Intertwined Hearts Series (4 book collection): (Intertwined Hearts, An Exceptional Twist, Tangled Paths & Grafted Vines)

by Kimi Flores

  Just as I was through the large wrought iron gates, I froze.

  Cut my heart open, why don’t you asshole?

  Bri placed her delicate hand on my back, encouraging me to keep going. “It wasn’t your fault, Josh. Come on. Let’s get inside.” I sucked in a hard breath at her confirming words.

  Oh shit! It’s her. She’s Bea.

  Concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other, we made it through the open door and away from the predators in front. As soon as we were in the foyer of the large mansion, I quickly scanned the area for my brother when I found a group of friends standing before us in the open room. Friends who would understand.

  As beautiful as Bri was, I couldn’t stand here while she looked at me with pity any longer. We both now knew what I’d done to her. I was practically shaking, desperate to get away. I’d been an absolute asshole to her in the past and didn’t deserve her help tonight.

  Damn, I need to clear my head.

  Snaking my shaky arm around her lower back, I pulled her toward my side, whispering in her ear, “I’m sorry I dragged you into that.”

  My body froze at her reaction.

  It was hard to tell because of my own quaking but I was pretty sure she just shivered then leaned into me.

  ⁂

  Bri

  As much as I wanted to hate him, I didn’t have the heart to show any of my bitchy instincts to Josh right now. He seemed so defenseless and was shaking for goodness sake. My heart expanded, and all I really wanted to do was give him a hug, tell him that everything was going to be alright.

  And dammit, now my body is going haywire.

  With a curious stare, he pulled away while keeping the palm of his hand on my lower back. The look in his eyes confirmed that he’d felt my tremble and I melt into him when his breath had hit my neck. I blinked quickly, hoping he didn’t feel the need to ask about it.

  Finally, his hand left my back, sliding down my arm until he was squeezing my hand. “Thank you for your help, Bri.”

  Please don’t notice the goose bumps. “Mmhmm.” I gave him a small, tight smile.

  “I’m gonna go over to my friends before your brother kills me with his glare.” He pointed his chin toward the cupcake display where Stefen stood with his arms crossed, narrowing his eyes at us.

  I just shook my head. There was a much better reason for Stefen to kill this guy, but he’d never find out about that.

  Josh squeezed my hand one more time before walking away, and my stomach did that crazy flippy thing as I watched him go. No matter how I felt about the way he’d treated me in the past, I couldn’t deny that I was still drawn to him. It was like my body instinctively remembered him and seemed to be on high alert when he was around.

  You are being ridiculous, Bri. Stop it. Even if he did remember you, he already tossed you aside once.

  Holding my head higher, I blew out a breath and made my way into the elaborately decorated ballroom where the main party was being held. Wow, these Hollywood people really know how to throw a party.

  Throughout my life, I’d been to many parties and always enjoyed checking out décor details. Black cloth-covered round tables lined the walls, each with a handful of chairs tucked under them. Large screens hung from the ceiling, probably to show clips from the movie. Although the lighting wasn’t very bright, I could see the art deco design of the marble floor.

  I picked up a drink from a model-looking waiter roaming around with a tray. Giving him a once-over, I noticed the stark contrast between his green eyes and midnight black hair, and the seductive look in his stare when he passed me a napkin proved that he knew I’d noticed.

  I guess it’s true what they say—waiters in L.A. are all models or actors.

  As I walked away, I sipped from the champagne glass and took in the room, finding Josh and his group of friends tucked off to the side. Nervously, I reached around the back of my neck, sweeping my hair over my shoulder and draping it in front of my chest when I noticed—

  Is that—Paul with Josh? Oh crap!

  Spinning around to escape, I found an old friend standing in front of me. Alison.

  My college roommate pulled me into a hug, holding on tight. “As soon as you moved your hair, I knew it was you. I’d recognize that tattoo anywhere.”

  After everything happened with Josh, Alison had convinced me to get the tattoo, assuring me there was someone out there for me and all I had to do was search for him. It was out of pure desperation that I wanted to believe her. Because of that, I now had two intertwined hearts permanently inked on my shoulder, mocking me every day and reminding me of my mistake. There wasn’t anyone out there for me, just like my mother promised so many times.

  Alison pulled away beaming. “You look amazing, Bea.”

  Man, I haven’t heard that nickname in years. “Thanks,” I answered timidly.

  Alison touched a strand of my hair. “Is that your natural color? I never got to see it like this. You had so many different shades in college.”

  I offered a tight smile, not really wanting to delve into that part of my past right now. “Yep, this is it.” I recalled all the different colors and styles I went through trying to be someone I thought others would accept. Now that I was older and a bit wiser, I stopped trying to please everyone else and went back to my natural appearance.

  “What have you been up to?” Alison’s grin lit the room, completely unaware of the mini storm brewing inside me.

  “Mostly traveling. You?” I knew I was being short with my answers, but I was fighting off a panic attack. As much as I loved Alison, I needed to get away. My eyes darted one more time over to the group of guys who still hadn’t seemed to notice me.

  She smirked. “You remember Paul, right?”

  Uh, yeah. That’s why I’m freaking out right now.

  Her college boyfriend and my friend, Paul was still over there, talking to Josh. He knew everything that went down that night.

  I tried to convince myself to snap out of it, as I turned my back to the group of guys. I hadn’t seen Alison in years and wanted to catch up. “Of course. He used to drag us around with him everywhere.” I took a sip of my drink as I fought the urge to turn and look again.

  She sighed. “After graduation, we moved to L.A. where he grew up.” Suddenly, she held up her hand, showing off a huge engagement ring. “It took a few years, but he finally popped the question and we’re getting married!” she shrieked.

  I grabbed Alison’s hand, pulling it closer so I could see the ring. “Congratulations!”

  She brought it to her chest, grinning from ear to ear. “Ohmigosh! Bea, this is perfect timing. I know we haven’t seen each other in years, but there must be a reason we ran into each other. Will you please come to my wedding?”

  I didn’t have a chance to think, I just responded. “I would love to. Are you sure there’s enough time to include me?”

  Alison waved me off. “Plenty of time. Really. It’s a fancy place on Catalina Island, but the wedding itself is fairly simple. What do you say?”

  I grinned. “I would be honored.”

  “By the way. I couldn’t help notice you walking in with Josh.” She smirked, assuming something that couldn’t be farther from the truth. “I had no idea you guys got together again. I can’t believe he didn’t reconnect us.”

  I held up my palm, waving my hand from side to side. “Oh, no no no. We’re not together. We just ran into each other recently.” And he still doesn’t even remember me.

  Tilting her head, she pursed her lips. “That’s weird. He hasn’t said anything. He knows we were roommates, doesn’t he?”

  I lowered my eyes, suddenly interested in my gorgeous designer heels and that beautiful marble floor. “Um, no I don’t think he does.”

  “How is that possible?” she probed. “Paul and I are the ones who introduced you two back in New York.”

  I bit my bottom lip, begging with my eyes. “Alison, would you mind not bringing up New York in front of hi
m?”

  Confused, she looked over to where Josh stood with the other guys, then back to me. “Why?” Abruptly, her mouth fell open. “No way! He doesn’t remember, does he?”

  For the last several months, I’d been dealing with the pain of him acting like he had no clue who I was. And for some reason, standing here with an old friend who had been there at the time, and knew what had taken place was even more humiliating than just dealing with it on my own.

  All I could do was nod.

  She placed her hands on my arms. “Oh shit, Bea. I’m so sorry. He’s been through hell, though, remember? And you know how much he drank back then. I know how he treated you, but he’s a different guy now.”

  “I know what he’s been through, believe me.” I shifted my feet, leaning on one leg, as I rolled my eyes. “How do you think I ended up in his bed in the first place? I thought we’d made a connection when he opened up to me, but you and I know it meant nothing. I meant nothing.”

  She rubbed my arm. “I’m sorry, Bea. I remember how bad that sucked. He beats himself up all the time for the mistakes he’s made in the past.” She seemed unsure if she should continue. “He even moved all the way out to Santa Ynez to get away from everything and lives all by himself on a huge ranch.”

  “Yeah, I know. My sister-in-law over there,” I pointed to Leah who was wrapped in her husband’s arms, “is a florist and works with Josh’s cousin on the vineyard. I started helping her out and we’ve unfortunately run into him a few times out there.”

  Alison’s eyes went wide in the direction where I pointed. “Oh dayem, Stefen looks good. I haven’t seen him since we were freshman and he ignored me.” She laughed nervously.

  I chuckled. That’s because I threatened him to stay away from my friends.

  “Do you live in that area too?” she asked, curiously.

  I shifted, giving a sideways glance to the group I hoped still hadn’t noticed us. “Yeah. Well, Santa Barbara. Caleb, Stefen, and I all live out there now.”

  A wide grin broke out on her face, then she murmured something about Caleb as well.

  I glanced up briefly at the ceiling trying hard not to be irritated. Story of my life. If I’m not running into a woman that was in love with my brother and cousin, then I’m avoiding the guys who were run off by them. When will I ever come out from under their shadow?

  Snapping me out of my thoughts, Alison said, “I love Santa Barbara. We normally stop and eat there on our way out to see Josh’s ranch.” My old friend’s eyes diverted toward the guys once more.

  Curious, I took another peek. My eyes scanned from guy to guy until they met up with Josh’s perceptive gaze.

  I quickly turned back to Alison. “I’m going to let you go back to your fiancé, but please don’t bring me up to Paul or Josh. I really want to just move on.”

  With a soft smile on her lips, she avowed, “Okay, I won’t. But you have to give me your number so we can catch up.”

  I grabbed my phone out of my purse, then looked up to see Alison peering past my shoulder, desperately shaking her head no.

  She gave me a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry, Bea. Paul didn’t see me until it was too late.”

  “What?” I asked.

  She glanced over my shoulder again. Curious, I turned my head, only to come face to face with Josh. Startled, I gasped.

  With an intentional stare, he spoke perceptively. “We need to talk.” He was so close, his breath tickled my face.

  I blinked quickly as I registered what was happening. He was standing stiffly behind me, but I couldn’t read his expression. Was he mad, hurt, confused?

  I’m gonna be sick.

  Cupping my elbow, he scanned the room and gently led me into what looked like a small study. As he closed the door behind us, he began to pace, running his fingers through his messy light-brown hair. Stopping in front of me, he leaned over and braced his palms on his knees.

  He was staring at the ground, shaking his head. “I knew it was you. I was hoping I could figure things out before this, but then I saw you with Alison and knew I had to man up tonight.”

  Dumbfounded, I stood there stoically, forcing myself not to cry.

  He knew?

  “I’ve spent all this time trying to convince myself you weren’t her. You look different, but deep down, I sensed it. You’re Bea.”

  He stood up, his arms hanging loosely at his sides. “The other day when you finally looked at me, I felt like I’d been sucker punched in the gut. A lot’s changed, but those eyes—they had the same expression they did seven years ago.”

  I didn’t know what I was supposed to do or say, so I stood in front of him. Silent. I’d never expected to have this conversation with him.

  He went on, his eyes begging. “I’m sure you hate me, and I can’t say I blame you, but can I please explain?”

  Sucking in my bottom lip to keep it from quivering, I nodded once.

  He huffed out a breath. “I’ve never met another girl like you before. Even though we only hung out for a short while, and I was drunk most of that time, there was something about you. I felt like I could trust you. Actually, it was the first time I felt anything since before Kai died.”

  He took a few tentative steps toward me, reaching for my hand and pulling me down next to him on the soft leather couch. He leaned his elbows on his knees and continued. “That night when we all went out, I opened up and told you some things that I hadn’t told anyone else.” He winced sheepishly. “At least, I didn’t think I had. Then I found out a few of those very private feelings I shared with you ended up in the media. I was fuming, to say the least.”

  “What? Josh I never said anything to anyone,” I promised. “You’ve got to believe me. I wouldn’t do that.” I was floored. My heart hurt knowing he thought I’d betrayed him.

  He raised his hand in front of him to stop me. “I know that. We found out later it was someone at the studio, but I didn’t know that when you walked into that club. I wanted to see you that night so I could tell you off and have the satisfaction of getting you kicked out.”

  As if the scene was playing out in his mind, he shook his head and growled, “Then you came in wearing that damn outfit and I couldn’t think straight. You were so beautiful, I knew I had to have you and it kinda pissed me off seeing all the other assholes around checking you out.”

  This was news to me. All of it was making my head reel. “Then why did you treat me the way you did afterward? I felt like a piece of trash, Josh. You were barely finished with me before you had the next girl in your room.”

  He furrowed his eyebrows, as if confused. “What? What are you talking about? What girl?”

  Unsuccessfully fighting my anger, I pushed off the couch and strode to the other side of the room. After all this time, he was going to play dumb? Well, I was done with his shit.

  Whirling around, I balled my fists. “Let’s see. If I remember correctly, because I have a fairly good memory, you rolled off me and said, and I quote, ‘Get the fuck out and tell Cheri to get her ass in here now.’” I would never forget that name.

  “Cheri? Oh shit, Bri.” He crossed the room and stood in front of me, grabbing my hands. “Cheri was my P.R. manager. She was as pissed as I was about you going to the media.” I tried to pull away, but he squeezed my hands, reminding me, “Again, we thought it was you. Anyway, she watched me leave the club with you, and I knew she’d be waiting at my door to rip me a new ass. Once I realized the magnitude of my fuck-up that night, I thought you would be running to the paparazzi after we were done. I may have freaked out, but I never slept with Cheri.”

  I managed to pull my hands away, then spun around, not wanting him to see the relief on my face. Even though this conversation didn’t erase all of my pain and humiliation, just knowing he hadn’t slept with Cheri loosened the vice on my heart just a little.

  I dropped my head, squeezing my eyes tight as I fought the tears that wanted to fall. No, you will not cry. No!

  Carefu
lly turning my body to face him, he lifted my chin with his index finger. “Bri, please look at me.”

  Taking a deep breath, I opened my glossy eyes. He placed his thumb under my bottom lashes, catching the first tear as it fell. “You’re breaking my heart right now, but I have to ask. Why me? Why did you give yourself to me? I wasn’t worthy of being your first.”

  This is beyond mortifying. I wish he’d never pulled me in here.

  Sniffing, I spoke through quivering lips, “I thought you were. But I made a mistake, and I’ve lived with that lapse in judgment ever since. Especially knowing it meant nothing to you.” I jerked my face out of his grasp, swiping away additional tears.

  He reached for me once more, running his thumb across my cheek. His eyes darted back and forth between mine as I tried to mask my feelings. “There’s no excuse for the way I behaved, but I don’t think you understand what it means to a guy when a girl gives him her virginity, especially when he doesn’t know ahead of time.”

  I sucked in a breath, hating that we were talking about this.

  “It’s not this whole conquest thing people seem to think it is. Even drunk, I knew it was a part of you that you could never get back. I may have been an asshole, but when I looked at the bed and realized it was your first time, I felt—so damn guilty. I’m sorry.”

  Trailing his calming hands up and down my arms, I admitted, “The only other time I’ve been with a virgin was when I was one myself. It would’ve been different if, like my first time, we’d been teens in the backseat of a car. But Bri, you made it through high school and the first half of college without having sex. You can't tell me you didn’t have other opportunities. There’s no way guys didn’t try before I came along.”

  Stepping away from him, I crossed my arms, placing my palms on my bare biceps in an effort to comfort myself, while trying to appear to be strong. “That doesn’t matter anymore. It’s in the past and it’s over. The only thing we have to deal with now is that we’re going to keep running into each other.”

  His jaw clamped down for a moment. “Now that I know it’s you, I’ve gotta try to make up for this somehow.”