He was in the process of putting his phone away when it beeped with a message. He expected to see a question from the detective he’d contacted, but instead it was a text from Joanna.
If you’re done pouting by then—we could meet for breakfast. There’s a diner next to J.D. Field Park in Doler, New Jersey. On Log Road. The park has a path that loops around the pond. I know you have all the friends you need, but I’m talking about pancakes with blueberries the size of eyeballs. Hang on, that doesn’t sound as delicious as I tried to make it sound. Anyway, they use huge blueberries.
He imagined her as he read the text. She would be smiling, those beautiful eyes of hers dancing with humor. He gave in to the smile pulling at his lips. I don’t pout.
Good then there’s no reason you can’t meet me.
Not a good idea. Except I don’t eat breakfast.
Never?
Never.
Do you walk?
I do, but I have plans for the morning.
Liar.
He choked on a laugh. He was lying, but he wasn’t used to people calling him out like that. Ask Dylan. I’m sure he’d love to go. He groaned as he read his text. God, he sounded like a jealous teenager. He was right not to get involved with her. She was kryptonite for his brain.
I could ask him. Would you come if he says yes? I could also ask Connor and Angelina. We could go for a little hike, all skip breakfast, and have an early lunch.
Oh my God, this woman has no clue. He was preparing to type a simple, “No.” when she wrote: Please.
What the fuck? Why are you doing this?
I like you.
No. That’s not what this is. And?
And Dylan really was excited for all of us to go to Iceland to see the end of his filming. Can’t you reconsider? I’ll make sure Clay doesn’t go after you again.
She thinks Clay is the reason that trip is on my hell-no list? I’m not worried about Clay and I have no desire to see Iceland.
Dylan will be so sad. He wants to spend more time with you.
Bradford typed, “I don’t give a fuck what Dylan wants” then deleted it. He told himself not to ask, but he had to know. Are you still at the event?
Yes, but I’m in the foyer.
I wouldn’t make Dylan wait too long.
Are you mad at me?
No.
You’re not being nice.
I’m not a nice person.
Wow. That’s lame. So, instead of trying to do better you’re embracing being rude?
Bradford sighed. You can stop texting me anytime you want, sweetheart.
Pretend I just typed a gagging emoji. I don’t know which one that is, but if I did I would have typed it. Men should never say sweetheart unless they mean it and you need to apologize to me. I’ve been nothing but nice to you.
That wasn’t true. She’d also been painfully distracting, sweet enough to make him wish he were a better man, and so damn frustrating he was torn between telling her to stay the hell away from him or asking her to meet him at his place.
I already know she’d ignore the former.
What would she do with the latter?
She added: I’m waiting.
He had to reread her text before that one to remember what she was waiting for.
If I apologize will you stop texting me? Sure, it was a dick comment, but he needed to end the conversation before she caught on to how easily she tied him up in knots.
Wow. No, I’ll stop without an apology. Sorry, I was just trying to help.
Don’t fucking apologize. Not when I’m being an ass.
I’m going to get you a swear jar. Then every time you curse you’ll have to put money in it.
Was she serious? I’d be broke within a week.
Not necessarily. My parents used to let me take a quarter out of our swear jar every time I did something nice for someone. They wanted me to see that mistakes happen but there’s always a way back.
If only life were that simple. Maybe it’s time she gets a taste of who I really am. I was in second grade when my parents died during a drug deal that went bad. No one gave a shit what came out of my mouth back then. No one dares to tell me what I can or can’t say now.
She took a moment to answer. I’m sorry you went through that. Life isn’t fair. I know there’s nothing I can say that could make whatever you’ve been through okay, but I do care.
He didn’t have an immediate response to that. He was a tangled mess on the inside and it was her fault. She made him feel things he hadn’t in a long time and he didn’t like it. Fair enough.
I have an extra jar at home. I’ll make a sign for it.
Holy shit. Don’t bother.
It’s no bother. You might find you like it. I’ll bring it to breakfast tomorrow morning.
I won’t be there.
That’s okay, I will be.
He held the phone up in front of him and shook it. He didn’t text anything after that.
I’m not meeting you for breakfast.
I’ll swear as much as I fucking want to whenever I fucking want to.
I don’t want your fucking jar.
There isn’t a way back—not for me.
Joanna stood in the foyer smiling down at her phone. See you in the morning, Bradford. I’ll make you that jar because it’s fun and you need some of that in your life.
Angelina walked out of the ballroom. As soon as she spotted Joanna she headed over to her. “Everything okay?”
Dropping her phone back in her small clutch, Joanna nodded. “Just getting a little air.”
“I was half-afraid you might have left. Things looked like they got heated when you were talking to Clay and Lexi.”
Joanna wrinkled her nose. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t not say something. I thought he owed Bradford an apology.”
With a pained look, Angelina said, “I should have said something as well. It’s just that Clay has done so much for Connor and—”
“You don’t have to explain, Ange. The whole situation was confusing. Clay told me he likes Bradford even if it doesn’t appear that way. I don’t understand what he was trying to do, but we both agreed he handled it badly.”
A smile spread across Angelina’s face. “I need another moment to soak in the fact that my best friend made Clay Landon apologize to someone.”
“It helped that his wife was on my side.”
“Lexi is so down-to-earth, isn’t she? You’ve met her twin, Willa.”
“Lance’s wife?”
“Yes. Polar opposites. Willa is calm, soft spoken. She said Lexi was a ball of trouble before she met Clay. Love has a way of bringing out the best in people.”
“It sure does. I love watching you with Connor. You make me believe in soul mates.”
Angelina’s cheeks went pink. “I never imagined love could be this good. I can finally be myself and not worry if that’s good enough. He says it’s the same for him. I was nervous coming here tonight, but so was he . . . so we’re here for each other.”
“I love that. I’m so happy for the two of you. I hope to one day find the same with someone.”
“You were looking pretty cozy with Dylan. Do you think your fake date will lead to something real?”
Joanna adjusted her dress. “I don’t think so. I like him, but not enough to take it there.”
Angelina’s eyebrows rose. “Last time we talked you were really into him.”
“I was into the idea of him. Besides, did you see Aly and Dylan argue? Was it me or did the air sizzle?”
“It sizzled,” Angelina agreed. “I’ll admit I was a little worried when I saw them going at each other. She’s normally so cool and collected. I did wonder if she might have feelings for him. I don’t want to see either of you get hurt.”
“Well now I wish I’d said no to the fake date. Should I say something to her?”
“I would. Maybe not at the table or even tonight, but soon. Before Iceland.”
“Definitely.” Joanna took a momen
t to imagine Dylan and Aly together. “I like that he’s not her usual type. She tends to pick these super-smart, super-intense men who never make her happy.”
“And you choose nice men you get bored with and slide into the friend category.”
“That’s not true.” Joanna laughed. “Okay, that was the trajectory of my last few relationships, but the friend part was mutual.”
“Um hum.” She looked around the foyer. “So Bradford left?”
“Yep.”
“Be careful with him, Joanna.”
Here we go. “You, too? I’m sorry if you and Aly can’t see what I see in him. I’m a grown woman. I don’t need my friends’ approval to decide if I like someone or not.”
“Hey. Hey.” Angelina put a hand up in appeal. “I’m not saying anything bad about Bradford. He has been a great friend to Connor. Under all that gruff talk there is a man who cares deeply about people. It’s him I’m worried about. If you’re not careful, you could break his heart.”
Joanna’s eyes rounded. “Me? What are you talking about? We’re barely friends.”
“Right and you’re certain that’s how he sees you as well.”
“Hold on. Did Bradford say something?”
“Sure. He took me aside at recess and told me he’s totally crushing on you but made me pinkie swear I wouldn’t tell you. No. But I’m not blind. He couldn’t take his eyes off you.”
Joanna went back over their conversations in her head. “He’s not interested in me. He keeps telling me to leave him alone.” She chewed her bottom lip. “And most of the time we’re talking about Dylan.” Her mouth rounded. “If he does like me at all, that might be annoying.”
“You think?” Angelina smacked herself in the forehead. “For someone who claims to be a great reader of men, you didn’t read this one very well.”
“Because I don’t see Bradford that way.” She saw him as someone who’d been hurt, someone on the outside looking in at a life he couldn’t figure out how to access. She stopped when she remembered the connection she’d felt with him when they’d done the tequila shots. It had been a surprisingly sexy experience that had left her feeling confused. She’d expected to feel that way with Dylan. “I may have for a moment.”
Bradford wasn’t classically handsome the way Dylan was. His features were ruggedly imperfect. He had several scars on his face, some faint as if they’d been there a very long time, some more pronounced. The deepest was on the left side of his face, through his eyebrow and then curving across his cheek. Coupled with the little he had shared about his life, the scars spoke of painful times beyond what Joanna had ever known. She could picture him in her mind so easily. He did his best to conceal how he felt about most things, but there were tell signs. His eyes tended to narrow right before his mouth curled with a smile. His hands clenched and revealed when he was tense even when he kept his expression emotionless. She didn’t know what to label how she felt about him, but there was something drawing her to him. Still, he’d spent most of the evening walking away from her. “He’s not into me.”
“How do you feel about him?”
Joanna didn’t have an instant answer for that. “He’s a tough person to get to know.”
“But he’s worth the effort.”
“Isn’t everyone?”
“Touché. I’ve probably said this all wrong, but we’ve been friends a long time. I know you’re chasing Bradford with the best of intentions, but if you’re not truly interested in him I’d give him space.”
“I’m not chasing him.”
“You bolted after him when he left the table.”
“Because I felt bad about how Clay had essentially run him off.”
“Exactly. You feel bad for him, but he’s not one of your rescue horses. He might confuse your concern with more and that’s where he’ll get hurt.”
Joanna frowned. “I—I—” She stopped and started over. “I don’t want that. He does keep asking me to leave him alone.”
Angelina hugged Joanna. “People tell us what they need.”
Joanna’s shoulders slumped. “I’m not handling things right tonight. Can I blame this damn gown? Not enough oxygen getting up to my brain? I can’t breathe in it.”
Angelina laughed. “Sure. Hey, you didn’t do anything wrong. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything. I just care about you and him.”
Joanna nodded. “Let’s head back in.” Just before they got to the door, she stopped. “Thanks Angelina. The last thing I want to do is hurt Bradford.”
“I know. You’re just too damn cute for your own good. Men get a little stupid around you.”
“Me?” Joanna shook her head. “I had to buy a whole new set of jeans recently because my ‘fat’ jeans wouldn’t snap.”
“And yet, somehow you still fit through the ballroom doors. Women don’t have to be a size zero to be attractive. There’s a reason Dylan held you up as his fake girlfriend. You’re beautiful, Joanna, on the inside as well as the outside.”
Joanna smiled and hugged her friend. “I love you.”
“Love you too. Now let’s get back in there because the sharks are circling Dylan.”
Laughing, Joanna said, “They can’t have him since we’ve already decided he’s Aly’s.”
Angelina laughed along. “Should we take what he wants into consideration?”
“Nah,” they said at the same time then shared another laugh.
Back at the table, Joanna took a seat between the tense-looking duo of Aly and Dylan. With relief, Dylan said, “Joanna, I need to mingle. Come with me?”
After exchanging a look with Angelina, Joanna made a face and bent to touch her lower calf. “I would, but I twisted my ankle out in the foyer and I should probably stay off it.”
Aly’s expression was instantly concerned. “How bad is it? Is it swelling already? You should ice it. Want me to ask our server to bring you some?”
Joanna tucked the ankle in question behind her other. “No need. It’ll be fine. Barely twisted it at all. I just don’t want to tempt fate and wobble around on these heels. Why don’t you go with Dylan?”
Aly and Dylan appeared equally at a loss for what to say.
Clay interjected. “Nothing shocking about a movie star attending an event with two beautiful women.”
“True enough,” Dylan said with a nod.
Aly rolled her eyes. “Thanks, but I’ll pass.”
Leaning forward to talk around Joanna, Dylan said, “You should wait until you’re actually asked before you turn a man down.”
Aly mumbled, “Rude.”
“There you go,” Dylan said, “getting all judgy again.”
Aly sputtered.
Dylan stood. “This has been great. Connor, I’ll call you tomorrow. Clay, I’ll set up everything with the production team so you’ll all have VIP treatment on set. Joanna, thank you for playing the role of my fake date long enough for me to hang out.” He stepped closer to Aly, bent, and said something to her.
She glared at him and turned away.
Joanna was about to ask her what Dylan had said when Clay slid into the seat Dylan had just vacated.
“Joanna.”
She turned slowly toward him. “Yes, Clay?”
“I believe you require my services.”
Her eyes widened. “And those would be?”
He handed her a white card with gold lettering. All it said was: Fairy Godfather Extraordinaire.
Joanna turned the card over. “I—thank you. I couldn’t.”
“It’s overwhelmingly generous on my part, I know, but I like you.” Clay adjusted his already perfect tie.
Although it had been fun to imagine what it would be like to be the recipient of a little of Clay’s magic, she was no longer interested in Dylan. “It certainly is a generous offer.”
Aly sighed. “I hope your services include lessons in fidelity, because I don’t see Dylan settling for one woman any time soon.”
“I’m not interested in Dylan that way,�
�� Joanna said.
Aly’s eyes narrowed and she lowered her voice. “Since when?”
Joanna glanced around the table. All eyes were on her and ears perked to their conversation. She considered lying and saying, “Since always,” but these were her friends. Most of them, anyway. She wasn’t sure what to think of Clay and Lexi yet and Daphne was sweet but still an unknown. “Since I agreed to a fake date with him and realized I didn’t want it to become real. He’s great, we just don’t have that zing.”
“Zing,” Clay repeated. “Lexi, hear that, she’s a romantic? This is definitely going to work.”
Lexi chimed in, “I want to disagree, Clay, but I think you’re right. She’d be perfect for him.”
“Perfect for who?” Connor asked.
“Whom.” Clay dusted imaginary lint off his shoulder. “And Bradford.”
Connor’s face lit up. “Are they a thing? Joanna, have you been holding out on us? That’s fantastic.”
“And unexpected,” Daphne said in a low tone.
Joanna’s head spun toward Daphne. For just a second she looked neither shy nor afraid—instead the look in her eyes was . . . cunning? The thought gave Joanna an uneasy feeling. Daphne ducked her head and seemed embarrassed, Joanna decided she’d misread Daphne’s expression. “As well as not happening. Bradford and I are friends. That’s it. And we’re barely that.”
“Not for long,” Clay said with confidence. “Not if I have anything to do with it.”
Joanna met Angelina’s gaze across the table. She’d meant what she said earlier about not wanting to hurt Bradford and that included embarrassing him. She was sure he wouldn’t appreciate being the topic of discussion in his absence. She placed the card on the table. “I am so honored that you would consider helping me out, Clay, but I must decline. Thank you, though.”
Clay looked from the card on the table then back at Joanna. “Connor, tell her what you said to me at first.”
“I said no?” Connor said with an awkward smile.
Reluctantly Rescued (The Barrington Billionaires, Book 9) Page 6