***
For all Eric’s moaning about shopping, he actually had a great time and dragged me all over the place until I announced he’d have to carry me back if we didn’t call it a day. We finally made it back to Ramon’s apartment where I could crash on the sofa, blissfully exhausted. I grin down at Eric at the end of the couch and sigh at how wonderful his massage feels on my aching feet.
He has talented hands, but, I’m afraid to say, the only hands I really want on me are Lucien’s, and Eric knows this. I can’t fault him. Between him and Ramon they’ve stopped me from wallowing too much in despair, or at least they have after letting me have my three days of staying in bed crying.
Ramon had gone off early this morning, mumbling something about a brothers meeting. I’ve managed all day to put the meaning behind his words out of my head, but now that I’m relaxing I can’t help wondering if the brothers’ meeting was at Lucien’s place. I’m desperate for word on him and neither, Ramon or Eric will tell me anything. I’m not sure Eric knows anything, but I know Ramon does and I’m planning on pinning him down when I see him. He can only avoid me for so long when I’m living in his apartment right now.
I groan inwardly at that problem. While Ramon has said I can stay for as long as I like, I can’t stay forever. It’s just too awkward since he’s Lucien’s brother. And it is getting harder to stay since my mom knows about my split from Lucien now. Ever since she found out, she’s been trying to persuade me to move in with her. Her argument is that it isn’t appropriate to live with two single men, and that others will think my relationship is with them both. I’m glad she had been on the phone so she couldn’t see my eyes bug out of my head when she mentioned that. It made me wonder what kind of books she reads behind the backs of the book club ladies. That’s something I intend to find out. She isn’t going to get away with it from me, not when she has made such a fuss about those kinds of books. Is she a closet erotic reader?
I smile at the thought.
“Ouch.”
I pull my foot away, but Eric grabs it and rubs where he’s just nipped me.
“What was that for?”
“I want to know what you’re thinking about that has your face alight with mischief.”
I smirk. “I was imagining the kind of books my mother has been reading to suggest that people will think I’m really with both you and Ramon living here. I mean Jane Eyre doesn’t talk about threesomes.”
He pauses while glaring at me. I can see the wheels turning in his head wondering what I’m really getting at.
“Your mom is under the impression that as long as you live here, everyone is going to think you’re doing the horizontal with the both of us.”
“Yes,” I grin, which turns into a laugh when Eric wiggles his eyebrows.
“I’m game if that was a hint,” he laughs.
I push him with my foot as I scoot back into a sitting position.
“You’re incorrigible and remind me a bit of Sebastian. Yes, my mom suggested that, but if you knew her then your mind would work overtime wondering how she worked that out. She has always done the proper thing, like she was raised to do. For years, I felt like I was living in a castle, but looking in, you know. She could never understand why I preferred jeans to frilly dresses. We’ve only really started talking and spending bits of time together since I was in the hospital last. It’s nice.”
“I’m glad you’re finally spending time with her. Make the most of it…My mom was amazing, and after losing her all those years ago, I still remember her singing me to sleep when I was a child. It may sound crazy but as I got older she was always there guiding me and my brothers out of trouble. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for any of us. I was nine when she died, and her passing left a hole in our family that still hasn’t healed.”
“I’m sorry you lost your mom, Eric. She sounds like she was amazing.”
“Thanks.” He shakes his head. “It’s been a long time... All we need to do now is make you irresistible to my idiotic cousin, and I have an idea.”
I groan. “Do I want to know? Your grin is frightening me.”
“Ramon told me a while back that Gavin asked if he could take you to the fundraising event.”
“Huh.”
“Sabrina, think. There is nothing that’s going to get Lucien’s back up like seeing the woman he loves on a date with another man. I’d offer to be the other man, but something tells me he won’t buy that.”
“Lucien doesn’t love me.”
I wish he did.
“Think about what I’ve said, and if it makes you feel better, then tell Gavin the truth and see if he’d be willing to help you out.”