t going so well.

Leaving the bathroom, she had to admit she felt better. Trent was sitting at the only table in the room. He had a sausage, egg, and cheese biscuit and a coffee sitting on the table for her. He was drinking a cup of coffee himself.

“Sit. Eat,” he said as he waved his hand at the only other chair the table had to offer. “If the De Pescinas’ hadn’t been delayed by a day, I would have been here yesterday. You must not leave again.”

Their genetic flaw of being bossy must run deep, Branda thought as she sank into the chair and picked at her food. “I don’t know why you are mad. It’s not like I committed a crime or anything. I just left so Sienna’s parents could have their home back. I’m fine, really.”

His eyes narrowed. “You’re lying. I can see it in your eyes. Why did you leave a friend’s home to move here? Why didn’t you move into our hotel if you just had to leave?”

Dropping her eyes to her coffee cup, she retorted, “Give it a rest. I don’t know the name of your family hotel, and I wanted Sienna’s parents to have their privacy. That’s all. Sheesh!”

“Our hotels are named Blue Water Luxury Hotels after the blue water where our great grandfather was blessed.” His eyes narrowed farther. “You should never lie to family. Why did you move out?” His eyes glittered with determination.

Her stomach hurt.

“Tell me.” His voice held a firm note.

White hot heat rushed to her cheeks. “I couldn’t stay. What would they say when they found out I have two lovers?” Branda jumped to her feet and paced the small room. Hands moving wildly, she continued, “They’d say I was a tramp for being with two men at the same time and then they would have thrown me out.” Stopping her pacing, she turned and looked at him. “I couldn’t handle their rejection. I had to leave. They are better to me than my own parents. I can’t face their disappointment.”

He went to her and hugged her tightly to him. “They would never do that to you. You are as close as family to them.” Taking her face in his hands, he continued, “Besides, they already know. Mom would have told them the minute she found out. Mom and Carisa are very close. See? You have nothing to worry about. They do not think you are a tramp. They know you, and they love you.” Trent glanced around then spoke softly, “Let’s get you out of here.” His arms tightened for a second then he kissed the top of her head and released her.

Thanks to Trent’s truck, it only took one trip to get all of her stuff moved into the Cortino house. It felt a little weird being there with him, but it felt better than being alone. He looked so much like the twins sometimes it hurt to look at him.

Handing her a plate of lasagna, he asked, “When do you have to work again?”

“Not for three days. I’m doing another party at Gaven’s.” Taking a bite of her food, she commented, “This is good. Did you make it?”

“No,
Nonna
made it before she left. Between
Nonna
and Mom, the freezer is thankfully full.” Taking a bite of his own food, he groaned in appreciation. Raising his wine glass, he made a toast. “To family. Salute.”

“Salute.” As she took a drink she thought about how glad she was that he’d come for her.

* * * *

At one o’clock the next day, Branda’s phone rang. “Branda’s Edible Bouquets.”

“Branda, it’s your mother. I need to talk to you.”

Shelia McFalls’ stern tone was like a knife twisting in Branda’s stomach. “Go ahead, Mother. I’m listening.”

“I heard from a friend that you are flaunting a relationship with two men at the same time. Twins, I heard. Please tell me it isn’t true.”

Moisture gathered in her eyes. “I’m not flaunting any relationship, but I am dating two men. Men I love with all my heart.”

“That is unacceptable, young lady. Your father and I have already talked about it, and we decided that if what we heard was true, we would give you one week to break off this horrendous relationship. If you do not break it off, we will be forced to disown you. You have one week to end it.”

Stomach churning dangerously, Branda balled her hand into a fist. “Are you sure that is how it has to be?”

“Yes, we can’t be associated with people of such low standards. We raised you better than this. Do you know what the people at the country club are saying about you—about us? Your behavior is a disgrace to the family name. Why would you want to tarnish our family name?”

“Why do you care what the people at the country club think? You don’t even have a membership there. The Cortino family is nice to me. I love them, and I can’t give them up.” Pain flowed from Branda’s every word.

“We may not have a membership, but we know they talk about everyone who engages in devilish behavior. You must stop at once. There is no way you can possibly love those heathens.” Her mother’s voice was high and shrill.

“I won’t give them up. I love them,” Branda said firmly. Her belly heaved at the words her mother had just said. She had called the Cortinos heathens, and Branda knew to her mother, heathens were the worst people on the earth.

Razor sharp, her mother’s voice carried through the phone. “I’m giving you one week to come to your senses, and if you don’t, I’m calling my lawyer to have you legally disowned. No daughter of mine associates with heathens.”

Agony pressed down on her chest. There was no way she could give up her new family. The Cortinos loved her unconditionally. Her own mother didn’t want her at all, and now she had finally found a way to be rid of her for life. A bitter, sad tear rolled down her cheek. “You can call your lawyer today. I will not give up my new family. Goodbye, Mother.”

Branda slowly hung up the phone. Her stomach clenched in rebellion.

“Rough day, huh?” Trent commented sympathetically from the doorway.

Turning toward him, she took in his sympathy. Her churning stomach heaved. Hand covering her mouth, she ran to the bathroom and threw up.

When she was finished, his hand pressed a damp washcloth into her hand. After wiping her face, she tried to smile, but only a grimace would cross her face. “Thanks.”

“Are you pregnant?”

“No…I don’t know…I don’t think so. I’m just not handling the rollercoaster my life has become lately very well. My parents just disowned me for not giving Troy and Trey up. No big loss though. They never wanted a kid anyway. They are most likely dancing right now. Especially my mother. She really didn’t want me. My dad seemed to like me sometimes, but he always sides with my mother.”

“Surely they didn’t mean it. They’ll come around with time,” Trent said hesitantly.

“No, they meant it. My mother has been waiting for years for me to mess up so she could disown me. I’ll be all right. They say time heals all wounds. I believe the scars remain, but at least the open wound heals.” She had been through too much in the last few months.

“Maybe one day they will come around. If they don’t, you will still be fine. In this family you are loved enough for two families.” As he spoke, he took her in his arms and hugged her tightly. “I can’t imagine a family that would throw you away. Our family never will. In the Cortino family, you will be loved as you should be.”

Taking comfort in his words, she knew deep down everything would be all right.

Chapter Nineteen

The day after being disowned, Branda just wanted to sleep her sorrows away. But no. Trent was knocking annoyingly on her door. “Go away.”

“I’m coming in.”

To her surprise, he did just that.

“I am going to keep you moving today. It is clear to me you can’t entertain yourself.” Humor laced his words.

“I’m fine. I don’t want to do anything.”

“Too bad. Get up. We are going into the backyard to practice throwing knives.”

“Not on your life.”

“Get up.”

“Get out.”

Trent moved towards the bed.

She threw a pillow at him.

“Is that the best you can do?” he asked, after dodging the pillow.