It didn’t take long before the few other guests arrived, and Brad escorted Breanna into the dining room. Once again, she felt as if this room could have been back in the Victorian era. A large chandelier hung over the old-fashioned table with claw-feet and matching high-backed chairs. Several servants hustled around the room, bringing out the finest dishes of exotic foods.
Breanna didn’t talk much, but when she was in a room full of strangers, her shyness took over. Brad was entertaining as always. And even though he talked a lot, he still returned his attention back to her and gazed at her with his dreamy green eyes.
The conversation in the room quieted, so she concentrated on taking small bites of her duck cacciatore. They must have a French chef or something, because she’d never tasted food this good. Or... She glanced at Brad. Was it the company that made this night so special?
Brad took his linen napkin and wiped his mouth. “So Father, what’s new with the magazine?”
Breanna choked on her food, but thankfully, didn’t make a scene as she quickly sipped her ice water. She couldn’t believe Brad was actually interested in the magazine at all. He certainly hadn’t acted like it up until now.
Todd smiled at his son. “I’m glad you asked.”
As Todd told the group about the new additions coming to the magazine – those that Breanna already knew about – it gave her the opportunity to study Brad. He kept his focus on his father, and he genuinely looked engrossed in the conversation. This was the first time since she’d met Brad that he’d shown an interest in something other than women and partying.
Her heart thawed even more toward this gorgeous man. Yet, she wondered if he was serious, or did he act this way to try to impress her?
What shocked her more was when Todd asked Brad for his opinion...and he gave a sincere answer. This was definitely not the man she’d gotten to know lately. Brad actually had views on politics, and the events happening around the world. Amazing!
When dinner was finally over, Brad escorted her out into the grand hallway instead of following the others into the sitting room to further their conversation and drink sherry. His warm gaze moved over every inch of Breanna’s face. No longer did this make her uncomfortable. Instead, it lightened her heart.
“Would you like me to give you a tour of the place?” he asked.
Excitement shot through her. She’d never been in such a grand mansion, and although it was probably none of her business, she really did want to see every room. “Yes. That would be wonderful.”
He stroked her cheek. “No,youare wonderful, my love.”
Her heart flipped. He’d called hermy loveagain. This was the third time. And why was his expression serious when he said it? She couldn’t read too much into it. After all, Brad was an accomplished flirt.
Entwining his fingers with hers, he led them to the other rooms on the bottom floor. There was a music room, a weight room, an indoor pool, and of course, the family’s entertainment room with a large screen TV on the wall, and what looked to be several different game systems.
He took her to the second floor and explained that the top floor was the servants’ quarters. Apparently, only two of the servants lived on the premises. The others lived nearby.
“These rooms here on the second floor belong to me and my siblings. My parents’ bedroom has is its own wing just off from the dining room.” He opened the door to one of the rooms.
It surprised her that he had siblings since he’d never mentioned it before. “You have brothers and sisters?”
He nodded. “I have an older brother and two younger sisters.”
Hesitantly, she stepped into the room, but still kept her eyes on him. “Do they live here, too?”
“No, but their rooms are still here if they visit. My brother owns a computer company, and my sister is married to a lawyer and is pregnant with their first child.”
Breanna noticed his expression changed as sadness encased his face. “What about the other sister?”
“She died two years ago.” His voice choked as he moved his gaze to the floor, leaning against the doorframe.
Her chest tightened, feeling his agony. She didn’t remember much about her parents’ deaths, but she did recall suffering greatly from their loss. “I’m sorry.” She stroked his arm.
He took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Yeah, well... I try not to think about it. She was so young and so pretty. She had a whole life ahead of her. She had been shy as a child, and when she reached her teen years, there were a group of girls who bullied her endlessly. I always thought my sister was pretty, but I didn’t tell her enough. Nobody told her enough. Nobody wanted to look past her outward appearance and look inside her heart.”
Brad didn’t come out and say that his sister had committed suicide, but he hinted toward it. “That’s just awful. People can be so cruel. I know that story well.”
He met her gaze again, and this time took hold of her hand. “When I first met you, I thought of Carrie. I didn’t want you to... end up like her.”
His voice tightened again, and so did the pain in her chest. Even her throat constricted.
“I understand now,” she whispered. “And I appreciate your attention toward me. Too bad some wonderful man couldn’t have swept Carrie away.”
“You don’t know how many times I think that. If only someone cared about her, she would be alive today, and she would be a successful woman. If only she had waited, her life would have changed. I just know it.”
