“Are you sure about that? Could you be confused about the dates?” his father asked.
Jake heard Dylan cover up a half laugh with a fake cough and threw him a dirty look. “I ended things with her over 2 months ago and before that I was in England for over a month. You know she didn't come with me.” Even if it'd been a normal trip he wouldn't have taken Blair, but this trip had been anything but typical. “Before I left we hadn't been spending a lot of time together. Besides we always used something.” Though he hadn't ended things with her until coming back, he'd known their relationship wasn't working before he left for England.
How could he have been so wrong about Blair? He'd known she wasn't the woman for him, but he never would have guessed she'd pull this stunt.
“I see. Have you spoken to her? Any idea why she's coming at you like this?”
Jake watched as his father drummed his finger tips on the desk telling him he was deep in thought trying to examine the problem from all aspects.
“Damned if I know.” He raked a hand through his hair. “We talked recently and she didn't mention a thing to me then. She just asked me to meet her in New York for the weekend. I already called my lawyer.” Jake wanted his father to know he was already on top of things.
“What did he say?” Dylan asked.
“He's pushing for an ultrasound and DNA testing.”
“I want to get Marty and our lawyers involved with this. They should be able to get this mess cleared up before it does too much damage to the family.”
More than anything he wanted to avoid having the family's team of lawyers and Marty Phillips involved in this. There was no denying that Marty Phillips knew what he was doing. Jake didn't like him, especially not after the way he'd treated Callie the year before. And while the lawyers that worked for Sherbrooke Enterprises were some of the best around, he had full confidence in his own hand-picked lawyer.
“No. Don't get them involved. I will take care of this problem.”
When his father didn't immediately respond, Jake assumed he was preparing his counter argument. Not that it would do any good. He'd already made up his mind and nothing his father said would change it.
“Are you positive? They'll be able to get things to happen quicker.” Warren leaned back in his chair.
“I've got this one, Dad.” Jake said in tone that let his father and brother know he was done discussing the situation.
“Callie told me you brought a date,” Dylan said changing the topic of their conversation. “You must have just met her. Last time we talked you planned on flying solo.”
Jake didn't miss the curiosity in his half-brother's voice or the raised eyebrow his father threw in his direction. He could imagine the questions floating around in his father's head. Though Dylan knew he wasn't the player the media made him out to be, his father didn't.
“Met her in North Salem. Her family runs the bed and breakfast where I've been staying.”
“What do you know about her?” his father asked, reaching for his coffee.
It was a valid question especially considering the current situation with his ex, but it still irked him. Who he spent his time with was no one's business but his.
“She's a Navy doctor stationed in Virginia. And I should save her from Callie before she bores her to death with wedding details.” Jake came to his feet and started to walk toward the door, pleased that he could use this opportunity to get away from the grilling and back to Charlie. “I'll see you both at the rehearsal dinner,” he called over his shoulder before heading off in search of Charlie and his sister.
***
The view from the guest bedroom reminded her of something out of a movie. Actually everything in Cliff House looked as if it belonged either on some classic movie set or in a museum. Antique furniture filled the rooms. Priceless paintings hung in gilded frames on the walls and marble fireplaces were located in each room.
Although she'd grown up in New England and had visited Newport a few times, she'd never toured any of the mansions that lined Bellevue Avenue. Before today she'd only seen pictures of these American castles and none had really prepared her for being inside one of these magnificent homes built by the ultra wealthy of the 19th century as summer cottages.
“If I had a view like this, I'd never leave,” Charlie said. She, Callie and Callie's best friend Lauren sat on the balcony off Charlie's room drinking freshly brewed iced tea. As Jake had predicted she really liked his half-sister. She was friendly and down to earth. Charlie suspected that might be partially because she hadn't grown up in the world of the super rich.
Callie nodded, a smile spread across her heart-shaped face. “I agree. I have trouble leaving every time I come.”