Page 69 of Brewer Family Collection, Part 1

Chloe

“ M imi ,” I say, smiling at the sound of her voice. “Hi, how are you?”

“Probably not as good as you are right about now.” Her laugh is mischievous. “How are things over there?”

I glance around the bedroom, my cheeks aching from smiling so much.

“It’s good, Meems. Really good.”

“I knew it would be. He has hands that?—”

“Can we … not?” I ask, giggling.

“We share everything! Don’t bail on me now.”

That’s true—I do share everything with my grandmother. I don’t know why it’s different this time, but it is. Very different .

“And I’ll share with you later,” I say, hoping it’ll satiate her need for knowledge. “But tell me about you. How do you like your new digs? How’s Mara? Are you two hitting it off?”

I’ve been worrying about her in the back of my mind, hoping she’s settling in well.

Last night, she texted me to congratulate me on the wedding, and her spirits seemed high.

Jason also swore that Mara had everything under control.

Between the two of them, I’m a lot calmer about being away from her than I thought I might be.

Mimi sighs happily. I imagine her in the living room recliner, a blanket on her lap, and her head resting against a pillow. I imagine her smile stretching across her wrinkly skin.

“First things first, I adore Mara,” Mimi says. “We like the same kind of movies. She’s one hell of a cook. She made homemade chicken potpie last night. Can you believe that?”

I laugh. Mimi is easily won over by two things—handsome men and good food.

“This little place is so damn cute, Chloe. I have my own kitchen. Mara went to the store for me this morning, and I made my own oatmeal, then sat outside by the pool and enjoyed it with a cup of coffee.”

I smack my forehead. “Shit, Mimi. I brought my credit card with me. I left you there with no money.”

“Honey, wise up. Your new husband took care of it, just like he had an adjustable bed delivered this morning because Mara told him I was having trouble getting in and out.”

Tears well up in my eyes, and the bridge of my nose burns. This wonderful, over-the-top, thoughtful man. How did he even have time to talk to Mara, let alone arrange for a new bed for my grandmother?

Mimi breathes softly. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you, Chloe, but I know one thing—that boy is crazy about you. I hope you see that.”

I bite my lip, afraid the lump in my throat will cloud my voice if I try to speak.

Is he crazy about me?

My stomach flip-flops at the idea, but I don’t want to think about it too much. This is only for six months. There’s no use in getting my heart broken. I just need to enjoy what I have while I have it and not get greedy.

“Mara is supposed to be by this afternoon,” Mimi says. “She’s going to take me out in the golf cart looking for hot guys.”

I snort. It quickly dissolves into a fit of giggles. “Oh, Mimi.”

“What? I’m old, not dead, Chloe.”

“Well, good luck. I hope you find one.”

“Or two. Hell, let’s go out with a bang.”

I don’t know what to say to that, so I just laugh.

“Where’s your husband?” she asks. “Can I thank him for my new bed?”

“He’s actually at a meeting right now. It was scheduled before we decided to get married, and I asked him to go. He didn’t want to, but I really wanted some time alone.”

I don’t have to explain that to Mimi, and I doubt she’d comment about it, anyway. But I felt the need to defend Jason’s absence, just in case.

“Okay then. Tell him I love it, and if I’m feeling up to it, I’ll bake him a pie when you get home.”

The sound of her being so hopeful and optimistic makes my day. She’s stronger than I’ve heard her in a long time, no longer frail and defeated. And that’s how I know I absolutely made the right decision to marry Jason . For so many reasons.

“I will. I love you, Mimi.”

“I know you do, pumpkin. I love you, too. Now go enjoy your alone time while you have it. I suspect your hubby will be home soon and will be invading every inch of your privacy.”

“Goodbye, Mimi,” I say, giggling again.

“Goodbye, Chloe.”

I hold the phone against my chest. My robe hangs open, the air caressing my skin covered only by bra and panties, as I enter the atrium.

The candles are in their respective spots where we blew them out before we went to bed.

Our clothes and shoes litter the floor where we shed them last night.

The bottle of champagne we shared after our bath sits empty on the table.

It’s the aftermath of a night that will stay with me forever.

I open my phone and find Jason’s name.

Me: Thank you for sending Mimi a new bed.

Jason: Of course.

Me: How did you know she needed one? And how did you have time to get her one in the midst of the craziness of the past day?

Jason: I know everything. See you soon, beautiful. Enjoy your morning.

Me: heart emoji

I wait for a response, but nothing comes.

I blow out a breath and traipse to the kitchen.

I find a bagel and cream cheese that seems fresh enough and make a quick breakfast. As I move around the kitchen, finding snacks and drinks and fresh kitchen towels, I can’t help but wonder if Renn leaves this place stocked all the time.

If he never comes here, why is there food?

Do his brothers visit often enough to warrant groceries?

Or did Jason have a few things delivered before we arrived?

The thought makes me smile. I haven’t been taken care of like this in a long time.

My heart aches as I think of my sweet mother. I wish so badly that I could call her and tell her what I’ve been up to. What would she think of this whole situation? Would she cheer me on like Mimi? Or would she be disappointed in my lack of ethics?

Something tells me if I’m not hurting anyone and I’m happy, she wouldn’t care. And I know she’d be over the moon that I married a Brewer. She thought so much of their family—except Reid. Mom never liked him too much.

I nibble the bagel and curl up on the sofa in the living room. The television looks too complicated to work and I don’t want to break anything, so I pick up my phone instead. Instinctively, I consider checking my email, but Jason’s warning about not working this weekend rings loudly in my head.

Yet the idea of going back to work has now entered my mind, and I can’t shake it. There are too many unknowns and too many variables.

I set the bagel down and dial Nickie. She answers in two rings.

“Hello,” she says.

“Hey. It’s Chloe.”

“Hey, you. I came by your office yesterday afternoon, but Brandi said you were already gone. Is everything okay?”

I glance around the penthouse and then at the giant rock on my finger. “Yeah. Things are going okay.”

“Good. I was worried something was wrong. So what’s up?”

A flurry of excitement bubbles through me, and suddenly, I can’t wait to tell someone my news.

“Remember when I told you that if I got a secret boyfriend you’d be the first to know?” I ask, my cheeks flushing.

“Yeah.” She pauses. “And?”

“Well, I don’t exactly have a secret boyfriend. But I do have a husband.”

“ What ?”

I giggle. “I got married last night, Nick. In Vegas.”

“ You what ? Oh, my God. You little liar! You’ve been seeing someone this whole time, and you lied right to my face.” She laughs happily. “It’s a good thing I’m a forgiving friend. Now fill me in. Load me up with details.”

I sigh. “I …” Don’t know how to say this. “We hopped on a plane yesterday evening and flew to Vegas. Then we decided to head to a little chapel on the Strip and get married last night.”

“Was this planned or an impromptu thing?”

It was a bet. “Planned. We knew we were getting married when we came here.”

“So, you’re still in Vegas, I assume.”

“I am.”

“With your husband.” She laughs. “That sounds so wild. You have a husband . Do I know him?”

I’m glad she can’t see me because I can’t hide my smile or my blush.

As excited as I am to tell her and share it with my only friend, it also feels a little bit like losing a precious secret.

But it has to be done, and I know I’ll feel better about it once I break the news.

At least I’ll be able to gauge her response and hopefully worry less until Monday morning.

“You do know him, actually,” I say carefully. “It’s Jason.”

“Jason who?”

The silence is deafening.

“Wait …” She sucks in a breath. “You don’t mean … There’s no way .”

“Way.”

“You’re telling me that you married Jason Brewer?”

“I am.”

“ You married your boss ?” Her voice is just below a shriek. “Are you shitting me? Are you serious right now? Don’t play with me, Chlo.”

My laughter fills the line.

“You are serious. Oh, my God . How did I miss this? How did I miss the signs? There had to have been signs?” It sounds as if she smacks her head. “And I’ve been drooling over the man, and he’s been your fiancé? I’m humiliated.”

“Don’t be. I can’t blame you. I don’t blame you.”

She sighs as if she’s in disbelief. “So how? Why? When? Tell me all the things.”

I’m not sure what I’m supposed to say or how much I’m supposed to divulge. I don’t want to outright lie to her. Then again, I’m not about to say anything that would hurt the Brewer image. And if word spreads that Jason married his assistant in a bet, that’s not exactly a good look for him—or me.

“We didn’t really want it to get out,” I say, dancing through the fire. “If things didn’t work out between us, we would still be friends and coworkers. So we didn’t want the potential drama, you know?”

“Understandable. I just can’t believe I didn’t notice. I think if I were fucking Jason Brewer, I’d be telling the whole world.”

Which is probably why he’d never sleep with you. The idea of her betraying Jason like that rubs me the wrong way. But before I can respond, the doorbell rings.

“Hey, I have to go,” I say. “Someone’s here.”

“When are you coming back to town?”

“Tomorrow, I think. I’ll see you Monday at work.”

“Can we at least do lunch? I need details, you little minx.”

I laugh. “Lunch for sure.”

“I’m so happy for you. Congrats!”