Tangled Temptations

When she woke up, it was already evening. The autumn sunset, pouring through the picture window, draped a golden haze over the person on the bed.

Brett had been up for a while, watching her wake. He leaned in to kiss her and gently said, "Sleep a little longer. I'll wake you for dinner."

As he spoke, he got up and dressed.

He was a man with a ton of responsibilities, Donny had been waiting for him in the study for half a day, but he couldn't bear to leave her alone, fearing she would be upset when she woke.

He cherished his girl. Even if he couldn't always be there for her, he did his best to take care of her.

Orlena was a bit shy. She pulled up the blanket, propped up against the pillows and watched him.

After Brett got dressed, he bent down to kiss her and gave a soft laugh.

Brett left, and she didn't dare to fall asleep again. She went to check on Eloise, then spent some time chatting with Tracey. Tracey was an understanding old woman who didn't blame her for anything and, with few girls in the Noland family, she became quite a novelty.

In the evening, when Brett returned from his errands, he found his girl helping his mother pick green beans.

Tracey was still muttering, "These are homegrown, no pesticides."

He pushed away the vines overhead and walked over, teasing, "Mother, you treasure these organic bits so much, hardly ever letting others have a taste."

Tracey scoffed. She addressed his girl, "Don't listen to Brett's nonsense. If he were decent enough to bring his Olga home, I'd dig up everything in the garden for him."

"Olga?" Orlena was clearly taken aback.

So Tracey recounted the drunken dream in a casual manner.

Orlena figured it out and blushed. Brett just watched her, his expression a mix of amusement and seriousness, making her more uncomfortable. But she felt sweet inside, realizing that Brett would call her name when he was drunk.

The sky grew darker.

Tracey took it upon herself to cook dinner, with Orlena by her side, while Brett, who usually stayed away from the kitchen, even lingered inside.

After dinner, they walked back to the room.

At the door, Brett led her into his bedroom. Brett's bedroom was spacious with a hint of sophistication, including an antique study and a coffee area by the window.

Orlena was taken aback.

Brett teased her, "Stunned?"

She replied shyly, "I never imagined that my boyfriend's room would be like this..."

Her words were very diplomatic. Actually, she thought he was old-fashioned and old.

Brett could read between the lines. He laughed and made her a cup of coffee, then casually asked, "Shall we continue tonight?"

Orlena was instantly flustered.

He was insatiable!

She was younger and knew how to back down. She went behind him, hugged him and called his name sweetly. Brett held her hand and drank his coffee.

In truth, he was swamped with work. He had barely had a break in the afternoon

and he certainly had no time for fooling around now.

Orlena didn't complain. While he worked in his study, she quietly kept him company.

Occasionally, Brett would ask her to fetch something. His girl would happily run errands for him.

He worked until 11 in the evening. Finally, he had time to tease and play with his girl.

Orlena thought he was a pervert, as he said they wouldn't have sex.

Just as they were getting heated, there was a knock on the door, and Tracey's

voice echoed, "Brett, you're not asleep yet, are you? I brought you some midnight snacks!"

The door was already opening.

The people on the bed froze. Orlena widened her eyes and whispered, "What do we do?"

Brett quickly tucked her into the covers, kicked her slippers under the bed, and sat down, pretending to be ready for bed.

Tracey had already entered and asked, "Are you going to bed?"

Brett smiled, "Yeah! It's been a long day!"

Tracey sat down. She was in the mood for a heart-to-heart with her son, much to Orlena's dismay. She was suffocating under the covers, but couldn't move because Brett was holding her head with his leg and petting her under the covers. Finally, Tracey left.

As the door closed, Orlena crawled out of the covers, her eyes filled with tears. "Brett, I couldn't breathe!"

Brett gently pulled her out and held her, examining her carefully. After a while, he asked softly, "Do you like it here?"

Orlena blushed. What did he even mean!

Brett didn't continue the questioning. He shared the midnight snack with her that his mother had brought.

After they finished the bowl, she was still hungry and wanted more. Brett pinched her face, "Should I wake up mother to make her daughter-in-law another serving?"

He was too much, so she jumped on him and hit him.

After a while, she was still hugging his neck and complaining about being hungry. Brett kissed her, "I've never seen a more troublesome girl! I'll make it for you."

"You can cook?" She asked innocently, hugging him.

Brett smiled, put on his shoes and left. He didn't expect to run into his mother in the kitchen.

His mother was surprised to see him. Brett lit a cigarette, opened the fridge and said, "I'm still hungry. I was thinking of making some midnight snacks."

Tracey couldn't bear to see her son cook. She took out some pasta from the fridge, carefully boiled them, and scolded him, "You're not young anymore. You need to watch your diet, especially at night. How are you going to find a wife if you don't take care of yourself?"

The water was boiling. Tracey filled a small bowl and added some cilantro. She heard that girls these days love it!

Brett took the pasta and left. On his way, he couldn't help but laugh. He didn't eat cilantro, but his mother had added it. It seemed that her eyes were sharper than he thought.

...

Days of dating are always sweet.

Their relationship had not been exposed yet. Brett planned to stay here with her until Thanksgiving, then take her back to Peterborough. As for the future, they would figure it out slowly.

Orlena had been cooped up in the house for a few days and wanted to go out and buy Thanksgiving gifts for Eloise and Tracey. She had heard that the pumkin pie in Brockville were famous.

Due to Brett's particular status, Donny accompanied her while she shopped, while he stayed in the car to review some files. However, they didn't expect to run into someone they knew on the street.

Brett's old workmate, Melisa, a

woman with her own standing,

spotted Brett's car parked on the side of the road as she departed a local restaurant. She knew Brett was destined for great things, much greater than herself and she was keen on maintaining a good rapport

with him.

She sauntered over, tapping lightly on the window. Brett, obliging, stepped out of

the car.

Melisa greeted him with a warm smile, "I thought I recognized that car from a mile away. Didn't actually expect it to be you!"

Just as Brett was about to respond, a young girl, red-faced and out of breath, came running over with several shopping bags, calling him by his first name.

Melisa couldn't help but take a second look. The young girl was rather pretty. Melisa had a son of her own, and so she couldn't resist asking, "Brett, who might this be?"

Brett, preferring to keep his private life separate from his professional one, esponded with a nonchalant smile, "Oh, just someone in the fam

"

For some reason, this made Orlena's chest tighten uncomfortably. Was she not

girlfriend material in his eyes?

Her feelings

were written all over her

face. On the drive back, Brett tried to appease her, but his mind was already whirring. Perhaps it was best to first take her back to Peterborough. Given his standing, he couldn't exactly flaunt their relationship before making it official. If things were to go south, it would impact Orlena greatly.

He had always been a private man. But Orlena seemed to have read his mind.

That night, as they lay in bed, she nestled into his chest, whispering, "I won't go

out anymore! Can you not send me back to Peterborough?"

Brett looked down at her, silent.

Orlena, wrapping her arms around his neck, continued, "I like being here."

Mostly because they seldom had the opportunity to spend time together.

He wasn't always able to visit her in Peterborough. They had known each other for over a year now, but they had actually spent very few days together. Brett's resolve softened. He leaned down, finding her lips with his, and kissed her.

His long fingers gently parted the folds of her bathrobe, igniting his desire with the feel of her soft skin beneath his touch. She couldn't tell if it was just her imagination, but tonight, he seemed a bit more aggressive than usual. Afterwards, she lay languidly against him, their bodies cooling from the heat of their activities.

Brett gently patted her back, treating her with the tender care one might afford a newborn.

Neither of them wanted to sleep. She traced the contours of his face with her fingers, asking softly, "Brett, why are you still unmarried?"

Brett chuckled lightly, "What do you think?"

Without another word, he pulled her into his arms. She lay over his heart, her own

beating a little faster than normal, as she boldly suggested, "I think you're waiting

for me to grow up! Once I'm bigger, you'll have someone to marry." She seemed quite eager to get married.

Brett's interest was piqued, and he reached under the covers, teasing her as he muttered, "Let's see if you've grown bigger yet. Don't you dare lie to me!"

When Brett was in a good mood, he could be quite the cheeky devil. Orlena found herself hoisted atop him, the subject of his slow, deliberate teasing. She protested, wanting to get down, but he refused, continuing to tease and torment

her.

...

With Linda's fate hanging in the balance, their relationship remained shrouded in

secrecy.

After Thanksgiving, Orlena had to return home.

The night before she left, her eyes were filled with tears. Brett comforted her,

"Don't worry yourself with these things, kiddo!"

But he himself was feeling a twinge of sadness. He wished she could stay with

him forever.

Her presence brought so much joy

to the household. His mother, who used to be so fussy, now spent her days happily shopping for groceries with the housekeeper, always picking out Orlena's favorite foods.

Brett knew his mother had caught on but had chosen to keep quiet

about it.

That night, he sat in his study, lost in thought. He was thinking about his future, about the lifetime promise he wanted to make to his little girl.

His mother brought him a cup of water and sat with him for a while. She seemed

to want to say something but, in the end, she remained silent. She trusted that any girl her son brought home would be someone he was sure about.

She was quite fond of the young girl. She thought to herself, perhaps they would

soon be planning a wedding. Despite the age difference and the unconventional familial relationship, if her son was happy, so was she.

In the end, all she said was, "She's quite lovely."noveldrama

Brett mulled over her words, a light smile playing at his lips. His mother sure was

something.

He decided that once things were more stable with Linda, he would propose to

the Horigan family.

He wanted to keep Orlena by his side, to have her accompany him and his

mother. To come home every day to warm lights and the sight of her and his mother picking beans in the garden.

He wasn't getting any younger, and perhaps after getting married, they could start thinking about having children.