An Unexpected Attraction (Love Unexpected Book 3) (19 page)

“Jay!” Brenda screamed. She rushed down the stairs.

Nick looked up, the fury in his face changing into surprise, and then morphing into fury again. “I knew you’d lied to me!” he yelled at Jay, taking a step toward him.

Jay came to his feet, shaking his head from the dizzying effect of the sucker punch.

Brenda placed her body between them, careful to avoid the chunks of glass on the floor. She lifted one hand to Jay’s bare chest and the other in the air toward Nick. “Stop it! You have no right to question who I’m with or where I am.”

“How could you sleep with him?” Nick demanded. Wild, angry eyes shot accusations at her. “You slept with me!”

“We didn’t mean for this to happen. It wasn’t planned.”

“You expect me to believe you didn’t plan this?” He looked from one to the other. “What, were the two of you screwing all this time? While he was married to Jenna?”

“It’s none of your damn business,” Jay said, rubbing his temple. He glowered at Nick.

“No,” Brenda answered. Jay may not care, but she wanted to de-escalate the tense situation. “Nothing happened between us while he was married and we only recently started seeing each other.”

“We don’t owe him an explanation,” Jay growled behind her.

“Do you really think I want to hear this shit?” Nick asked her, his face contorted into an angry, disgusted mask. His gaze panned to Jay. “I told you how I felt about her, and you stabbed me in the fucking back. You bastard.”

Brenda attempted to bring his attention back to her. “This wasn’t planned, Nick. We didn’t mean to—”

“And you lied when I asked you two seconds ago whether or not she was here.”

“You showed up at my house angry and yelling. I did what any rational person would do—try to avoid a confrontation, you asshole.”

“I’m an asshole?” Nick jabbed his finger at Jay. “
You
were supposed to keep tabs on her.”

“I never agreed to your idiotic idea.”

“Now I know why!”

“Nick.” Brenda stepped directly in front of Nick’s line of vision. She kept her voice low and conciliatory. “We didn’t set out to hurt you. Believe me, we were worried about how our relationship would affect the friendship between all of us.”

It seemed Nick didn’t even hear her words. His mottled face was still an intimidating mask of deep emotion. The fists clenched at his side indicated his strong desire to rage and hit Jay again.

“I came down here on business and on the way to the hotel, Jenna called me crying and told me everything about Marco. Said she needed a friend. A real one, because you and Brenda were together now, but I didn’t want to believe it. I came over here to confront you, and then I saw Brenda’s car.” He shook his head, pumped up by hurt and anger. “She was right about the two of you. Her so-called friend is sneaking around with her ex-husband.”

The words stung. They sounded dirty and sordid.

“I couldn’t care less what you think about us,” Jay said. “It doesn’t change anything between me and Brenda.”

“Do the two of you think you’re in love or something?” Nick sneered.

There was a moment of silence before Jay’s voice came from behind her. “Yes, I’m in love with her.”

Brenda’s heart took an enormous leap. She veered in Jay’s direction. They hadn’t discussed their feelings in depth. She knew how she felt about him, but hearing him verbalize his feelings was not only a relief, she gained the confidence she needed.

“I’m in love with him, too,” she said quietly, looking into his eyes.

Jay smiled softly at her.

“Do I need to leave so the two of you can have your moment?” Nick growled.

Brenda reluctantly wrenched her eyes away from Jay and back to her friend. “We can’t help how we feel about each other.”

“What about me?” he asked.

“There was never anything between us, Nick. You know that.”

“You never felt
anything
after that night in Italy?” The pleading in his eyes and voice made her sad. He still cared so deeply for her.

“I never had those kinds of feelings for you,” she said softly, and the hurt in his eyes was almost unbearable.

Nick stared at the floor. “I wanted to give you the world,” he said thickly.

“I don’t want the world,” she said. “Nick.” His head popped up, and the sheen of tears in his eyes hurt her even more, expanding the pain in her chest. But she couldn’t do this halfway. She had to be clear so he didn’t hold onto false hope. “You should have someone in your life who can love you the way you want to be loved.”

His jaw tightened. “That someone should be you.”

“No.” Brenda shook her head, arms folded over her chest. She didn’t want him to have the burden of that thought. She’d found love and so would he.

He backed toward the door. His withdrawal hurt because it meant the friendship had come to an end, for all three of them.

Nick’s eyes remained on her for a while, as if engraving her image in his mind. His gaze swept the tousled hair, which must be sticking up in all directions on her head, glaring evidence of the intimacy she and Jay had shared. His eyes drifted over Jay’s oversized robe and continued on down to her bare feet.

Then he looked past her to Jay. His mouth became a flat line and his eyes hardened in a surge of anger. One more time he gave her his attention, and then nodded, as if finally understanding that he truly didn’t stand a chance.

Without another word, he turned around and slammed the door on his way out.

Arms still wrapped tight around her torso, Brenda turned slowly to face Jay. He stood with his arms hanging loosely at his sides, worry etched in the lines of his forehead. An unsightly red knot protruded from his left temple.

“Your face,” Brenda said. The heaviness in her heart made her voice tremble.

“I’m fine.” He lifted a hand to her. “Come here.”

She stepped over a piece of glass and into his arms.

“Soon, you won’t hurt so much. Okay?” Jay said.

She nodded against his chest and held on tight. Tears blurred her vision, and even though she hurt, she trusted his words and believed in them as a couple.

“Okay.”

Chapter
Twenty

Marco and Arturo came charging through the swinging door of the kitchen.

“Boys!” Brenda said sharply. She shot them a stern look. “You know better.”

They skidded to a halt.

“Sorry, Brenda,” Arturo said.

Christmas carols filled the air, and the scent of gingerbread and mulled cider permeated the entire downstairs. Brenda was in the midst of prepping for when the rest of the guests arrived. Sophie was on her way, coming alone. Thanks to a conversation she’d had with Jay, Keith was permanently out of her life and she was on a break from dating.

A couple of the interns from the magazine were also coming over. Brenda had invited them so they wouldn’t have to spend the holiday alone.

Jay’s father and his girlfriend had flown in a few days ago and were staying at the house, while Brenda’s mother and her fiancé had chosen to get a room at a nearby hotel.

“What are you two doing in here, anyway?” Brenda asked. She opened the package of cinnamon sticks and proceeded to place one in each of the glass mugs. The fragrant spice would serve as a garnish for the cider.

“We’re bored,” Marco said.

“With all those gifts?” Jay had spoiled the boys rotten with video games, clothes, and remote-controlled planes and cars. She shook her head. “In my day…”

The boys groaned and rolled their eyes.

Brenda chuckled. “Okay, okay, never mind. How about helping me out while you’re here? Take those cookies, those nuts, and the cannoli to the dining room and set them on the sidebar.”

“You’re putting us to work.” Marco pouted.

“You said you were bored, so I’m giving you something to do.”

“You and your big mouth,” Arturo said in a stage whisper.

Brenda hid her smile. Having them around had brightened the holiday. She and Jay had decorated with a wreath on the door and blinking lights on the windows, but they’d saved the tree trimming until the boys arrived. The four of them had decorated the tree together, although Jay had left it mostly to them while he videotaped. Afterward, they’d watched “A Christmas Story” with large mugs of hot cocoa containing mini marshmallows.

The boys were going to stay the entire two weeks they were off from school. She and Jay had lots of activities planned, including a trip to go ice skating, which should be interesting since neither she nor he knew how to skate.

The doorbell rang.

“That’s probably Sophie,” Marco said in a hushed voice. His eyes lit up. He had a crush on her friend. He dashed out empty-handed.

Arturo shook his head and took the tray of cookies in hand. “Kids,” he said.

Brenda burst out laughing. He was only ten minutes older than his brother, but he liked poking fun at Marco.

After Arturo left, Brenda’s mother, Samantha, came into the kitchen. “Need some help, baby?”

As part of the day’s festivities, everyone had to wear an ugly sweater. Her mother had gone against the grain in a pair of jeans—the loosest fit Brenda had ever seen her wear—and an olive-brown cowl-neck sweater. Her understated appearance had shocked Brenda, but she figured the change in style probably had a lot to do with Basil’s influence.

“I’m fine. You doing okay?” She poured hot cider into the glass mugs.

“Fine.”

She knew her mother had more to say, and she quietly filled each cup and waited.

“He’s not exactly what I expected.” There it was.

“No, he’s not,” Brenda agreed.

“You could have told me he was white.”

“Does it matter?” Brenda continued filling the glasses.

Her mother shrugged. “It would have been nice to know ahead of time. I’m sure he thought I was rude for staring.”

“Not really. I’m not exactly what his father expected, either. We purposely didn’t tell either of you so you and Gino wouldn’t arrive with any preconceived notions.”

“
You’re
wonderful. Gino would be lucky to have you as a daughter-in-law.” Her mother sniffed.

Brenda poured cider into the last mug and set the pitcher on the counter. “Thank you, Sam. Jay’s a great guy, too. I hope you give him a chance.”

“I’m sure he’s a wonderful man, but what’s going to happen when the two of you have kids? They’re going to have an identity crisis. Are they black, are they white? Should they be called biracial? You have to think about these things.”

Brenda placed a hand on her hip. “You’re getting ahead of yourself. Let me and Jay worry about that. Any other concerns?”

Her mother shrugged, drawing circles in the speckled pattern of the counter. “He has to be good to you. I care about that.” She cast a sidelong glance at Brenda. “He
is
good to you, isn’t he?”

“Yes, he is.”

Samantha brushed the front of her sweater, even though there was nothing to brush. “Because I guess that’s the most important thing—that he’s good to you, and you’re happy.”

Brenda took her mother’s hand in hers. “I’m very happy. And I’m happy for you. I like Basil.”

Her mother’s eyes filled with relief. “Do you? He’s a wonderful man. Can you tell?”

“Yes, I can tell.”

During the short period she’d seen them together, she recognized Basil was the kind of man her mother had needed all her life. Someone to show her love and respect, but also someone who wouldn’t tolerate her outrageous behavior. He opened doors and held her hand, and smiled at her with such fondness in his eyes, no one could doubt he genuinely cared for her.

She squeezed her mother’s hand. “You did good, Sam.”

“I did, didn’t I?” Tears filled her eyes. “I did good this time.”

“Yeah, you did.” They hugged each other, and at that moment Brenda realized how much her mother had longed for the approval of others. Even from her own daughter.

Samantha pulled back and fanned her face. “You’re gonna make me cry.” She sniffed. “I wish your sister could have been here.”

Tracey had declined the invitation to come for Christmas when she found out Samantha would be there. Brenda hadn’t divulged that tidbit, but no doubt her mother had guessed the reason for Tracey’s absence. “I’ll talk to her for you.”

“Okay.” Samantha patted her cheek. “You’re such a good daughter, you know that? I don’t know how I lucked out and had such a good kid.” She rubbed her hands together. “Okay, what do you need me to get for you?”

“Can you grab those nuts and place them on the sideboard? I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

“Not a problem. Basil loves nuts.” She picked up the three-compartment tray with Brazil nuts, peanuts, and cashews and exited the kitchen, almost colliding with Jay.

“Whoa,” he said, placing a steadying hand on her arms.

They both laughed and he held the door open so she could slide out.

“Maybe you should remove that door,” Brenda said. “It’s kind of dangerous. What do you think?”

Jay came to stand beside her. He’d truly gotten into the spirit of the ugly sweater game. His was a hideous thing with every possible seasonal item on it in a breathtakingly hideous collage—Santa, holly, a Christmas tree, Rudolph, a snowman, snowflakes—and that was only the front. He still looked just as sexy as ever, though. Not even that dreadful piece of clothing could detract from his broad shoulders and manly form.

“I think I’m going to strangle my father today,” he muttered.

“You’re not going to strangle your father. Have a cannolo.” Sweet Treats Bakery had rolled out Christmas cannoli, decorated with red and green candied fruit and dusted with powdered sugar. “Tell me what happened.”

“He had the nerve to say that if he were still running the business, it would be farther along right now. Our company has grown by leaps and bounds since I took over, but will he give me credit? Of course not.” He cursed in Italian, something he’d been doing a lot of since his father arrived.

Brenda handed him a cannolo. He took the pastry and bit into it. As he chewed, the tension in his shoulders decreased.

“He’s only here for a couple more days,” she reminded him.

Jay laughed a little to himself. “See what he does to me?”