Page 69 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“Do you want me to stay?” I asked. I didn’t like the idea of leaving him behind at all.

“No,” he said, trying to be serious and grown up. “Layla and Maxim told me they’ll stay with me till you get back. And you’ll be back fast.”

“Are you sure?” I asked. I almost wished he’d throw a fit, scream and cry for me to stay. Or look at me upset as he did earlier this week when he didn’t want to go to daycare so I could cave.

He nodded and his eyes darted above me. I followed his gaze and found Alexander standing tall next to me. I was still slightly agitated from our earlier encounter.

I gave Brandon one more hug and got up. To my surprise, Brandon gave Alexander a hug too, and he returned it with a smile while I stared in shock.

“Now we are all a family,” Brandon exclaimed happily and I winced inwardly. This plan we had was going askew fast. It was backfiring tenfold and it had only been less than a day of this fake marriage.

I glanced at Alexander and our eyes met. It made me wonder if he was thinking the same, or if he even cared that Brandon might get hurt by our actions to keep him out of the foster system.

“Yes, we are a family now,” Alexander spoke, his eyes watching me in a silent challenge.

“Okay, you two,” Maxim announced, his smile slightly strenuous. “Off you go. Brandon and I will be playing football.” His eyes darted pointedly towards me and accented the next words. “The way it should be played.”

I shrugged my shoulder. “You do that,” I told him. “But if he gets hurt, I’ll hurt you much worse.”

Maxim laughed. “Livy, you can be scary sometimes.”

“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered. “Just make sure he is not hurt.”

“What kind of uncle would that make me?” Maxim joked around as he ruffled Brandon’s hair. Brandon looked so happy.

“Okay,” Alexander stopped us both. “Liberty, we have to go.”

Reluctantly, I allowed him to nudge me towards the car. Being alone with him would not be a good idea, I just knew it. I glanced behind me one more time before I got into the passenger seat, both Brandon, Layla, and Maxim waving at us.

An hour later, I checked my phone for the tenth time as we were boarding Alexander’s private plane. I didn’t want to leave Brandon, but pictures that awaited me assured me he was well. I was annoyed that he made plans for the honeymoon in another country instead of just staying at his Scottish estate. But I decided it was wiser to be quiet. He hadn’t said much of anything since we left.

Each second that ticked by from the time we said our wedding vows, I was convinced more and more we both made a mistake. Especially since my body hummed with desire for him, which made me furious with myself.

As his private plane landed in France, a driver awaited us. I wasn’t even packed for a trip, but he took care of that as well. I had no clue where we were going except that we were in France.

As we drove in the silence, I stared out the window. Magnificent views of green vineyards stretched for miles, mountainous hinterland behind them with outlines of little villages and towns were barely visible. It almost seemed as if they were perched on hillsides, trickling rivers rushing through them. The scenery was beautiful, passing vineyards and glimpses of the sea off the cliffs.

I felt exhausted. Last week had been an emotional roller coaster. I debated over and over again whether we rushed this, why didn’t I insist on clear rules and guidelines. Scratch that, I didn’t need to wonder. I knew we rushed this and I should have done a better job setting rules.

All that mattered to me was to ensure Brandon was with me. I wouldn’t not let Lena and Larry down. I tried to focus on beautiful sights rather than all the crap we were probably doing wrong.

I really couldn’t understand why he bothered going to these lengths for our arrangement; after all, it was just a business arrangement. I glanced over at him, but he was tirelessly working on something on his phone and I sighed, then looked back out the window.

“Why such a heavy sigh, Livy?” It was the first time he spoke to me since we left the wedding and he startled me. I looked over at him.

I watched him, unsure how to answer that question.

“C’mon,” he smiled and my mouth fell open. “You never held back before.”

I wasn’t sure if it was the exhaustion or anxiety, but my heart almost stopped seeing him smile again. I frowned. I had to watch it around this man; otherwise, I might lose my head and that would not be a good thing.

I opened my mouth to ask the question when it occurred to me the driver would hear whatever I said.

So instead, I just mumbled, “Nothing,” and returned to staring outside. I’d ask him when we get wherever the hell we were going.

Just as that thought crossed my mind, a beautiful French chateau entered my sight.

“Wow,” I mumbled, more to myself than anyone else. “Now isn’t that a sight?”

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