At this point she couldn’t find it within herself to lie. “Yes, he’s a big part of it.”
“I know that his past isn’t very reassuring, but he’s taking responsibility for it now. If you met him, I think you’d like him. Sophie gets along great with him and so does Libby. He even walked Sophie down the aisle when she and Tommy got married. No matter how often Dad and Tommy fight, they still have a bond that can’t be denied.”
Mary missed the bond she’d once had with her mother. She and Alice still had Mama’s songbook tucked away in a safe deposit box. For them, it was her most important belonging.
He said, “I’m sorry if I keep pushing you toward my family. I just really want you to go to the wedding with me.”
“It’s still a month away.” By now June was gone, and they were in the midst of July. “Maybe I’ll be able to handle it by then.”
“I hope so.” Behind him, the river was dappled with sunlight, specks of gold dancing on the water.
The setting was too pretty for her to be stressing about Kirby, she thought. But Brandon’s father was never far from her mind. “Will you call me when you get back from Las Vegas?”
He looked longingly into her eyes. “Definitely. I can’t wait to see you again.”
She fought the sudden fuzziness in her brain. Would they ever get enough of each other? Would this feeling ever end?
“I can’t wait to see you again, either.” To touch him, to feel his naked body against hers. But it was more than just the sex. She felt safe and warm when she was with Brandon, which made no sense.
Mary was confused, as usual. Even Cline was cocking his silvery head at her, as if he was trying to figure her out. Then again, the dog always seemed to sense her emotions.
And no one made Mary more emotional than Brandon.
* * *
Mary bustled around her apartment, plumping pillows on the sofa and making sure everything looked as nice as it possibly could. Brandon had just gotten back from his trip and was on his way over, directly from the airport.
This was a big step for her, letting him see her home. It just felt more personal than her going to his houses. But he’d asked if he could stop by, saying that he had some important news he wanted to share.
“Maybe I should hang out for a while,” Alice said.
“No.” Mary shook her head. “You said you had things to do today.” Alice was supposed to be gone before he arrived.
“But I want to meet him.” Her sister plopped down on the sofa, scattering the plumped pillows.
“Not now.” She couldn’t deal with introducing Alice to Brandon, and especially not today. “You know how nervous I am already.”
“Maybe you’re just afraid that I’ll blow the whistle on you.”
“You promised that you wouldn’t.” But was she concerned about being able to trust Alice? Yes, heaven help her, she was. “Please, just go run your errands.”
“I’ll leave if you agree to invite Brandon over for dinner this weekend. We can cook for him together. We can make it a cozy little get-together.”
It sounded like a disaster to Mary, the worst idea in history. “And if I refuse to invite him?”
Alice put her feet on the coffee table. She even clicked her boot heels together. “Then I might be forced to break my promise and tell him the truth.”
Mary glared at her. She was being blackmailed by her baby sister. Still, what choice did she have but to give in? Alice had the advantage. “Fine. I’ll arrange for you to meet him. But you have to keep my secret. You have to swear on Mama’s grave.”
Her sister scoffed. “Now there’s a low blow. Mama doesn’t even have a grave.”
Their mother had been cremated, with her ashes scattered in the Oklahoma wind. They hadn’t been able to afford a funeral or a traditional burial. But Mama would have preferred being part of the elements, anyway. Mary didn’t regret the choice they’d made. “Just swear it.”
“All right. I swear. But it seems weird that you’re so adamant about lying to him. If you never tell him who you are, he won’t understand what went wrong. If you care about him, then don’t you at least owe him that much?”
Mary squinted at her sister. “What are you doing? Trying to use some sort of reverse psychology on me?”
“I’m just stating the facts.”
“What facts? That you want him to know that we plotted against him? That you want to see him get hurt?” She didn’t trust Alice’s motives, not one iota. “He’ll be better off never knowing who I am.”
“If you say so.” Alice stood, grabbed her long-fringed purse and stomped over to the front door. “But don’t forget to invite him to dinner and tell him how much I’m looking forward to meeting him.” She batted her lashes before she left, making an even bigger mockery of their conversation. When she was a kid she used to make ugly faces when she was being a brat. Now she was being all pretty about it.
Once she was gone, Mary righted the pillows on the sofa. She hoped Brandon’s news wasn’t about the wedding. She’d already been losing far too much sleep over that.
About twenty minutes later, Brandon arrived. He was gorgeous as ever, in a gray pullover and black slacks.
Mary showed him around the apartment, and he lingered in her bedroom.
“So this is where you sleep,” he said, stating the obvious.
She nodded. The old chenille spread had been passed down from her grandmother. Mama had used it when she was young, too. Everything was done in pastels, including her furniture.
She watched him walk over to her dresser. He didn’t have far to go. The room was small and crowded. He lifted a cupcake-shaped candle from her dresser and studied it. “This is cute. It suits you.” He turned to look at her bed. She had three stuffed animals, two bears and a bunny, on it. “Are these from when you were a kid?” he asked.
“Yes.” The manner in which he was scrutinizing everything was making her uncomfortable. Suddenly she feared that he knew who she was. That he’d found out somehow and was mocking her with his “cute” comments. Was it possible that Alice had gone behind her back and told him? She could have gotten his number from Mary’s phone.
No, that didn’t make sense. Why would Alice have threatened to reveal Mary’s identity if she’d already done it? And why would she have insisted on inviting Brandon to dinner?
“What are their names?” he asked.
She blinked. “What?”
He gestured. “The stuffed animals.”
Oh, right. Her old toys. “The bunny is Beanie and the bears are Daisy and Dilly.”
He moved toward the bed and sat on the edge of it. He even picked up Beanie and stroked its frayed ears.
“What’s going on?” she asked, needing to know what his agenda was. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
His face lit up. “I came here to tell you about Zoe.”
She relaxed, grateful that his news seemed positive. “What about her?”
He bounced Beanie on his lap. “She arrived two days ago, while I was still in Vegas, but they just brought her home today. Sophie had her in a private birthing center, so they were able to keep it out of the press. Tommy plans to make a formal announcement and release some pictures. But he wants the family to meet her first. I haven’t seen her yet. But I intend to make her acquaintance, just as soon as I leave here.”
“That’s nice, Brandon.” She could see how excited he was.
“I was wondering if you’d come with me.”
Oh, no. “What about your dad?” This sounded worse than the wedding. Or just as bad. “I need more time to meet him.” Or she needed to not meet him at all, she thought.
“Dad won’t be there. My parents were already at Tommy’s place this morning, helping Sophie and the baby get settled in. They were at the clinic when she was born, too, so they’ve had lots of
time with her. Matt and Libby and Chance are flying in tomorrow. Tommy is trying to keep everyone’s visits separate so Sophie won’t get too worn out.”
“So it’ll just be you and me?”
“Yep. Just us.”
“I don’t have anything to bring.” There was always something to fret about, it seemed. “You already gave them a beautiful piece of art.”
“I always give people art.”
“And normally I bake for people.”
“So you can bake for them another time. Tommy and Sophie will understand that this was a rushed visit. Just come with me,” he implored her.
“Okay, I will.” She wanted to support Brandon. And since Kirby wouldn’t be around, she didn’t have to panic about running into him. “Speaking of family, my sister wants you to come over for dinner this weekend. She’s interested in meeting you.”
“Really?” He put Beanie down. “Oh, that’s cool. I’d like to meet her, too.”
“She might not be that friendly. I think she’s jealous that I’m seeing you.” Mary figured it wouldn’t hurt to warn him that Alice might behave strangely.
“Do you think it would help if I brought her a gift?”
“After you just told me not to worry about bringing something to Tommy and Sophie?”
“That’s not the same thing. You just said that Alice is jealous that you’re dating me.”
“I know. But it isn’t necessary to bring her a present.” Short of millions of dollars, she doubted that he would be able to buy Alice’s affection. And even then, her sister would probably still hate him. Mary went over and sat beside him on the bed. “I think it’s better to just let Alice be her difficult self.”
“I’m just glad that she wants to meet me. And I’m especially happy that you’re going with me today.”
“I like babies.” But she wasn’t thrilled with how much she needed Brandon. She struggled with that every day.
He leaned in to kiss her, and she wished for the umpteenth time that his father had never ruined her mother.
When Brandon broke the kiss, he said, “I can come to dinner on Saturday. Does that day work for you, or would Sunday be better?”
“Saturday is fine. I’m sure that will be fine with Alice, too, since it was her idea.”
“I’ve been keeping my schedule clear for you. There was a ball I could’ve attended this weekend, but I declined the invitation. I don’t want to go alone, and I didn’t think you would’ve agreed to go with me.” He paused, sighed. “I’d love to sweep you off to a fancy ball and introduce you to my friends. But I’m already concerned about scaring you away. I’m trying to have this affair on your terms.”
“I appreciate that you’re putting my feelings first.” Except for the part where he wanted her to accept his father—the very thing that scared her most.
* * *
Tommy and Sophie lived in one of the biggest, grandest custom-built mansions in Nashville. Once Mary and Brandon passed through the security gate, she worried about what she’d gotten herself into. Brandon fit naturally into the opulent setting, but Mary felt like a little church mouse. She dusted off the fabric of her plain white skirt, wishing that she were prettier and more sophisticated and everything else that Brandon’s other lovers were.
He glanced over at her. “Are you okay?”
“I was just thinking about what you said earlier about wishing you could take me to one of your fancy balls and introduce me to your friends. You’re right that it would scare me.”
He parked in the big circular driveway and reached across the console for her hand. “Maybe in time, my lifestyle won’t seem so daunting to you.”
“I don’t even know how to dance.”
“You mean waltz or country dance?”
“Waltz. I can two-step.” She’d been reared on down-home music. Her mother used to dance her and Alice all over their ratty little apartment. Mama had even worked at a record store when she was younger—the type that barely existed anymore. Later, she’d worked at an insurance company, doing boring office stuff.
Brandon interrupted her thoughts. “Waltzing isn’t that much different than two-stepping. I can teach you.”
“It looks different on TV.”
“On those dance competition shows? That doesn’t count. We wouldn’t be competing for a prize. It would just be two people swaying in each other’s arms. You and I are good together that way.”
Her cheeks went warm. He was obviously talking about sex. “We better go inside and see the baby.” They certainly couldn’t stay here, with him saying sensually charged things to her.
They exited the car, and she forced herself to breathe, as deeply and calmly as she could.
A woman with salt-and-pepper hair answered the door. Mary soon learned that her name was Dottie and that she managed the household staff and kept the estate running.
Dottie gave Brandon a big warm hug. She was kind and friendly to Mary, too, making the moment easier.
“Just wait until you see Zoe,” Dottie said to Brandon. “You’re going to fall in love with your niece.”
He grinned. “I don’t doubt that I will.”
“Oh, and the painting you bought for Zoe is just the most adorable thing.”
“Thanks. Mary helped me pick it out.”
“Well, you have an eye for art, my dear.” Dottie patted her hand. “For men, too,” she mock whispered.
Mary couldn’t think of an appropriate response, but she didn’t have to. Brandon quickly said, “Hey. I heard that.”
The older lady laughed. “You were meant to.”
He laughed, too. “When are you going to leave Tommy and work for me?”
“Never,” she replied, just as jokingly. “That brother of yours couldn’t get along without me. But seriously, he and Sophie and the baby...” She sighed, quite dreamily. “They’re perfect together.” She nudged Brandon and Mary toward a luxurious staircase with polished wood banisters. “Go on up and see them. They’re waiting for you.”
Mary noticed a clear glass elevator in a secluded section of the massive entryway. She was glad they weren’t using that. She didn’t want to think about elevators right now. It would only remind her of what she and Brandon had done in the one at his loft.
The nursery was on the second floor. It overflowed with the ribbons, lace and bows that Mary expected to see. Even the crib was a lavish sight to behold, designed for a princess.
And Tommy and his family? They were perfect together, just as Dottie had said they were.
Tommy looked exactly like he did in his music videos: tall and decidedly Western, with stylishly messy light brown hair and a crooked smile. Sophie was a petite brunette, beaming with motherhood. She sat in an overstuffed rocker on the other side of the room, with the baby in her arms.
“You must be Mary,” Tommy said, before Brandon got a chance to introduce her. “It’s nice to meet you. That’s my wife, Sophie, over there, and our brand-new daughter.”
Mary smiled at him and nodded to Sophie, who gave her a gentle nod in return.
“What a special time this is for you,” she said to Tommy.
“It’s amazing.” He turned toward Brandon and they hugged, clapping each other on the back. Then Tommy asked his brother, “Do you want to hold Zoe?”
“God, yes.” A grin stretched across Brandon’s face. “I’ve been waiting to get my hands on that kid.”
Tommy gestured for Mary to join them. They headed for Sophie and the baby, and the new mother transferred her child into Brandon’s arms, showing him what to do.
“She’s beautiful.” He held the infant carefully, protecting her neck and head. “Just like I knew she would be.”
Zoe was a darling baby, Mary thought, with her thick cap of dark hair, hazel eyes and rosy cheeks. She had a cute little expression on her face, as if she was
trying to focus on how handsome her uncle was.
Mary was focusing on the same thing. He looked incredible with the pink bundle in his arms. She glanced over at Sophie and said, “She looks like you.”
“That’s what Tommy says. That she’s a mirror image of me. But she has his eyes. His change colors sometimes, going from brown to green, then back again. Hers will probably do that, too, depending on her moods.”
“I can only imagine how happy you are.” Suddenly marriage and babies and nesting with the man you loved sounded like something Mary wanted to try someday. But even as the thought crossed her mind, she went into panic mode. Love and marriage and babies should be the last thing swimming around in her head, especially while she was having an affair with Brandon.
Nine
Brandon and Tommy stood on the balcony attached to the nursery and gazed at the gardens below. They’d stepped outside for a few minutes, giving themselves the opportunity to be alone and marvel over the new life in their family.
“I think that’s the first time I ever held a newborn,” Brandon said, and glanced over his shoulder at the glass door behind him. Zoe was inside with the women. After he’d held her, he’d given her back to Sophie.
“I know. It’s amazing, isn’t it? How tiny she is, with all of those little fingers and toes?” Tommy smiled. “It’s even more incredible than I thought it would be. Every time I look at her, I could burst.”
“The love a parent has for a child is supposed to be the strongest bond on earth.” Brandon was glad that Tommy was getting to experience it. “It’s funny, too, because you’re the last person any of us expected to have kids.”
“And now I want a houseful.” His brother furrowed his brow. “I know Mom loved us the way I love Zoe, but do you think Dad felt this way when we were born?”
Brandon wasn’t surprised to hear Tommy question their father’s feelings for them, not with how uncertain he’d always been about their dad. “He was messed up during that period of his life, but, yeah, I think he loved us the way he was supposed to.”
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