Page 32 of Playing with Seduction

“I’ll manage. Got hiking clothes and shoes?”

“I do.”

Bree for the win.

The server brought out his fried calamari and her roasted pear salad. The look of satisfaction on Bree’s face after she took the first bite of her salad did things to him.

“Anything else I need to know about tomorrow?”

Wes dug in to his calamari and tried to shift his mind to something that didn’t get him so hot and bothered. Like cold showers and sewer drains.

“We’ll be on a tight schedule, and you’ll want to wear comfortable and casual clothing and footwear for tomorrow afternoon.”

“Okay.” The expression on Bree’s face indicated that the wheels in her head were turning. “Anything else?”

“No.” Wes enjoyed keeping her in suspense. Something about her frustrated little pout made him want to kiss her. He wasn’t sure who was torturing whom.

Later, as he dined on grass-fed filet mignon and she ate her pan-roasted duck breast, butternut squash risotto and bacon-braised greens, their conversation fell into a comfortable rhythm.

“You didn’t mention what took your family to London.” Bree sipped her wine.

“My mother was the house manager for a wealthy family that relocated to London,” Wes said, then sighed. “Actually, that’s what gave us the opportunity to move to London. The reason we moved is because my mother wanted a fresh start for all of us.”

Bree’s eyes were sympathetic and kind, like a warm hug from a dear friend. He could tell she wanted to delve deeper, but seemed unsure if she should.

“My parents divorced when my brother and I were kids. He was a jazz saxophonist who headlined his own band. He and my mom met when he hired her as the band’s female vocalist.”

“Your parents were musicians? They must’ve lived an exciting life.” She sliced into her duck and took a bite.

“They did,” Wes said. “Which is why the old man didn’t adjust too well to family life and working in a factory. He stuck it out eight or nine years, but then he became restless.

“He got the band back together and snagged a few local gigs. At first, that was enough. But then he wanted to hit the road and tour again.” Wes drained his beer, then signaled for another. “My mother didn’t want to drag us all over the world, and she refused to leave us behind. She didn’t want anyone else raising her kids—not even my grandmother.”

“Is that when they split?”

“Not at first. He hired a new vocalist and his band toured the States, then Europe. His calls and postcards became less frequent. Eventually he sent a letter saying that he loved us, but that this was something he needed to do for himself. The divorce papers showed up not long afterward.”

“Wes, I’m sorry.” There was comfort and compassion in her voice, rather than pity. “I understand the betrayal you feel when a parent walks away from you like that…it’s indescribable.”

“I thought your parents were still together.”

Bree seemed to carefully debate her next words. “I’m adopted.”

Wes straightened in his seat, the hair lifting on the back of his neck. “You’re adopted?”

“Yes.” She seemed surprised by his reaction.

“I didn’t mean for it to sound as if…” He took a breath. Get it together, man. “It’s just that I’ve seen some of your interviews and pictures of your family. You resemble your mother quite a bit. I guess we see what we expect to see.”

Nice save.

Bree’s shoulders relaxed. “My adoptive mother is my biological great aunt. My bio mom had me when she was really young. Her aunt and uncle weren’t able to conceive and they couldn’t afford in vitro. So when they learned my bio mom was pregnant and didn’t want the baby, they talked her out of termination and offered to adopt me. I got lucky twice.”

“It’s good you were able to stay with family.” He assessed her carefully before asking his next question. Her open expression seemed to give him permission. “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s your relationship with your birth mom?”

“We don’t have one,” Bree responded matter-of-factly, but the light in her eyes dimmed and her smile lost its radiance.

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