Skylar stormed out of her room with her luggage, determined not to stay a minute longer in his company. Thankfully, he was nowhere to be seen. This was the opportunity she was looking for. Could she sneak out now?
However, since bad luck never left her side, the sound of loud wailing stopped her in her tracks. The back door opened and Christian entered with a sobbing Vivienne in his arms. He froze on seeing her with her luggage.
“Aunt Skye! Blade’s friend pushed me and I fell down. Look at my boo-boo. It’s red,” she sobbed. Skylar forgot her plans and rushed towards the little girl.
“Oh, let me have a look.” She went closer and checked the little girl’s knee as she clung to Christian. The wound wasn’t deep and would easily heal in two days. “Oh, I’ll fix your boo-boo in a jiffy. Will you sit down on the sofa?”
“No, I’m scared!” She clung to Christian, making Skylar’s job quite tough. She avoided his unwavering stare pinned upon her, knowing what he was dying to ask.
“Then your uncle Chris can sit with you on the sofa while I heal your boo-boo.”
“Sure, I’m all yours.” Skylar rolled her eyes and went to get the first aid box.
“It’s in there.” Christian pointed at a cabinet in front of the washroom. She opened the cabinet and took out the first aid box, still acutely aware of his gaze following her around while consoling Vivienne.
“Here, let me clean it first.” She sat on the ottoman right in front of him. With Vivienne on his lap, there wasn’t any other way to do the job.
“Will it hurt?” she wailed.
“Not at all. If you are a good girl, I’ll get you ice cream.” It cheered her up, and she gazed at Skylar.
“Promise, Aunt Skye?” she asked expectantly, peering at her hopefully.
“Yes, Vivi. I promise.” She wiped her wound and applied some antiseptic while Christian tried to divert her mind away with ice cream talk. The ordeal was over and it was time to treat her for being a good girl. Vivienne sat down on the sofa to watch her favorite cartoon show while Skylar invaded the refrigerator. Didn’t Caleb and Lillian not stock it up at all? There was nothing but milk and a few eggs!
“God! There’s nothing in here. How do these two manage a home?”
“I know. They’re pathetic. Shall I order ice cream?” asked Christian, coming up behind her.
“I can order.” She whirled around to leave but found herself nose-to-nose with him!
“I’m sure you can, but I want to order for you as well. Please?” He searched her face hopefully, but she looked away.
“Why do you want to order for me?”
“Because I forced you to leave!” Skylar gaped at the man, not having expected him to own up to his crime.
“Please don’t leave this way, Skylar. Caleb will feel terrible and so will I.” Skylar nodded and walked away to get her luggage back to her room before her grandparents arrived. Why would he feel terrible if she left? He was marrying her only to fulfill their parents’ last wish, right?
“I can help you,” he said, coming up behind her. He took the luggage from her and went upstairs to her room. The doorbell rang and Skylar opened the door to find her grandparents back from their check-up.
“It was so tiring,” said her granny, sitting down beside Vivienne. Blade came in and Skylar cleaned and changed him. When she went down, she felt haggard from all the running around since morning. She hardly found the time for a steaming mug of coffee. Granny gave her a pitiful look.
“Sorry to leave you to deal with them, Skye. Where’s Christian? Didn’t he help you?” asked her granny.
“Yes, he did. He kissed Aunt Skye too!” said Blade just as Christian came down. His glance fell upon Skylar’s flushed face. Their jaws dropped with horror as everyone turned to look at them.
“No, he..” Skylar protested, but Granny intervened with a pleased look on her face.
“Why not? He will marry your aunt Skye, dear.”
“Oh, will you marry my aunt Skye, Uncle Chris?” asked a shocked Blade.
“Yes.” Skylar stood frozen at hearing the conversation. She had nothing to say. She was totally dumbfounded.
“Who will I marry then? I thot she wud marry me.” Sulked Blade, while Christian rolled his eyes at the little guy. Skylar placed her hands on her waist and glared at the duo. Were they seriously discussing her right in front of her?
“Don’t you think you’re too young to marry?” asked Christian with interest, eying Skylar with an amused look on his face. “Why do you want to marry her?”
“Because she’s pwetty!” Blade said with an eye roll. “Don’t you think so, Uncle Chris?”
“Yes.”
“She’s not only pretty. She’s the best cook ever. Who do you think made last night’s dinner?” asked Granny, eying Christian. She knew he had finished up all the leftovers since Caleb couldn’t find anything this morning. Skylar groaned with agony. Couldn’t they stop discussing her for a change?
“Please, granny! Stop.” No one listened to her as usual.
“Oh! Is it? I’d love to get a repeat of last night’s food,” said Christian, watching the deep blush on Skylar’s face.
“Not happening! There’s nothing at home.” They gaped at her with horror.
“Do you want me to order lunch?” asked Christian worriedly.
“No, I can’t digest outside food. Do you want me to go and get some groceries from the nearby store?” asked Grandpa.
“No, I’ll get them, but I need Skylar to help me with it,” said Christian, glancing at her hopefully.
“I have to feed the kids their lunch.”
“I’m not hungry. Uncle Chris has ordered ice cream for me. I wanna have it,” said Vivienne.
“It is for me, too,” argued Blade.
“No, your friend pushed me. It’s only for me.”
“Stop children! It’s for all of you if you are good. It should be delivered in ten minutes. So enjoy your treat while we go to the shop,” said Christian. The kids stopped bickering and watched the cartoon show together.
“Go with him, Skye. Caleb and Lillian will be too tired to go shopping after work. If the kids need something, I’ll handle them,” urged Granny. Skylar had no other option than to go with Christian. It seemed she was stuck with the man!
Christian picked up the keys to the car he used whenever he was in town. “Skylar!” he called her impatiently. She rushed after him out of the door to the garage.
“Who’s car is this?” she asked, admiring the Ferrari he unlocked.
“I bought it two years ago when the twins were born. I use it whenever I’m here.” He closed the passenger door and went around to the driver’s side.
“Do you come here a lot?” he strapped the seat belt and gazed into her curious eyes.
“Yes, almost every 5-6 months.” Skylar grasped the information and frowned, thinking about his visit this time. Was it because of her? Why did he come to Cleveland now?
“On work or pleasure?” He smiled at her question and drove out of the house.
“Pleasure.”
“And this time? You knew I was arriving here, didn’t you? That’s why all of you kept it from me.”
“No. This time, I had an emergency at our flagship hotel here. I didn’t know about your plans. After dumping my luggage here, I went straight to the hotel. I hardly got time to interact with anyone.” Skylar nodded, relaxing that he wasn’t involved in their plans of uniting them.
“You don’t believe me, right?” he asked, giving her a brief glance.
“I believe you.”
He parked the car and led her to the store. Collecting a trolley, he pushed it alongside her while she picked up the items she needed. “Do you go grocery shopping with your boyfriend?” he asked out of the blue. Startled, she dropped the pack of pasta to the floor.
“Oh, sorry!” she gasped, but Christian picked it up before she could. He placed it in the trolley.
“So, you didn’t answer my question, Skylar. Tell me more about your boyfriend.” Skylar pretended to be busy while thinking of a good retort.
“Why would I tell you? Find out if you’re so interested.”
“At least tell me his name.” He sounded extremely jealous, but maybe she was overthinking it. Why would he be jealous?
“I can’t.” She stomped towards the fruits and vegetables section, eager to get away from his questions. When she didn’t have a boyfriend, whose name could she take?
“Why not? Maybe because you don’t have any.”
“I do. Why don’t you look for another woman to marry? I’m sure you’ll find someone nice you’ll fall in love with.” Christian seethed at her answer.
“I will marry you whatever it takes. So what’s the asshole’s name? If you don’t tell me, I’ll assume he doesn’t exist.”
“Mike! His name is Mike.” She didn’t know where she could find herself a Mike!
“It’ll be fun meeting this Mike of yours.”