Protecting The Billionaire (2 page)

Leaving the lights in the kitchen on, she picked up her keys and headed out.

Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into a parking spot next to Jake’s new SUV. While he still used his favorite toy, a brand new Lamborghini, when he was alone, he always used the SUV he’d purchased a few months ago when he and Charlie went out together. She’d assumed it was because Charlie now found it difficult to get in and out of the low sports car, but Jake told her it was more a safety issue. He figured if they ever got into an accident, Charlie would be much better protected in the large SUV. She’d always adored her cousin Jake, but when he’d told her that, it had endeared him to her even more.

“I’m meeting friends tonight. I believe they’ve already been seated,” Allison told the hostess once she walked inside. “Jake and Charlie––”

“Yes, I seated them a few minutes ago. Please follow me, Miss Sherbrooke,” the hostess said before Allison could even finish her sentence. The fact the woman knew whom she meant didn’t surprise her. There was no mistaking the family resemblance; the eyes tended to be a dead giveaway, not to mention, while Allison did her best to avoid the media, she still ended up on magazine covers from time to time. Thankfully, however, she didn’t find herself there as often as her former playboy brother Trent and cousin Jake.

Following the hostess, she ignored the casual glances she received from the men seated at the cocktail bar as they passed by it.

She saw Jake stand before she reached the table, a good indication he saw her coming.

“Right on time,” he said as he pulled out her chair and then waited for her to sit.

Allison accepted the menu from the hostess but looked at her cousin. “I promised I’d be here on time.” She turned her attention to her cousin’s wife. “Hi, Charlie. How are you feeling?”

Charlie patted her stomach and smiled. “Tired but good.”

“She doesn’t rest enough,” Jake said with a frown.

“This one would have me in bed all day watching television and napping,” Charlie said, titling her head toward Jake. “He’s driving me crazy.”

Pressing her lips together, she glanced at Jake who’d turned his attention to his wife. “You’re thirty-six weeks pregnant, you shouldn’t be doing rounds.”

“And how many babies have you had?” Charlie asked.

Allison imagined her brother and his wife had been having similar conversations lately. At least the last time she’d spoken with Addie, Trent’s wife, she’d complained that Trent kept telling her to rest more.

“It doesn’t matter anyway. Yesterday was my last day at the hospital,” Charlie said before Jake could offer a counterargument.

“Wow, this conversation sounds familiar,” a female voice said from behind her.

Standing, Allison turned and hugged her new sister-in-law and smiled at her oldest brother.

“That’s because Jake and I are right,” Trent said as he pulled out a chair for his wife.

“I don’t know what the world would do without the two of you wise men.” Allison moved closer to Trent and hugged him too.

“Please don’t encourage him. His head barely fits in the car now,” Addie teased before she leaned toward Trent and kissed his check. “Rock texted me and he’s on his way. He had to take care of something before he left the base.”

He’d passed by Siena numerous times since he’d been transferred to Quantico, but he’d never stopped in. It wasn’t his type of place. He’d preferred more casual joints where he could get a decent burger or a good steak with a cold beer to wash it down. Restaurants with fancy dipping oil for your bread and wine lists longer than his arm didn’t interest him. Even so, when Addie invited him to join her and her husband’s family for dinner, he couldn’t say no. He hadn’t seen his sister since her wedding in January. While he was used to going long stretches between visits with his family, it didn’t mean he liked it, so he took every opportunity he got to see them. She’d offered to meet him some other day while she was in the area if that worked better for him, but he’d declined. Not only did he want to visit with his sister, but he also wanted to spend some time with her husband. Addie could take care of herself, and she’d never take any crap from a guy. Still, the big brother in him needed to know Trent better. The guy was his baby sister’s husband and the father of his future niece or nephew. Regardless of the fact that Trent was a billionaire, if he ever treated Addie poorly, he’d be getting a not-so-friendly visit from him.

Rock entered the restaurant and headed for the hostess station.

“Name and party size,” the hostess said after greeting him.

“I’m meeting the Sherbrooke party. They should’ve already arrived.”

Several of the conversations around him stopped. Addie had admitted she was still getting used to being a Sherbrooke. He suspected it was because of moments like these.

The hostess smiled at him and reached for a menu. “Yes, Mr. Sherbrooke said they were expecting one more tonight. Please follow me.”

Dismissing the busy bodies in the waiting area, Rock followed the hostess past the cocktail bar, noting all the emergency exits and quickly taking stock of the customers they passed.

He spotted his sister and brother-in-law near the back wall, but before he reached them, Addie stood and rushed toward him.

“Rock.” She threw her arms around him.

Normally, he’d hug her right back, but tonight he paused. When he’d seen her in January, Addie hadn’t looked pregnant. Now she looked like she’d swallowed a basketball. The last pregnant woman he’d probably hugged had been his mom when she’d been expecting Addison. He didn’t want to hurt her.

“I won’t pop if you hug me,” Addie said, her voice low so no one else heard her.

“I just wasn’t sure I’d get my arms around ya.” No way was he admitting he’d been nervous about hugging his own sister.

“I’m so glad I invited you tonight. You’re always so full of compliments.” She flicked the back of his neck and then kissed his cheek.

Trent stood and extended his hand when they approached the table. “Rock, I’m glad you could join us. You probably remember my cousin Jake and his wife Charlie.” Trent gestured toward the couple across from him. “And my sister Allison.”

He remembered everyone, especially Miss Allison Sherbrooke. He’d only danced with her once at Addie’s wedding, but it had been enough to scorch the image of the woman into his brain. He’d never tell anyone, but since the wedding, Allison had made many appearances in his dreams.

“It’s nice to see everyone again. Thanks for including me.” He made eye contact with each member of the party before his eyes swung back for one extra glance at Allison.
Mannaggia
, Rock thought using one of his dad’s favorite Italian curses, one he’d adopted himself. The word itself didn’t translate into English, but it fit the moment because damn if she wasn’t the hottest woman he’d ever met. He suspected she’d be making another X-rated appearance in his dreams tonight.

“Trent wants me to stop working,” Addie said as the conversation at the table started back up again. “Charlie, you’re a doctor, can you please tell him it’s not necessary. It’s not like I’m climbing ladders and lifting heavy objects.”

“What’s wrong with wanting to make sure you get plenty of rest before the baby comes?” Trent asked.

“I tried to tell Charlie the same thing. She wouldn’t listen to me either,” Jake said, sounding annoyed.

Rock saw his sister and Charlie exchange a look he couldn’t decipher before Charlie said, “As long as Addie’s healthy, there’s no reason for her to stop working unless her doctor tells her to.”

He could’ve told his brother-in-law that trying to convince Addie to do something was pointless. She had a mind of her own. Most days he considered that a good thing.

“My mom worked the day she had me,” Addie said, looking in his direction. “Right, Rock?”

“Doesn’t mean you need to,” Rock said. Their parents had been in a very different financial situation than Addie and her husband. His sister could never work again and it wouldn’t adversely affect her or her family.

Trent looked at him and nodded. “See, even your brother agrees with me.”

“Thanks a lot, Rock.” Addie gave him a dirty look before she turned back to her husband. “I never said I was going to work right to my due date, just until the end of April. The baby isn’t due until June.”

“Maybe we should change the subject,” Allison said, entering the conversation. “Dad said you won’t tell him if you’re having a girl or a boy.”

Now that he thought about it, Addie hadn’t told him either. Then again, he hadn’t asked.

“That’s because we don’t know,” Trent answered.

“Seriously? How can you not want to know?” Allison asked.

“We want to be surprised,” Trent answered.

“You do realize it makes it impossible to buy gifts when you don’t know if they’re for a girl or a boy, right?” Allison asked, looking at the two married couples.

“Only a couple more weeks before you know our surprise,” Jake said.

“You don’t know what you’re having either?” Rock asked. Only a handful of his buddies had kids, but they’d all known what they were having in advance. He’d assumed most couples did.

Charlie shook her head, drawing Rock’s attention to her clenched jaw. “We decided to wait,” she said, her knuckles turning white as she gripped her water glass.

“Are you okay, Charlie?” Trent asked, telling him his brother-in-law had also noticed something appeared wrong.

Jake didn’t give Charlie a chance to answer. “You’re not fine. What’s wrong?”

“I’m––” The rest of her sentence didn’t come. Instead, Charlie took in a sharp breath.

“Charlie?”

There was no missing the worry in Jake’s voice.

“It might have been a contraction.” Charlie pasted on the fakest smile he’d ever seen and released her grip on the glass. “Should we order an appetizer? The stuffed mushrooms here are delicious.”

“Are you serious? When did they start?” Jake pulled the menu from his wife’s hands, not that Rock blamed him. If the woman was in labor, whether or not to order an appetizer shouldn’t be on her mind.

“About forty minutes ago, but I’m not convinced they’re not Braxton Hicks contractions.”

He had no idea what those were, but if the word contractions was at all involved, a restaurant seemed like the wrong place to be sitting.

“We’re going to the hospital.” Jake stood and pulled back his wife’s chair.

“Jake, even if they are real, we both know it’ll be hours before anything happens. If we go to the hospital now, they’ll send us home.”

“Trust me, they won’t send us home.” Jake reached for Charlie’s hand when she didn’t stand.

“We’re not going to the hospital,” Charlie said, her voice ringing with all the authority of a gunnery sergeant. “But if it’ll make you feel better, we can—” she paused again and took in a deep breath; after slowly exhaling, she continued “—go home.”

Jake gave his wife’s arm a little tug, his expression revealing the fact he wanted to argue but knew it’d be pointless. “Fine. Let’s go. Now.”

“It was nice seeing you again, Rock.” Charlie stood in no apparent rush, and Rock wondered if she was intentionally being slow to annoy her husband. Somehow, he could picture his sister doing the same thing to Trent when the time came. “Addison, Trent, I’ll see you on Sunday at the fundraiser.”

Rock doubted Jake would let his wife out of the house again unless it involved a trip to the hospital.

“Charlie.” Jake tugged his wife’s arm again and received a swat on the hand in return.

Across the table, Trent laughed. “You look a bit worked up there, Jake. Do you need a ride home or can you handle it?”

“Just wait, Trent, until it’s your turn.”

Trent laughed again. “Let us know what happens.”

Charlie nodded and allowed Jake to lead her away from the table and out of the dinning room.

“I’ve never seen him so worked up,” Allison said from next to him.

He wouldn’t have pegged Jake Sherbrooke for the type to overreact and worry either. After all, he did run a disaster relief foundation. He’d expect someone who did that type of work to be cool and collected in an emergency situation.

“If he keeps it up and Charlie is in labor, she’ll kick him out of the delivery room,” Trent said, picking up his menu as a waiter approached their table.

Conversation at the table stopped long enough for everyone to place their dinner orders. Once the waiter walked away, Rock looked back at his sister. “How long are you and Trent staying down here?” Assuming it fit into his schedule, he’d like to see them again before they returned to Providence.

“Until––” Trent’s ringing phone cut off his sister.

“It’s Jake,” Trent said as he pulled out his cell phone. “I bet he does need help getting home.”

No one spoke as Trent answered the phone. “Keep us updated,” Trent said after a few seconds. Then he put the phone back into his pocket and looked in Rock’s direction. “We’ll be here until Wednesday.”

“Who cares,” Allison said. “Why did Jake call? Is something wrong?”

Trent shrugged and Rock suspected he was trying to annoy his younger sister. As an older brother himself, he knew how much fun that could be no matter your age.

“Nothing big. Charlie’s water broke in the parking lot. They’re headed to the hospital.”

“That’s terrible. Uncle Warren won’t be around when this baby is born either,” Allison said.

Rock almost laughed. To hear the President of The United States referred to as “Uncle Warren” just seemed wrong. After all, Warren Sherbrooke was one of the most powerful men in the world.

“He was in England when my cousin Callie had her son in September and now he’s in Turkey,” Allison said, looking at him and explaining her comment. “He won’t be back until Tuesday or Wednesday I think.”

He felt for the man. He wouldn’t be around when Addie gave birth in June. At least the President would see his new grandson or granddaughter in a matter of days. It’d be months before he got to meet his new niece or nephew.

Rock listened as the rest of the party discussed the upcoming fundraiser. He’d known it was the main reason Addie and Trent had traveled down to Virginia. He hadn’t realized several other members of the Sherbrooke clan would also be present, including the President’s youngest daughter and two of Trent’s younger brothers.