“Tom?” Breanna began nervously, wringing her hands in her lap while her heartbeat played a jumping match with the pound growing in her head. “After you called me yesterday at work and canceled our evening, the girls at the office and I decided to get together and have a party, here, at my place.” She tried to smile even though her lips quaked.
His nose stopped twitching, and he swung around and glared at her. “Do your friends happen to wear men’s cologne, too? Don’t you think I would smell a man’s scent in your apartment? Are you trying to cover up your lover’s tracks?”
Oh no, not again. At least once a week, he accused her of cheating on him. However, this time he had reason. “Tom, the only boyfriend I have is you. But you are correct in assuming there were men in the house. In fact, there were quite a few men and women here, and I didn’t even know half of them,” she explained with a forced laugh. “There were at least forty people at the party.”
His eyes widened in surprise. “You had that many people in this apartment?”
She shrugged. “Well, sort of. A lot of them were outside on the lawn, or at the pool.”
“What?” He exploded in rage. “Mrs. Gurrister actually let them in the pool? She has a fit when I go swimming with you, and she knows I’m your boyfriend.”
His eyes were almost black with red veins in the whites of his eyes. She’d never seen him like this before, and she panicked.
“Calm down, Tom. You see, a man at the party charmed Mrs. Gurrister, and she offered the pool to all of us because of him.”
He rolled his eyes. “Mrs. Gurrister? Seriously? You really expect me to believe that?”
Anger grew inside of her, making her headache worse. She hated it when he never believed her. “Do you think I’d lie about it? How else would she let anyone into her pool unless they lived in her apartments?” she snapped back. Sometimes his words and actions crushed her, like now. Times like these, she wondered if he truly loved her at all. “Anyway, it’s all over and done with. You were kept busy last night and so was I,” she defended.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he barked.
Please make him stop, she silently prayed. “It only means that I wanted to do something last night, and since I couldn’t be with the man I love, I thought I would be with my friends.”
He continued to glare, but at least the fire shooting out of his brown eyes dulled slightly. Even his breathing slowed down. “Are you going to have any more parties?”
She sighed. “No. Not unless you’re here.”
He rolled his eyes. “I don’t want you to ever have a party again. This is where we’re going to live when we are married, and I won’t have you destroying the place. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” she said softly.
“Good.” His body relaxed and he settled back against the couch. “Now let’s talk about tonight.”
Just as always after they argued, his mood changed as if someone were flipping off a light. A smile stretched across his face when he looked at her.
“I told you I was going to take you out, and I never back down on my promises, so where do you want me to take you?”
Breanna bit her tongue. She didn’t want to point out how many times broken promises scattered in the path of her memories. But she forced herself to look happy, even though she was extremely miserable.
The rest of the night was spent agreeing to everything he said and did – like always. He took her to a Chinese restaurant, which was practically empty. The whole time they were there, he did nothing but insult and put down the food and the service. After dinner, they went to a movie they’d previously seen five different times, and he acted like it was his first. Not only that, but he convinced her to pay for them because he suddenly didn’t have enough money, blaming it on the meal being too expensive. She could have screamed with fury.
When they returned to her apartment, they sat on her couch, but all he wanted to do was watch the television. And once the program started, she was invisible to him. She should be used to this, but it still hurt that he ignored her.
On the comedy series, Breanna saw a girl whose hair was done the same way Brad had fixed her hair with the scarf. “Tom? Do you see that girl right there, with the scarf around her hair?” She pointed to the screen.
“Yes.”
“Do you think the way she has her hair is cute?”
“Yeah, it’s cute,” he agreed quietly.
“Do you think I’d look cute with my hair like that?” No response. “You know Tom, I’ve been seriously thinking about wearing a different style of clothing, too.”
He growled softly in irritation and turned down the television. “It’s not like I was interested in the movie or anything, but since you want to talk, I guess I’ll take a few minutes and talk to you.” He glared. “So, you want to change your style of clothes?”
“Yes.”
“To what?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Something that fits my body better, and maybe something a little brighter.”
He nodded but didn’t smile. “So, you want to stick out like a zit on a smooth face, huh? You know that’s all these latest styles are doing to people. I like you just the way you are. I don’t want anyone looking at you, but me.”
Okay, strike one. “How about my hair? I’ve thought about getting it cut in a style, shorter perhaps.”
He still held a bored expression on his face. “Now you want to do your hair differently? What’s next, Breanna? A face lift? How about a couple of tattoos and nose piercing? Don’t you understand? I like you just the way you are.”
“I know, but other people—”
“Who cares what other people think?” he snapped. “They don’t love you. Nobody can love you the way I do. Besides, you’re not going to be with them for the rest of your life, are you? You’ll be with me, so I should be the one you make happy.”
“But I want people to like me,” she pleaded.
“If they don’t like you for your sweet personality, then they shouldn’t be your friends.”
She paused for a second, trying to think of something that would convince him to change his mind. “Tom? Do you think I’m pretty?”
He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. They didn’t sparkle like Brad’s had last night. She shook away the thought and waited for Tom’s answer.
“Of course you’re pretty. You’re pretty to me, and I think you have a beautiful soul, and that’s all that counts.”
She had a flashback to when she was in high school. That was how all of the popular kids described the ones who were the outcasts. She has a good personality, they would say just to be nice, or she has a sweet spirit.
“I’m glad I talked to you,” she told him. He smiled proudly as if he’d won, so she quickly added, “But I’m going to think about it a little bit more. You know, if I can’t love myself, then I can’t begin to love others.”
“Where did you hear that line of crap?”
“Oh, come on, Tom. You’ve heard it, too. I know you have. Besides, maybe you might like the new me better if I decide to change.”
“And what if I don’t? You know, I don’t adjust to change very well.”
“Oh, I think you will, especially, if it’s for the better.”
He just shrugged and turned the television back on, and there he stayed until past midnight. She dozed off and on sitting next to him on the couch, but once the television was turned off, she became alert. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and yawned.
“Well, I’m going to go home now. I’ll probably see you tomorrow.” He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a better kiss. His body stiffened slightly, but once she slid her lips across his, he participated in the kiss.
Right away she could feel there was no excitement. She couldn’t stop comparing his kiss to Brad’s. With Tom, the spark was gone, and if she truly thought about it, the spark had been missing for quite some t
ime.
She wanted to scream at Tom. She wanted him to make her feel loved and beautiful. I want to feel special like when Brad kissed me... But she didn’t dare say any of this to Tom. Instead, she kissed Tom harder, hoping to bring back the excitement they once had.
After a few minutes, he pulled away and glanced at his watch. “Well, I better go. Kevin is expecting me in a half hour.”
Irritation swept through her, and the crushing blow of rejection sat heavily on her chest. “You‘re going back to his house, again? Don’t you ever get enough of him?”
He stood and stretched his arms above his head. “Of course not. He’s my best friend.” He reached over and caressed her head. “See you later.”
She wasn’t about to stop him as he walked out the door. In fact, if he didn’t quicken his step, she might just shove him out the door herself.
Tears collected in her eyes and she didn’t know if it was because of his friend, or if it was that reality had finally hit her. Tom didn’t want her any longer. Not only that, she reached the point of not wanting him anymore.
EIGHT
“Brad? Are you playing or not?”
Brad’s attention snapped to his father and brother who’d walked ahead of him toward the next hole. Golf usually kept Brad’s interest, but for some inane reason, he couldn’t stop thinking about the night with Tyger. She’d been on his mind for two days straight and he couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear. “Yes, Dad. I’m coming.”
Corey, his older brother shook his head and laughed. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think you had your head in the clouds.”
Brad chuckled. “Good thing you know me better.”
“Yes, I know you better.” Corey arched an eyebrow. “But I’m still wondering if your glued-on smile is because of the party you attended the other night.”
Brad’s grin widened and he shrugged. “Could be.”
It was obvious by his father’s scowl that he didn’t share Brad’s and Corey’s humor.
“Brad,” Todd barked, “you’re not going to find a nice girl at those parties.”
Corey barked out a laugh. “Dad, I don’t think you have to worry about that. Brad isn’t ready to settle down, yet.”
“I would hope not,” Todd grumbled. “Not until he can find a better class of friends.”
Brad sighed heavily. Here we go again. “Dad, I’m sorry you don’t like my friends, but just because they’re not rich like you, doesn’t mean they’re not good people.”
Todd marched ahead to the next hole. “I’m not saying your male friends are bad,” he said over his shoulder, “but I don’t think you’re going to find the right kind of girl at those parties. Any woman whose idea of fun is to get drunk every weekend isn’t very responsible.” He peeked back at Brad. “I’m just relieved you decided to lay off the alcohol. It’s definitely improved your character.”
Brad nodded. “Thanks, Dad. But listen to Corey when he says I’m not ready yet, because I’m not.”
It was hard for him to admit his father was right... this time, anyway. Brad did like his life better now that he’d stopped drinking. Grinning, he recalled what Tyger had said at her party, you don’t need to be drunk to have a good time. She couldn’t have been more precise. Of course, he learned that the hard way, and gone through many years of waking up with a hangover the next morning. No more. He wasn’t in college any longer, and life wasn’t about who could consume the most beer.
Brad stepped up and placed his golf ball on the tee. He chose the right driver club to use for this swing. Adjusting his stance, he looked toward the white flag not far from where they were. It would be nice if he could make a hole-in-one today. He felt as if he was floating on air lately and that he could accomplish anything.
Steadying his club, he swung it a few times to get the feel before lining it up with the ball. He held his breath and... whack! The ball sailed through the air toward the white flag. When the ball hit the ground, it rolled toward the hole. The closer the ball rolled to the hole, the more his anticipation grew. However, his lucky streak wouldn’t be today, because the ball stopped at least ten feet away.
Oh, well. There was always next time.
“Wow. That was a great shot,” Corey praised and patted Brad on the shoulder.
“Yeah, well,” Brad shrugged, “I’m better with women than I am with golf.”
His brother’s loud laugh boomed through the trees, startling the other golfers. His dad just rolled his eyes. Brad chuckled.
He kept quiet for the next little while as he played through. Of course, his mind was occupied with Tyger, and especially how to win her. He’d not met her idiot boyfriend, but the ladies at the magazine seemed to think Tom was a jerk. Amanda had even mentioned how poorly Tom treated Tyger.
Brad tightened his hands on the club – envisioning it being the boyfriend’s neck – and he swung, hitting the ball farther than necessary. If he ever caught that man treating Tyger unkindly, he’d be tempted to introduce his fist to the man’s face over and over again.
What had bothered him the most about Tyger’s boyfriend was what Pat Gurrister had told him as he was leaving the party. The older woman was shocked to think Tyger would have a party at her place because she wasn’t that type of girl. Not only that, but Tyger never did anything spontaneous... not unless her boyfriend said it was all right. Pat described Tom to be a domineering man. The landlord even witnessed a few times how frightened Tyger was when Tom showed his temper.
Pat told him of time when Tyger and Tom were at the pool and he had yelled at her for wearing such a skimpy swimsuit. Pat had mentioned that the swimsuit was something modest women wore. But when Tyger left to change, Tom’s roaming eyes moved to other women who were there, and he ogled the girls who wore skimpier swimsuits. Pat told him how sick she’d become just watching Tom, and she wanted to slap his face.
Brad gritted his teeth. He actually wanted to do more than just slap the idiot’s face. But he couldn’t understand why his beautiful Tyger was with someone like that. Was her self-esteem so low that she didn’t think she deserved better?
Hope rose inside of his chest. He couldn’t wait to show her how a real man treats his woman. He decided to lay on the charm thick with his little Tyger. By the time he was finished, she’d feel like a beautiful and desirable woman.
He actually looked forward to this project. Being back home with his parents wasn’t exactly thrilling. Although he had money to buy his own place here in Manhattan, he knew he was never in one place long enough to own property, which was why he stayed at his parent’s estate whenever he was in town.
He loved his parents, but he was tired of hearing the same old lecture – that he was twenty-eight-years-old and should be settling down and raising a family. His father was always yapping about Brad’s friends, and especially about the floozies he’d dated. His parents wanted him to find a nice girl. Well, Brad had found a nice girl, and although he still wasn’t ready to settle down, he looked forward to bringing some self-esteem into her life.
“Dad,” Corey said. “I don’t think I’ll be able to attend the dinner party on Thursday that mother has planned.”
His father lined up the tee and ball and then stood. “Why not?” he asked as he glanced across the greens.
“I have a business meeting.”
Silence lasted a few minutes until after Todd swung his club, knocking the ball into the air as it sailed toward its destination. “Business meeting, eh?”
“Yes,” Corey answered.
“What’s her name?”
Brad snorted a laugh and then quickly covered his mouth. Apparently, their father knew his sons better than they wanted to believe.
Corey rolled his eyes. “It’s really a business meeting.”
“If you say so.” Todd moved aside to let Brad go next. “What about you, Brad? Have you found a date for Thursday yet?”
Immediately, he thought of his Tyger. He’d love to take her, but he doubted she’d go
out with him when she was still seeing Tom. Brad tightened his grip on the golf club. Why she insisted on staying with that jerk was beyond his thinking.
He whacked the ball too hard. He wouldn’t make his mark now. Strange how he wasn’t as worried about that swing as he was about Tyger. Snap out of it, Montgomery!
Chuckling, he shook his head. When had another boyfriend ever stopped Brad from getting the woman he wanted? “I do have someone in mind,” he answered his father’s question. “But I’ll have to do some major charming to get her to agree.”
Corey barked out a loud laugh. “What’s this? My brother has actually found a woman who isn’t easy?”
Brad threw his sibling a glare. “That’s not funny.”
Corey shrugged. “I thought it was.”
“Well, at least he’s not going to bring one of the floozies he hangs out with all the time.” Todd gave Brad a sharp nod.
“Don’t worry, Dad. The woman I have in mind is very classy.”
Beside him, Corey snorted. “Yeah, right. When have you ever dated a classy woman?”
Brad shrugged. “Maybe I’ll surprise you both.”
At least he hoped Tyger would agree so he could surprise his family. But before that time, he had some work to do.
WHY DID SHE LET TOM get to her again? Over the past few months, the terrible endings to their dates and the continual fear of triggering Tom’s temper, created such stress that Breanna’s head throbbed the following morning. Why did she always have to beg him for a little cuddling time and for a kiss? Was that really too much to ask if she was his girlfriend?
The more she pondered the situation, the angrier she became. It wasn’t right that she had to plead for some attention. It wasn’t right that she didn’t automatically feel loved, either. Whenever they kissed – which wasn’t often – he always acted like he was in a hurry and couldn’t wait to leave. He never seemed to enjoy kissing her anymore.
The Irresistible Billionaire: Billionaire's Clean Romance (The Tycoons Book 3) Page 6