Page 28 of Let It Burn (The Barrington Billionaires 4)
Instead of answering her question, Andrew turned, placed his hand on the small of Helene’s back, and urged her forward. “Kenzi, this is Helene Franklin.”
Kenzi wiped at her eyes and looked Helene over. “Nice to meet you, Helene.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” Helene said. She offered her hand for a shake and Kenzi took it, but the exchange was awkward.
Dax placed his arm around Kenzi’s waist and nuzzled her neck. “Happy?”
She wagged a finger at him. “I would have gone with you had I known where you were going.”
Dax kissed his wife’s cheek, appearing more amused than concerned with his wife’s reprimand.
Kenzi gave her husband an indulgent smile then hugged him again. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” he said and kissed her briefly on the lips.
Andrew nodded at the limo. “We’re staying at a hotel, but we’d appreciate the ride.”
Kenzi exchanged a look with Dax. “We have spare bedrooms at our place.”
“You know me, I’d rather have my own space,” Andrew said.
“If you’re sure. We can drop you there after we go to Mom and Dad’s.”
“I’ll take Helene to see them tomorrow.”
Kenzi’s expression turned pleading. “No. You have to go tonight. After Dax called me, I told everyone you were coming home. They’re already at the house waiting for you. We thought we’d have dinner together. All of us.”
“You should have asked, Kenzi. We’re tired.”
Kenzi’s expression fell, and Helene felt sorry for her. Helene wanted to kick Andrew for not seeing how much it meant to his sister to have him back. Helene said, “I’m not tired.” Andrew frowned down at her. She had grown so used to his eyes following her with approval, desire, or both, that she almost apologized for overstepping. Then she took another look at Kenzi’s sad expression and reminded herself that the right thing to do was often not popular at first but that didn’t make it less imperative to do. Andrew needed his family as much as his family seemed to need him. Let him be annoyed. He’ll get over it. “I’m really looking forward to meeting your family and I’m starving. I don’t mind going without you, Andrew, if you want to go to the hotel and rest.”
Checkmate.
He made a sound deep in his chest and glared at her.
She flashed a bright smile at him. This is for your own good.
“I couldn’t let you do that,” he said tightly. “Dinner it is.”
Kenzi studied them both for a moment, then pulled her coat tighter around her. “Great. Then let’s get going.”
Helene shivered in the light coat she’d grabbed from her house, but said, “I’ll meet you in a second.”
Kenzi hesitated, but Dax reassured her that everything was fine. Andrew looked as if he wanted to wait with her but she waved him to go with them. As soon as she was alone, she called her parents. “I’m here,” she said.
After her parents spent a minute situating themselves so they could both hear her, her mother asked, “How was the flight?”
“Nice. It went by fast.”
“And his family?” her father demanded.
“We just got here, so I can’t say much, but his sister seems lovely. She was so happy to see him.”
“Oh, that’s great,” her mother said.
“I only have a minute, but I wanted to say something.”
“Okay,” her parents said in unison.
“Thank you for understanding how important this is to me. I really want this to work out for Andrew.”
“We know,” her mother said gently.
“Don’t see it as a failure on your part if it doesn’t work out there. Not every family is like ours,” her father added.
Love for her parents welled within her. “I’m realizing that, and it makes me even more grateful to have the two of you. I love you.”
“We love you, too,” her mother said.
“We sure do,” her father chimed in.
“We’re headed over to his parents’ house for dinner. Looks like I’ll be meeting the whole bunch of them tonight.”
“Just be yourself,” her father said.
“That’s what Andrew said.”
Her mother clicked her tongue. “My mother used to say, ‘Give ’em your best and if that ain’t good enough, give ’em hell.’”
Her father laughed, but said, “Grandma was senile at the end. You might want to go easy on following all of her advice. But don’t worry, Andrew’s family will love you.”
“Are you staying with his parents?” her mother asked. “If so, you might want to get a hotel room there, too. With all the ‘errands’ the two of you have, his parents will probably be more comfortable with you not doing that in their home.”
Helene blushed to her toes. She hadn’t realized her parents knew where she and Andrew had disappeared to each day. “Okay, well, good talk. I’ll call you either tonight or tomorrow morning.”
“Be good,” her mother said.
“Be careful,” her father added. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.” Helene hung up and rubbed her cold hands together. The driver of the limo opened the door as she approached it. Helene slid in and chose a spot next to Andrew.
“Everything okay?” Andrew asked. Although he seemed concerned, he didn’t pull her to him as he normally would have. A search of his face revealed a lack of any emotion. This was what Helene had feared, he was shutting down.
He was a complicated man. Strong and guarded at times, tender and silly at others. When she’d gone to rush into her uncle’s burning home, she’d seen the depth of his pain and scars. Visiting his family was revealing yet another side of him. He was withdrawing both emotionally and physically. What was he afraid would happen? He’d said he hadn’t gone home mostly because of his mother. He didn’t want to go home damaged. Does he think what he’s been through has made him unlovable? He’s wrong.
I’m falling hard and fast.
Is everything okay?
“Yes,” she said. I have to believe it is.
Helene’s reappearance was a welcome reprieve from the conversation Andrew had been having with his sister. It had started the moment the door of the limo had closed, allowing Kenzi, Dax, and him a moment of privacy.
Kenzi had immediately said, “Are you and Helene serious? I’ve never heard you mention her name. How long have you known her?”
Andrew wasn’t about to tell her any part of how he’d met Helene nor was he ready to define their relationship. “It’s good to see you, too.”
Dax had taken her hand in his. “Give him a moment to breathe, Kenzi.”
“He’s never brought anyone home before, Dax. My parents will be asking the same questions.” Kenzi leaned forward. “While we have a minute, Lance heard you went to Aruba. Did you find out anything? I told him the private investigator is exaggerating everything just to milk him for more money. He called and told Lance the man who ran the clinic where I was born fled the country after his house burned to the ground. Do you know anything about that?”
The door of the limo had opened then, perfectly timed to make a response unnecessary. Now Helene was looking at him with her lips pressed together in determination. He guessed she was disappointed in him, but the lure of going into survival numbness was too strong. Kenzi said something to her that made Helene smile, but he’d missed what it was.
He yearned for the simplicity of being with Helene in Florida. He wanted to wake up, work hard, laugh with people who didn’t ask him questions he didn’t have the answers to, and lose himself in mind-blowing sex with Helene. It took coming back to Boston to realize ten days in heaven hadn’t cured him. The guilt and self-loathing were suffocating.
The ride to his parents’ home passed in a blur. Before long, well before he was ready, the limo pulled into their driveway. The driver held the door while Helene and Dax got out. Kenzi hung behind. Andrew half stood to follow them out.
“Andrew,” Ken
zi said.
“Yes?”
“I love you. You don’t have to tell me what happened to you. You don’t have to tell anyone. I just want you to know I’m always here for you.”
Andrew nodded and finished getting out of the vehicle, then held his hand out to her. “I know.” She stepped off to join Dax, and he cursed himself for not saying he loved her, too. It wasn’t her fault he was fucked up.
Helene was at his side, and he frowned at her. Her first time meeting my parents shouldn’t be like this. I should be laughing, and she should be dancing with excitement. I’m sorry, Helene. Sorry I can’t do this better.
Her eyebrows furrowed as if she was trying to read his thoughts. “Are you angry with me?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Myself. I shouldn’t have brought you here. You don’t need this crap. What the hell are you doing with me?”
