More Than Friends: Brad

by Marie Rochelle

  There was something highly erotic about Brad being nearly fully dressed while she lay half-naked underneath him. Moving his hands up her body, Brad moved her hair to the side and worked his mouth over her skin until his lips were against the side of her neck.

  He bit down gently drawing a low moan from her and then he drew the bruised skin into his mouth and sucked so hard that she was positive that it would leave a mark.

  “Brad...” she cried out as her body tried to keep up with his thrusts and not orgasm, but it was too late. Her orgasm ripped through her entire body.

  Brad caught her cries with his mouth as he continued to pump furiously into her until he threw his head back and howled his release as his seed shot deep into her.

  ****

  “What is that?” Tiffany asked pointing at her beck as she stopped next to Alicia in the make-up chair later that night.

  Shit! Alicia was hoping that the make-up artist would have the hickey Brad gave her completely covered up by now. She had to be on television in less than forty minutes and she didn’t have time to deal with Tiffany. She had to keep her thoughts focused.

  “It’s nothing that Karen won’t be able to fix when she’s finished. It will be like it doesn’t exist at all.”

  Tiffany’s eyebrows drew together in an angry frown. The way her boss always tensed her jaw when she was angry, Alicia was surprised that Tiffany hadn’t ruined her perfect teeth.

  “You better hope so,” she snapped. “I can’t have the station’s favorite and most watched anchor going on air looking like she’s been doing something she shouldn’t have before work.

  How dare she! What she did before work was none of her boss’s damn business!

  Alicia opened her mouth to say something, but she snapped it shut instead. Tiffany wanted to get a rise out of her tonight for some reason, but she wasn’t going to fall for it. Brad had her on cloud nine after their little rendezvous in his empty office building and she didn’t want to mess with that.

  “Tiffany don’t worry. Everything will be fine and no one will know I have a hickey. Will you still be around after my broadcast is over?” Alicia asked.

  “No, I’ll be leaving in about ten minutes. Why?”

  “I want to go over with you what I have for the Drace brother’s special,” Alicia said, wondering when Tiffany might want to do it. She hoped that it wasn’t this weekend because she wanted to run an idea she had past Brad.

  “We can talk about it first thing Monday morning,” Tiffany said as she turned away and left.

  Alicia couldn’t believe how cocky Tiffany seemed as she sauntered from the room like she had gotten something over on her, but she didn’t realize that everything had turned out the way she wanted.

  On the drive to work an idea had hit her, a way to help Brad with his business plan. She only hoped that everything would turn out as well as she hoped it would.

  Brad wanted his dream to come true and she would do everything humanly possible to make it happen for him. Tomorrow would be her first step in that direction and she hoped it was the right movement.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  “Mr. Graf, I want to thank you so much for meeting me on such short notice. I know you’re a very busy man,” Alicia said, looking at the attractive dark haired man seated in front of her. He reminded her, a lot, of Rob Lowe, but his eyes were a dark rich brown instead of blue.

  “Alicia, it was my pleasure,” Ivan smiled. “I was very impressed with the interview you did on me a few years ago. I was happy to get your phone call. Can I hope this is about a romantic interest instead of business one?”

  What a flirt. It was a good thing her heart belonged to Brad or this man might have been able to seduce her.

  “I’m sorry. I’ve an amazing boyfriend and an outstanding relationship. He’s the reason I’m here.”

  “Lucky man,” Ivan replied disappointment clear in his voice. “What can I help you with?”

  This might be her only chance to get one of the top ranked former tennis players in the world to go into business with Brad, so she didn’t want to blow it.

  “I heard that you’re looking to expand your business with another partner and I was hoping you would consider my boyfriend. He used to be my tennis coach and he knows the business better than anyone I know.”

  Ivan stared at her for a moment or two before he finally answered. “How did you find out about this?” he questioned, clearly shocked. “I haven’t mentioned my plans to that many individuals.”

  “I can’t give away my secrets and any reporter worth her grain of salt wouldn’t.”

  “I don’t know if I can be much help to your boyfriend. I’m looking for someone to help me teach the game and help certain players reach the US Open. The person will be under a lot of pressure, so I can’t give that kind of responsibility to someone who taught you tennis in their spare time. In addition, he would have to be able to handle the business side too,” Ivan said. “So, I’m sorry I have to tell you no again.”

  Ivan got up to leave, but Alicia jumped up from her seat and stood in front of him blocking his path while she pulled something out of her purse. “Please just take a look at Brad in action. He’s an amazing player and he’d be an excellent asset to your team. He’s even opening his own business a couple of blocks from here that will focus primarily on tennis.”

  Alicia pressed the DVD against Ivan’s hard chest. “If you take a look I promise you won’t be sorry. Brad gave it to me to help improve my game. I taped one of his business cards inside just in case.”

  Ivan touched the DVD pressed against his chest and she moved her hand. “Alicia, you must care about this man a lot to go out on a limb like this for him.”

  “I love him and would do anything to help him achieve his dream.”

  “Okay, I’ll take a look at this on my flight back home,” Ivan finally agreed.

  “Thank you.” Standing on her tiptoes, Alicia gave Ivan a sisterly kiss on the cheek. “You’re a good friend.”

  “I hope that you don’t think my friendship with you will make me say yes to your boyfriend.”

  “I know it won’t,” Alicia said. “Brad’s kick ass talent is what will make you agree to go into business with him. Now, do you think you can walk me back to my car? I’m going to be later for another meeting.”

  “I love walking a beautiful woman to her car and especially if it’s you.” Placing his hand in the middle of her back, Ivan escorted her back towards the front of the restaurant.

  Alicia was so caught up with happiness that her plan might work out for Brad, she didn’t notice the two men at the table by the far window in the restaurant. Or how they were watching her and the friendly way she was acting towards Ivan.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  “Don’t tell Brad about what you saw at the restaurant,” Dawn told her husband that same night as she helped him close up D4. “You and Zack don’t know why Alicia was there with that man plus a kiss on the cheek isn’t the prologue for sex. Hell, I don’t even consider it anything romantic at all.”

  Richard shoved the night’s money and checks into the money bag next to him. “You aren’t going to talk me out of this,” he told her. “We both agreed that Brad had a right to know and you’re wrong.

  “A kiss on the cheek with a guy can lead to something more in a man’s head. I’m beginning to think that Lee might have seen the truth when the rest of us were blinded to the fact. I won’t let her hurt my brother.”

  “Alicia isn’t a bad girl. I truly believe she’s in love with Brad and isn’t cheating on him. Don’t tell him about this lunch today. You could be making something out of nothing.”

  “Brad is the closet to me and if he finds out about this from anyone else, he will be so pissed that I knew and didn’t tell him.”

  Dawn crossed her arms over her breasts and shook her head. “I’m getting a bad feeling about this. Please stay out of it. You might be reading more into it than there is.”

  Ric
hard gave her a quick kiss on the mouth. “I’m sorry. I can’t. I feel he needs to know and I’m going to tell him. Secrets can destroy a relationship and I won’t allow that to happen to Brad.”

  Turning away from her, Richard went towards the back of the restaurant toward his office. Dawn watched her husband’s retreating back with worry. She didn’t know why Richard couldn’t think Alicia’s lunch with that man wasn’t romantic, but he couldn’t.

  It just worried her to think what harm was about to come to Brad and Alicia’s life because her husband couldn’t wait to find out what the truth really was.

  For a fleeting moment, she thought about finding Alicia and talking to her about this before Richard got hold of Brad, but she decided against it, feeling it was Alicia and Brad’s relationship...not hers. Besides, she really doubted that Alicia was cheating on Brad. She saw how Alicia looked at her brother-in law and there was too much love in her eyes for her to be cheating on him.

  Nibbling on her bottom lip, Dawn prayed that she had made the right decision by not getting involved.

  ****

  Early the next morning, Brad stormed around Richard’s office shaking his head. He never thought this would be the reason his brother called him over here on a Saturday. He was on his way to pick up Alicia so he could take her to the pond, but he decided to stop by here first and now he was pissed that he had.

  “You’re so fucking wrong,” Brad snapped hotly rushing up to his brother’s desk. “Alicia loves me and I’m crazy about her. She isn’t cheating on me. I don’t know what you thought you saw, but it wasn’t that.”

  “Brad, I wish I was but Zack saw the same thing, Alicia handed the guy something and then kissed him.”

  “On the mouth,” he snapped.

  “No, it was on the cheek but anyone could see their connection. I knew I had to tell you,” Richard said. “Dawn told me to stay out of it, but I felt you needed to know. I would want to know if you saw Dawn kissing another man.”

  Brad ran his fingers through his hair and the memory of the way Alicia used him to make Max jealous racked his brain. Did she do that to him again?

  No, he wasn’t going to think like that. Not now. Not after all of the things they had shared over the past several weeks. Alicia wasn’t the same woman. She had changed and for the better. Richard was wrong about what he saw and he was going to prove it to his brother.

  “Alicia isn’t cheating on me. You’re right about most things but you’re wrong about this. You aren’t any better than Lee. Don’t worry about me anymore. I can take care of my life without you or anyone else giving me their unwanted advice.”

  Moving away from the desk, Brad rushed towards the closed office door. He opened it and was about to step out when Richard said.

  “I’ll be here all day if you want to come back and talk in a more rational manner.”

  “Don’t hold your breath,” Brad barked before walking out.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  The second Alicia opened the front door she threw herself into his arms and kissed him on the mouth, but instead of returning the kiss as he usually did Brad pushed her away from him.

  “We need to talk,” Brad said walking into the house past Alicia. He wasn’t going to be made a fool of a second time by her. Yes, he loved her but not enough to let her break his heart a second time.

  “What’s wrong with you? Has something happened I need to know about?” Alicia asked, closing the door to join him in the middle of the living room.

  Brad didn’t even know where to begin so he ran his fingers through his hair while he gathered his wild thoughts. This might end up turning out to be the worst day of his life after he got finished talking with Alicia.

  “I had a talk with Richard about you an hour ago,” he said.

  “You did,” Alicia said, touching him on the arm. “Is that what has you so upset? Do you need to talk about it?”

  “Yeah, I do want to talk about it. That’s why I’m here with you.” Brad moved away from Alicia so he could think and not get distracted by her touch. “He told me that he saw something while he was out having lunch with Zack, but I told him that it couldn’t be true.”

  Unconsciously Alicia’s brows furrowed as she stared at him with a perplexed look on her beautiful face. “Brad, I’m getting confused. What did Richard tell you that he saw that has you so upset and confused? Baby, tell me so I can help you.”

  “Richard told me that he saw you there kissing another man.” The words were shouted in the room. “Is it true?”

  Though Alicia didn’t answer him right away, her face spoke for her. Richard was right! Lee had been telling him the truth all along. Alicia wasn’t any good. She had been making a fool of him again and he allowed it.

  “Brad, it isn’t want you think,” Alicia swore. “Richard misunderstood what the kiss on the cheek was about.”

  “Are you trying to tell me that you weren’t kissing another man out in public when you’re supposedly my girlfriend?” Brad demanded, harshly.

  “No...Yes,” Alicia sputtered.

  “Which is it? Yes, you’re denying it. Or no, you weren’t kissing another man in public. What kind of game are you trying to pull? Do you think I’ll let you make a fool of me again like you did with Max?”

  “Listen to me.” Alicia tried to touch him, but he brushed her hands away.

  “No, I’m tired of your lies. I’m through with you. It’s over. I don’t need this anymore.”

  He had made up his mind on the drive over here. If there was a small chance that what Richard had told him was true about Alicia, he was going to break up with her. He wasn’t going to let her use him. Hell, he was a good man not some love sick teenager boy in love with the popular girl.

  “What are you talking about?” Alicia gasped. “How can you break up with me? You haven’t even given me a chance to tell you what really happened.”

  “I’m not letting you tell me your side because it will just be more lies. I should’ve listened to Lee and never gotten involved with you. However, I thought maybe a part of you did care about me, but was too scared to admit it.

  “I kept thinking I could help you break down that wall around your heart but I guess I didn’t accomplish what I wanted most.”

  Alicia moved towards him again, but he stepped around her. “Brad, listen to me. I’m not that same woman who thought she was in love with Max. I have changed. Just let me tell you about my lunch date with—”

  “No, I’m done with you. I hope you’re happy with this new man and don’t worry, I’ll tell Lee not to blow you off about the interview since he still has to redo his with Cherise. I’m a man of my word and I plan to keep it.”

  Brad didn’t want to hear Alicia’s response. Instead, he walked across the living room and opened the front door slamming it behind him as he went out. He was halfway to his car when out of nowhere Alicia jumped in front of him.

  “Brad, listen,” she pleaded. “You don’t know the whole story. Let me tell you about my lunch date and who it was with. You’re going to be impressed.”

  “I’m not interested.” Taking her by the arm, he moved Alicia out of his way and continued on to his car. “Like I told you inside, it’s over.” He got inside his car and drove off without bothering to even look back at Alicia.

  ****

  Later that night, Brad sat inside his dark living room wondering if he’d handled the situation with Alicia wrong. Did he take Richard’s side too fast after Alicia sort of admitted that she had kissed another man?

  Taking another sip of his drink, he stared outside into the darkness. It looked black and lonely like his heart.

  Shit! All day he couldn’t stop thinking about Alicia which had made him useless at both jobs. He had promised Lee two weeks’ notice and he was fulfilling it.

  It was hard for him to believe that Halloween was tonight. He was supposed to go out tonight with Zack, Traci and Carter, but he backed out at the last minute and passed out candy for a coupl
e of hours at home.

  He couldn’t help thinking about how much more fun it would have been if Alicia had been here with him. He guessed today showed him that he shouldn’t plan ahead for his future.

  Brad couldn’t stop his eyes from glancing down at the dark velvet ring box on the table No one else knew that he had been planning to propose to Alicia on Christmas Eve. He’d had everything planned out down to every last detail, but now he would be spending the day with only his family instead of his fiancée.

  Why did I let her deeper into my heart? Brad wondered as he finished off the last of his beer. He was done with her messing with him. Now if only his heart would listen. It might take some time, but he would get over Alicia Hart.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  A month had passed since Brad dumped her and broke her heart more than she could have ever thought possible. She had tried numerous times to catch him at the office building he was turning into his new business, but the workers always told her that Brad wasn’t there which was a lie since his car was parked out front.

  However, true to his word Brad made Lee finish up his part of the interview with her and the camera crew was going to start taping the entire Drace family in two weeks which gave her time to get her voiceover parts done in time for Christmas Eve when the Shades of Love special was going to air.

  It was hard for her to stay focused because she had been feeling horrible since Brad kicked her out of his life. She hadn’t been able to sleep or keep anything down. Even Tiffany noticed and told her to take some of her vacation time.

  At first, she had declined because work was the only thing she had going in her life. Working long hours again had given her something to do to replace the pain that losing Brad had caused.

  How could Brad to this to her? He made her fall in love with him and she had given him everything she had only to have it all tossed back into her face. Is this pain the reason Nick and Brian had done what they did to themselves?