16. Brian
16
brIAN
H ough Hall, the site of Oakwood Academy’s scholarship banquet, was thriving. Guests wearing suits and fancy dresses lingered around the dining tables as waitstaff served champagne to the teachers, school staff, and parents. A quartet from the music department provided the background music with violins and bass, giving the atmosphere an eclectic feel, which aligned with the diverse makeup of the student body. Students from all over the world attended Oakwood and came from rich and high-society families.
I felt proud to be there for Fran but also out of my element. The galas and parties I’d been to outside of the school had been attended mostly by shady people, corrupt politicians, and criminals like me. Granted, the purpose of those gatherings was to raise money, and the organizers of the events invited people with deep pockets.
As I wondered who else in the crowd made their money illegally, Nora’s mom glided toward me in her expensive off-the-shoulder gold dress. If anyone could satisfy my curiosity, it would be Janet Welby. She had her finger on the pulse of Oakwood Academy.
“Brian, I hear you’ve moved back to Boston.” She held a champagne glass, her five-karat diamond sparkling beneath the muted lights overhead. “Nora tells me that you didn’t like the restaurant business. What do you plan to do now?”
Before I’d decided to sell the restaurant, I’d thought about opening another car dealership in Boston. I had a love for cars—old ones, really. But I needed a change. One that meant I didn’t have to manage employees, books, lenders, suppliers, and the like. If I dove deeper into what I was good at, it was people and sales. Duke had always ribbed me about my talents. “You could sell a rock to a politician and make a fuckton of money,” he’d claimed.
I adjusted my tie, which seemed to be cutting off my circulation. “Not sure yet.”
Her gaze bounced around the crowd as she brought the champagne glass to her painted red lips. “Surely, you’re not running a drug empire again.”
As we stood by a window and faced the room, I scanned the crowd. “Not the time.”
I wasn’t shocked that she knew. When I’d first met Janet Welby, she was forthcoming that she’d looked into my background for the simple fact that she had to know who her daughter was rooming with. I’d done my own investigation on the Welby family.
She lowered her glass. “All I’m saying is I would hate to see Fran in danger. She’s beautiful, extremely intelligent, and she’s going to change the world one day.”
Watching Fran laugh with Nora at a cocktail table on the other side of the room, I gripped the glass of club soda so tightly that at any second, it would crack. “Nora said you wanted to talk to me, not tell me how to raise my daughter. And I’m more than capable of protecting her.” I’d let Hunter go that morning, though, since Arturo wasn’t a threat at the moment.
Janet lifted her chest, sticking out her big tits. “My apologies. I know Fran misses her mom, and I’ve been honored to be there for her. I adore your daughter, Brian. And yes, I wanted to chat. Marsh Technologies needs a head of security. With your background, you’re the perfect candidate. It’s a steady job and one that isn’t dangerous.”
I cocked my head at Janet. “You could’ve started with that.”
She gave me a sidelong glance, her floral perfume wafting up my nose. “Our Boston office has an opening. Starting next month, I’ll be moving from our Texas branch to run things there. I’ve been wanting to be closer to Nora while she’s at the academy. Are you interested?”
It sounded like a cushy job and one that wouldn’t put Fran in danger. “I might be.”
Ryan Montgomery swaggered over to my daughter.
I watched intently, ready to strangle the kid for no other reason than to temper my dislike of any boy touching my daughter.
Janet tracked my line of sight. “Mm, you don’t like him.”
The verdict was out on that. “Boys are not something I want to deal with.”
She laughed. “I get it. Nora dated for the first time last year, and I thought my husband was going to pull out his shotgun. But I’ll put you at ease. Ryan Montgomery is a good kid. He’s been through a lot with the death of his father. His mother hasn’t recovered. She took to the bottle, if you know what I mean. Luckily for Ryan’s sake, a counselor at his public school recommended him to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Boston for mentoring and support, which is how he ended up here on a scholarship.”
The topic of my daughter and her boyfriend went by the wayside when Fran hurried around tables toward the entrance. I was about to move in her direction to see what was wrong, but I flash froze at the sight of the beautiful woman who had starred in my dreams every night since that kiss in my condo.
Janet didn’t miss a beat. “Grace Hart. Your daughter talks about her a lot. She’s as stunning as ever.”
Her comment was an understatement. Grace wore an elegant maroon fitted dress that hugged her mouthwatering curves and fell to her ankles. A slit up one side revealed her toned leg. Holy fuck! She was always gorgeous, but tonight, she was—as Janet said—stunning.
My dick jumped in my suit pants, and I began silently repeating a slew of swear words that would put a sailor to shame. My heart banged against my ribs as five swarms of butterflies came to life inside my stomach. The right thing to do to preserve my friendship with her brother would be to walk away. But my willpower was on the verge of disintegrating, especially with the way that dress hugged her curves and accentuated her beautiful tits.
“Brian, did you hear me?” Janet’s slight southern accent barely penetrated my psyche.
I loosened my tie a little more, keeping my heated gaze on Grace. “Sorry.”
“You’re head over heels for her.”
“That would imply love, and I can assure you that I’m not. She’s my best friend’s sister.”
Janet snorted. “Let me rephrase. You have feelings for her. Your daughter once told me that she would love to see you and Grace together.”
I knew Fran wanted Grace to come to the banquet to share in the festivities. But I was starting to believe my daughter’s ulterior motive was getting Grace and me together.
Grace and Fran glided over to us.
“Dad, look who made it after all,” Fran gushed.
I was bursting with happiness as well that Grace had come for Fran’s sake. I was as ecstatic as my daughter for selfish reasons, though.
Grace and Janet exchanged pleasantries, having met each other at Dillon’s annual charity gala for the shelter last November.
Then Grace placed her hand on my chest. “Brian”—she pecked me on the cheek—“you’re looking as handsome as ever.”
I was itching to devour her lips, strip her of that dress, and make love to her until the sun came up. “You look beautiful.”
She blushed, flashing her sparkling brown eyes at me.
Janet gave me one of those looks that said I told you so . Then she addressed Grace. “Fran tells me that you’re about to graduate from BU.”
I hated small talk, and if I stood there any longer drinking in Grace’s beauty, I might self-combust.
I checked my watch. We still had about twenty minutes before dinner, so I excused myself and headed outside.
The brisk night air swept over me, a welcome relief on my heated skin. Taking in several deep breaths, I found a spot under the portico.
Snow was falling at a steady rate. Barely an inch had fallen yesterday, but from the looks of it now, it appeared that the weather gurus were right about several inches of accumulation.
Footsteps clamored behind me, and a vanilla scent announced Grace’s arrival. For a moment, my muscles loosened, only to tense up again. I wasn’t one to run from anyone, but I wasn’t sure I could keep my hands to myself or my lips off hers.
Stop fighting. You deserve as much happiness as Duke.
“What are you doing out here?” Grace shivered and hugged herself. “Running from me?” Her tone was light, but underneath was nothing but bite.
I took off my suit jacket and draped it around her shoulders.
“Are you going to answer me?”
“What do you want me to say, Grace? That I want to kiss you again, only this time take it to the next level? That I want to touch you in places that are off-limits? That I’m going insane because I can’t get you out of my head? That I’ve had a thing for you for thirty-nine months?” I’d been counting. “That I can’t act on my urges without losing a friend?”
She hugged herself. “Screw my brother and the damn bro code. Don’t you think you deserve happiness? I know I do. And why not talk to him?”
I chuckled. “Because Duke is too pissed right now to see anything clearly. You know how he is. And to be honest, I got the sense in the gym that day that you came on to me because you needed my help.”
She rubbed her lips together. “Since we’re speaking truths, in a way I did. I didn’t fully realize that until Duke pointed it out. But I’ve had a crush on you since I was twelve. I never thought in a million years you would look at me as a woman you could be with rather than the little girl you met on a rainy day who was stuffing her face with vanilla ice cream.”
I clutched the jacket around her shoulders and lowered my head, our mouths barely a thread apart. “Which was why I called you vanilla bean.”
“I like ‘baby girl’ better.” Her tongue darted out to lick her lips.
I groaned, my cock bursting at the seams. Should I kiss her or not?
“I don’t want to use you,” she whispered, her breathing ramping up.
“You know I would help you no matter the feelings between us.”
She nodded. “Right now, if you don’t kiss me, I might die.”
“Well, we can’t have that.” I was so damn hard, it was painful. I cupped her face in my hands, brushing my lips over hers, and an electrical charge gripped every part of me.
I’d never felt like this with another woman in my life. I’d never been in love, either, though.
Regardless, as I searched the depths of her sparkling eyes, I knew there would be no turning back if I kissed her.
“Dad?” Fran called.
I jumped away, and Grace giggled.
“What’s going on?” Fran asked.
Because of the bulge in my pants, I had to walk away from my daughter, thinking of blood and guts to shake off the lust coursing through me.
“Dad, are you okay?”
“Your dad is fine,” Grace said with a laugh in her voice.
“Were you two kissing?” A giddiness dripped from Fran’s question.
“Brian, Fran and I will meet you inside,” Grace said.
Thank fuck. By the time I reached the edge of the building, my erection was gone.
As I went inside, I came to two decisions. I owed it to Duke to tell him how I felt about his sister, regardless of whether she and I built a relationship. And I would go slow with Grace, taking her on proper dates that didn’t involve the bedroom out of the gate. She deserved to be pampered like a queen.