by Wynn, Renee
The Sinclair mansion was crowded with friends and family mingling and talking but he sat slouched in a chair in the far corner of the room. Today was the christening of his best friend, Ashton Sinclair and wife, Nicole’s second son, Aiden.
He swirled the drink in his hand, not sipping, and tried not to look bored out of his mind. He loved being godfather to Ashton’s sons but the parties that came along with it weren’t something he looked forward to or enjoyed.
His sister, Sally, Nicole and Danielle were best friends. Each now held the honor of being godmother to Ashton and Nicole’s sons.
“What are you looking at?” His sister, Sally flopped in the chair next to him, grabbed the drink out of his hand and took a sip. “Ugh,” she said and made a face. “I don’t know how you drink this stuff.”
Brody retrieved the glass back without taking his eyes off of the woman he’d been watching most of the afternoon. “It’s not for the faint hearted.” He swallowed the remaining contents, stood and placed the glass on the tray of a passing waiter. He leaned over, kissed his sister cheek, and turned to walk away.
“She’s not your type, Brody,” she said, stopping him in his wake.
He turned with a deep frown. “Who?”
Sally nodded to toward Danielle. “She’s a supermodel but a good girl. Leave her alone. Besides she’s one of my best friends.”
“What makes you think I’m interested?”
“I have observed you all afternoon.”
“She’s gorgeous. I’m sure I’m not the only man in the room who’s noticed.”
Sally laughed, stood and put an arm through his. “Your notice is more like a lion stalking their meal and waiting for the right moment to pounce.”
“Don’t worry little sister.” He smiled and gave her an affectionate squeeze. “I never give my prey a warning before I pounce, but this time I just might.”
###
Danielle Evans busied herself making sure the guests were comfortable and tried to ignore Brody Beaumont intense gaze. In her profession, blatant stares from men and women were common. She always felt as if she was on display but she worked hard and now was one of the world’s top fashion and runway models. But she wouldn’t stay at the top forever, she was twenty-eight and time wasn’t on her side. Someone younger and hungrier was always nipping at the heels, trying to topple you over.
She glance Brody’s way again and locked eyes with his green ones. He was one outrageously handsome man. There was no dying the fact. Heir apparent to the billionaire oil and gas dynasty, Beaumont Oil and Mockingbird Leasing, Brody was known as a brilliant strategist but his reputation with women also was legendary. She knew of an acquaintance, a famous model, which had dated him briefly and came away from the experience bitter. The woman, who had been tall and blonde, had thought she could hook him but had been sadly mistaken.
At the church, throughout the christening ceremony, his eyes stalked her every movement. She’d wondered if there were smudges on her face or lipstick on her teeth. Danielle couldn’t very well pretend he didn’t exist because he was the godfather along with her godmother role to baby Aiden. It hadn’t been intimidating but it made her a little unsettle. After all she went through with her ex, she learned to mask her feelings and emotions. But it was something about his brooding stare that had her wondering about him. But she caught the wayward thoughts and changed course. Brody looked dangerous and that wasn’t a road she was going to travel down again. So she ignored him like she did every other man that tried to capture of attention. Most of them gave up, realizing she wasn’t interested but he was a different breed.
He didn’t remember her but she did him. Besides she looked different. Gone were the large black squared-framed glasses and the crooked teeth that had been repaired by costly surgery and numerous orthodontist’s visits. Although, still tall and slim, she no longer slouched but was proud of her height.
She only saw Brody once when he came to visit Sally in college. Upon first look, her tongue tied into knots and refused to operate. Because Brody was so much older, he was either in college or at his ranch in Montana when they were growing up.
She was in awe of him, so much so, that she left the dorm room hurriedly before introductions could be made. After he left, she had walked slowly back into the room from hiding out in the rec room. Sally had asked what had happened to her. She’d murmured some excuse glad that she hadn’t questioned her further. But Nicole had only observed her with a puzzled frown. She had made sure she was never around when he came back to visit.
Brody was one of the most compelling men she ever encountered. Being a model, she was used to gorgeous and powerful men crossing her path. Bu it was something different about him that caught her attention–and unnerved her.
He was powerfully built and gave off the impression of a slick panther, graceful but all man. His straight coal, black hair was longer than she recalled. It now hung pass his shoulder, lying like black diamonds, against his broad shoulders. The bright, green eyes had s the longest, dark lashes she’d ever seen on a man. His eyes were direct and startling against the smoothness and hue of his tan face. Although he was half Caucasian and half Akokisa American Indian, his features and skin tone were more Caucasian.
She tried to be unimpressed by the womanizing billionaire, who was more famous for his notorious one night stands than his ability to turnaround failing stock into huge profits. She was failing miserably.
The bold straight nose, the finely define mouth full with a sensual lower lip, made her tingle in places she thought long dead. Danielle took a deep breath when she saw him strolling toward her. She hurried to turn away but he stepped in front her, touching her arm. She looked at his hand on her arm and then lifted her eyes to his. A mistake. His bold green gaze captured hers and she found herself lost in their depths. A slight shake of the head was meant to clear the confusion but only seemed to compound it. Did he notice how unbalance she were? Hopefully, not.
She stepped back, to give both of them breathing room and tried to calm the pounding in her chest that seemed loud to her ears.
“I have been remised in my cohost duties; I should’ve been helping you,” he said.
“Thanks, but there isn’t anything that needs to be done,” Danielle replied nonchalantly.
“I know we weren’t formerly introduced but I would like to remedy that now.” He struck out his hand. “I’m Brody Beaumont.”
“Danielle Evans,” she said calmly shaking his hand. “ I have heard a lot about you from Sally. It’s nice to meet you.”
He looked over at his sister. “All good, I hope.”
“She’s your little sister, what do you think?”
She could help noticing how good he looked in his clothes. His black suit was impeccably tailored, obviously an Armani, and his white oxford shit looked custom made with a light green silk tie. A plain gold Rolex was wrapped round his wrist. The black cowboy boots made especially to fit his feet completed his attire.
He lifted a brow. “That bad, uh?”
Danielle tilted her head and tapped a finger to her chin. “Well, she did tell about the torture you administered when she was a kid.”
“Really? I don’t recall torturing her. It was more the other way around. Sally could be a menace.”
“Like the time she spied on you making out with one of your girlfriends. When you caught her, you locked her in her bedroom until your parents came home.”
He slipped his hands in his slack pockets. “That was an emergency. Seeing eyes peering at you from behind a skunk mask, while trying to get to second base wasn’t nice. I couldn’t get the girl to stop screaming and Sally from laughing.
She giggled. He was staring again and then he touched the corner of her bottom lip. Surprised at the gesture she abruptly stopped laughing.
“You had a crumb on your mouth.”
“Oh.” She ran her tongue across her lips.
Danielle cleared her throat. Brody took his hand grazed the skin
of her lips again. His fingers were callus but the touch was gentle.
“There you two are.” Nicole, along with her husband, Ashton Sinclair approached them.
Although startled, Danielle was glad for the interruption.
She offered her friend a tentative smile. “Hey, you finish feeding my godson?”
Nicole chuckled. “Yes. Aiden has such a healthy appetite. He’s different from Trey who I had to wake up to feed. My second son let you know when he’s hungry, which seems to be very often.”
Ashton pulled his wife toward him and kissed her temple. “Honey, he’s a growing little boy. He likes to eat like his daddy. He just can’t get enough.”
She touched his cheek and looked into his eyes. “I don’t feed you enough?”
“Plenty.”
“Ah, I believe we are still standing here,” Brody said with a straight face.
Nicole had the graciousness to blush. “I’m sorry.”
Brody squinted. “Never mind. You still act like newlyweds.”
Ashton removed his arm from around his wife and slapped Brody on the back. “Your turn will come.”
“Don’t count on it.” Brody said in a hard tone that caused Danielle to throw him a sharp glance.
Nicole looked at Danielle. “Well, ah… I wanted to make sure the two of you were properly introduced. I thought you knew each other but Sally told me you didn’t.”
I never met Danielle until today,” Brody said.
Danielle shifted on her feet now uncomfortable. She didn’t want Nicole to remember how she always made an excuse to be absent when he came.
“No, I guess I was off somewhere studying.”
“Really? I know you were a bookworm and being a Biology major made it worse. I could have sworn you met him in the dorm room that first time.”
“I don’t think so,” Nicole lied, softly. She didn’t want him to remember her as the ugly duckling.
Nicole gave her a bewildered look. “Hmm. well, everything is good now that you two have really met. We’re going to mingle so more,” she said taking her husband’s hand.
“You see who the boss is, right?” Ashton chuckled as his wife lead him away.
Danielle now left alone Brody him again tried to look anywhere else than at him. When she finally couldn’t ignore him any longer, she looked at him.
His hard eyes raked over her without restraint. “Let’s take a walk.”
Shocked, she asked, “Why?”
“It’s broad daylight. I won’t take advantage of you…at least not yet.” His tone was soft and seductive, one that refuted the hard glint in his eyes. It was as if he was chameleon, showing only what he wanted her to see at the moment.
Danielle hesitated. “I didn’t think you would.”
“Yes, you did. You are feeling exactly what I am feeling and you’re wondering if yo u should explore it.”
“Even if I did. I’m not going to.”
“Why not?”
“I’m a cautious person.”
“You believe I’m dangerous.”
She studied him for a long moment. “Absolutely.”
“You are one beautiful woman,” he said “You intrigue me.”
“Really? I’m sure I’m not the first or will I be the last.” Danielle uttered, feeling unsettled by his directness.
“I’ve been intrigued by many things, countries, the stock exchange and politics to name a few, but never by a woman. It was meant as a compliment.”
“Mr. Beaumont…”
“Brody.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not interested. I’m sure you have better things to do than—”
“Not at moment.”
“Look, I have read all about you.”
“I’m flattered.”
“Don’t be. It wasn’t all complimentary.”
He crossed his arms in a relaxed stance. “Enlighten me.”
“Like Ashton, you have the Midas touch when it comes to business. Your family’s wealth, which I read is now well into the billions, increased under your leadership. You buy what you want. Playing hard and dating gorgeous blondes is your calling card. I don’t fit the mold. So what’s the catch?”
He arched his brow. “There’s no catch. I’m man. You’re a woman and gorgeous. I’m interested.”
“I’m not your type. When did you decide to go slumming?”
“What?” His green eyes flashed dangerously.
“I shouldn’t have said that because I don’t know you at all.”
“You’re damn right you shouldn’t have said it. I paid you a compliment and you threw it back in my face. I don’t know what your problem is lady, but I’m not going to stand for your insults.” told you I shouldn’t have said it, what more do you want?”
He moved closer right up in her face. “You can’t even begin to know what I want but I guarantee you will soon find out.”
He pivoted on his heel, leaving her staring at him with her mouth open.
