Touching The Forbidden

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Jessica's POV

The dinner turned out great. Mr. and Mrs. Latsis were so nice and welcomed me like I was a member of their family. I could not ask for more, they were the best parents in-law that one could ever have.

After dinner, we were in the living room and continued talking while drinking coffee. Our topics were mostly about Troy.

"Among our kids, he was the only one into music. But he preferred playing a guitar rather than a piano. He found it too complicated to learn," Mrs. Latsis recalled with a smile on her face.

"So, that's something we have in common. We both love music."

"Obviously," Mrs. Latsis agreed. "I'm sure he loved a lot of things about you, Jessica. You're very beautiful, smart, talented and have a good sense of humor."

"Not to mention that you're blonde. Troy liked blondes, unlike Aaron here, who prefers brunettes." Mr. Latsis eyed Aaron, then chuckled.

"Leave me out of the topic, Dad. My preference in women surely bores Jessica." Aaron interrupted, then sipped his coffee.

Cold sweat ran down my nape at the mention of hair. I just found out yesterday from Michael of the beauty salon that I was not really a blonde, but a brunette. I even checked the roots of my hair when I arrived home yesterday and confirmed that I was really a brunette.

So, if Troy liked blondes, did I deceive him by pretending to be blonde? I must have a stock of blonde hair dye products all the time to fix my hair roots at an early sign of growth. Unless Troy was aware that I was really brunette.

Another thing that concerned me was Aaron. I wondered how he would react when he'd find out that I was only a bottle blonde. Would he accuse me of being deceitful again? Or he would hate me more because I'd turn out to be his type of girl?

Who cares? He hates me already. Besides, many girls change hair colors all the time.

Before I could tell them the truth about my real hair color, Mr. Latsis continued.

"Troy was a good boy. We were shocked to learn that he was hooked into drugs during college. We became suspicious of his actions. He acted so strange - always laughing, talking so loud and looking so high. Aaron searched his room and found a packet of cocaine inside a shoe box."

"We did all we could to help him," Mrs. Latsis butted in. "We had him treated for his addiction and sent him to rehab. But when he fully recovered and went out, he was back with his bad friends again."

"What did you do when you found out that he was back into drugs again?"

"We never suspected at that time. He was really good at disguising himself. He was sober during the times he was with us. We only learned that information lately from the investigator that Aaron hired."

"So, what does that make me? Did I encourage him?"

"No. Troy was a big boy, he did not need any encouragement." Mr. Latsis said. "He would do the same thing with or without you. So don't blame yourself, Jessica."

A weight lifted off from my shoulders at what he said. I was glad that they did not blame me for what happened to Troy.

My eyes shifted at Aaron who was sitting on an armchair listening silently. His eyes riveted at me. I could read what was running inside his thick head: contradicting his father's statement and blaming me for Troy's death.

"By the way, we're going to tour you around Auckland, Jessica. There are a lot of beautiful places here to see before you go back to Florida. I'll prepare an itinerary and make sure we can cover everything in a month," Mrs. Latsis said, then continued sadly. "That is, if you still want to leave after a month."

"I have to."

Mr. Latsis nodded, "Well, if you want to come back, then please do. You're our family and you're welcome to stay here with us, anytime."

Aaron's POV

The following day, I arrived home early. I was inside my study alone, seated on a couch, arms clasped together against my chest, and my feet rested on top of the center table.

My eyes fixed outside the one-way glass window, at the woman who was very brave to take a swim at twenty degrees celsius. She wore a white skimpy bikini that was too wild for a man's imagination. She had an hourglass body - perfect breasts, slim waist, wide hips and long legs. Her skin looked like satin under the sunlight and her long golden hair matched her skin.

Crazy girl. No one must have warned her that New Zealand had four seasons in a day. It's summer now, and later, it will be winter.

I did not notice the door behind me open. I jolted when someone said.

"Shame on you, Aaron. You're lusting at our brother's widow."

I exhaled heavily, feeling flustered at being caught off guard.

"I'm not," I denied and turned to my younger brother, Edward, who entered the room and settled beside me on the couch.

"I can't blame you, she's a goddess. Let's lust after her together. I'm sure Troy won't mind." He chuckled and put his feet also on top of the center table, mimicking my actions.

"Shut up." I stood up and went behind my desk.

"Am I the only one who thinks that she looks young? I thought she's twenty eight, why does she look like seventeen?"

I twisted my lips, avoiding looking at Jessica. "Science."

"No way." He shook his head then fixed his eyes at Jessica again. "She's really stunning. Do you think Troy would mind if I marry her?"

I knew he was joking, he's always a flirt, but it would be better to warn him against her. She is evil and she will eat him alive, just like she did to Troy.

"Fuck off, Edward. She's our sister in-law. She's forbidden."

"Says, who?"

"Me. I don't want you to get involved with her."

"Why? Give me a good reason or else I will think that you want her for yourself."

"She's not my type. You know that I prefer brunettes."

"Oh, I forgot." He chuckled, then stood up. "Speaking of brunettes, I saw Celine this morning. She just arrived from Paris. I mentioned to her about Jessica, and she can't wait to meet her. So I invited her over for dinner tonight."

Celine Bennett was Troy's childhood sweetheart. She had a great love for Troy and was very disappointed when she learned that he got married. The death of Troy made her feel very devastated.

"Where was your brain when you invited her? This is supposed to be a family dinner."

"She's like family to us. Who knows, maybe she'll legitimately be one of us someday. You had a crush on her before right, but she was eyeing Troy. What if your feelings for her rekindles."

"Shut up. Why are you here in my study, what do you want?"

"Nothing. I just got bored that I want to provoke you. Now that I did, I can now leave and meet my sister in-law. She looks more exciting than you." He was laughing when he left.

Then I realized, I made a mistake of warning him.