by L. A. Miller
His anger returned as she openly defied him now. Leaning back up against the door he folded his arms across his chest and stared down at her challenging her threat. Before he could react she kicked him hard, right in the spot that mattered and he dropped to his knees. Blinding white pain filled his body and tears came to his eyes as he tried to regain his breath. He cursed his brother when Bailey leaned down to whisper in his ear.
“A little trick your brother taught me. Who knew I would be using it on you.” She said as she pushed him aside and opened the door.
He heard it slam as she walked away but he couldn’t move holding himself as the pain nearly knocked him unconscious. He fought to maintain awareness concentrating on breathing till the pain finally dulled. When he dared to finally stand he felt the sharp stab hit him again and cursed as a fine sheath of sweat covered his forehead. Leaning against the door he wondered if he could he recover enough to rejoin the party. He was spared the answer when a knock came to the door. Stepping aside he opened the door to see Wesley the butler standing there with an icepack. By the grin on his face he knew precisely the cause of Beckett’s strained expression.
“Ms. Bailey requested I bring you this and escort you to the taxi waiting outside. She also requested I inform you that she took the liberty of taking your grandmother home early.”
Beckett cursed again as he grabbed the ice pack. He at first thought to refuse but he knew the sooner he iced his injury the sooner it would heal. Ignoring Wesley’s assistance he limped his way out to the cab settling down in the back seat as he gave the address. He ignored the knowing glance Wesley and the driver exchanged concentrating more on numbing his injured part as he came up with a plan to deal with Bailey. Going over the conversation in his head he knew from Bailey’s point of view she was doing nothing wrong and she had every right to be mad. She knew he was seeing Macy this weekend and she doubted that he truly planned on breaking up with her. When he hesitated about his plans he had seemed guilty when all he truly wanted to do was protect her feelings. But in Bailey’s eyes they were living a double standard. She was supposed to honor the vows they took and remain alone while he was given the freedom to pursue his sex partner whenever he wished. He needed to talk to Bailey but until things were finished with Macy she wouldn’t believe him.
Now that his pain was just a dull throbbing thanks to the ice pack he was able to appreciate the beauty on her face when she got angry. Her body was proud the way she stood, challenging him to defy her. He had noticed the slight flaring at her nostril, the way her breasts rose and fell with each breath as she tried to maintain control. Her hands were clutched in tiny fists till her knuckles turned white. Her face flushed, her eyes narrowed and her lips drew a fine line as she glared at him. She was truly stunning when she was angry and he had enjoyed the challenge when he broke her down. He knew now there would never be a dull moment with her. She would never sit back and accept him to run their lives. She would demand to be at his side which is how it should be. He didn’t doubt she would bring that fire into the bedroom and his body ached now to feel her beneath him. That desire caused him to curse as it battled with the injury she had given him. Putting his head back he smiled despite his pain at how quickly she had learned her defensive move from Trent. He wondered what other moves she had been taught and meant to seek out his brother the first chance he got. His smile quickly faded when he thought about her spending a day with Ashton Langley. He knew Ashton’s type and neither the engagement ring nor her younger siblings would stop a man like Ashton from getting what he wanted. He had made it perfectly clear that Bailey was next on his wish list. He wasn’t about to let her go there unescorted but he also knew he needed to deal with Macy first. When he got home he found his brothers in the study with his father enjoying an evening nightcap. He limped as he entered the room and by the grin on Trent’s face it was obvious he was the only one who understood.
“You know bro….when I taught Bailey self-defense I didn’t intend it to be used on you.” He said handing him a brandy.
“How assume my injury came from her, I could have pulled a muscle.” Beckett said as he eased himself down in a chair. He noticed the looks on the rest of their faces and by their grins Trent must have informed them of his lessons.
“Wow.....she must have good aim to have gotten past your defenses.” Tristan joked as he sat down.
“It would have helped had I know you gave her a few pointers.” Beckett sighed as he looked at Trent.
“Where’s the fun in that….so what did you say to piss her off so badly?” Trent said taking a seat opposite him.
“What makes you think I pissed her off?”
“Well, she came home without you. She was literally breathing fire when she came through the door and you seem to be favoring you dick.” He grinned.
“What happened?” Roark asked deciding it not best to kick Beckett any further with the pain he was obviously in.
“One of the guests, Ashton Langley invited her to his estate this weekend; I told her she couldn’t go.”
“You told her she couldn’t go?” Trent said bursting out in laughter. His brothers quickly joined him. “Why?”
“How will it look, she and I are engaged.”
“Yeah….so what, she’s not allowed to have any male friends?” Tristan asked.
“That’s not it. Ashton has only one thing on his mind where Baileys concerned and it’s not the brain in his head he’s looking to satisfy.”
“So then why don’t you go with her?” Ethan said stating the obvious.
“Macy will be in town…I’m meeting her.” He said and instantly saw the anger in his brother’s eyes and disappointment in his fathers. “It’s not what you think.” He said trying to explain.
“It’s not.” Trent began. “You plan on seeing you sex partner and Bailey’s not allowed to visit another man’s place. Isn’t that a bit hypocritical of you?”
“I’m seeing Macy to end things.” Beckett announced. “And if Bailey wants male friends she’s entitled to them….but Ashton Langley doesn’t want friendship with her, he wants to sleep with her.”
“What if she wants the same?” Ethan asked and Beckett’s face drained of color.
“No….she doesn’t.” He said more to convince himself.
“Why not, he’s good looking, rich and from the gossip I overheard quite the expert between the sheets.” Trent goaded.
“Because Bailey’s not like that!” Beckett argued.
“Really….how would you know?” Trent asked.
“Enough! Roark demanded seeing Beckett was being pushed too far. He knew if he didn’t intervene the fists would soon fly. “We all know Bailey is not that type of girl and using her to goad your brother is uncalled for.”
“He’s the fool.” Trent said frustrated. “He has the greatest opportunity with an incredible girl and he’s blowing it.”
“My affairs are none of your business.” Beckett argued.
“No your affairs aren’t.” Trent countered. “Bailey is…we’ve all grown quite fond of her and don’t want to see her hurt.”
“And you think I will hurt her?” Beckett asked his pride now wounded.
“Yes.” Trent answered honestly now his anger fading. “Beck…..she’s not like the girl’s we usually, pardon my French dad, screw….she may act confident and tough, able to take on any challenge the world throws at her. She may roll with the punches and bounce back for more but she’s vulnerable inside.”
“Don’t you think I know that? Damn it Trent I’m the one who held her after those assholes hurt her. I was there during the night when her nightmares woke her.”
“Yeah I know….but she needs more than your protection Beck….she needs your respect.”
“You don’t think I respect her?” Beckett said getting angry again.
“Not when you tell her what to do….Beckett, you need to trust her. Besides being beautiful she’s intelligent. She was blindsided with Jasper and she saw the mist
akes she made with Rhett. She’s not a fool, why do you think she came to me for pointers on self-defense. She has no intention of ever letting a man put her in that situation again.”
“Why didn’t she ask me?” Beckett said unable to keep the hurt from his voice.
“Because you wouldn’t have taught her.” Trent said honestly. “You would have insisted you could protect her and while that may be true when you are with her, the attacks came when you weren’t. The world is filled with men like Jasper, Rhett and that asshole from California. She needs to know she can handle them or she will never go out alone again and that’s no way for her to live.”
Beckett thought about it for a moment before looking up at Trent. “You’re right, but you and I both know how fragile she really is. We could easily overpower her.”
“True….but that’s her element of surprise. Men will underestimate her and she is cool headed. Even if someone overpowered her she will wait for the perfect moment and make it count.”
“Just exactly what did you teach her?”
“Let’s just say you are not the only one with bruises.” Trent grinned as he looked at his brothers. Beckett now studied his brothers and noticed for the first time Jasper had a black eye and Ethan hadn’t moved since he walked in.
“Trent thought she needed real targets.” Jasper grinned.
“The errands she had to run this afternoon?” Beckett asked.
“Yeah, she asked me not to tell you, I’m sorry Beck…..I never thought she would be using them on you.”
“It’s ok….I probably deserved it.”
“Probably.” Trent grinned.
“So what are you going to do about this weekend?” Roark asked.
“Let her go….and trust in Trent’s instructions.”
Chapter 37
Bailey was still furious when she woke the next morning. Sensing her mood Tristan and Alexis avoided her opting to have Trent drop them off to school on his way to work. Trying to delay the inevitable she took an extra-long shower. She was relieved when she found the dining room empty fearing she might run into Beckett and have another fight. After rehashing the previous night she had understood his fear where Ashton was concerned. Twice she had been attacked and Ashton was truly no different than Jasper and Rhett. His attentions were quite obvious and she had originally refused his invitation. When she had mentioned it to Beckett it was mainly because she was still hurt he would be seeing Macy on Saturday. She wanted him to know that other men found her attractive. That was why she had her seat moved to the opposite end of the table completely surrounded by eligible men. She had wanted to make Beckett jealous. When he told her she couldn’t go it wasn’t because he wanted her for himself, he had been afraid of how it would appear. She grew angry again and hadn’t realized what she was doing till Ethan came up behind her.
“You know they are already scrambled.” He said bringing her mind to the present.
Bailey looked first at him then down at the tray of eggs she had beaten into pulp. She dropped the spoon then turned to him.
“I’m sorry…did you want any of them?”
“Not anymore.” He grinned. “I’ll have the sunny side up eggs unless you’ve scrambled them too?”
“No.” She said moving over to the fruit section.
“Ahmm…before you juice them in frustration do you want to tell me what’s wrong?”
Bailey looked at him and sighed. She had heard Beckett come home last night and watched in satisfaction as he limped into the house. When she didn’t hear him come up the stairs she knew he was probably nursing his wounds in the study where she had seen in brothers and father before she flew up to her room. Knowing the closeness Beckett had probably informed them of the fight so she saw no need to beat around the bush.
“Your brother is very arrogant if he thinks I will just sit back quietly during the next year while he flaunts his mistress in my face.”
Ethan studied her for a moment before he responded.
“Beckett can be arrogant at times, what doesn’t help is that he usually gets what he wants.” He grinned as he took the seat opposite her at the table.
“Well wanting my obedience is one thing he will not get.” She said pouring a cup of coffee.
“Is that what you think he wants?”
“Of course, he literally ordered me to stay home this weekend while he runs off to enjoy Macy’s body.”
Ethan shook his head as watched her add cream to her coffee. When she lifted the cup to her lips she saw the amusement in his eyes and that only added to her irritation.
“You have no clue do you?” He asked.
“About what?”
“Why Beckett wanted you to stay home or why he was seeing Macy.”
“Didn’t I just make it clear? He wants to get his cake and eat it too.”
Ethan started laughing and for some reason Bailey felt she missed something in the conversation.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing…..I was just thinking this next year is going to be enjoyable.”
For some reason Ethan had planned on telling her something and had suddenly changed his mind. She sighed when she realized he was probably going to champion Beckett’s cause. They were after all brothers and despite their fondness for her would always choose family over her. Frustrated she put her coffee down.
“Are you planning on going to work soon?”
“Yes, I was waiting for you.”
“Then I’ll be ready when you are.” She said pushing her chair back and rising.
“Don’t you plan on eating any breakfast?” He frowned looking at her untouched plate.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You should eat something.” He said trying to get her to sit back down.
“I don’t need a nursemaid Ethan” She said venting her frustration on him. Bailey regretted immediately when she saw the hurt expression on his face. “I’m sorry, that was uncalled for. I’m angry with your brother and I’m taking it out on you.”
“I’ll except your apology if you would sit back down and have some breakfast….what’s on your plate is a lot healthier than the doughnuts you will find at work.”
Bailey looked down at her plate then back at his sincere expression. Sighing she sat back down earning her an endearing grin from Ethan. He truly was handsome with his warm brown eyes and auburn red hair like his mothers. Unlike Beckett he was broad like his brothers but there was a gentleness about him that reminded her of a big old cuddly bear. She knew as the youngest he was always trying to prove himself and if she mentioned her opinion he would just frown and probably go beat up his brothers to prove his worth. Over breakfast she got him to talk about their home in Montana and she wondered why they would want to leave a place they clearly loved to come south.
“One of biggest clients is expanding and he needed our presence here in the South if he were to renew his contracts with us.”
“Why can’t he just use two builders?”
“He gets a better quote from us if we get all his work.”
“What if you don’t get the contract?”
“Then people will lose their jobs…..Grayson Industries is one of our largest clients. He and my father have been friends for years and both built up their companies on each other’s backs. But business is business and things right now have been tough for both of our companies with the economy the way it is. He’s doing the honorable thing and given us time to make a presence here but he won’t hold out forever. If we lose his contract it will take us at least 5 years to land enough business to replace his which is why Beckett agreed to your grandmother’s crazy scheme.” He said sitting back now in his chair. “What I’m curious about is why you did? From what I know your grandparents threw your father out on his coat tails when he married your mother. Regina hasn’t exactly been part of your life, it’s obvious she’s trying but it’s not like she’s had this major presence in your life.”
“Like your family I didn’t have a
choice. I had lost my job, Tristan’s medical bills were piling up and the authorities were preparing to take them away. I promised my mother on her death bed I wouldn’t let that happen. Beckett never told you?”
“No…he just said you were having a rough go trying to support your brother and sister by yourself and after Tristan’s attack we just assumed the offer was too tempting to resist.”
“I did resist it at first. I ordered my grandmother to get out of my apartment and out of our lives. Then the police showed up to take the kids away and she presented them with a judge’s order granting her guardianship. I wasn’t too proud to admit I needed help.” She smiled sadly.
“Like you needed our help yesterday?” He grinned.
“Yes, though I never thought I’d use it on Beckett.”
“Why did you?” He pried not sure if she would tell him.
“He made me mad.” She answered honestly. “First by telling me I couldn’t go to Ashton’s then by thinking he could kiss me into submission.” She explained revealing more than she intended.
Ethan was quiet for a moment as the processed her words then meeting her gaze he asked.
“So was it him telling you that you couldn’t go……or was it the way you reacted to his kiss?”
Bailey looked at him for a moment feeling her eyes begin to mist. She wanted to be strong, to pretend Beckett didn’t affect her, especially in the face of his brother but when she saw the compassion on his face she broke down. He grabbed her hand in support as the tears fell.
“Bailey, I know you may not believe this right now but Beckett’s attempt to keep you from going was for your protection. I met Ashton at the Remington’s party and I can honestly say his intentions are far from innocent.”
“I know that, I had no intention of going alone till Beckett made me mad by forbidding me to go.”