He turned to me and smiled, his eyes moving down my body.
“You’re beautiful, Andromeda, in anything you wear.”
I frowned at him. “I didn’t think you liked my dress. Are you sure?”
“I love the dress and you look great. I’m just wondering if I’ll have to deck someone tonight.”
“What?”
“Those legs of yours in that dress. Jesus woman, you have no idea how sexy you are, which in itself is extremely sexy. I’m struggling to keep my hands off you.”
I could feel my face flush at his words as I eyed him.
“You look very handsome in your tux. I’m not sure anyone is going to buy that we’re having a date together.”
Brock laughed. “You mean no one will buy that I’m having a date with the most beautiful woman in there. I feel like a dirty old man right now.”
Before I could respond and tell him that he was, a valet approached the car. Brock crawled out and came around the car to my side to open the door. He helped me out and we began walking toward the door.
Brock’s hand took mine as we passed by several people. There was a flash of light in front of us and someone that I assumed was a reporter started asking him questions.
He tugged me around the man and entered the restaurant which looked like it was brimming with people. There was the hum of chatter as we entered and the smell of food mixed with perfume.
We bypassed the hostess who looked surprised and went to a set of stairs in the waiting area. Brock guided me with the palm of his hand lightly placed on the middle of my back as we walked up. At the top of the landing, a burly looking man with an earring in one ear and a scowl on his face held up his hand.
“Name, sir?” he all but growled.
“Brock Fleming.”
“Sir,” the man responded, and opened a giant black wooden door behind him.
We stepped across the threshold into a room that had fewer than fifty tables, all decorated in black and cream furnishings. One wall was glass and we could see the entire restaurant below. The scene was packed with people both eating and mingling throughout. A long glossy wooden bar was set at one end and looked like it had just as many people at it as the tables did.
Our room, however, was empty. I eyed Brock and he guided me to a table that was set for two.
“Where is everyone?”
He wiggled his eyebrows at me. “Private but not private. The room is ours for the next thirty minutes or so. Then they’ll start letting the masses in. I would have requested the next couple of hours but Aiden would lose some money on it.”
I chuckled. “Guess you found a way around that request. We could have easily just gone somewhere else.”
His mouth twitched. “Like my house? Maybe the study? I have a large—”
I held up my hand and rolled my eyes. “I’m aware that you have a large desk in there.”
He looked amused as his eyes wandered over my face. “Well there’s a reason I brought you here other than the fact that it’s private.”
“I’m not marrying you,” I said, not sure what idiotic part of my brain spit that out.
His head tilted back and he laughed. “I’m not asking. Yet.”
He motioned for one of the waiters that was patiently standing at the end of the room. I looked around trying to recover from my embarrassment.
Why, oh why would I even say that?
Was it the environment or was it the tuxedo he was wearing? This whole date seemed like it was headed into a quasi-romantic direction and given his words earlier it felt like he was trying to move it there.
A menu wasn’t provided but Brock ordered for us. I wasn’t quite sure what he was ordering and it once again felt like another part of his controlling nature to order for me but at this point I was along for the ride.
A waiter came to our table and poured what looked like champagne for both of us.
When he left I took a sip and it tasted very similar the champagne flavor that we had enjoyed at the party. Which naturally reminded me of our first kinky night together and the taste of his mouth.
Brock set his glass down after taking a sip and cleared his throat.
“Do you have questions?”
I swallowed the champagne and nodded. “Why are we here?”
He gave me an enigmatic smile. “You’ll see.”
“Okay, do you mind expanding on our conversation earlier then?”
“Sure, which parts?”
I gave him an annoyed look.
He smirked. “Okay, let’s start at the beginning. I met you, you slapped me but you were wearing that dress and admittedly I might have thought you were just another woman that I could easily take to bed.”
I snorted. “Continue.”
“Well, it intrigued me and the few times we ran into each other sort of fed that thought. I was busy and wasn’t able to focus a lot of time on it. So, I had someone pull your information. I know that was intrusive.”
“To say the least.”
He nodded. “Agreed but I think you understand how I think now so it intrigued me more when I saw some holes in the report I received. When you showed up to the hotel it seemed like the perfect opportunity to try and get some answers. I watched you for a long time through a monitor. I thought that maybe that would be enough but when you’re around, in person, it’s ten times better. I don’t know how else to explain it. I’m not a terribly flowery guy.”
“You flirt all the time, Brock.”
“Maybe, but it’s not flowery and yes, you were right the night we met. I used a line on you, much like the multiple lines I’ve used with other women.”
“Okay.”
He shifted in his seat a little. “Look, simply put, I respect what you’ve done with your life and with Drew. Now that I know what the truth is, it’s humbling.”
I shook my head. “Brock, you’ve done more than I ever have. You’re surrounded by accomplished people—”
“Yes, but they’ve all had a hand to get to the places that they’re at. They didn’t get there on their own necessarily. They had loving people around them that helped and you’ve had no one. My respect level for you is greater in a lot of ways, Andi. I didn’t realize how utterly alone you were this entire time or I would have approached you a long time ago.”
I shrugged.
“I love that you don’t take compliments well. It just tells me that you’re not a vain person and you’re a realist. You did what you had to do.”
“So, what about the lies Brock?” I asked, trying to avoid hearing any more compliments.
“To be blunt, I didn’t know if I could trust you with some aspects of what I was doing. Trust is very important to me and is definitely a two way street but I didn’t know until the night of the party what was going on. I dragged you into the situation just to be near you but didn’t really know what was going to happen.”
My eyebrows shot up. “So, you didn’t need my help?”
“I did and didn’t. Owen was already digging into what I needed. I had my doubts as to whether anyone in that room was responsible for my little problem. But it was an excuse to have you there, to get my answers and to find out whether my infatuation with you was something more.”
I took a deep breath and grimaced. I could accept that answer. It was at least an honest one but it irritated me that he had basically made up an excuse for having me at the party.
“I did ask you on a date before the party, Andi.”
Now he was a mind reader. The look on my face probably gave it away.
“So, after that night together there were more things that I wanted to know. Namely what had happened. The background into the things you told me. I had someone look up the information for me because, as I’ve stated several times, I do want to protect you and keep every ugly thing that has ever touched you from ever hurting you again.”
My hand was resting on the edge of the table and he reached over to hold it.
He looked intently a
t me. “I promise you that I didn’t pull those reports until after the party. To be quite honest, I had nothing other than your cover identity to go on.”
I looked into his green eyes and saw sincerity. It was the same sincerity that I saw when he was explaining his sister’s story. I could take it at face value or reject it.
“Okay so, you said that the data leak was real.”
He gave me a small smile and released my hand. “Yes. It is very real, I just can’t figure out who it is. I’ll tell you about that in a minute.”
“What about chipping me? I think that should have been something that you told me about before you did it. I mean if we were together, shouldn’t that have been my choice? At the very least I would think that you should have been the one to tell me rather than letting your brothers drop it on me.”
He nodded. “You’re right. I agree that I should have told you.”
I huffed. “Maybe you should have asked after, I don’t know, a few dates or something? It’s weird.”
“I’m paranoid about losing someone else that I love. I can’t stand the thought of it and with you it just makes me violently ill. I love you and I don’t know if I could handle waking up some morning not knowing where you are. Thinking that you’re missing or dead.”
I arched my eyebrow. “You chip puppies, not people. If I left it would be because I felt like that was the best thing for us. It doesn’t mean that I’m dead. Maybe I went to the grocery store—”
“And met up with a serial killer—”
“And just wanted to pick up fruit for some guy I know. No serial killers.”
He gave me an annoyed look. “I’m not removing that chip.”
This wasn’t an argument I was going to win anytime soon. I would have to talk with Logan later in the week about removing it if I wanted to get rid of it permanently.
“Can we agree to NOT chip Drew?”
He shrugged, which wasn’t an answer.
I would probably have to check with Drew when I got home to see if any of the insane Fleming brothers approached him with a needle. Chips. Yet another Oddball News event in my life.
I chewed on my lip. “My brother likes you a lot. I think that phone call went a long way in persuading him too. We had a little talk about forgiveness. Logan and I had a conversation about you at the house after you called him too. You don’t have to gather your troops to win, Brock. Just talk to me and be honest about things.”
He gave me a thoughtful look. “Good to know and I’ll do that. I didn’t call Logan today but I’m glad he talked to you as well. He’s always had some great advice about things.”
“Really? I thought he spoke with you.”
Brock shook his head and drank the rest of his champagne.
Odd. Logan clearly said he had. Was Brock just covering for the fact that he might have needed to hear some advice today as well? Given what Logan said earlier about men being mystified about us, it was likely the case. It was cute in a way that he didn’t want to admit it.
Setting his glass back down on the table he asked, “Anything else I need to clear up before I try to kiss you?”
“Kiss me?”
He nodded and gave me a mischievous smile. “I would like to kiss you without having to dodge your right hook for trying.”
I thought over the past few days and what I now knew. I wasn’t sure if it mattered as much anymore that there had been things kept from me. He was cautious about everything but he had to be in the business he was in. That explained a lot about him but it went deeper in the fact that he was a naturally curious and cautious person when it came to the people around him.
“I do have a question. It’s going to sound really stupid.”
He waited patiently while I bit my lip and thought about my question.
“The condom.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Hmm?”
“The morning after we had sex in your house the condom in your trash didn’t look like it should have.”
My face was burning up with trying to get out a simple question and the hotter it burned the bigger Brock’s smile got.
“Did you cum?” I blurted.
He chuckled. “You’re cute when you’re embarrassed. I did, just not with the condom on.”
I opened my mouth to start quizzing him and he held up his hand.
“I can’t have children, Andi. Which sucks, because I never really thought it would bother me until I met you. And before you ask, the reason why I know this was because I went to a fertility clinic to donate once.”
I scrunched my nose at him. “What?”
He shook his head and looked embarrassed. “Can we just say that it was back in my youth and leave that story alone? I’m shooting blanks. I’ve always worn a condom with women. Not once have I ever been careless with that, except for the night we were together. I don’t know why, but I wanted to feel you. I told you I forgot about wearing one but the truth is I just didn’t want to with you.”
He looked down at the table then back up at me. His eyes had a vulnerable look to them.
“I’ve never told anyone that. It’s embarrassing in a way that I can’t have children. I always thought I might have a big family of my own at some point then I found that out and it sort of changes your perspective. Not very manly, is it?”
“That’s not true.”
His jaw clenched for a second and he looked away.
I took a sip of the champagne then asked, “Is that why you haven’t had any serious relationships?”
He looked thoughtful for a minute and turned back to me. “I did actually date a few times believe it or not but they talked about having kids a lot.”
“You could have adopted,” I protested.
“I’m open to it but I got the distinct feeling that they weren’t. Plus, I couldn’t see having children with them even if I had been able to. They were nice but just not the type of women I imagined holding my kid. If it’s an issue that would come up between us—”
“No, actually. I don’t think I want children.”
“You say that now.”
I looked squarely at him. “No. Right now, I don’t for a few reasons. I have enough to deal with as it is. The other thing is I’ve done a lot of reading about abused kids and I’m not sure I want to risk becoming an abusive parent.”
He tilted his head at me and frowned. “Andromeda, you’re a loving person. Look at Drew, he’s incredible and you take care of him just like a parent. That cycle of abuse doesn’t transfer over in a majority of cases. I think with some therapy you might find that your fear is misplaced. I also think that you would make a good counselor to other kids. Maybe you could show them that you can find strength to overcome it.”
“Like a job doing that?” I asked.
He smiled. “Why not? You can take some courses and get your license. I think you could really help.”
I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. A waiter was walking toward us with a tray.
“You have a lot of faith in me,” I said.
“I do, and I would gladly be there to see it happen. With or without kids of our own.”
“Too soon, Brock,” I smirked.
He laughed. “Maybe on the second date?”
I rolled my eyes.
A waiter came to the table interrupting our conversation and set our food down. I wasn’t sure what I was expecting but it certainly wasn’t pizza.
Brock smiled and rubbed his hands together.
“Ahh, the data leak is here.”
Chapter Twenty-One
My previous thoughts on Brock’s mental stability were confirmed. He was crazy. Controlling didn’t even come close to his little confession about the pizza.
The chip in my arm was wacko but when I thought about it, not exactly out of the universe of weird things when I thought about Brock. I should be more indignant about it but it honestly didn’t surprise me now that I knew him better. Liv, Julia and Kate had warned me after all.
Did I listen? No.
As for my parents and his involvement in that crime, not entirely unexpected given his statements about keeping me safe. He did say he would kill for me.
Admittedly my first reaction was one of surprise and if I was honest a little bit fearful in terms of how far he was willing to go. Was it out of the realm of weird with him? Not exactly, and I felt absolutely nothing for them regardless of whether they brought me into the world or not. I wondered if that made me a bad person. I should feel something but I didn’t. Maybe Logan was right and I honestly did need some therapy.
In the back of my mind I had thought that Brock must have somehow been hacked for stock information. Perhaps even financial sales reports. Something that was tangible. Business espionage would have made sense given that his company was the main tech firm for Aiden’s corporations. I could even stretch that thought to perhaps include personal information about Aiden, maybe proprietary software and maybe even investments.
Pizza though?
He had to be fucking with me.
I gave him a small smile. “Say again?”
“The data leak. The recipe for this particular dish was stolen from one of our servers.”
I nodded slowly. “You keep this kind of stuff on your servers?”
He leaned in and looked at me seriously. “We keep everything on those servers.”
I gave him a tight smile that I hoped didn’t come off as a little skeptical or indicate that I thought he needed some pills and a straight-jacket.
“Recipes too?”
He motioned for my plate and I handed it over to him. I looked around, wondering if the girls would pop out at any moment laughing and playfully tell me this was a bad joke. There was still no one in the large room except for a few waiters on the very edge of the large space talking with each other.
After he put a slice on my plate and handed it back to me he got his own slice and stared down at it for a moment before looking back up at me.
“Have a bite,” he said without indication of what I should expect.
I gingerly picked up my slice and took a small bite. I rolled it around my tongue and chewed. The flavor was amazing with a rich cheesy bite and something that tasted tangy. I took another bite and picked up the flavor of both lobster and possibly a gritty nut flavor. It wasn’t what I expected when thinking of pizza but it was very good.
Chase (Lakefield Book 4) Page 21