Chapter 27

Beth has been on a high the entire week. Spending almost every day wrapped up in her perfect Adrian bubble.

Monday morning, after their sex-filled weekend, Adrian had to go to a meeting out of town, and a gigantic bouquet of flowers was delivered to the office. The flowers took up half of her desk. Tuesday, he had his driver help pick up a package so she wouldn’t have time to work late. On Wednesday, they ate lunch in his office then locked the door for a quickie. Thursday, they slept at his place.

On Friday, she made a quick trip to visit her mom and brother. She was happy to see that Alex was doing great but she hadn’t told her mom about Adrian. She isn’t eager to let her mom know that she’s sleeping with her boss. Also, she can’t ignore that nagging impulse in the back of her mind that wants to find a way to protect herself as much as possible if they don’t work out.

She glances at Adrian, catching his devastatingly handsome smile as he reaches over and gives her hand a squeeze. All her thoughts flutter away like butterflies.

“Everything okay?”

She gives him a genuine smile. “Everything’s perfect.”

They flew out of town earlier that morning, spending their time on the plane entwined in one seat in their private suite. She sat in his lap telling him stories of her childhood, and he had even shared some stories of his.

“I wish I’d found you earlier,” Adrian murmured. “I would have hired you to my company in a heartbeat.”

She’d smiled. “You’ve found me now and I’m not going anywhere.”

“Neither am I,” he answered, running his fingers through her hair.

She closed her eyes as she revelled in the feeling of his calm blending into hers. She felt so safe around him. She couldn’t wait to touch down, but shortly after their conversation, she’d drifted off to sleep against his chest.

When they arrived, they had spent the greater part of the day exploring the towns and villages. She couldn’t stop grinning as Adrian whisked them down the streets of the Hamptons, the salty sea air clinging to her skin as she’d rolled her window down. She’d stuck her head out of the window with her face to the clear blue sky.

Beth rarely traveled—‘rarely’ really meaning ‘hardly ever’. So she’s always in awe whenever she finds herself in any place other than the town where she’s spent her whole life.

Adrian left to help with final preparations for the wedding while Beth spent her time alone on the beach. It was a perfect late summer afternoon. The few small groups on the beach had been widely spaced so she’d mostly had the place to herself. No rows of chairs, no cabana boys, no yachts hogging the horizon. Nothing but crashing surf and low dunes and sand in both directions. She’d lain there for hours, simply enjoying the quiet beauty of the whole thing.

Her elation lasted the entire afternoon.

But now, as they get closer and closer to the wedding venue, panic hits her. She’s about to meet Adrian’s family. His whole family, all at once. She’s never gotten to the ‘meeting the parents’ stage in any relationship, if what is going on between her and Adrian can even be called a relationship. They hadn’t really defined what they were.

Deep breaths, Beth. You can do this. You can get through this without looking like a moron, she tells herself when the car starts slowing down.

They’re an hour early so the parking lot in front of the church is mostly empty. They climb out of the car and head for the building.

“Hey. There’s nothing to worry about. My family… They can be weird sometimes. But in a nice way, I guess. I told them you’ll be with me so you’ll be fine.”

Her shoulders relax, and she exhales. “Thank you.” She can deal with ‘weird in a nice way’. That’s her type of people.

They’re almost at the entrance when Beth notices a perky brunette carrying a basket of dried flowers walking toward them. She’s clearly Adrian’s relative. They share many of the same features—chiselled cheekbones and strong jaws and matching hair and skin tones. She’s beautiful in a completely unintimidating sort of way, with friendly brown eyes and a wide mouth devoid of lipstick.

“Adrian!” she calls out with a gleeful smile.

Adrian groans under his breath, facilitating a half-hearted introduction. “Beth, this is my sister, Alya.”

“I’m so excited to finally meet you! Adrian has told me so much about you!” She throws her arms around Beth in a generous hug and Adrian is forced to drop Beth’s hand which he’d been holding since they left the car.

She turns to Adrian when she lets go of Beth. “Oh, my God, Adrian, you told me she was gorgeous, but I had no idea!”

“Okay. Okay. Stop being weird about it,” he says with exasperation.

Beth swallows and gives Alya a wide smile. “Glad to meet you too.”

“Vincent needs you in his suite.”

“Does he really? Or are you just saying that to get rid of me so you can be alone with Beth?”

She fakes a gasp. “I would never.”

He scoffs but he’s actually smiling. His expression of relaxed affection is unlike anything she’s seen on his face before. “You okay if I go?”

“Don’t worry, I promise I won’t interrogate her,” Alya says, hooking her arm through Beth’s.

“I don’t care. I’m not comfortable leaving Beth alone with my over-enthusiastic little sister.”

“We’ll be fine,” Beth assures him with a small smile.

“Okay. I’ll be back in a bit.” He gives Beth a casual kiss on her cheek before walking off.

“Byeee,” Alya says with a wide smile as she waves Adrian off.

Beth watches him stroll off, the tight muscles of his butt hidden by his jacket, but his backside attractive all the same.

Alya turns to Beth when Adrian is finally out of sight. “Whew, I thought he’d never leave.” Alya picks up the basket she dropped when she hugged Beth. “I was just about to tie these up. Would you mind helping?”

“I would love to.”

“Great.” Alya links her elbow with Beth’s and they walk into the church. “So, Adrian told me you met when you were assigned to write a piece on him and he was so struck that he hired you immediately. Your story sounds like it came straight out of a movie. It’s all so romantic.”

Beth swallows. She’s glad Adrian had added those details and had avoided mentioning the whole fiasco at the club and her brother. Still, it throws her off for a moment to hear the story told that way.

“You probably know this, but my brother likes you a lot. I can tell.”

She isn’t so sure. He might like her in a ‘he enjoys fucking her’ type of way but that’s probably not what Alya has in mind. She smiles anyway. “How can you tell?”

Alya smiles. “Firstly, he wouldn’t have brought you here otherwise. Also, it’s kind of crazy, but I can see the difference in him. I’ve never seen him like he is with you. In the way he looks and talks. Sometimes he can be kind of… vacant. Like he’s on autopilot. And it just feels like he hasn’t been lately.”

She bites back a grin. She knows Alya isn’t trying to flatter her, but somehow, that simple statement has her more honoured than she can ever remember feeling.

Alya grabs a handful of flowers from the basket and walks to the end of the church. Beth follows her lead. She’s ashamed at how eager she is to receive interesting tid-bits of info from Adrian’s little sister.

Alya continues. “It feels like he’s actually in the moment, and present, and reacting. Like you flipped a light switch in him. Does that make sense?”

Beth thinks back to the first time she’d met Adrian just a few months ago. That version of Adrian who had sat across from her and answered her questions in a tone devoid of emotion had felt vacant. Now, well, he feels more… vulnerable.

“It makes perfect sense.”

“Has he never dated anyone before?” Beth is trying for casual curiosity, but it comes out as insecure prying.

Alya shrugs. “Sort of. I mean, he’s dated women. Not women he ever brought to meet his family, but, yeah.” She pauses. “Actually, date is not the right word. Unless it means just sleeping with them. Adrian has never been in a relationship. At least, not since Mia.” She scrunches up her face.

Beth stills. It’s the first time she’s pictured Adrian with another woman. And she hates the image. But then she reminds herself it isn’t a big deal– all adults have dating histories. It’s just part of life.

“Anyway, I’m glad he’s finally found someone.”

When they reach the last pew, Adrian walks in from a door at the other end of the room. “Alright that’s enough. I’m sure whatever you’ve said by now, the damage is sufficient,” he says to his sister. “Also, the wedding’s about to start so you need to join the bridal party.”

Alya pouts. “Whatever. See you later, Beth.”

When she’s gone, Adrian turns to her, wrapping an arm over her shoulders. “Hope she didn’t scare you away?”

“Quite the opposite. She’s so sweet.”

“You don’t have to say that.”

Beth laughs. “I mean it.”

“Alya is anything but sweet.” He gestures to the door he just walked through. “My parents want to say meet you before the wedding starts.”

Just then, she notices an older couple walking toward them. The woman is beautiful— dark hair cut into a bob showing off her long graceful neck, bright blue eyes, blinding smile. Beth can see where Adrian gets his looks. Beside her, a tall, handsome man has his arm around her shoulder. He’s a distinguished kind of handsome, with salt and pepper hair and glasses covering his brown eyes.

“Beth, these are my parents."

“Oh, no! No handshake. I need to hug the woman my son brings home,” his mom insists as she wraps her arms around her. Even though Adrian had warned Beth that his mom might have this reaction, Beth can’t help but giggle. She laughs over his mom’s shoulder as Adrian stands there, hands in his pockets and eyes locked on her while nodding as if to say, yep, exactly like I warned you.

“Well, technically–”

“Oh, I know, Adrian, technically, we’re not home, but still.”

Adrian’s dad reaches out his hand. “Nice to meet you, Beth.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you both.” She shakes his hand. “Adrian has told me so much about you.”

“We’re so glad Adrian is finally slowing down and enjoying himself. He works too hard,” his mom says.

“Mom,” Adrian says with what can only be described as charmed exasperation.

“Beth, please. Come meet Maureen.”

Adrian’s mom and grandma take turns introducing her to the rest of the family and she’s certain she’s met more people this one day than she met in her adult life. But she can’t help looking completely delighted as she shakes hands with family member after family member.

His family is pretty adorable, to be honest.