“I swear, when I talked to her last week, she said don’t believe everything you read, I assumed—”
“Shelby, don’t worry about it. Let’s get out of here, I need a drink.” Bradley walked away from his sister shaking his head.
“Maybe you can talk to Jansen at the party.”
Bradley stopped in his tracks. “Why would I want to talk to Jansen? She’s probably going to be hugged up, sipping champagne with her man who can’t wait to see her in a wedding dress. I’m going back to the hotel.” He stormed off and Shelby headed backstage to find Jansen.
* * *
“Hey, pretty lady, what’s with the scowl?” Donovan asked Jansen as she harshly combed her hair.
“Nothing. Tired, I guess.”
Dove shook her head. “Was that who I think it was with your girl Shelby?” She wiggled her eyebrows and Jansen almost had a hysterical-supermodel moment, but there wasn’t a cell phone in sight.
“Dove, I’m not talking about that man.”
“Uh-oh,” Donovan said. “Sounds like I need to leave you two alone for some girl talk.”
“No,” Jansen said, standing up and fully dressed in a gold minidress and sky-high purple heels. “I’m in Paris to have a good time and celebrate my friend’s wedding.”
“And model my dress and announce the Jansen Project. You have a lot to do here in gay Paree,” he said with an exaggerated accent. “Dove and I can’t have all the fun.”
Jansen shrugged and glanced at the roses she’d received. Knowing that many of her supporters and people she’d need to help her with her business venture would be at the after party, she had to focus on the future. But how could she when her mind was stuck in the past?
Chapter 6
Sitting in his hotel room, Bradley wondered if he should go to the after party to get his punishment for being dumb enough to allow Jansen to walk out of his life. Maybe he needed to see her with her new man to make sure she was happy.
She deserved to be happy. Rising to his feet, he paced back and forth filled with regret and jealousy. Did that clown who wanted to see her in his wedding dress know that Jansen hated thunderstorms? Did he know that she wasn’t a fan of milk chocolate and preferred dark chocolate with almonds? Did he know that when she was stressed out, a foot massage calmed her down instantly?
“Shit,” he muttered. “I can’t lose her again.”
Stepping into his Italian loafers, Bradley decided that he would go to the after party and this time, he would talk to Jansen. Fiancé or not. When he made it to the lobby, he wasn’t upset to see his sister and Jacques leaving without notifying him. In fact, he hoped that everyone thought he was upstairs moping. He needed a one-on-one with Jansen and the less his siblings knew about his plan the better.
The party was about three blocks away from the hotel, which made Bradley happy since he’d decided to walk. Arriving at the location, he wasn’t at all surprised to see that he was woefully underdressed—in a pair of dark jeans and a button-down white shirt. Part of him thought about the money that was being spent on this party and how it could save so many lives. Just a waste, he thought bitterly. Sighing, Bradley decided that he wasn’t going to storm in there when he knew that—
“Bradley?” Jansen called out. Turning around, he watched as she sauntered his way. And boy, was she wearing that skintight gold dress.
“Yes,” he said, his eyes appreciatively roaming her body. “I was...uh, just leaving.”
“Funny, looked like you’d just gotten here.”
“Honestly, I had. I was looking for you,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because it’s been a long time and I need to tell you something.”
She placed her hand on her hip and raised her perfectly manicured right eyebrow. “Well?”
“I think we could at least sit down over a cup of coffee or breakfast and talk like civilized people.”
She blinked and Bradley half expected her to walk away. “That’s fine and you’re right, we should talk. I’d love to ease this awkwardness between us so that we can all enjoy Shelby’s upcoming wedding.”
Bradley smiled. “And...” Before he could finish, Donovan called Jansen’s name. Damn, he thought as he watched the man jog toward her. It was the same guy from backstage. Her fiancé.
“Donovan, I thought I was late. Where’s Dove?” she asked.
“She hooked up with a few of her friends at Bar La Vue.” Donovan looked from Jansen to Bradley. “Am I interrupting something here?”
“No, just catching up with an old f— This is Shelby’s brother,” she said. Bradley felt Jansen’s introduction was a little weird. Shelby’s brother? That’s how you feel, or is your man that jealous? Donovan extended his hand to Bradley.
“Nice to meet you,” he said. Bradley barely shook his hand, wondering if that was the same hand he used to hold and touch Jansen in the most intimate places. Places that he used to frequent, places that he discovered.
“Jansen, I’m staying at—”
“I know where you’re staying,” she said. “Shelby told me when she called and apologized for what happened after the fashion show.”
Donovan raised his eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Bradley was not impressed with this man. What was he? Jansen’s lapdog? He’d be damned if he would’ve let that go without some sort of question.
“I guess I’ll see you at Shelby’s brunch.”
Jansen furrowed her brows, then she smiled. She’d almost forgotten about tomorrow’s festivities. She’d also noticed the cold looks he gave Donovan, making it obvious that he’d read the blogs and heard the rumors about her so-called engagement. Jansen wondered where his wife was, because she refused to believe that he was still single in Atlanta. Then again, he was probably having a great time playing the field. Why wouldn’t he? From what she understood, Atlanta was a player’s paradise these days, and as much as she hated to admit it, Bradley had gotten better with time. His ebony-brown skin was just as smooth as it had always been, those eyes, whiskey brown and bright. She looked down at his hands, the hands that had tenderly taught her about passion, touched her in the most intimate places.
Jansen shivered inwardly as she thought about his long fingers splitting her wet folds of flesh and stroking her precious pearl. The first time he’d touched her there, she’d come. Had a feeling of heat that she’d never felt before in her life, and over the years, he’d given her those feelings again and again.
Stop it, she admonished herself as she watched his lips move. Those lips were even more magical than his hands.
“Jansen?” Donovan asked.
“What?” she replied, blinking at him, realizing that she was not in Atlanta but on a sidewalk in Paris. Still, Bradley was there. And he was alone.
“You want to go in?” he asked. She looked at Bradley, who had given her a two-finger salute and started to walk away. But she had questions and she was about to call his name, but the words died on her tongue. She watched him walk away and then turned back to Donovan. Her smile was intact. “Let’s go,” she said.
“I’m not even going to ask what that was all about.”
“Good, because I don’t want to talk about it.”
Donovan shrugged and they walked into the party, but Jansen was hardly on her A-game after seeing Bradley Stephens.
* * *
Bradley wandered into a small coffee shop to catch his breath. He knew Jansen wasn’t in love with that guy. And he wondered if that man had an idea as to what he meant to Jansen. Game on, Bradley decided as he walked up to the counter and ordered a cup of coffee in broken French.
When he got his café au lait, Bradley headed outside and sat at a table near the sidewalk. Paris was beautiful at night, and he closed his eyes for a moment, dreaming that he and Jansen were celebrating th
eir fifth or sixth wedding anniversary. Maybe they would’ve been here with their children—a little girl with eyes like her mom’s.
“Bradley?”
Opening his eyes, he saw Jansen standing there. Was he still dreaming? Nope, because there she was in that gold dress.
“I thought you were going to that party back there,” he said, keeping his voice cool. Then he nodded toward the empty seat at his table.
Jansen paused for a moment, then she sat down. Bradley wanted to smile, wanted to launch into an apology, but she had another man and probably didn’t care what he had to say. Wait a minute. Why was her man allowing her to walk around the streets of Paris by herself? This was a foreign city and who knew what the crime rate was. “Why are you out here alone?”
“It was a little too crowded and I needed some air. I must say, seeing you threw me for a loop.”
“Really?”
She rolled her eyes. “Bradley, we have history. There was a time when I thought we would be together forever, but...”
“I messed that up. I guess you’re going to get your happily ever after with that guy. Congratulations, Jansen. But how does he feel knowing you ditched him to find me?”
“I didn’t come to find you. I see you still think the sun doesn’t rise until it hits your ass. You haven’t changed at all, have you?”
“Oh, I’ve changed. And so have you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re even more beautiful than I remember.”
A heated blush filled her cheeks, crept down her neck and finally settled between her thighs. “It’s the makeup and...”
“No, Jansen, it’s you. You’ve always been gorgeous. Maybe I wasn’t ready to share you with the world. I should’ve been more supportive of what you wanted rather than thinking you should have hidden your light.”
She shot him a blank look. “You wanted everything your way, how did that work out for you?”
“I should probably thank you,” he said.
“Thank me?”
He nodded and took a sip of his drink, trying and failing not to look at her cleavage. “I realized that day that I can’t expect my woman to do everything I want her to. And though I thought the center meant as much to you as it did to me, I shouldn’t have made that assumption for you. I still believe with your brain you could’ve done something more with your life. You could’ve been on the front line teaching these young girls the value of their lives.”
She wondered if he even realized how saying that three years ago would’ve changed their lives. But right now he sounded like a pompous jerk. Jansen narrowed her eyes at him. “A little too late,” she said.
“Better late than never. I’m also thankful for your generosity,” he said. “The donations that you make every year help us further our cause of helping families and victims of domestic violence.”
“I loved your parents and what they stood for. I’m glad that I can help their legacy continue.”
“You could’ve done a lot more if you stayed on staff...”
“You’re really going to start that again?”
“No,” he said as he eased closer to her chair. “I’m going to start this.” He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her slowly, deliberately and passionately. He slipped his hands between her thighs and a soft moan escaped her throat. Jansen trembled with anticipation, with longing. Inside, Bradley beamed, knowing she still belonged to him. Still clamored for his touch as much as he yearned for her.
Breaking the kiss, he looked into Jansen’s eyes.
“Do you love him?”
“What?” she asked, blinking rapidly.
“Well, do you?”
“Are you serious? You’re jealous of tabloid headlines?”
“No, I’m just wondering what kind of man allows the woman he’s supposed to marry to walk the streets of Paris alone. If you were my woman, I would never allow that to happen.”
Jansen rose to her feet and glared at him. “Yeah, you’re the same as you’ve always been. Still want to be in control of everything. All men don’t think like you, thank God. Why don’t we just call it a life? There’s nothing else we need to say to one another.”
Bradley stood up and closed the space between them. “There’s plenty to say,” he said. “I’ve never stopped loving you and—” He stroked her arm. “I can feel how much you want me, Jansen. So, forgive me if I don’t celebrate your engagement. And I’m not going to watch you marry a man that you may like but don’t love.”
“I am—” Bradley silenced her with a kiss that made her knees quiver. His tongue filled her mouth, reminding her that no one could kiss like Bradley, no one could find the way to her soul with a kiss. No one but Bradley. And when he pulled her against his hard body, she felt the throbbing of all his muscles and melted against him. She wanted to peel her dress off and let him have his way with her. She wanted to go back to the days when she and Bradley woke up entwined in each other’s arms and the previous night’s passion became that morning’s desire.
His hand slipped between her thighs again, wanting to touch her in the most intimate way. Jansen knew this had to stop. Pulling back from him, she pushed him away and shook her head. Without another word, she took off down the street.
* * *
Jansen didn’t want to go back to the party, she didn’t want to be around people right now. What she wanted to do was go back to that café and kiss Bradley again. She’d dreamed of that kiss for years. Dreamed of a happy reunion with him, had the nightmare of believing he was married to some docile woman who did everything he wanted. If that’s the case, why did he kiss you and tell you that he still loves you? her inner voice questioned. She stopped and turned around, Jansen had every intention of heading back to the café. She gasped when she saw Bradley approaching her.
“I don’t believe you should be wandering around the streets dressed like that. Paris or not,” he said.
“Why did you kiss me?”
“Because I needed to.”
“Bradley, we’re over. I’ve moved on and I’m sure you have, too. Don’t let the mythology of Paris make you think that—”
“Paris, New York or Atlanta, what I said doesn’t change.”
“Really?” She shook her head and sighed deeply. “What changed, Bradley? Because, as I recall, love to you meant doing everything your way.”
“Think about where I was when you came to me. My parents had just died and I was trying to hold on to everything too tight.”
She snorted and shook her head. “Everything that you just said would’ve made a hell of a difference back then.”
“Time and distance. But I guess I’m too late, since you have moved on.”
“You’re right, it’s too late and there is no need to go rewriting history and pretending there’s a future between us.”
Bradley stroked her cheek. “You never answered my question.”
She wanted to succumb to the tingles his touch sent rushing though her body. “I—I don’t have to,” Jansen said, then snatched away from him. “I’m going to my hotel. Alone.” Bradley grabbed her arm.
“So, you’re willing to settle for safe? Willing to have a life without love because—”
“You broke my heart!” she shouted. “You broke my damn heart and I’m not going to let that happen again. Now, take your hand off me!”
He let her go but didn’t let her continue to walk alone. They walked in silence for two blocks. “Why are you following me?” she snapped when they ended up in front of her hotel. “Because I’m not inviting you up.”
“I didn’t ask you to. I just wanted to make sure you made it here safely. Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“That’s not a good idea.”
“I thought we needed to talk.�
�
“I’ve said all I need to say.”
“But I haven’t, and since you’re not inviting me in, we’re going to have to finish this tomorrow.”
“Shelby’s brunch won’t be the time or place.”
“Then let’s make right now the time and place.”
Jansen looked toward the hotel entrance. She wanted to take him up to her room, wanted to kiss him, make love to him and remember why she’d fallen in love with him all those years ago. But she had to walk away. When Bradley reached out and stroked her cheek, her lips trembled.
“Jansen,” he said, his voice a low groan. She tilted her head, and her lips crashed into his. The kiss was sweet, tender and demanding.
“Mmm,” she moaned. “Bradley.”
“Yes?”
“You still can’t come up.” With all the strength she could muster, Jansen walked inside.
Alone in the elevator, she leaned against the wall and prayed for the quivering in her knees to stop. She had to get her hormones under control before Shelby’s brunch. But tonight, she was going to bask in the dreams of what would’ve happened had she invited Bradley in.
Chapter 7
The next morning, Bradley was up right at the crack of dawn. It wasn’t as if he’d been able to sleep anyway. Jansen haunted his dreams like a sexy specter. As he looked over the city from his room, he wondered if she had spent the night wrapped in her fiancé’s arms but thinking about him.
“Our story isn’t over,” he whispered as he watched the sunrise over the Seine. He wondered how he was going to keep his focus at this brunch. What if Jansen walked in with her fiancé? Something was off about that relationship. Turning away from the window, he headed for the bathroom to shower and prepare his seduction overture. Jansen wouldn’t stand a chance when he was done.
* * *
“Bradley,” Jansen moaned, then woke up—bolting upright in her bed. The cold and empty sheets reminded her that she’d only been making love to him in her dreams. Was she disappointed? Yes. The wetness between her thighs was another reminder of how much she wanted him. She pounded her pillow.
Blissful Summer: Make You Mine AgainUnraveled Page 5