Mr. Brockwell

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

*Calista*

Ida returned with tea, as well as a look of trepidation, as she set the tray down on the bed. She poured two glasses, one for me and one for herself, as she sat on the edge of the bed sipping from her cup. I could sense her tension, she was worried or angry about something, and I guessed it had to do with Adrian leaving to handle Ivan. I sipped my tea and cleared my throat. I needed some answers.

"Do you know where Adrian went?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"No," Ida sighed and gazed over at me with heavy eyes, "But I do know that boy likes ya, and he'll do whatever it takes to protect ya."

"That's not necessarily a good thing..." I muttered.

"No, darlin', it's not. Especially when ya get the lot of em' together, they turn into a bunch of rambunctious tots again!" Ida exclaimed with another heavy sigh, shaking her head and drinking her tea.

"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.

"Adrian has friends with the same background as him, and when they get together all hell breaks loose." Ida shudders.

"Same background? They're stockbrokers too?" I asked, even more perplexed.

"It's not for me to tell, darlin'. All I can say is, they know each other from the Military." Ida muttered, finishing her tea.

"Adrian was in the military?" I repeated in disbelief.

"Aye, one of the best." She nodded and cleaned up the empty teacups, placing them back on the tray.

"Interesting..." I hummed, picturing Adrian in a Military uniform, and biting my lip.

"It's time to make lunch, I'll be back in a little while love." Ida said, grabbing the tray and shuffling out of the room.

I couldn't believe it. Adrian was in the Military! I guess it makes sense, considering his posture is always perfect, and he pronounces his words perfectly. It also explained his dominant personality... the more I think about it, the more my heart starts to pitter-patter.

My phone starts ringing, and it breaks me from my reverie. I glance at the screen and find Quinn's name appearing, causing me to smile and grab my phone immediately. I've missed Quinn over the last week and had totally forgotten to keep in touch with her, especially with everything that has happened.

"Quinn." I answered my phone with a bright smile.

"Hey honey! Long time no see, how are you feeling?!" Quinn screeched in her excited tone, causing me to erupt in laughter.

"I'm doing much better, almost fully healed. How have you been?" I asked.

"I'm glad, boo. I'm good, just the normal day to day, nothing special. So, how's living with your hottie boss?" She giggled.

"Well... uh..." I blushed and dropped my voice to a light whisper, "We kissed.."

"OH MY GOSH!" Quinn squealed, and I burst into laughter, "Tell me everything!"

I told Quinn everything, all there was to tell about what had transpired between Adrian and I... all the while my heart was fluttering inside my chest. My mind can't stop picturing his smoldering gaze, and dammit if I don't find myself longing to kiss him again. I don't know what's happening between Adrian and I, but there's something there. Something I've never experienced before.

"It sounds to me like he's got the hots for you too, but there are a couple of wrenches in the gears..." Quinn remarked.

"Maybe... I don't know why a guy like him would want a girl like me, though..." I mumbled, it was a legitimate concern.

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Cali. You're a gorgeous, petite, little pixie babe! Any man would be lucky to have you!" Quinn roared, and I giggled at her choice of words.

"Pixie?" I asked, shaking my head.

"Because you're so cute and little." She snickered.

"I guess I'll take that as a compliment." I chuckled, shrugging.

Quinn and I talked for a little while longer, until she had to go to work and lunch was ready. It was really nice to hear her voice again. I almost forgot how much I missed my best friend, and living a normal life. Ivan ruined that for me, but Adrian is trying to help me pick up the pieces.

I went downstairs into the kitchen, lunch was served and waiting. Ida and Walter sat at the table, eating their chicken salads. I sat at the table, briefly glancing at Adrian's empty chair, and smiled at the other two. I poured ranch dressing over my salad, before starting to eat it in silence. Ida and Walter watched me, but they too remained silent, and I had to wonder if they knew where Adrian was. Or if they knew when he'd return.

Adrian is a mysterious man and peeling back his layers isn't an easy task, as he keeps things well concealed. I want to know more about him, what makes him who he is today. Something tells me that it's not going to be quite as simple as it sounds, but that won't stop me from trying.

After I finished lunch, I placed my dirty dishes in the sink and sulked my way back upstairs to my bedroom. I couldn't believe it, I was bored and lonely without Adrian here with me. Dare I say... I miss him... Oh my gosh, how clingy do I sound? Maybe I'm PMSing or something, that's what's got me feeling extra emotional...

Sitting on my bed, distraught, a light tap on my bedroom door caught my attention. Ida stepped inside with a gentle smile, sitting beside me on the bed. She wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me closer to her, embracing me with a warm hug. Tears began to form in the back of my eyes, but this time I refrained. Ida smiled and tilted her head, staring deeply into my eyes, searching for some kind of answer deep within me. I think she may have found what she was looking for.

"Yer a young female with a lot to lose, I get it, but trust me when I say that Adrian Brockwell is a pure gentleman. Trust me, I should know, I raised him meself." Ida lightly chuckled to herself.

"You raised him?" I asked, a little taken back.

"For the most part. His parents were always traveling on business, workin' long hours." Ida enlightened me on a tidbit about Adrian's past.

"Does he have siblings?" I asked, wanting to know more.

"He has a younger brother, Jackson, but he's away on duty..." Ida said, glancing at the window.

"Jackson is Military too?" I asked.

"Aye," Ida nodded with a light grimace, "At least I got one back home safe, eh?"

"I can tell how much Adrian loves and respects you." I smiled broadly, my heart warm and blithely.

"I could say the same thing about you!" Ida pointed at me with a loud chuckle, causing me to giggle too.

There was a knock at the door and then it opened, revealing Adrian. He had a look on his face that I'd never seen before, but it sent my stomach into knots and my heart began pounding against my chest. I knew something had happened, but what? Did he go to see Ivan? s**t, if he did, I hope everything is okay... the last thing I want is Adrian going to jail because he had to deal with my loser ex-boyfriend.

"Where did you go?" I asked, though I knew he wouldn't answer me directly.

"Just had something I needed to take care of," he shrugged and glanced at Ida, "Thank you for staying with her. I just have to make a quick phone call, and then I'll be back."

With that, he left the room again. I already knew he had visited Ivan and, judging by his demeanor, things didn't end well. My heart is hammering inside my chest, causing me to breathe heavily. Ida glanced at me with a raised eyebrow and I shrugged, attempting to hide my anxiety.

"Well, I had better continue doin' my job. I'll check on ya in a little while, darlin'." Ida said, her voice warm and raspy from old age.

I smiled, as she left the room and shut the door behind her. It didn't take long for Adrian to return, and he returned with his usual stoic expression, no longer frazzled. Not that I want him to be, but I do want to know what the hell is going on. I can sense tension with Adrian. I know something happened, and I want to know what.

He had no cuts or bruises, nothing indicating he had been in a fight, but that look on his face when he first walked in told a completely different story. He looked like he'd seen a ghost!

Adrian sat at the end of the bed on the very edge. Clearly, he was not planning on staying long. The thought of him leaving again so soon made me want to cling to him. I know I need to apologize for my mental break-down, but I'm not the mental case that he has to console all the time.

"You're back..." I murmured lightly, staring at his blank expression.

"Yes," he nodded and grimaced, "Are you alright?"

"I'm better, I've calmed down, and I wanted to apologize for that-" I started to say, until he interrupted.

"You don't have to apologize, Calista," Adrian said and grumbled the last words, "You do that too much."

"I'm sor-" I cut myself short, pressing my lips together to form a flat line.

"I'm glad you're doing better," Adrian said with a sexy crooked smirk, "I thought it would be nice to design this room to your liking. Since you'll be staying here for a while."

"What do you mean? I have everything I need." I shrugged, glancing around the already fully furnished bedroom.

"Yeah, but I want it to be in your style, to your taste." Adrian smiled wide, and I couldn't help but giggle.

"You want to go shopping?" I asked, still laughing.

"I want to take you shopping, yes." He smiled, and I shook my head at him, why does he want to waste money on that?

"Are we going to talk about where you went..?" I asked, completely changing the subject and throwing him off guard.

"I suppose so, considering you're probably not going to let it go..." Adrian playfully grunted and sighed, "Alright. I spoke with Ivan, he should leave you alone from here on out, but if you happen to hear from him please let me know."

"Everything went well?" I asked, searching for a change in his expression, but I got nothing.

"As good as it could go, yeah..." Adrian replied, biting the side of his cheek, but smiling.

"Thank you." I smiled and felt my cheeks blushing. Dammit, why does that happen so easily around him?

"You don't have to thank me for that," He winked and stood back on his feet, "Let me know when you're ready to leave."

"We're going now?" I exclaimed, shocked.

"Yup." Adrian chuckled and stood by the door with a smoldering stare.

I smiled and shook my head in disbelief, he's too much. I slid on a pair of white tennis shoes and followed him downstairs. Outside, he opened the car door for me and I buckled myself in, as he shut the door. Adrian climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine with the same sexy smirk that landed me here in his house. I would probably follow him anywhere, and not just because he's phenomenally gorgeous, but because I know I'll be safe with him. Because I know I can trust him implicitly, even his mysterious past that I have yet to learn about.