Chapter 13
Audrey Tripp
The woman ignoring the plethora of signals Brennan broadcasts with his body language sinks her claws into his sleeve and rubs her breasts against his arm.
A red haze settles over my vision.
I tell myself I’d react the same if it were anyone else, but deep inside, I know my emotions are far greater than if I saw Carlos, Liam, or even my best friend, Brook, in the same situation.
Brennan’s disgusted sneer and obvious disdain of her nearness broadcast his revulsion.
She’s gorgeous. Full, luscious locks. Long, beautiful legs. Hourglass figure. Delicate features. By her composure and exaggerated eyelash batting, she expects to be the center of attention everywhere she goes at all times, and she’s pretty enough I don’t blame her.
Her beauty doesn’t matter. My big brother is not interested.
I scold myself for trying to distance myself from him by calling him my big brother as I pass behind her, wedge my hand between their bodies, and tuck myself against his other side as though she doesn’t exist.
“What are you doing?”
The woman’s haughty tone assures me I’ve already struck a nerve.
I lean forward and fake a gasp.
“Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there. Are you lost?”
“Excuse me?”
“Are you lost?” I repeat.
Her lips purse, but her makeup hides her angry flush.
“No, I’m not lost. I’m a regular here,” she sneers.
“Oh, well, it’s my first time.” I swing overly wide, innocent eyes up at Brennan’s face, not noticing his suit or tie through my rage over the woman’s audacity, and blink in faux concern as I study his expression before turning to the saleswoman.
“But I wouldn’t have come here if I’d known they’d let someone else fondle my boyfriend. ”
The saleswoman blanches as the stranger sputters and presses herself tighter against Brennan, smushing my fingers between them.
“He’s not your boyfriend. Get off him. He’s mine,” she hisses.
Pinpricks of pain travel up my arm as she grabs my wrist and digs her manicured nails into my flesh.
“You’re right, I’m not her boyfriend,” Brennan says.
I bite back an angry huff. The pompous asshole doesn’t have to be grateful, but he should at least not embarrass me when I’m trying to help him.
He nods to the clerk and takes the black velvet jewelry box she offers him.
“Not for much longer anyway.”
He shoves the clinging woman away, steps back from the counter, and drops to a knee.
“Audrey Tripp, will you marry me?”
Holy fuck.
He opens the box to reveal the rings I like most. Time stops.
Even though I know it’s all for show, my heart yearns for him. My stomach does a slow churn.
I want this to be real. I shouldn’t, but I do. In this moment, I don’t care how much it’ll hurt when he learns the truth about the past and leaves.
I clasp my hands to my chest to hide my trembling and bite my bottom lip to remind myself to act for our audience.
“Be my wife. Be Mrs. Diamond. I only want you, baby doll.”
The gruffness in his voice and the softness in his clear blue eyes is too perfect. It feels too real.
“Yes. I’ll marry you,” I whisper.
I’ll pretend later. Right now, I can’t ignore how every fiber of my being insists this is the right decision.
His smile melts my insides and turns my bones to mush. I struggle to stay upright as he slips the engagement ring onto my finger and rises. Warmth and relief spear through me as he wraps me in his arms and pulls me close.
When he cups the back of my head and leans down, I rise onto tiptoes and meet him halfway.
The slow, gentle brush of our lips morphs into a deeper, more intimate kiss, and I forget the world exists until he lifts his head and gives me a rueful smile as the shop cheers and congratulates us.
Unable to look away from his piercing eyes, I cling to his lapels and hold onto the blissful moment for as long as possible.
Reality crashes down on my head, and I fight a wave of regret as we break eye contact.
The woman’s hate-filled glare reminds me of why we started this charade.
She stomps her foot and gives a wordless shout of fury before twirling and stomping away. Her high heels click on the marble flooring.
I smile and stay tucked against Brennan’s side as we finish at the counter and walk through the gauntlet of people congratulating us. When we finally step out onto the sidewalk, I blow out a breath and drop my arm from around Brennan.
He pulls me tighter against his side and waves at the valet. The ring grows heavier on my finger with every heartbeat.
My strength wavers as my adrenaline drops, and I sink into a dark pit of despair as metaphorical clouds build over my thoughts.
After the sleepless night watching over my drugged boss following a horrible face-to-face with my nightmare in the flesh, exhaustion closes in on me as soon as the excitement ebbs.
The base of my skull throbs and queasiness rolls up from my toes, but I pull my resolution tight around me and accept Brennan’s help into the passenger seat.
He settles behind the wheel, but I slip the ring off my finger and offer it to him before he pulls out into traffic.
“Here, take it back,” I demand.
“No. It’s yours.”
His unwavering stare reaches past all my defenses and closes an iron grip around my heart.
“But that wasn’t real. I was just helping you get rid of that woman,” I say through clenched teeth.
“That woman is the heiress to a multi-billion-dollar legacy. You can’t back out now or she’ll come back with a vengeance,” he says.
My tongue sticks to the roof of my dry mouth as I process his words. He puts the car in drive and pulls into traffic.
I sigh and rub the back of my neck, but the ache in my head grows.
“Brennan—”
“Call me your fiancé,” he demands.
I growl and bop the back of my head against the headrest a few times.
“Stop. We can’t do this. We were siblings,” I hiss.
“But we aren’t anymore. There’s nothing wrong or taboo about us getting married. We aren’t related by blood,” he says.
“That doesn’t matter. We—”
He slams on the brakes and swerves. I gasp even as I realize he swung the car into a parallel parking spot.
He closes his fist around my hand and the ring pinched between my fingers before leaning over the console and grabbing me by the nape.
“You’re right, none of it matters. You helped get rid of her, and now it’s your responsibility to keep her away. Forever. By marrying me.”
With my heart thrumming in my ears, I shake my head.
“Yes, Audrey. I will only ever marry you,” he vows.
Despite the rushing in my veins, I close my eyes and sag into his hold.
“I’m tired, hungry, and my head is pounding. Now is not a good time to make such a big decision.”
Concern narrows his gaze. He shifts his grip and kneads the back of my head and neck. I bite back a groan. He drops a chaste kiss to my temple before murmuring in my ear.
“You said yes and kissed me in front of all those people. You can’t change your mind now, love.”
“What happened to me always having a choice with you?” I accuse.
He sighs, brushes his lips over my cheek, and kisses the tip of my nose before leaning back.
“Fine, you’re right. Now isn’t the time to make such a big decision. We need to try this engaged thing for a while before you say no.”
Exasperation pulls a slightly manic laugh from me.
“You’re the worst,” I grumble.
His smirk relays his thoughts on my remark, and I sigh at myself for falling into his trap.
He takes the ring and positions it near my finger.
“Wait, seriously, I can’t wear that.”
“Why not?”
He won’t listen to any objections I have about the price, so I wrack my brain for a plausible reason and surprise myself with my own words.
“Did you ask Ms. Baker to follow me home the other night?”
He stiffens and meets my eyes.
“No, I did not.”
His icy tone sends chills down my spine.
“If she stalked me before she drugged you, then wearing this will give her even more reason to focus on me. It’ll make me an even bigger target,” I explain.
“You could say it’s from another man. If it deters her and we both know it’s from me, then—”
I scoff.
“Like she’d believe I know anyone else who could afford something like this.”
He rumbles an unhappy note and closes his fist around the diamond ring.
“On one hand, I’m glad you don’t know anyone who can compare to me, but on the other…” He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles. Fissures of pleasure travel up my arm. “I need to protect you. You’re mine, baby doll.”
I open my mouth, whether to tell him off or agree, I have no idea, but my stomach steals the spotlight by rumbling.
He chuckles and peppers the back of my hand with kisses as he speaks.
“You weren’t lying when you said you were hungry. I’m sorry, love. Let’s find someplace to eat.”
“I want steak and ramen.”
The demand rises from my depths and escapes from my mouth before I even think the words.
“And not from an upscale place. Throw it at me in disposable containers,” I growl.
After the last few days I’ve had, I deserve protein and carbs, damn it. Lots of carbs. Maybe I’ll sleep better tonight if I stuff myself full of heavy food.
Brennan pulls me closer by my nape and kisses me before releasing me. My head spins as he pulls away from the curb.
“Whatever my baby doll wants, she gets,” he says.
I sigh and lean back in my seat. My stomach rumbles again. I cross my arms over my midsection and glare at Brennan as he chuckles.
He surprises me by pulling over a few short blocks later and leading me into a basement bistro with an Asian fusion menu. Too stretched thin to make sense of the options, I let him order and stare in surprise as the waitress sets plate after plate and bowl after bowl onto the table.
She finishes by placing an empty plate and bowl in front of each of us and pointing at the far end of the booth where individually wrapped utensils—including chopsticks—sit in a tray.
I blink, completely overwhelmed. Brennan takes mercy on me and fills my bowl halfway with the ramen in a clear broth.
“Start here. Try everything,” he says.
I nod and absently tear the plastic off a fork as he takes my plate and selects a few other dishes for me to try.
The moment the clear ramen bursts through my taste buds, I know I have a new favorite restaurant. I taste every dish and fall deeper and deeper in love with every bite.
With my belly full of warm, delicious food, I sigh and sit back for a few minutes, but when my eyelids droop, I reach for my purse.
“Let me drive you home,” Brennan says as he rises.
“No, just drop me off at the nearest subway station,” I say on reflex.
He blocks me from exiting the booth with his body and tilts my head back with a finger under my chin.
“You don’t have to hide from me, Audrey. I saw where you’re living and—”
Incredulity spikes my heart rate. I swat his hand away and swing my legs to the outside of the bench.
“Is that why you didn’t ask Ms. Baker to follow me? Because you were stalking me yourself?”
He lifts me onto my feet by my elbows and holds me close enough his body heat seeps into my front.
“No. I thought for sure you just hadn’t updated your address in a couple of years, so I went to the building on file and left as soon as I saw you walk inside.”
I crane my neck to meet his eyes.
“How is that not stalking?” I demand.
He sighs, pulls me against him, and splays his gigantic paws over my back.
“I know I shouldn’t have, but I just wanted to make sure you’re safe. And you’re not. Why are you living in such a crappy place?”
I sink my nails into my palms and barely resist the urge to rest my head against his chest.
There’s no longer a point in keeping this from him. He’ll piece it together eventually.
“It’s the only way I can afford my mom’s medical expenses.”
His digits flex against my back. I sigh and drop my forehead to his sternum.
“I’ve lived there for almost ten years. I’ll be fine. Just let me go so I can go to sleep.”
“Spend the night at my place.”
His chest vibrates against my forehead as he speaks. Giving in to temptation, I turn my head and press the side of my face against his pectoral.
He’s so big, warm, and comfortable.
“I can’t,” I mumble despite the fog of sleep encroaching on my thoughts.
“Just for tonight. You can go back to your apartment tomorrow after work.”
Even with my face pressed against his suit and the knot of his tie digging into the top of my head, my body relaxes.
“No funny business? Just sleep?” I murmur through the haze of a light doze.
“Just sleep,” he rumbles.
I nod even though I tell myself to push away and say no.
He plops an impressive wad of cash on the table, takes my purse, and tucks me against his side before leading me out of the restaurant. My feet drag. Lifting my lashes becomes increasingly more difficult.
I don’t fight when he settles me into the car and reaches over me for my seatbelt. With a sleepy grin, I marvel at the stubble on his chin and the softness in his light blue eyes. He’s impossibly handsome this close.
He buckles my seatbelt and plants a chaste kiss on my forehead before shutting the door. I slip into a doze before he even puts the key into the ignition.
My nightmares hover just out of reach. Brennan rouses me as he lifts me from the car and cradles me against his chest, but the lub dub of his heart and the gentle sway from his long strides lull me into a deeper sleep.
I wake enough to fumble through his fancy bathroom and wash my face, use the toilet, and change into the oversized t-shirt and sweatpants he handed me.
When I open the door and stagger blindly through, strong arms lift me off my feet.
Brennan’s cinnamon-and-clove scent calms my mind as he settles me into what can only be a cloud.
The world darkens. I twitch as horrible scenes play through my mind.
My stepfather’s hands. My mother’s blood.
Brennan’s low, soothing rumble abolishes the memories. I sink into restful slumber.
For the first time in thirteen years, I sleep without nightmares.
Even though I know I don’t deserve happiness, I wrap my arms around the man I’ve always loved and dream of a future with him.
I’ll deal with my heartbreak later. For now, I rest in the comfort of my trusted big brother’s arms.