She took it with a smile. A smile that quickly faded and was replaced by fear and worry as she listened and spoke to her mother. Jude only heard one side of the conversation, but it was enough for him to know that Addy had been hurt.
He could tell when Brianne's mother put Addy on the phone. Her whole demeanor changed, her voice and her expression softened. It was beyond clear how much she loved that little girl.
Brianne was out of the bed before she hung up, her expression grim. She pocketed her phone and faced Jude. "Addy broke her arm. I need to go to her."
"Of course. We can take my car."
She sidestepped his outstretched hand. "You can't drive me all the way to Colorado, Jude. You've got a casino to run."
He stepped in front of her. "I've got nothing to do that's more important than you, Brianne. If you need to get to your niece, I'll get you there."
Tears filled her eyes as she stared up at him and his heart clenched, preparing for the pain he knew was coming. "I can't ask you to do that, Jude. This is my family, my niece. I've taken care of them for a long time and they need me, now. I can get to them on my own."
Anger and frustration filled him, but he knew neither would serve him in that moment. If she needed space, he'd give it to her. "I'm not asking for anything, Brianne, other than for you to allow me to drive you to your niece. After that, I'll leave. I'll give you the time you need to figure out what our next steps will be."
Her face crumpled and she swayed on her feet. "There can't be any next steps, Jude. I . . . I care about you. I really do, but I can't make promises to you that I won't be able to keep. Addy and Mom need me now, and all my focus needs to be on them. I don't have time for romance or any sort of long-distance relationship."
Despite the pain that rushed through him, he stayed upright and stared her down, determined not to cede control to her. She didn't deserve control if she was just going to throw away what they had so easily. And what they had was so much more than her tone suggested "We can talk in the car. I'll take you to Isla's so you can pack."
One tear slipped down her right cheek. "Jude, I can't--"
"The important thing right now is getting you to Addy as quickly as possible, right?"
She nodded.
He grabbed her hand and led her out of his room and down to the parking garage. He held on as tight as he could, but he could already feel her slipping away.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Something was wrong with Bri's chest. Her heart had forgotten how to beat properly. Her ribs felt like a vise. Her lungs had shriveled. It hurt so frolicking bad she couldn't complete a coherent thought, couldn't figure out if she was really dying or if it just felt like it. Heartbreak and sadness about leaving Jude mixed with her worry about Addy and she felt pulled in two different directions, nearly split in two.
Jude glanced over at her, but she couldn't look at him, couldn't meet his eyes. He was a billionaire, he didn't understand a problem money couldn't fix, didn't remember what it was like to have nothing.
He remained silent until they were on the strip and she prayed he'd remain silent for the short drive to Isla's.
Luck wasn't with her that day. "Please, Brianne, let me take you to your niece. I want to be with you, to be there for you and for her."
Duffel bag doofuses, she wanted that, too. She wanted it so, so badly. "I appreciate the offer, Jude, but Mom is still really angry over what happened between you and Max. I don't think it's a good idea to bring you there when she's already so upset about Addy." Which meant Bri would be spending a few days on a bus, but that had to be better than letting Jude farther into her life when she knew there was no future for them.
"She's going to have to accept me as part of your life at some point," he said.
She pressed her lips tight together to keep back the sob that clawed at her throat. Maureen didn't have to accept Jude and, even if she did, how could Bri leave her and Addy to be with Jude? Hope tried to spark to life inside her, but she shut it down. She couldn't afford to hope in that moment. She had to focus on getting to Addy, on being there for her and Maureen in the way they needed her. And they needed one hundred percent of her, there was no room for Jude in her life. Not unless he . . . She searched her mind for a solution, for some way they could be together, but she came up empty. The only way for them to be together would be if she allowed herself and her family to depend on Jude and his money. She couldn't do that to him. She wouldn't do that to him, especially not when their relationship was so new and untested.
He grunted as though her silence had been a physical blow. He parked on the street a block away from Isla's and just sat there for several long moments. When he finally turned to her, she wasn't ready, couldn't even look at him. "Right now, you're upset about your niece, so I'm not going to push. We'll discuss this when you get back."
Her throat burned, but she forced herself to push down her emotions. She'd wanted closure with Jude, and this was her chance to get it. She had to end this cleanly or they'd go another five years both wondering and hoping for something that could never happen. "I'm not coming back, Jude. Addy and Mom need me, and I'm going to stay with them."
Confusion twisted his brow. "You won't finish your six weeks?"
She had two weeks left and she needed those paychecks. She sucked in a breath and focused past her panic and worry, past her need to get to Addy. Was she wrong to go to her niece? Should she stay and work? Make the money they needed? Addy had Maureen and Louise, and they would take care of her. Her shoulders sank at the idea of not going to Addy. "You're right. I should stay here. I promised you six weeks and I'll work the full six weeks. Addy will..." Her voice broke as she thought of her niece, crying and missing her. It was just a broken arm, she reminded herself. Addy would be fine.
"Damn it, Brianne," he said. "I'm not suggesting you shouldn't go to your niece. I just don't want this to be the end for us."
Bri shut down her emotions, her own needs, her mind made up. "I need to stay and earn every cent I can to save the house and--"
"I'll give you the money. You'll be paid for your last two weeks whether you come back or not. What I care about is--"
"I can't take money I didn't earn. I'll stay and I'll work."
He looked at her like she'd suggested feeding a stray dog to an alligator. "You will go and you will see your niece, Brianne. I can see how much it's killing you right now not to be with her. I'll call you in a few days and we can discuss us."
All the feeling drained from her, she had nothing left. She couldn't race to her niece like she wanted, and she couldn't have Jude, because she had no money, no resources, and no easy answers. "There can't be an us, Jude. My place is in Towle with Mom and Addy. I can't leave them to be with you."
"I'm not asking you to do that. I would never ask you to do that. I'm--"
"You don't have to ask," she said. "It's the reality of our situation. I can't move to Vegas now to be with you and I can't see any future where I'll have that option. There's no point in dragging this out, Jude. I've had a wonderful time with you, and I care about you, but we need to face reality and accept that this is the end for us."
His face paled, but she could see him pulling away from her, could see the distance in his gaze on her, feel the lack of warmth emanating from him. "You aren't even willing to try."
Closure, she reminded herself. They both needed it. There was no kindness in giving him false hope. "No, Jude. I'm not."
He nodded, his expression ice cold. "Did you care about me at all, or was this always just about you getting me out of your system." He shook his head. "Or maybe you wanted to hurt me the way I hurt Max . . . and you."
She gasped, his words like a punch to her solar plexus. "No, Jude. I just--"
He faced her, his body rigid. "Do you love me at all?"
She hesitated. She needed to say the word, to end this cleanly, but she couldn't look him in the eye and lie to him about how she felt. She couldn't get the word out, no matter how hard
she tried.
Hurt rolled over his face like a wave and he flinched, taking her silence for an answer. "Don't bother coming into work on Monday, Miss Mason."
"What? I've got two more weeks. I--"
He opened his door. "Your employment with me has been terminated, Miss Mason. I'll escort you to your apartment and take the clothes I bought you."
She nodded, numb and cold, and got out of the car. If she tried to speak, she'd make all sorts of promises she couldn't keep.
He followed her to Isla's building. Pain lanced through her chest and she bit her lower lip hard not to sob as she led the way up to Isla's apartment. She fit the key in the lock and opened the door, only to find Max in the bed laughing at something on T.V.
Jude crowded behind her, his sharp intake of breath a clear indication that he'd seen Max and it was far too late for her to close the door and make him leave.
"Hey, Bri," Max said, his smile careful. "And Jude. Come on in."
Bri stepped inside, but Jude stayed in the doorway. She turned back to him and was almost knocked over by the look of hurt on his face. "Jude, I--"
"How long have you been staying here?" He asked Max.
Max glanced between Bri and Jude, clearly picking up on the tension. "Just a couple weeks, man. If it's a problem, I'll find somewhere else to crash."
In that moment, Bri loved her brother for setting aside his own problems with Jude and doing what he thought was best for her. "It's not a problem," Jude said. When he looked back at Bri, his expression had gone blank and hard, any sign of his feelings for her gone. "I think I understand now exactly where I stand with you, Brianne."
Her heart cracked right in half. She'd never meant to hurt him, she'd just . . . Well, she'd just been thinking about herself, about protecting herself. "No, Jude, I--"
"I'll send Philip with the car. He can take you where you need to go."
He turned and he left, shutting the door behind him. She allowed herself one moment to stare at the closed door and listen to her heart breaking, before she pushed away the pain and turned to face her brother.
He stared at her, arms crossed over his chest. "Do I need to go after him and kick his ass?"
"No. I was the one in the wrong this time. Do you think you can get off work for a while?"
He studied her, but he was no dummy. "Mom or Addy?"
"Addy's fine. She fell out of a tree and broke her arm, but she's going to be okay."
"Good. I'm glad she's okay. Why would I need to take off work?"
"So you can come with me to see her, Max. She's hurt and she's scared. She needs her dad."
He snorted. "She doesn't even remember me."
"She does. Mom and I show her pictures of you and tell her stories about you all the time. She prays for you every night and she asks at least once a week when you'll come home. She looks forward to every birthday as much because she gets to talk to you, as because of the presents."
The hard shell of his expression crumpled. "She does?"
"Yes, Max. Come with me. See your daughter. Help me figure out how to save Mom's house."
He stared at his feet. "I'll have to make some calls. I guess I could go with you for a few days." He looked up, hope lighting his eyes. "If you really think she wants to see me."
"I know she does." That burden she'd been carrying for so long lightened just a bit. She might be angry with him for what he'd done to her, it might take her a long time to trust him again, but just the idea of him being back in Addy's life, just the thought of having him to help her carry the burden of Addy and Maureen's care, made her feel a bit lighter. "You make your calls and I'll pack."
It didn't take long for Bri to pack the few possessions she and Max owned, and he was done with his phone calls equally as quickly.
"Philip's waiting for us downstairs," she said. "He'll give us a ride to the bus station."
Max winced. "I doubt I'm his favorite person, but I'll find my own way if he kicks me out of the car."
Together, they left Isla's apartment and headed downstairs and out into the bright, hot afternoon.
Philip stood on the sidewalk, waiting for them.
"Hi, Philip," Bri said. "Thank you so much for taking us to the bus station."
"Hey, Philip," Max said, stepping up next to her in front of the older man, in full-on charm mode. "It's been too long."
"Mr. Mason," Philip said, his voice cold. He turned his attention to Bri, moving his whole body toward her and away from Max. "Mr. Cassidy told me to take you to your end destination, not to a bus station." He said the words bus station like they were something rotten he'd found on the bottom of his fancy shoes.
"Oh. Oh, no, Philip. Addy is in Colorado with my mother at the moment. In the far North West of Colorado. Max and I will be fine on the bus. Really."
Philip nodded. "I believe Mr. Cassidy was under the impression you would be going to Arizona, give me just a moment to confirm with him."
Philip got back into the driver's seat. Bri looked to Max, but he just shrugged.
"Do you have a bus schedule?" Max asked.
"I do. There's a bus heading that way in an hour or so. We've got time."
Philip opened his door and stepped out of the car, shutting it behind him. "I apologize for the delay, Mr. Mason, Miss Mason. Mr. Cassidy wanted to be sure I was up to the task of such a long journey. He seems to think I've gotten old." Philip sniffed. "If you'll allow me to put your bags in the trunk, we can get on our way."
Bri stared at him, shocked. "Philip, we can't ask you--"
Philip's expression hardened. "If you are going to say one word about my age and infirmity, Miss Mason, I would suggest you not finish that sentence. Mr. Cassidy is paying me to transport you to your niece, and he is paying me very well. As my wife has been dying for a trip to New York to see Hamilton on Broadway, I am very happy for an unexpected bonus. Now, are you going to hand me your bags? Or are you going to tell my wife she'll have to wait another year for her trip to Broadway."
Bri had never seen Philip so fierce. She handed over her bag and Max handed over his. They got into the car and, when Philip got in behind the wheel, she gave him the exact address.
Once they'd left Vegas behind and were well on their way to Colorado, Bri began to relax a bit. Max leaned forward to speak to Philip. "I didn't know you'd gotten married, Philip. Congratulations."
Philip sniffed. "I'm not married, Mr. Mason. I have always been a bachelor and that is the way I prefer it. I lied to your sister to get her in the car."
Max sat back and laughed, while Bri glared at her brother and the back of Philip's head. "Wait," she said. "You said you had a wife and kids to support to convince me to let you drive me home from the mall."
"I lied," Philip said, not a speck of remorse in his voice. "You are an easy mark, Miss Mason. If you intend to spend any more time in Las Vegas or a similar city, I would recommend that you learn to detect a lie or at least become a bit more suspicious."
Bri sat back and rolled her eyes at Max, who was still laughing.
#
The sun was sinking behind the mountains as Philip pulled down the winding, dirt drive to Aunt Louise's place. As they'd gotten closer, Max had asked more and more questions about Addy. He'd also relaxed and seemed to be genuinely excited about seeing his daughter. So excited, that they'd managed to request only two stops over the course of the almost nine-hour drive. Philip had gloated about the fact that he hadn't needed to stop once.
Bri looked out at the lush landscape of her aunt's valley home, the Rockies looming large and majestic in the not so far distance. So much green grass and room for a little girl to run. A swiftly flowing stream cutting through the property was likely a favorite place for Addy to explore and hunt for insects and frogs.
Philip parked in front of the small, but lovely, cottage on the far corner of the five-acre property and got out to retrieve their bags from the back. "Thank you, Philip," Bri said, as the man handed over her and Max's bags. "You'
re more than welcome to stay the night here. We can make room."
Philip smiled, a twinkle in his eyes. "I might be old, Miss Mason, but I'm not dead. I've got extra money in my wallet and a few friends out this way who will be glad to see me."
She hugged him tight. "Thank you for everything. I'll miss you."
"Just doing my job," he said, hugging her back. "But I'll miss you, too. You were good for Mr. Cassidy. I've never seen him so relaxed and . . ." He looked at the mountains in the distance and winced, before meeting her eyes again. "Let's just say I liked what you did for him. I hope to see you again soon."
She smiled, not at all sure she understood what he felt she'd done for Jude, but grateful for his words. "Take care of him, please. Make sure he . . ." It was her turn to hesitate. "I know he's stubborn and hardheaded, but he deserves to be happy and I just wish . . ."
"I'll do what I can, Miss Mason. You just worry about yourself and that niece of yours."
As if she'd heard them talking about her, Addy raced out the front door, pigtails flying, pink cast on her left arm swinging. She screamed Bri's name, a huge grin splitting her face. Philip blew Bri a kiss and slipped back into the car and away like the saving angel he'd been.
Bri raced toward her niece. It had only been a few weeks and Addy had gotten taller, her face had thinned, and she looked less like a toddler. Bri ached for the time she'd missed with her niece. She swooped Addy up, careful not to bobble her arm, and spun her in a circle, Addy's legs swinging wide.
Addy laughed as Bri planted kisses all over her face. "I missed you so much, Addy-kins."
"I missed you, too, Aunty Bri." She stepped away from the kisses and grinned, revealing a gap in her teeth. "I lost another tooth."
"What?" Bri acted as though she might faint from shock. "Did the tooth fairy bring you money?"
Addy's grin widened. "A whole dollar this time."
Bri smiled over Addy's head at her mother, who'd just walked out of the house. There were dark circles under her eyes, but she wasn't as pale as she'd been. She looked good. Her mother's gaze moved past Bri to Max, and Bri remembered her brother was there, tense and uncomfortable, a few feet behind her. "I brought you a surprise, Addy-kins." She took the little girl's hand and led her to Max. "Your daddy is here for a visit."
How to Lasso a Billionaire Page 21