“Do you mean alcohol?”
“Sure, why not? Only if that’s what you want.” He reached over and laid his hand across hers that flattened on the desktop. She didn’t take her gaze off his, but her discomfort was obvious through her stiff limb.
“Where will the party be?” she asked.
He let out a heavy sigh and frowned. “There we have a problem. We don’t have any place to hold it, and we thought about asking you if we could have it at your place.”
Brad squeezed her hand and then gave her one of the smiles that he knew was capable of bending a woman’s will. They didn’t call him a ladies’ man for nothing.
Breanna nibbled on her bottom lip, and he thought it was adorable. When she lifted her gaze to his, her forehead creased. He already guessed her answer.
“Sorry, Brad, but I can’t. My boyfriend and I have plans tonight.”
“Hey, bring him along. The more the merrier.”
She shook her head and dropped her gaze. “He doesn’t like crowds.”
“But wasn’t he at a bar the other night?”
She nodded. “Yes, but they werehisfriends, and the bar was pretty much empty.”
Brad sat in silence as he tried to think of a way to persuade her, but it looked as if her boyfriend ruined it for them. Dejectedly, he sighed and stood.
“Well, I guess we don’t have a party tonight. Maybe another time.” He lightly stroked her cheek. “Thanks anyway, sweetie. Catch you later.”
He turned and walked slowly back to the other girls to deliver the bad news. He shook his head as they clustered around. “She can’t. She has plans with her boyfriend.”
Amanda snickered and shook her head. “Her boyfriend is a jerk. He’ll wimp out on her tonight, I’ll bet you ten bucks.”
“Brad,” Eve whispered, “I told you Breanna wasn’t a party girl. She’s really uptight.”
Brad cocked his head as he glanced at the auburn-haired woman who had turned back to her computer. “Hey, let’s not be rude. Maybe she really does like to party. Have any of you invited her to a party before?” He didn’t get an answer, but the lowered gazes and guilty expressions told him what he needed to know. “Maybe she was just waiting for someone to include her.”
Jackie stepped closer. “Brad, I don’t think you’re really looking at her. Does shelooklike the party type or the plain-Jane type?”
He had to agree with Jackie. Breanna’s long sleeve brown dress and low-heeled grandma’s shoes were the plainest he’d ever seen. Even her hairstyle was outdated by at least twenty years. Unwanted memories rushed over him, reminding him of Carrie. She’d been the same way... when she was alive. His gut twisted. No more would he judge a person by the way they looked.
He focused back on Breanna and their short visit the other night in the cab. He’d sensed a pure sweetness about her—and she did have a pretty smile. A few minutes ago when he’d caught her gazing at him, he felt there was a different woman in her plain body just waiting for the right moment to make a grand entrance.
The phone on Breanna’s desk rang, and when she turned to answer it, he studied the side of her face. She actually had pretty features. Behind those thick-rimmed glasses, he’d detected beautiful eyes. If she went to a beautician for a haircut, they’d do wonders to enhance the style. All she needed was someone to make her feel pretty. That was exactly what Carrie had needed.
“Looks aren’t everything,” he reasoned with the others.
“Yes,” Eve added, “but she still turned down the party.”
“That’s because of her boyfriend.” He peered back at his group of admirers. “We’ll just have to plan a party next weekend.”
The girls sighed, their faces drooping with disappointment. His gaze moved back to Breanna who had hung up her phone and sat slumped in her chair, rubbing her forehead. He figured whoever was on the phone had delivered bad news. Suddenly, her back straightened and she turned in her chair and looked his way. She smiled, and his heart picked up rhythm. There was that pretty smile he’s seen the other night.
“Brad?” She motioned for him to come over.
He didn’t hesitate. In ten long strides, he stood by her side. “Yes?”
“I’ve decided to have that party after all, but I’ll need some help. Will you help me? I don’t know the first thing about putting together a party.”
In his excitement, he clasped her hands with his. “You betcha I’ll help, sweetie.”
* * * *
