Malcolm burst out laughing. “Now that I’d like to see. Brandon has always run solo in everything, even when he wasn’t the boss. Khalil, remember when he worked inventory back in high school that summer?”
“Yeah. Somehow, he had everyone playing to his tune, the supervisor included. And growing up, whenever we played a game, he had to be the one who set the rules.”
Brandon glared. “Are you two done?” Listening to them brought back the argument he’d had with Faith. She had said some of the same things.
“Are we lying?” Malcolm asked.
No, they weren’t, but that wasn’t the point. And he didn’t have to justify his actions to them. Both of his brothers had chosen careers outside of the company and had no interest in working there now or in the future, so they couldn’t understand how hard Brandon had worked to prove himself to their father.
“Guess that’s a no,” Khalil said. “Enough of that. I want to go back to this mystery woman. If it’s serious, why haven’t you introduced her?”
“I never said it was serious. You did.” He had wanted her to meet his family yesterday and she’d quickly turned him down. He was still puzzled by her response.
Omar passed the ball to Justin and said to Brandon, “I’m assuming this is the same woman from the accident.”
“Yeah.”
“A word of advice, my brother. If she’s got you tied up like this, she might the one. Don’t let her get away.”
“Duly noted, Drummond.”
They played for another hour, then called it a day. Malcolm and Khalil had other plans, but Brandon joined Omar and Justin for lunch at Omar’s parents’ restaurant, Miriam’s Place, named after his mother.
Once they were settled and the server had taken their order, Justin said, “So, you’re in love with Faith.”
Brandon didn’t know how to answer. Love was never an emotion he could rightfully say ever played a part in his past relationships. Lust, yes, but never love. But what he felt for Faith went well beyond just the physical. “I think so.”
Omar chuckled. “You think so? If you plan to stake your claim on this woman, you’d better know if you are.”
He leaned back in his chair and ran a hand over his head. “Yeah, I am.”
Justin folded his arms. “Does she know?”
He thought back to last night when they were making love. He’d told her several things about how he felt, but fear had kept him from uttering those three little words. “I didn’t actually say those words, but...” He trailed off when both Omar and Justin laughed. “What?”
Justin leaned forward and braced his clasped hands on the table. “Brandon, if you love her, you need to tell her.”
“And not just beat around the bush,” Omar added. “Don’t be afraid to say those magic words. She needs to know you’re serious.”
Brandon considered their advice. Both seemed to be very happy with their wives. In fact, he couldn’t recall a time when either man wasn’t smiling.
“Do you plan to see her sometime soon? I assume it’s Faith, the woman from the accident.”
“Yes, it’s Faith, and I’m going over to her hotel after I leave here.”
The server returned with their meals and Justin said with a knowing smile, “You can always take that to go.”
He thought about it briefly and decided to wait. “There’s no rush. I mean since the food is here.” He recited a short blessing and picked up his fork. Besides, he needed a little more time to work up the courage to be able to get those words out. It would be the first time he said them to a woman and he prayed it didn’t backfire.
Chapter 17
Faith woke up Saturday morning alone in bed. She sat up, bleary-eyed, and listened for sounds of Brandon moving around, but heard nothing. She flopped back down on the pillow, covered her face and groaned. “Great. He’s gone.” He’d had her so out of control with passion last night they’d never got a chance to talk. She tossed the sheet aside and spotted a sheet of paper flutter off the other side of the bed. Rising, she walked over, picked it up and read:
Good morning, sweetheart,
You were sleeping so soundly last night that I didn’t have the heart to wake you. I’ll be back later this afternoon to finish our conversation. And, yeah, I know we actually need to talk.
Brandon
She sat on the bed and released a deep sigh. Last night he had made love to her with a tenderness that had touched her soul and whispered endearments that made her almost believe he loved her. And, somehow, Brandon had gotten her to consent to continuing their relationship. For the first time in a long while, Faith had a man who made her happy and she could honestly see the two of them being together for a long time. What if she didn’t tell him? Maybe... No. She couldn’t let him walk in to that meeting on Tuesday and be blindsided. It wouldn’t be fair and he’d hate her even more.
Faith tossed the note on the nightstand and went to shower. After dressing and forcing down a piece of toast and tea, she tried to do some work, but couldn’t concentrate so she turned on the television and flipped through the channels. She settled on an old episode of Law & Order. Halfway through the show, her mind started to wander again and she shut it off. Reading didn’t hold any appeal, either, so she decided a walk might help.
She put on her tennis shoes and started toward the front of the property. Since it was almost noon, she saw several people with luggage headed for the lobby to check out. Faith walked down Sepulveda Boulevard a short distance, turned and retraced her steps to the hotel. She cut through the lobby and went out to the back, where she passed a tennis court, pool and hot tub. A few people lounged next to the pool, taking advantage of the near eighty-degree weather. A fire pit surrounded by padded chairs sat in a gated area just on the other side.
Faith took a seat in one of the chairs and listened to the sounds around her—the thwack of a tennis ball being hit, water splashing in the pool, the traffic going by and the roar of an airplane engine above her. While sitting, she realized she hadn’t spoken to her parents or told them about Thad’s offer and pulled out her phone to call them. “Hey, Mom,” she said when her mother answered.
“Faith. How are you?”
“I’m okay. How are you and Daddy doing?”
“Oh, we’re good. He’s taking me out on a date tonight,” she added with a giggle.
Faith smiled. From the first moment William Alexander came into their lives, he had been an example of what a good husband should be. “That’s great. Where are you going?”
“I have no idea. William said it’s a surprise. I told him we’re too old for this kind of thing.”
“That is so romantic. And, Mom, you’re never too old for a surprise date.” A vision of her last date with Brandon floated through her mind—the cruise, dinner, the rose petals leading to a candlelit room with a massage table, his strong hands relaxing and arousing her all at the same time—
“Faith!”
Her mother’s voice jolted her back to the conversation. “Huh? I’m sorry, what did you say, Mom?”
“Are you all right? I called you twice and asked when you were coming home.”
“I’m fine. I’ll probably be coming home in a week or so.” If things went badly with Brandon, Faith might leave as soon as that Tuesday meeting was over.
“Honey, what’s going on?”
How does she always know when something is bothering me? “Thad is retiring and wants me to assume the role of VP of the company where he works.”
“Excuse me?”
Faith told her mother about the company Thad and his friend had started and the pact they had made regarding the home safety company. “He also wants me to take his seat on the advisory committee. He said it was my inheritance.”
“I guess he did well for himself after leaving the
military. But it’s not...” Her mother trailed off.
“It’s not what, Mom?”
“Nothing. I’ve interfered enough where Thad is concerned. You’re an adult, so it’ll be your decision. Are you going to take it? You’ll certainly be set in your career.”
“I don’t know anything about home safety and I already have a career.”
“Girl, please. You graduated from high school with a 4.3 grade point average, and college with a 4.0. Don’t tell me you couldn’t learn everything you needed to know. What’s the real reason you’re hesitating? I’m not trying to push you to take it because that would mean you moving away, but there has to be more than just you don’t know anything about the business.”
Faith really didn’t want to go into detail about her reasons, mainly because she had never mentioned Brandon, either. The temperatures rose and the sun beat down on her. She got up and moved to another chair that was partially in the shade.
“Well?”
“Remember when I had the accident and I told you about the guy who stopped to help me?”
“The one who brought your things to the hospital?”
“Yes. Brandon and I have been seeing each other since then. I just found out that his father is Thad’s best friend.”
“Nolan?” she asked incredulously.
“Exactly. Because no one knew about me outside of him and his wife, Brandon always thought he would run the company alone. And he wants it that way.” She explained the relationship Thad had with the Gray family.
“I’m guessing that he’s not too happy learning that he’s going to have you as a second-in-command.”
“That’s technically correct. Except he doesn’t know it’s me. Just that his ‘Uncle Thad’ has a kid who has come out of nowhere to take what Brandon considered his.”
“Oh, Lord. What a mess.”
What a mess was right. This little trip had turned out to be far messier than she could have ever imagined. And she suspected it would get worse before it was all said and done.
“Are you going to tell Brandon?”
“I have to. Thad wants to introduce me to the advisory board on Tuesday. Brandon and all of his siblings will be there and I don’t think it’s fair to let him find out that way.”
“You’re right, baby, but what a choice. You know you can call if you need me. Although, I suspect Thad will take care of it. He knows, doesn’t he?”
“He does.” Faith recalled what Thad said he would do to Brandon if Brandon broke her heart. She had no doubt he’d make good on that threat. Over the past several weeks of getting to know Thad, he’d proven to be every bit of the father she knew he would have been had they not been separated. “I’ll let you know what happens.” She was starting to perspire and fanned herself with her hand.
“Okay. I love you, sweetheart, and I hope all goes well.”
“I love you too, Mom. And thanks.” She ended the call. Even though they didn’t see eye to eye on everything, Faith was glad to have Francis Alexander as a mother and felt a little better now.
She rose, went back to her room and took a cool shower. When she came out, she noticed a text from Brandon telling her he would be over at three. That gave her two hours.
* * *
When Faith opened the door to Brandon, his heart rate sped up. She had on a tank top with thin straps and shorts, and the sight of her smooth, bare dark chocolate skin enticed him so much that he had to shove his hands in his pants pocket to keep from reaching for her. They needed to talk first. “Hey, baby.” He kissed her.
“Hi.” Faith opened the door wider so he could come in.
He followed her over to the sofa, sat and took her hand. “How’re you doing today? I realized after I got home that I didn’t really play fair when it came to you agreeing to us continuing our relationship. I need to make sure that you’re still okay with it.”
“You didn’t force me to say anything I didn’t want to say, Brandon.”
He smiled. “So, that means we’re official.” She lowered her head and his smile faded. “Faith?”
“I need to tell you something.”
The serious expression on her face caused his gut to churn. She had just said they were on the same page. Or had she? “What’s wrong? Did you change your mind?” She didn’t speak for several long moments and his heart leaped into his throat.
“Maybe I can show you better than I can tell you.” She stood, went into the bedroom and came back with a box. Faith handed him an envelope.
Brandon saw Faith’s name on it and stared at her quizzically.
“Read it.”
“But it’s addressed to you.”
“I know.”
He withdrew the sheet of paper and read. It was a letter from her father saying he loved her and never stopped looking for her. His heart nearly stopped when he got to the bottom and saw the name and address. He didn’t know what he expected her to tell him, but this... Brandon sat stunned for a minute, and then picked up the letter again. The wording hadn’t changed. His uncle’s name, address and phone number had been written in the familiar handwriting he would recognize anywhere. “Are you telling me that you’re Uncle Thad’s daughter? The one who is supposed to take his position as VP?”
Faith nodded.
Brandon jumped to his feet and paced, trying to process this news. He stopped. “So you’ve known all this time.”
“No. I found out—”
He cut her off. “How long have you known? When she didn’t respond, he gritted out, “How long?”
She wrapped her arms around her middle and said quietly, “Almost two weeks.”
“And you didn’t think this was something you should tell me?” His anger was rising by the second.
“I tried to tell yesterday at lunch, but you had to leave. Then, I tried again last night, but we got a little sidetracked.”
He snorted. “You should have tried harder.” Now he knew why she had declined meeting his siblings so quickly yesterday.
She glared up at him. “Obviously, you need to have your memory checked. You didn’t give me time to say anything.”
Brandon had to concede her that point. Last night, making love to her had been the only thing on his mind. But now he wished he had taken the time.
“And when I woke up this morning, you were gone. Besides, I knew how you would react,” Faith added with a roll of her eyes.
Just like she hadn’t given him a pass, he wasn’t giving her one, either, with these excuses. “If you had told me before now, I wouldn’t be reacting this way,” he bit off tersely.
“Seriously, Brandon?” she asked incredulously. “Do you remember what you said the first time you told me about this guy coming in off the street and not knowing anything about your company? And then last week on the phone I asked you whether you’d changed your mind. Do you remember what you said?” Faith hopped up off the sofa and got in his face. “In case you’ve forgotten, let me refresh your memory.”
“I don’t need you to refresh my memory. My memory is just fine.”
“Hmph. Well, that’s something. And since you have this great recollection of what went down, then you should understand why it was hard for me to tell you. You had already decided that you hated a person you’d never met who you thought was going to take something from you.” Her eyes flashed and her chest heaved with anger. “Here’s a newsflash. I don’t want to take anything from you. My father asked me to assume his role, not yours!”
Brandon leaned down close to her face. “It doesn’t matter. It’s still mine.” He was done. She just didn’t get it. And he couldn’t be with a woman who was hell-bent on stealing his inheritance. “I don’t think this is going to work.”
“I absolutely agree. I refuse to be with a man who is stubborn, pigheaded and does
n’t listen.” Faith marched over to the door and snatched it open. “Get out.”
Brandon stormed past her without a backward glance. She slammed the door behind him. Somewhere deep inside, his heart said he should stay, but his anger overrode all and he ignored it.
He got in his car and sped out of the lot. He engaged the Bluetooth and called Khalil.
“Hey, bro,” Khalil said when he answered.
“Are you at the gym?”
“No. I’m at home. Why?”
“I’m coming over.”
There was a pause in the line. “I thought you were going over to see your woman.”
Brandon no longer had a woman. He didn’t respond to Khalil’s statement, but asked, “Are you going to be there for a while?”
“Yeah. Come on by.”
He cut the connection. He still couldn’t believe that Faith was Uncle Thad’s daughter. Or that she’d kept it from Brandon. As he merged onto the freeway, it occurred to him that it might have been better if he’d gone with his first thought and dropped her stuff off at the hospital that first night and kept it moving. Now he had to find a way to get over her. To stop loving her.
Chapter 18
“He wouldn’t listen to anything I said about not wanting his job,” Faith cried. She’d called Kathi as soon as Brandon left. “And he didn’t even acknowledge the fact that he’d been adamant about not wanting to have another person in the leadership role.”
“It doesn’t matter what he wants. That job and board position is rightfully yours.” Kathi sighed. “I know you’re trying to keep the peace, Faith, but you shouldn’t have to give up your inheritance because he can’t play nice with the other kids.”
“It doesn’t matter, anyway. I have my own business to worry about and, like I told you before, I don’t know a thing about home safety.”
“And like I said before, you’re good at multitasking. Why can’t you do both?”
“Because...because it would mean seeing Brandon everyday and I can’t go through that.”
Giving My All to You Page 17
