Page 29 of Harboring Secrets
I’d no sooner pulled into Brodie’s driveway when he stepped out of the house. As much as I’d liked seeing him in one of my shirts, he looked even better this morning. A brown leather coat was pulled on over a crisp white shirt. Dark skinny jeans cupped his legs and disappeared into a pair of brown boots. And when he looked at me, color slashed across his cheeks.
He slid into the passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt.
“Where did you want to eat?” I asked instead of leaning across the seat and kissing him. The kiss from the night before had played on a loop in my brain all night long.
“Bennett’s is fine. They have good food.”
“I ate there the other day. Nice place.”
Brodie raised an eyebrow at me.
“What?” I checked for traffic and backed out of his driveway, keenly aware of the way he was still looking at me.
“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised at the compliment. We did eat at some pretty sketchy places.”
“Just because I can afford Michelin star restaurants doesn’t mean I limit myself. Besides, Ethan Bennett is a perfectly nice man.”
“Ooh, schmoozing with the locals are you?” Brodie seemed impressed and I didn’t miss the way his smile grew.
“Well, I hope to one day be counted among them.” My admission stunned him into silence, though it shouldn’t have. I thought I’d been clear in my intentions to start a life here with him. Hopefully with him.
“You’re serious,” Brodie said carefully, as though I might take it back.
“I’ve been all over the world. I’ve been to glittering cities and I’ve been to places that look untouched by man. I’ve lived in mansions and penthouses and none of it means anything to me. I want to be here.” I turned my head so I could look Brodie in the eyes. “With you.”
I shifted my attention back to the road and the rest of the drive was silent. I let Brodie sit and absorb my declaration. Whether he believed me or not, trusted me or not, wanted me or not, I wanted a life that felt real. What I’d had before was a shell. It was as solid as a shadow.
Bennett’s came into view and I turned into the parking lot. It looked pretty busy, but that didn’t deter either of us. Would he have let me, I’d have opened the door for him, but Brodie didn’t wait. He climbed out at the same moment I did and we walked into Bennett’s together. I held the door for him and followed him to an empty table.
A lovely woman named Josie took our order and poured our coffee for us. I watched Brodie spoon in two sugars. He looked at his coffee like it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
“My brothers think I’m insane for giving you another chance.”
“And what do you think?” A deep breath helped keep my composure. I wanted his brothers to like me, but I wasn’t certain that I needed their approval. Brodie seemed to be comfortable doing what he wanted, with or without family approval.
“I think that I have no idea what I’m doing. When Shane won the money, I was flipping burgers, writing bucket lists on napkins. I volunteered with some aid organizations that allowed me to travel and then suddenly, Shane was rich and I was travelling around with no worry about anything but where I wanted to go next. I knew one day I’d have to stop. I’d have to stand still and figure out what comes next.”
“What comes next?” I asked him. Brodie’s brow was furrowed and he glanced up at me. Torment pooled in his eyes and I wanted to hold him until it faded from his expression.
“I have no idea.”
Unbidden, a smile flashed across my face before I could stop it.
“Why are you grinning at me like that?” he asked, almost sounding insulted.
“Because I have no idea what the hell I’m doing either. I got the degree my parents wanted me to get. I took a job in the company like they wanted. And they weren’t even here to see any of it. I quit my job. I’m selling my condo. The only plan I had for my future was taking you to breakfast.”
Some of Brodie’s unease melted away. The beginnings of a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. “I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t have everything figured out.”
“I don’t even know what I want for breakfast.”
Brodie reached across the table and put his hand on mine. Warmth spread through my body, radiating out from that single point of contact. It was hope and comfort. Proof that I wasn’t alone in how lost I felt sometimes. And even if he didn’t feel the same way, he wasn’t going to let me face the uncertainty by myself.
“You should get pancakes and bacon and I’ll get sausage and eggs.”
I knew what he was really after with his breakfast suggestion.
“You just want my bacon, don’t you?” Flashbacks of previous breakfasts came to me. Us curled together. Me getting the room service tray and going back to bed with it. Feeding him by hand. It was magical. But this was the real world, not a vacation bubble and I found myself just as content to sit across from him and watch him smile triumphantly when he realized he was going to get his way.
