Brent didn’t expect to feel anything while holding Jasmine again, and he wasn’t disappointed. If not for Ava, he may have been tempted by his ex’s obvious attempts to lure him back, but what he’d felt for Jasmine years ago didn’t begin to compare to how he felt for Ava. “So, you decided to finish your degree when you moved out to L.A.,” he said, deciding small talk would be his best recourse for getting through the dance.
Photographers stood on the periphery of the crowd snapping pictures, and Brent groaned when a flashbulb went off. What had he been thinking, agreeing to dance with Jasmine? If Ava thought he’d asked Jasmine to accompany him to the event when she declined, she’d try to convict him.
“Yeah, reality hit hard once I got out there.” She smiled. “I was just another pretty face, nothing special.”
He did his best to change direction so his back was facing photographers, but they just followed suit. “I gotta get the hell out of here.”
“Brent, wait,” Jasmine said, grabbing his arm. “Can you drive me home? I took a taxi here, and I’d really like to talk.”
The damage was already done. “Why not? The evening couldn’t get much worse.”
“Gee, thanks.”
He didn’t bother to respond. If she was looking for a man to stroke her ego, she’d have to look elsewhere. “Come on.” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed his brother’s number. “Keith, you need to get over here. I can’t do this tonight.” He sighed. “I don’t give a goddamn where you are. Get your ass over here and accept this award on behalf of Armstrong. I’m leaving. Now.” He didn’t wait for a response before slipping the phone back in his pocket.
“How is Keith?” Jasmine asked, struggling to catch up with his long strides.
“Fine.” He wasn’t in the mood to chat. Perhaps if she realized that, she’d opt for an impersonal taxi driver instead.
Brent intended to make one stop after he dropped Jasmine off, and even if he had to bribe the security guard posted in Ava’s lobby, he wasn’t leaving until they worked things out. Brent’s driver opened the door for them, and Brent waited for her to get settled inside before following her.
She looked around the luxurious interior. “Wow, you really have made all your dreams come true, haven’t you?”
“Not all of them.”
“What does that mean?”
He saw the hopeful look in her eye and knew it was time to quash her expectations. “When Ava agrees to be my wife, then I’ll have everything I want.”
“So it’s serious?”
“Obviously.” It would be months, maybe years, before Ava felt ready to take that step, especially in light of recent events, but he wanted Jasmine to know who his heart belonged to.
“She must be pretty special to have earned your trust.”
“Ava would never betray me.” He didn’t know how he could say that with absolute certainty, but he would bet everything he owned on it.
“I’m glad you’re happy, Brent.” She placed her hand on his knee. “I mean that. I didn’t come to see you because I was hoping to reconnect. I gave up on that fantasy a long time ago. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for the way things went down between us.” When he looked out the window instead of responding, she asked, “Do you think you’ll ever forgive me?”
“I let it go a long time ago.”
“Really? Are you sure you haven’t been shutting people out because you didn’t want to risk getting hurt again?” she asked.
He thought about where he’d been before Ava came back into his life. Putting up walls was exactly what he’d been doing. “I thought I made myself clear earlier.” He gave her a look that usually made his employees cower. “I don’t want to rehash our relationship. I don’t want to discuss the reasons it didn’t work, aside from the obvious. It’s dead and buried. I’d like it to stay that way.”
“You were always so cold,” she said quietly. “I don’t know if you even realized it.”
“You’re blaming me for this?”
“I’m not blaming you. I’m telling you what was wrong in our relationship so you won’t make the same mistake with Ava.”
He laughed, but it was completely devoid of humor. “Don’t do me any favors. I don’t need you, of all people, to point out my faults.”
“Who better than me?” she asked. She obviously knew him too well to be intimidated. “I know why you’re every woman’s worst nightmare. Wouldn’t you like to know so you can be the man Ava needs you to be?”
He stared at her, trying to decipher her angle. “Why would you want to help me?”
“I owe you.” Jasmine leaned back against the leather seat, crossing her legs.
She was wearing a red couture gown that highlighted her dark features to perfection, yet Brent felt nothing, not even a mild stirring of attraction. “Go on, I’m listening.”
“In the beginning, I wanted to believe you were jealous and possessive because you couldn’t stand the thought of losing me. As time went on, I realized you just couldn’t stand the thought of losing. Period. It had nothing to do with me.” She was right, but Brent didn’t see the point in concurring. “I did anything I could to get you to notice me, to be as interested in me as you were in your business.”
“I won’t apologize for being driven. It’s who I’ve always been. If you didn’t think you could live with that, you shouldn’t have agreed to marry me.”
“Do you remember how you proposed?”
He hadn’t thought about that night in years. “Sure.”
“It was New Year’s Eve, and you were drunk.” She clenched her designer evening bag. “I was disappointed you hadn’t proposed at Christmas. When I asked you why, you said, ‘You wanna get married, we’ll get married.’” She shook her head. “And I was so desperate to hear those words, I accepted that pathetic excuse for a proposal.”
He’d never been much for grand romantic gestures, but he knew when he proposed to Ava, he’d be down on one knee, declaring his love with a big diamond in his hand. She deserved nothing less. “I’m sorry if you felt short-changed.”
“I should have realized I deserved a man who would love me with his whole heart. You weren’t capable of that.”
He should have been insulted, but she was right. “If you knew that, why’d you stay with me?”
“I was a fool.” She covered her eyes with her hand. “I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I thought I could change you.”
Brent crossed his ankle over his knee as he regarded her. “Why are you telling me this now?”
“I saw something in your eyes when you looked at Ava today. Something I’d always hoped to see when you looked at me.”
“What?”
“Love… and fear.”
He swallowed, forcing himself to ask, “Fear?”
“You’re terrified of losing her, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” He never thought he’d confide in Jasmine again, but there they were, making peace after what he considered the ultimate betrayal. Maybe he was capable of forgiveness.
“You will lose her if you treat her the way you treated me. She’s nothing like me. She doesn’t need you the way I did.”
Those words felt like a dagger through his heart. “You don’t even know Ava. How would you know whether she needs me?”
“She didn’t hesitate to walk away today. If that had been me, I would have stayed just to keep an eye on you and your ex. I was so afraid of another woman luring you away. Ava’s more secure than I was.”
He was grateful they were stopping in front of the address she’d given his driver. He didn’t want to hear any more. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. She left because she was angry with me for lying to her about us. She needed time to think.”
“She needed time to decide whether you’re worth the trouble.” Jasmine unfastened her seatbelt. “Tell me, has she decided?” Brent refused to dignify that with a response. “I didn’t think so.” She slid across the seat as the ch
auffeur rounded the car. “Was she the girl you told me about? The Ava you knew back in college?”
He’d forgotten he shared that story with Jasmine. “Yes.”
“I thought so.” She touched his hand. “People rarely get a second chance at happiness, especially with their first love. Don’t squander yours by letting your past ruin your chance at a future with her. Ava’s nothing like me or your mother, am I right?”
Brent hadn’t even noticed the similarities between Jasmine and his mother until she pointed it out. “No, she’s not.”
“She’s the first woman who’s really tested you?”
“I guess she is.”
“Whether you pass or fail that test is up to you, my friend. Good luck.”
Brent reached for her hand before the driver could help her out of the car. “Thanks, Jamie.”
She wrinkled her nose at her old name. “If you really want to thank me, you can let me build that dream home of yours.” She smiled. “That was my final project, and I’ll have you know my professors gushed over it.”
“Why did you want to work on that house?”
“I wanted to see if I could bring your dream to life.” She laughed. “Judging by the look on your face when you saw my drawings, I achieved my goal. The question is whether you’re going to hire me to see it through.”
“Let me talk to Ava about it.” He didn’t know how she would feel about him working so closely with his ex-fiancée on a house they’d once planned to share. He suspected she would hate it as much as he would hate it if their situations were reversed. It would kill him, but he’d have to burn those plans and start all over with a new architect so he and Ava could bring their shared vision to life.
***
Ava was approaching the front door of her building when a black Rolls Royce limousine pulled up. She’d been outside, taking Oreo for a short walk. Brent stepped out before the driver could open his door. He looked incredible in a classic black tuxedo.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, praying she was strong enough to stand her ground. She’d asked him for time, but he clearly didn’t intend to respect her wishes. Typical. He wanted what he wanted when he wanted it, and he wasn’t willing to take no for an answer. He was the most egotistical, stubborn man she’d ever met. Yet she was crazy about him, so what did that say about her?
“The better question is what the hell are you doing out alone at this time of night?” Brent asked.
She tugged lightly on the pink, pearl and crystal studded leash. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m taking my dog out.”
He looked around the empty parking lot, scowling. “You can’t wander around a dark parking lot at night. It isn’t safe.”
“And you can’t tell me what to do.” She ran her key card over the access box and reached for the door handle. “Now get lost.” Ava knew she was being harsh, but she had to send a clear message. He couldn’t dictate to her the way he barked orders at everyone else in his life.
He grabbed the door, holding it open as she passed through. “Wait here,” he said to his driver. “I’ll let you know whether I need a ride home.”
“He will,” Ava said, unable to believe his audacity. Did he really think she was ready to pick up where they’d left off before she met the beautiful Jasmine?
“We’ll see about that,” Brent muttered, ushering her inside.
Ava waved to the security guard and tried to ignore Brent. It wasn’t easy with him standing so close, looking so handsome, and smelling so delicious. Damn him. “Did you have fun at the benefit?”
“No.” He punched the button for the elevator as Oreo jumped up on him. His scowl softened into a smile, and Ava’s heart thawed just a little. Oreo didn’t like just anyone. She routinely made a fuss when Ava brought a date home, but for some reason, she’d taken to Brent. Ava wondered if it was true what they said about children and animals having impeccable instincts about people.
She lost her train of thought when he stunned her by admitting, “Jasmine was there.”
Ava tugged on Oreo’s leash to bring her back to her side and crossed her arms, trying to pretend she was unaffected by his news. “You invited her?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I didn’t invite her.”
Ava didn’t think it was so far-fetched. They obviously still had unresolved issues. “Why was she there? And don’t tell me it was a coincidence.” Ava knew she should pretend she didn’t care, but she wasn’t in the mood to play games. She wanted to know exactly where she stood with Brent.
“It wasn’t.” He gestured for her to step off the elevator first. “She wanted to talk to me. She didn’t feel good about where we left things this afternoon.”
Ava remained silent as long as she could, which was about thirty seconds, before her curiosity got the best of her. “Where did you leave things this afternoon?”
“Apparently unresolved.” He followed Ava into her apartment and removed his jacket and tie before tossing them over the back of an armchair. When he turned back to face her, the first two buttons on his shirt were undone, revealing a distracting amount of bronze skin.
“So, did you resolve things?” Ava removed Oreo’s leash and the little dog ran to her water bowl.
“I guess so.” He settled into the sofa without waiting for an invitation. “I gave her a ride home and we--”
Ava shook her head as she held her hand up to silence him. “Wait a second. You drove your ex-fiancée home? Why?” A little voice in her head told her she didn’t have the right to ask, but she told it to shut the hell up. “What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking I wanted to put the whole Jasmine thing to rest once and for all.” He patted the seat beside him and extended his hand. “Come here, sweetheart.”
She didn’t intend to settle into his arms and pretend he hadn’t been with the dark-haired goddess less than an hour ago. “No, thanks.” She sat on the edge of the chair across from him. She knew it was juvenile, but she couldn’t let him think he had the upper hand.
Brent laced his hands behind his head and toed his shoes off before kicking his feet up on the upholstered ottoman. “We can do this the hard way, or you can admit you missed me as much as I missed you tonight.”
Ava crossed her arms and glared at his relaxed pose. “Don’t get too comfortable. You’re not staying.”
He grinned. “Yes, I am.”
“No, you’re not.” No matter how tempted she might be to let him.
“You’re mad at me. I get that. I would be too if I found out you had an ex-fiancée you didn’t tell me about.”
“It’s not just a lie of omission, Brent. I asked you and you flat-out lied to me. How am I supposed to trust you?”
His eyes darkened as he set his feet on the floor and leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Don’t ever question whether you can trust me. Jasmine’s a part of my past I’d rather forget. My future is with you.”
She couldn’t deny his words elicited a little flutter of excitement in her stomach, but she wasn’t that easy. “What did you two talk about?”
“You.”
“Excuse me?” Ava already knew the other woman was after her man. She shouldn’t be surprised Jasmine had been trash-talking her to try to make up lost ground with Brent. “She’s cheated on you and she has the nerve to start bad-mouthing me?”
Brent’s lips twitched as though he was trying to suppress a smile. “She wasn’t degrading you, baby. She was giving me some friendly advice.”
Ava wasn’t convinced. She saw the way Jasmine looked at Brent. That woman had an ulterior motive. “What kind of advice?”
“She told me not to make the same mistakes with you I made with her. She said the two of you were nothing alike and she didn’t think you’d put up with my B.S.”
“She’s right about that,” Ava said, crossing her arms. Oreo jumped up in her lap and Ava stroked the dog’s silky coat, grateful for the distraction. Ava didn’t want to admit Jasmine may have been
trying to help them, but it appeared her first impression may have been distorted by shock and jealousy. “What else did she say?”
“She said a lot of things. Things that make sense. She knows me well.”
Ava didn’t want to hear that. Spite and resentment prompted her to suggest, “Maybe you should try working things out with her.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“Sure, I do.” She set Oreo on the floor and crossed the room to the window. She looked at the city skyline, barely visible in distance. “Maybe she came back when she did for a reason. Maybe fate that brought her here before you made the mistake of getting too involved with me.” Her stomach clenched when she thought of handing Brent over to that woman. Tracing a heart through the condensation on the window, she said, “I believe everything happens for a reason. Jasmine must have come back to town now, when we’re on the verge of--” She bit her lip, unwilling to admit she was falling in love when so much still hung in the balance.
Brent came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I believe things happen for a reason too, Ava. You came back into my life for a reason, to help me figure out how to move on with my life and find happiness.”
She tried to remain stiff, but the allure of leaning into his strong arms was too tempting. Resting her head on his chest, she said, “I want to make this work, but I’m scared.”
“Scared of what, sweetheart?” he asked, kissing her temple.
“You probably have a dozen Jasmines in your past.”
Brent chuckled, the movement reverberating through her. “No, I’ve only been engaged once, I swear.”
“That’s not what I mean and you know it.” She closed her eyes and a tear slid down her cheek. She didn’t want him to see how vulnerable she was. “I can only imagine how many women have been in love with you over the years.” She watched cars stop at the traffic lights below and wondered if her life would come to a screeching halt when he walked out on her. Could she take that risk?
“Does that even matter? We’re talking about you and me.”
Ava closed her eyes and remembered when her day revolved around catching a glimpse of him. She held her breath as she walked out of class, hoping he would be waiting for her. “Even back in college, all of the girls were trying to get your attention.”
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