Everything fell into place – his past, his mother’s constant complaining, and especially his doubts about Robin. He’d been more relaxed the last few hours in Brooke’s company than he had been the last few years. They’d only been together for mere hours, but in what little time they’d shared, something was happening between them.
His heart beat in a frantic rhythm, and he just had to kiss her. But it was too soon.
Silently, he growled in frustration and looked up at the ceiling, so her beauty wouldn’t tempt him. Above them, hanging from the ceiling fan, she’d tied a cluster of red Christmas bulbs... and a mistletoe. How fortunate.
Justin glanced at her, her checks aflame as she’d followed his gaze to the mistletoe. Her eyes softened as her gaze lowered to his lips. He took this as a sign that the time was right. Bringing his mouth down to hers, he brushed it across her full lips, electrified by the softness.
He pulled away just enough to see her reaction, giving her a chance to turn him down, but her eyes were closed. So, gathering her tighter in his hold, he placed his mouth on hers once again.
Keeping the kiss gentle, he tried to familiarize himself with the shape of her lips. He’d already guessed she’d been hurt before, so he took the kiss slow and meaningfully. She met his tender pecks, and against his chest, the rhythm of her heart met his. Her hands kneading his shoulders soothed him. When her body relaxed, his desire climbed a notch higher.
He deepened the kiss and her body stiffened. Without warning, she pressed the heels of her hands against his chest and stepped away. A pale face stared back at him with wide, frightened eyes. Her body trembled.
He reached for her. “Brooke—”
“I’m sorry, Justin, but I can’t let you do that to me.”
She remained stiffly standing, and he waited for her to explain herself. Instead, she spun on her heels and fled into the nearest bedroom, slamming the door. Upon hearing the confirming click of the door’s lock, his hopes deflated.
Once again, he’d made the wrong decision. But this time, it hurt more than the others.
SEVEN
JUSTIN AROSE FROM HIS sleepless night, turned and slung his legs over the side of the bed. He rubbed his eyes then peered through half-closed lids at the alarm clock on the nightstand. Eight a.m. It’d been quite a while since he’d awakened this late. The change was nice.
He stretched before sliding his feet into Brad’s slippers sitting on the floor. The morning chill caused goose bumps to ripple over his skin, so he hurried to the closet to find Brad’s robe. Justin pulled on the heavy terrycloth, tying the sash around his waist.
Turning toward the window, he opened the shade and squinted against the sun’s brilliant glare as it touched the snow-covered ground. The impact of last night’s blizzard had left the mountains covered in white powder, but this morning only a few flakes drifted from the sky.
He yawned, shaking the sleep out of his mind before heading into the living room to start a fire. As he set the wood in place, his mind drifted back to last night. Brooke had left him in a fit of confusion after she’d locked herself in the bedroom. He shouldn’t have kissed her, but the urge overpowered him.
It was that song. And the mistletoe!
Once the fire burned strong, he stepped back and rubbed his hands over his arms, helping the heat circulate through his shivering body. What had really happened to Brooke? Did some man attack her or rape her? That would certainly explain why she felt it necessary to learn self-defense.
He walked back into the bedroom to search for some clothes. He didn’t know what to think anymore, but the urge to earn her trust was strong. Not all men were mean and violent.
Justin grabbed some of Brad’s clothes and hurried into the adjoining bathroom to shower. The hot water helped bring warmth to his body, and by the time he climbed out and dried off, he had a much better outlook on today’s plans. Since the storm had snowed them in, he’d spend the day proving to Brooke that nice guys really do exist.
After dressing, he went into the kitchen and started breakfast, gathering the ingredients to make an omelet. After cracking open the eggs and spilling them into a fry pan, a movement out of the corner of his eye grabbed his attention. Brooke stood in the hallway wearing the clothes she had on last night, wrinkled from the night’s wear. Her eyes were slightly puffy and dark makeup shadowed underneath. He’d heard her crying during the night. Seeing the damage on her face tore at his gut.
Justin smiled, showing her his impression of the nice guy she didn’t believe in. “Good morning, angel. Did you sleep well?”
Twin spots of pink colored her cheeks and she lowered her gaze. “Yes, I guess I did under the circumstances.”
“Would you like to take a shower? It’ll make you feel like a new person.”
She shrugged. “Sure.”
“There’s a shower in the other bedroom and some clothes in the closet. They’re men’s things, but I’m sure you can find something to wear.”
“Well, okay.” Her attention strayed to the omelet he stirred in the pan. “Will you save me some of the omelet? It sure looks delicious.”
He winked. “You bet. Now hurry along and take your shower or your breakfast will be cold.”
Smiling, she moved into the bedroom, locking the door behind her.
Justin didn’t want to think about her in the shower, but his misplaced thoughts wandered to her beauty once again. For most of his life, beautiful women had hung on his arm, and he’d never been deprived of a woman’s company. Even Robin, with all of her faults, was a very lovely woman.
Brooke was different, and he liked that she wasn’t so full of herself. She didn’t have the long legs Robin had professionally waxed every week, but Brooke’s were shapely, nonetheless. Brooke didn’t have Robin’s figure, but Brooke’s small frame fit perfectly in his arms while they danced last night. She didn’t have Robin’s artistic face either, but he was willing to bet Brooke’s natural beauty didn’t have to be covered with all that make-up women wore.
Yet it was more than her physical beauty that attracted him. There was no comparison when it came to her kindness, her heartfelt sweetness. Robin would never have that.
Once the omelet finished cooking, he placed a lid over the pan and set it aside, then looked in the refrigerator to see what else he could muster up for breakfast. Noticing a container of canned biscuits, his stomach growled. He took it out, popped the flimsy cardboard against the counter and set the dough on a cookie sheet.
While the oven preheated, he grabbed some plates and utensils and set the table. The water from the shower turned off, and his heart leapt with excitement. What would she wear? It didn’t matter. She’d look beautiful no matter what.
After putting the biscuits in the oven, he cleaned his mess, trying to make their first breakfast together nice. Sitting at the table, he waited for her to join him, drumming his fingers on the oak surface impatiently. The rhythm of his heart wouldn’t slow.
The bedroom door opened and his gaze flew to her. He stood slowly. His heart skipped a beat, making it impossible to breathe, let alone think. She was so beautiful it nearly knocked him senseless. The man’s large blue flannel shirt she wore covered most of her body, leaving her lovely legs bare, except for the tube socks riding high to her knees.
Her damp, white-blonde hair streaked with gold hung down her shoulders, curling slightly at the ends, and her make-up free face was naturally beautiful, just as he knew it would be. Dark, perfectly-shaped brows and long dark lashes enhanced her loveliness. Never in his life had he seen a woman more stunning.
He swallowed hard, adding moisture to his dry mouth, and licked his lips. His hunger for food suddenly disappeared and a different appetite consumed his very being.
He hoped he could act like a gentleman and show her what a nice guy he was without making a complete fool out of himself.
BROOKE’S HEART LODGED in her throat as she watched Justin for signs of disgust, but so far, she didn’t see any. His
expression didn’t read like he was looking at something hideous. Instead, the warmth in his eyes melted her. The look on his face was of pure amazement... yeah, like he hadn’t seen anything so gruesome in his life.
The more she studied his wide brown eyes and his increasing smile, she realized he wasn’t thinking that she was ugly after all. She fidgeted, pushing her damp hair behind her ears.
“I’m sorry I look so... so... awful, but I don’t have my makeup with me.”
He walked to her slowly as his tender gaze traced her face. “No, Brooke, you’re wrong. You don’t look awful at all.” He stopped in front of her and caressed her cheek with his fingers. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, “so lovely in fact, that you take my breath away.”
Her heart came to life and hammered a wild rhythm. Butterflies danced in her stomach and made her knees weak, but she kept herself from laughing aloud from the sheer joy of it all.
She swallowed. “Really?”
“Oh, yes,” he answered softly. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful as the woman standing in front of me.”
She was lost in his eyes. His intoxicating gaze softened her heart as she fell under his power. Surprisingly, it didn’t frighten her this time.
His attention dropped to her mouth and her heartbeat sped. He stepped closer, but she didn’t stop him. Without taking her in his arms, he bent his head and softly pressed his lips to hers. It was brief, but the tender effect left her mind spinning out of orbit.
He withdrew, and his smile widened. “Good morning, angel.”
Although this was one of the happiest moments of her life, she wanted to cry. If he only knew about her past, he wouldn’t call her angel. Maybe she’d let him think she was pure, if only for today.
“Are you ready for breakfast?” he asked.
She nodded, and he took her hand, leading her to the table. He helped seat her, pulling out a chair for her like a gentleman. She was amazed that there was a man who still did this kind of thing. A few months ago, she’d convinced herself men like that didn’t exist. But Justin was real; very real and tempting her almost more than she could stand. He seemed to know how to wear down her resistance.
Her hand shook when she picked up the fork and cut off a piece of omelet. It was slightly cold, but it didn’t matter because Justin’s stare warmed her completely. Besides that, she couldn’t taste a thing. Her heart was stuck in her throat.
Neither said a word during the meal, but Brooke knew exactly what was on his mind. She’d seen that look of desire before on the last man she’d been with, except with Justin it was different. And now, fright didn’t consume her very being.
When she couldn’t eat one more bite, she stood and picked up her plate. Within seconds Justin stood by her side. She smiled, welcoming his company, amazed again that such a man existed.
Brooke washed the dishes and he wiped, but they didn’t speak. Strange as it seemed, his presence comforted her even without a conversation. The few months she’d dated Chuck, she had always felt the need to say something. Silence never flowed so easily with him.
After Justin put the last dish away, he grasped her hand and pulled her into the living room, sitting her on the sofa by the fireplace. When he threw a couple more logs into the fire, the flannel shirt he wore stretched across his shoulders, emphasizing his muscular build. His blatant masculinity stirred something within her soul, but she didn’t want to think about what it might be.
He returned to the sofa and sat beside her. Taking her hand, his warm gaze slid over her face. It made her a little uncomfortable, only because she wasn’t wearing make-up, but his soft expression left her feeling pretty and very special; a feeling she hadn’t experienced for a long time.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“No.”
“Just let me know if I need to throw a blanket over your legs.” His attention moved to her limbs, and butterflies flopped in her stomach. He grinned. “I remember how easily your feet get cold.”
Suddenly, her heart burst with happiness that he would remember such a thing. The urge to tell him everything about her life overwhelmed her. She hesitated. She didn’t want him to judge her as harshly as her friends and family. And she definitely didn’t want him to stop looking at her as if she was an angel.
Settling her pounding heart by taking deep breaths, she turned toward him. “Justin? About last night—”
“Brooke, about last night—”
Simultaneously, they laughed.
“You go ahead,” he told her.
“No, you first.”
“Okay.” He situated his body until he faced her. “I want to tell you how sorry I am for kissing you that way last night. I didn’t mean to scare you. I can only lay blame on the mistletoe. It must have been magical.”
She smiled, and her heart melted a little more. Serenity settled in her chest. “Justin, I’d like to explain why I acted that way.” She paused and took a ragged breath. “Are you sure you still want me to tell you?”
His eyes widened. “Are you going to tell me about your secret?”
“Yes.”
“I still want to hear.” His fingers tenderly stroked her hand.
Taking another deep breath, she began, “It happened my last year in college. I had many friends and my share of boyfriends – one of them was Chuck.”
Bitter memories returned, and she clenched her jaw. Mentally, she prepared herself for the wounded stab of betrayal that had yet to disappear. “At first, we were just friends, which was all right with me. One day he asked me out. He was a charmer and exceptionally hot, which made it easier to go out with him. He was popular on campus and everybody thought we made the perfect couple.”
She paused a moment to collect her thoughts. His thumb caressed the back of her hand. “We dated a couple of times, but during those dates nothing serious happened. During one of our dates, he started kissing me a little differently than usual. Because of his drunken state, his urgency became more demanding.”
Tears gathered in her eyes and she fought to keep them from spilling down her cheeks. Justin’s tender stroke calmed her slightly.
“He forced me to have sex with him, and I hated every minute. Chuck hurt me. He was very rough. Afterward, he left. I cried for hours, regretting everything.”
A tear slid from her eye and she tried to ignore it, but Justin didn’t. His arms circled around her, pulling her against him as he pressed her head to his hard chest.
“It’s okay, Brooke. You don’t have to go on.”
“Yes, I do.” Her voice shook. “I need to say it. I have to release it.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
She breathed slower, controlling her tears. “The next day I tried to break it off with him, but he hit me across the face and called me all kinds of names. I ran away from him, but he followed me to my room and continued beating me until I could hardly move,” she ended, freeing the built-up emotion inside.
Justin’s hand stroked her hair, which comforted her more than she realized. She relished the foreign feeling and nuzzled her face against his hard chest.
Clearing her throat, she continued, “Although he beat me, it wasn’t the worst of it. I reported him to the authorities, but nobody believed me, especially my family. The people who I thought were my friends treated me like I had a contagious disease. Chuck had come from a good family, so naturally, they didn’t think he could have been so violent. Of course, he denied everything, and since there were no witnesses...” Her voice cracked, and she shrugged.
Justin placed a light kiss on her forehead. “It wasn’t right for them to treat you like that. You were the victim.”
“That’s what I thought, too, even after... after...” She couldn’t say it. The pain was still too real. She struggled with the inward battle fighting her heart and mind. Although she needed to release her emotion, it scared her that Justin would turn out like the rest of them. She didn’t want to disappoint him, and especially, she didn’t think she�
�d be strong enough if she saw the accusation in his eyes. Would he judge her like her friends and family had? She’d absolutely die if he rejected her.
EIGHT
JUSTIN’S CHEST ACHED, and he actually felt her pain. As he continued to stroke her silky hair, he prayed that he’d be able to stay strong for her. She needed comfort and support since nobody had given that to her, and he wanted to be the man who understood. The one she could trust.
His heart broke into pieces as he imagined all she’d gone through. What could be worse than being physically abused and then having friends and family turn their backs and distrust you?
“After a few weeks had passed,” she continued in a strained voice. “I discovered I was pregnant.”
The statement took him totally unaware, and when she lifted her head to look into his face, he knew she saw shock.
“Yes, you heard me correctly.” She blinked away the liquid filling her eyes again. “I had the hardest time deciding whether or not I should keep the child or put it up for adoption.” She pulled herself straight, but he still kept his arms tight around her. “Anyway, my pregnancy started showing and I was beginning to anticipate the time when I could hold my little one in my arms.”
Her voice cracked again, and tears dripped from her eyes. Justin’s throat tightened, and he wanted to cry himself. What a strong woman, carrying the baby for nine months then to give it up for adoption. It must have been the hardest thing in the world for her.
She wiped away a tear. “When I was almost six months pregnant, Chuck came back and snuck into my apartment. He told me he was engaged to be married. When the news didn’t upset me as he thought it should, he went into a rage and... and... beat me again.” Her body shook uncontrollably, so he tightened his hold. “After he left, I went into labor. The baby was born too early, and it didn’t—” Her voice broke into sobs as she buried her face into his chest.
Justin swallowed the lump of emotion in his throat, fighting an inward battle not to cry himself. The agony in his chest was more than he could bear, but he stayed strong. His eyes stung with the tears he held back.
The Billionaire's Secret (The Tycoons, #4) Page 5