“You don’t speak for the rest of the family.”
Lee’s eyes darkened dangerously. “Yes, I do and I better not hear that you bothered Richard or Zack with this nonsense either. When are you going to grow up and stop fantasizing about this woman,” his brother tossed out before he got up from the chair and stormed out of his office.
Well, it seemed like the olive branch had broken before Alicia had a chance to even accept it from Lee, he thought.
Brad hated that Lee didn’t see the importance of this story, but he wasn’t going to let Lee’s piss ass attitude stop him. He was going to talk to his other brothers after work and get their opinions. If Lee didn’t want to participate then so be it.
Cherise moved around several times on the bed before she finally found a comfortable spot for a while. At least the babies had stopped kicking for the night and decided it was time for them to sleep. She wasn’t sure if she was ready for two miniatures versions of Lee in a couple of months. Her husband was bad enough sometimes but to have two sons that would be exactly like their daddy, it definitely was going to keep her busy.
She was reaching for the romance book next to her on the bed when Lee came storming into the bedroom looking madder than a bull in a pen slamming the door behind him.
“I can’t believe the nerve of my brother. I don’t know how I made it all day at work without yelling at him again,” Lee complained as he placed across the carpet in front of the bed.
“Bad day at work,” Cherise asked, watching as Lee practically ripped the dark purple tie from around his neck..
“I tried…I really did, but Brad just doesn’t want to listen to anything I want to tell him. I’m older and wiser. He should be glad that I want to give him my opinion.”
“Sweetheart, Brad might be the youngest but he’s still an adult and a grown man. He has a right now not to want you all up in his business and mainly his love life. I’ve talked to Alicia before and she didn’t come across that horrible to me. I think she’s a little guarded with her emotions and that’s it.”
Lee stopped his crazy pacing and looked at her. “Alicia is bad for Brad. Baby, I love you, but you don’t know what you’re talking about. Look how long it took you to come to your senses about me?”
“I’m going to let that comment pass because you’re upset about your day, but I’m warning you not to say it again.” Cherise waved a finger in her husband’s direction.
Coming over to her, Lee took a seat on the bed next to her. ‘Wait until I tell you what Alicia wants us to do and then you’ll agree with me.”
Cherise knew she wasn’t going to be able to relax with a good book anymore, so she gave her undivided attention to her husband. Lee wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight unless he got this problem off his chest and she didn’t need him tossing and turning in the bed next to her.
“I’m listening.”
“Brad knows how I feel about the media and their interest in my family. I’ve done everything in my power to keep them out. I hate doing interviews unless I really need to and it’s for a good cause.”
“Sure I have money, power and fame, but I’ve no need to put it out there for the public to judge me about. So, why in the hell do I want Alicia in my personal life? It’s not hers or anyone else’s business why I married you.”
Cherise couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Lee was actually upset that Alicia wanted to tell the world how they fell in love with each other. Was there another reason that he didn’t want the story done?
“Could you please move so I can get off the bed?’ Cherise touched Lee on the arm and waited while he got up. She noticed how he was watching her kind of strangely, but she didn’t care. Once she got off the bed, Cherise stood in front of her husband.
“Lee, I think a story about you and your brothers will be wonderful. I don’t understand why you’re so irate about this. Are you saying you don’t want the world to know that you fell in love with me?” she questioned.
Lee quickly pulled her into his arms and planted a kiss on her mouth. “Baby, I started planning our wedding the second day after I met you. Of course, I don’t mind telling the world I’m in love with my beautiful pregnant wife.”
Leaning back in hr husband’s arms, Cherise stared up into his handsome face. “I’m glad you knew it because I hated you the first day I saw you and even more the second day.”
“Did you really hate me?” Lee whispered against her neck. “You weren’t the tiniest bit turned on by me?” Moving his hand between their bodies, he rubbed it over her belly. “Are you telling me that you didn’t know that I’d be the father of your children?”
She couldn’t resist teasing her overly confident husband…sometimes he was just too arrogant for his own good.
“No, honestly I had my eye on Simon. That’s why I ran off to Paris with him. There’s no telling what might of happened if you hadn’t come after me.”
Placing a finger under her chin, Lee lifted her chin until her eyes connected with his. “You never would have done anything with Simon because you were in love with me. Plus if he had laid a hand on you I would have tossed his ass off that balcony,” he growled.
“Why would you have done that?”
“Because I love you and I wouldn’t have let anything or anyone stand in my way of my feelings for you.”
“Why can’t you see that’s how Brad feels about Alicia?” Cherise asked Lee. “You can’t live his life for him. Do you truly think he would have asked you to do this interview if he thought Alicia would do a hatchet job on his family?”
His eyes clung to hers, analyzing her reaction. It was going to be hard for Lee to admit that he was wrong, but he would be man enough to do it.
“Do you know how much I hate it when you’re right?” Lee moved her finger off her face and then took a step back. “I can’t make Richard and Zack not do the interview.”
“Does that mean you’re agreeing to do it?”
“Yeah, if my other brothers say yes, then I won’t say no.”
Cherise stood on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss. “I’m proud of you and so are your boys.”
“I’m glad you’re proud because that means you’ll give me something I want,” Lee said, smiling at her.
Lord, she could only guess what her sexy husband wanted.
“What can I give you?”
“Right at this second I’ll settle for a kiss from my gorgeous wife and then I’ll pick something better later,” Lee told her with a certain look in his eyes.
“I bet I already know what it will be,” Cherise said as her husband lowered his head for a kiss.
“What’s your guess?”
“Crab puffs,” Cherise moaned “I think you love those darn things more than me.”
Lee’s face lit up right before he pulled her closer to him. “They do come a very close second,” he admitted and then kissed her.
Chapter Four
Why did it seem like her hours at work were getting longer instead of shorter, Alicia wondered as she dragged her weary body over to the small wine bar at the corner of the room and poured herself a glass of red wine.
Grabbing the glass, she moved over to the island in the kitchen and rested her back against the side. She had been sitting on her behind for the last sixteen hours and she wasn’t in the mood to sit down at the moment.
God, when was Tiffany going to learn that everyone didn’t have to jump through hoops when she called. No, she hadn’t heard from Brad yet about doing the piece on his family, but that didn’t mean he was going to turn her down.