Forbidden Contract (The Birmingham Brothers Series) (6 page)

“Bailey…Bailey come see our rooms
.” Alexis cried as she dragged Tristan behind her.

She froze at the top of the stairs seeing Bailey with two strange men. It was Tristan
’s reaction that surprised her. Letting go of Alexis’s hand he ran down the stairs and stood in front of Bailey as he sized up the two men.  Both Beckett and his father seemed amused at his protective stance. Beckett decided to take the lead. Kneeling down so he was at Tristan’s level he held out his hand.

“Hello…..my name is Beckett
.”

Tristan eyed him then took his hand squeezing hard like
Matt had taught him. “My name is Tristan.”

Beckett groaned under the grip which caused Tristan to smile satisfied he had made his point.

“Wow….no one better cross your path.” He smiled as Tristan released his hand. “You must be a super hero.”

“No he
’s not.” Alexis laughed as she bounced down the stairs. “He’s just a boy silly.”

Bailey saw Tristan’s confidence deflate but Beckett quickly came to his defense as he whispered
. “That’s ok….we all know superhero’s have to keep their identity a secret even from their family.” He winked bringing a smile to Tristan’s face.

“This is my brother Tristan….and my sister Alexis
.” Bailey said making the introductions “This is Mr. Birmingham” she said addressing Beckett than looked at his father. “And this is his father Mr. Birmingham.”

Alexis thought that was funny and laughed. “Mr
. and Mr. Birmingham.”

Beckett laughed with her
. “I guess you should call me Beckett than so we don’t get confused.”

Alexis looked at Bailey for permission and she nodded. Alexis beamed as she approached them and curtsied as she had recently been taught.

“I am very pleased to meet you.” She said with perfect charm.

Beckett put his hand over his heart and faked a swoon before looking at Tristan. “
You better keep an eye on her….the boys will soon be lining up at the door.”

Tristan rolled his eyes as Alexis
’s squealed in glee. She was obviously taken by the charms of Beckett and it showed when she blushed. Bailey was surprised her image of both him and his family were totally misplaced. He looked up at her and seemed to have once again read her thoughts as he stood. Feeling her own blush spread across her face she looked for a reason to escape.

“If you’ll excuse me….I guess I need to go see their rooms
.” She said as Tristan grabbed her hand.

Alexis grabbed the other suddenly excited to show off her new discovery. She turned to Beckett.

“Do you want to come?”

Bailey watched as Beckett seemed to consider the offer then he politely declined. Bailey didn’t know if she was glad or disappointed. She met his glance then turning she let the kids lead her upstairs towards their room. Once at the top she looked down once more to see Beckett had been watching. She felt her heart flip flop as he smiled to her then turning he left the room with his father. She watched him walk away and
mentally she tried to will him to look back wanting to get one more glance at his eyes. Impatient now Alexis tugged at her hand and only after Beckett had disappeared from sight did she let her sister lead her away.

When Beckett had learned his intended bride was arriving that day he needed to find an escape. He had arrived with his brother and parents a few days earlier and after spending a day going over the books Beckett had come to realize none of them had any real understanding how badly the Montgomery boys had tarnished their reputation. They had their work cut out for them. The worse was going to be in dealing with the Montgomery family on a daily basis. Both the father and sons all had an over inflated sense of their talent. They looked down on his family as if they weren’t even qualified to share the same dust in the room. Regina had been graceful and to his surprise she and his mother had gotten along quite well. She ruled her family with an iron grip but the moment Regina left the verbal sneers started. If they were any indication of his future bride he knew this next year was going to be a challenge. Having to play the loving husband to a snooty bitch without strangling her would be the true test of his resolve. Finding the stable he had chosen one of Regina’s black Percherons enjoying the challenge in the struggle for each of them to control the other. In the end he won out and when he returned he was ready for what lay ahead.

When he entered the manor he had every intention of going up to his room, showering then finding his brother Ethan to go over a few of their ideas on the direction they would be taking.
The last thing he expected to see was Jasper Montgomery taking advantage of a smaller younger female. By the fear in the maid’s eyes he quickly assessed the situation. When he saw his father on the move to defend her he motioned for him to stop.  It was time the Montgomery men understood their place in this situation and the roll the Birmingham men planned to take. He had been raised to defend a woman’s honor and the way Jasper was hurting her took every ounce to keep himself from charging him and throwing a fist into his smirking face.

Once the situation was in control and he had seen the woman he was surprised by not only her beauty but her youth. She was a few years younger than he but it was deceptive because she didn’t wear much makeup. He realized she didn’t need it to enhance her looks and it
probably would act as a distraction. When he saw the bruise on her wrist and how badly she was shaken his first instinct was to go after Jasper and give him a sound beating but he realized she needed his attention at that moment and he took charge. Ordering her a brandy would calm her nerves and when she refused he insisted knowing how much the liquid courage would help. He was doubtful when she told him she didn’t drink after witnessing the last few days of the rest of the Montgomery clan but when her eyes widened and she coughed as the liquid went down he realized she had been truthful. This not only amused but intrigued him. He realized he had the upper hand for that brief moment knowing her identity and he enjoyed the look of surprise when he introduced himself.

He wondered what horrid stories she had been told but more importantly he wondered why she had agreed to this arrangement. Very little was know
n about her except her father had been disowned when he married beneath his station. The only comments they had gotten out of her cousins was that she was lucky the family had come to her rescue before the authorities. He wondered if it was possible she was in trouble with the law. That seemed to be the norm with this family and it was only the families name and money that seemed to continue to bail them out over the years. He wondered what this woman could have possibly done to have the law after her.

Beckett didn’t understand if it was the mystery that now attracted him or the look of innocence. He was definitely pleased by her appearance and despite the jeans and blouse he could see the definite curves that would entice a man to her bed. Her heart shaped face, high cheek bones and full lips defined her beauty but it was the violet eyes that drew his attention. He had never seen that shade of eyes before and wondered if she wore special contacts to achieve that effect. Somehow he doubted that and when he held her hand he felt the current of sexual attraction that passed between them. He wished to pursue it more until first his father appeared then the sound of young children disrupted them. When the little boy charged down and stood before them defiant
ly he seemed intent on defending her honor. Beckett couldn’t help but smile in amusement as he tried to contain his laughter. Kneeling before the boy he studied him gauging him to be around 4 or 5, it was difficult due to his slight frame. He won points with the boy though when he shook his hand and pretended the boys grip was crushing his hand. Someone had taught him that and he could only assume it was another man. He looked up at Bailey and wondered who that was in her life, was it an old flame or current boyfriend? Suddenly he didn’t like the thought. When the little girl appeared crushing the boys confidence he immediately went into damage control bolstering the kids confidence when he acknowledge that superheroes needed to keep their identity confidential even among family members. He immediately won an ally with them both and thought he made points with Bailey. Why did that matter he wondered as he stood.

When
Alexis had invited him to follow he had almost said yes feeling the need to spend more time with Bailey but he sensed her indecision and graciously declined. As she turned he thought he saw disappointment in her eyes and he almost reconsidered. When she stopped at the top of the stairs to look back his eyes held hers briefly as if he wanted her to know he had been watching her and wanted to follow. With a smile he then turned and followed his father from the room both in search of Ethan. He thought he could feel her eyes on his back and almost turned but he didn’t want to seem too obvious. Once in the study Ethan looked up and frowned as if sensing he had missed something important.

“What
?” He asked looking first at Beckett than his father.”

“Nothing much
.” His father replied. “We just met your future sister in law.” He grinned as he studied Beckett.

“Really…so how bad is it
?” Ethan asked as he looked at Beckett.

“Actually
.” Beckett said leaning against the bar. “A mild surprise.”

“What
?” Ethan asked looking now at his father.

“She
’s not what we expected.” His father agreed. “I don’t know what this family has over her head to get her to agree to marry Beckett but whatever it is we have the next year to take care of it.”

“Wait what
?” Ethan asked surprised. “You just met her and you’ve already accessed she’s a damsel in distress?” He said looking first at his father than at his brother.

“She’s definitely not cut from the same mold as the rest of them and by what I saw with Jasper she will most certainly need our protection.”
Beckett said frowning as their mother appeared. Looking around the room at Beckett’s anger, Ethan’s confusion and her husband’s amusement she knew something was up and she wasn’t in the loop. Closing the door she leaned back up against it and with her hands on her hips she simply said.

“Ok out with it…and I want all of it from the beginning
.”

Roark
looked at his wife then looked to Beckett to tell the tale. When he had finished what had happened leaving out his attraction to Bailey his brother frowned at him in disappointment.

“And you didn’t cold cock him
?” He asked.

“It wasn’t the time or place
.” He admitted. “But believe me if I read him right he’s going to give me another chance and I won’t be passing it up.”

He noticed the way his parents exchanged glances and tilting his head cocked one eyebrow to them as he asked
. “Care to share?”

His mother only smiled knowingly then looking at her husband decided what she wanted to divulge and what she wanted to keep between them.

“I was just thinking….maybe this marriage will not be such a bad idea.”

“
How so?” Beckett asked suspiciously.

“
If you and your father’s intuition are correct than it’s our duty as Birmingham’s to defend her. Can you imagine what might have happened if Jasper hadn’t been interrupted. I’ve seen the fear he inflicts on the staff and I’m sure his family has looked the other way on more than one occasion.”

“If he thinks he’s going to touch her again he has another thing coming to him
.” Beckett vowed and again his parents passed a knowing glance.

Both he and Ethan chose this time to ignore it knowing they would only divulge what they wanted when they wanted. Ethan instead grabbed the folder taking it over to the table so they could sit and discuss their game plan over the next few days. Beckett found it hard to concentrate as violet eyes continued to distract his attention.  His thoughts were disrupted when his
I phone buzzed and Macys face appeared on the screen. He had been avoiding her calls still trying to decide what to tell her but decided there was no point in delaying the inevitable. Motioning to his family that he needed to take it he stood and hitting the answer tab he left the room.

“Macy hello….sorry I haven’t returned your calls it
’s been a little hectic with this new purchase.”

“I was beginning to think you were trying to tell me something
.” She pouted.

“
It’s just this merger is involving the whole family and there are special aspects of the contract we are working out.”

“
When can I see you?” She asked seductively. “I need to feel you in me.”

“I don’t know….look Macy….we do need to talk…maybe I can fly out tomorrow for a few days but I need to be back here by Friday
.”

“I won
’t be here…I have a shoot to do in Cabo….I was hoping to see you this weekend.”

“I can
’t….I’ll be too busy with this deal for the next few weeks…there’s no way I’ll be able to get away.”

“Maybe I can get my agent to cut the shoot early…then
I can fly out to see you.” She suggested.

“Sounds good…look I really do need to get back…we were in the middle of a meeting
.” He said trying to end the call.

“Beckett
.” She said sensing something in his voice. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing why
?” He asked.

“I don’t know….I just get a feeling you are trying to get me off the phone….I thought we agreed we would always be honest with each other
.” She said suspiciously.

Beckett sighed. He knew it was a chicken shit way of telling her but Macy wasn’t stupid and he knew once the announcement was made the media was going to have a frenzy with it. If he couldn’t find a way to see her before that than things would be difficult afterwards.

“Alright…here it is…part of the deal in this merger is that it not be just a business merger.”

“What do you mean
?” She asked and he could feel her eyes narrow on the other end.

“I’m getting married
.” He announced deciding it best to just rip off the bandage.

“What!”
She demanded. “To whom?”

“Bailey Montgomery….look Macy it
’s not what it seems….I had planned on telling you in person.”

“How long have you been seeing her
?” She demanded her voice edged with jealousy.

“Actually….we just met about an hour ago
.” He sighed running his hand through his hair.

“You’re lying…look Beckett if you wanted to break up with me all you had to do was tell me
.”

“That’s not what I’m saying…part of the agreement for the buyout is that I marry Regina Montgomery
’s granddaughter….this will enable us to get the use of their name as we build up our reputation down here….after a year we both go our merry ways.”

“You’re trying to make me believe you are getting married to a total stranger just to use the family name to build up the business….look Beckett I’m not some dumb blonde you picked up at a bar
.”

“It’s the truth…we will be married in name only…when it
’s over she gets to keep the house, car and the bank account I set up for her…all we have to do is make a few public appearances so the rest of the South believes we are married….after one year we have the acceptance of the South, the business to go with it and I have my freedom again”

“
And what about me… do you just expect me to wait around on the sidelines while you play happy newlywed with this Southern bitch?”

Beckett flinched at her derogatory remark about Bailey. He had to stop himself from defending her to Macy.
“No…you have a choice….we can still see each other as long as we’re discreet or you can chose to move on.” He said no longer caring which way she went.

Macy must have heard that in his voice and suddenly her tone changed
. “That’s not what I want and you know it.” She said softly then her voice changed to seductive. “Who knows….maybe sneaking around will spice things up….you’re sure it’s in name only?”

“It’s in the contract…any
sexual contact voids the deal.” He sighed disappointed she hadn’t decided to end it.

“Well then I’ll trust you
.” She smiled into the receiver. “I still want to see you….I’ll text you to see what I can do.”