She nodded. “I wonder what my life would have been like if my parents had lived.”
He rubbed her fingers. “But it’s useless to look back. We must move forward.”
“So true.”
He closed the space between them and cupped her face with his hands. “Tyger, my love, thanks for being here with me tonight. You don’t know how much it means to me that you came.”
“You’d mentioned that you’d go crazy by yourself, and I... I didn’t want that to happen to such a sweet man.”
The corner of his lips turned upward, but he didn’t speak. Anticipation streaked through her, making her body quake. He was going to kiss her, she just knew it. She wanted to share this moment with him so badly, and kissing him would only make it better. But he seemed content to just gaze into her eyes as his thumbs stroked beneath her bottom lip.
He leaned forward, and her heart quickened with excitement, but then he stepped back without kissing her. He motioned his hand toward his room.
“And this is where I stay when I’m in town.”
Disappointment shook through her, but she couldn’t allow him to see it on her face. The other day she’d told him she couldn’t cheat on Tom, so Brad was probably helping her stick to her promise.
She finally took a moment to study his room... and about died! She sucked in a quick breath as her mouth hung open. “You call this a room?”
He chuckled. “Yes. What do you call it?”
“A very expensive apartment that’s much bigger than mine.”
The room was decorated in all shades of blue and brown colors. His large bed sat next to a large window. One corner of the room was made into office space, with an oak desk and laptop. In another corner of the room sat a few exercise machines and dumbbells. Along one side of the wall was a giant entertainment console that held a stereo system, and at least three game systems. Hanging on the wall next to that was a 65-inch flat-screen television.
The bathroom adjoined to the bedroom. From what she could see of it since the door was open, there was plenty of space for another gym. Instead, she could see the jetted tub and shower that looked like a waterfall.
Why would anyone want to leave this room? The only thing it didn’t have was a kitchen. However, their servants handled that. Breanna was certain Brad received room service a time or two.
“Unbelievable,” she muttered and shook her head.
“Do you think so?”
“Oh, yes.” She stepped away from him and toward the bathroom. “Now I can see why you spent the past few days holed up in this room. I wouldn’t want to leave it, either.”
“What?” His voice rose slightly. “Who told you I was holed up in my room?”
Inwardly, she cringed. She hadn’t meant to say it, but the words just slipped out. “I heard it from the ladies at work.”
“Figures.” He shook his head, frowning.
“Is it true?” She moved toward him slowly. “Were you getting drunk every night here in your room?”
He shrugged but didn’t say anything.
“The ladies at work also said that they thought you’d had your heart broken by a woman.”
His shoulders drooped. He walked to his large bed and sat on the edge. “Yes, it’s true. I haven’t been the fun-loving man everyone was used to.”
“Why?”
He scrubbed his hands over his face and sighed. “I think you know why.”
Her heart skipped a beat. It couldn’t be possible. No, she couldn’t get all emotional until he said it himself.
She sat beside him on the bed. “I don’t think I know, Brad. There’s no way I’m going to believe that you would act in such a way just because of my rejection. Besides, what would a man like you see in a plain, ordinary woman like me? And did you act that way because a woman has never turned you down before?”
His hands dropped to his lap as he peered into her eyes. “Breanna, you are far from plain and ordinary. I don’t know what it is, but I saw something in you that was far different from all the other women I’ve known. You are one of a kind, and very,verybeautiful.” He lifted his fingers and stroked her cheek. “I didn’t act that way because I’ve never been rejected before, because I have. Several times. The reason it hurt so much this time was because I wanted you, but you didn’t want me. You make me feel special, and I like the way I feel when I’m with you.”
