Broken (11 page)

“I will just call him and tell him I can’t go. I mean it’s pretty simple. This is perfect. Now, I won’t have to deal with this drama.” Gabby tried to sound excited, but she felt a twinge of disappointment. “Yeah, there you go. Taking the easy way out. Do you even know his number to be able to call him?” Sam had always been the practical child, Gabby the impulsive child. “Crap! No. Grrr,” Gabby snapped. “Well, looks like you’ll need to go ahead and get ready then with what you have and then you can explain that since he made his little plans without consulting you first, that he’ll have to give you a rain check on the fancy restaurants and take you somewhere simple tonight. I think that is much more logical and what was it you said? Simple.” Sam smirked as she mirrored her sister’s words.

“Grrr.” Gabby narrowed her eyes at her sister making Sam roll her eyes with a wry smile.

“I’ll leave you to get ready, then.” Sam winked and jumped up to leave before Gabby could smack her.

Gabby looked into her suitcase and realized this was a nightmare. The dressiest thing she had was a pair of linen capri pants and a white tank top. She put it on and decided to not put much effort into her hair or makeup,
what was the point
, she thought. Once he saw her, he would probably realize this was not a good idea. What could the two of them possibly have in common, other than both being late? Gabby walked back into the living room to chat with Sam while she waited. She couldn’t believe she was actually ready early.

Gabby recalled on the way home from the beach that Sam had told her about walking out of the cottage and seeing Bradley climbing out of his silver Nissan 370z. Gabby heard the deep rumble from his car before she could even see it. Suddenly, she had butterflies in her stomach for the second time that day. This time, she wasn’t sure if it was because she was about to see him or that she was so pathetic, she didn’t even have an outfit to wear on the fancy date he had planned, even before she had agreed to play along. The doorbell chimed and she blinked quickly trying to gather her composure. She stood for a moment at the door and pressed her lips together to shine the lip gloss she had put on before she had come into the living room with Sam. She grabbed the door knob and realized her hand was shaking.

Chapter 18

August, 2010; Present

“Uh, hi,” she whispered as she opened the door, totally embarrassed.

Bradley was dressed in a black pinstriped suit. Like his tux had been at the wedding, it was perfectly tailored and fit his body well. Like the tux, it was just tight enough to show his well-defined physique. He had been irresistible at the beach in just khakis and a shirt, but like this, she wanted to just drink him in with a straw. She realized her butterflies were butterflies at the thought of seeing him again. She knew she couldn’t do a relationship with him, but she sure was thankful she had the opportunity to see his face again.
Ah, glorious eye candy
. The thought made her smile.

“Hey you. These are for you.” He leaned in and softly kissed her cheek, exchanging the large bouquet of purple hydrangeas, orange roses, and white calla lilies into her arms. She gasped remembering the flowers from the wedding.
Crap
. Sam was right. He had put a lot of thought into this date. She knew she was in trouble.

“Gabby, you look incredible, I feel bad, though. I should have probably mentioned the dress code at the Peninsula. I’ll wait and put these in some water while you change.” He leaned in to grab the flowers back and pushed her hair behind her ears, like he always did when he wanted to touch her but not be too forward.

She leaned into his touch without even realizing it, she whispered shyly, “Right. Um, I thought I was coming to Charleston to hang out with Sam and be a beach bum the entire weekend. I didn’t exactly plan for dinners at four-star restaurants and all. Sorry, I don’t have anything that I can change in to....maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.” Gabby’s entire body tensed as she said the words. Her mind was scared but her body wanted Bradley Banks. There was no denying the flurry of sensations that had rushed through her body when she opened the door and saw this handsome man standing before her, but she knew from past experiences, her body had a way of deceiving her. “Oh, that was pretty presumptuous of me to assume you’d have something to wear. How inconsiderate. I’m really sorry. I just thought...well, I clearly didn’t. Good thing we’re both on time tonight. Sam,” he poked his head past Gabby’s and into the living room, “can you put these flowers in some water for Gabby. We gotta go get her a dress before dinner?”

“Bradley,” Sam nodded. “Sure. I’ll take them. This is a warning. The last time you were with my sister downtown, it didn’t end so nice. Be good to her, please. She best not come home crying again tonight, got it?” Sam’s tone was a bit protective and almost threatening. Gabby was embarrassed, but also amused. First, what did Sam think she would do to him? He was way bigger than either sister. And two, that Sam felt the need to act the role of both absent parents, helpful smitten mother and threatening father. Bradley smirked, “Got it. Thank you. I promise to take good care of her.”

Smiling ear to ear, he took Gabby’s hand and pulled her out the door. He opened the passenger-side door and helped her into the gray leather seat of his silver 370z, just as Sam had described it. This was arguably the nicest car Gabby had ever stepped foot into and it made her feel even more inadequate.
What did Bradley Banks want with a girl like her
? He shut the door after he made sure she was in good, and walked to his side. He climbed in swiftly. Glancing over at her as he did, “So, I don’t know much about you. I know you like Christina Perri, but what other kind of music do you like?” She turned her head shocked that he had remembered her saying she had liked the song “A Thousand Years” at the wedding, “Colbie Callat, Dave Matthews, you know, the like. I am not picky, though. Whatever you’d like is fine,” she stated shyly shrugging her shoulders non-committedly.

He smiled and pushed a button on the dashboard, “Well, I happen to really like this song at the moment.” He looked over and smiled his charming smile at her as The Frames, “Falling Slowly” began to play in the cars Bose audio system. “Hmm. Interesting song selection, Mr. Banks. I do love The Frames,” she mused. In that instance, Gabby felt herself relax in the playful mood Bradley seemed to bring out in her.

“Where are you taking me?”

“Shopping.”

“Well, I know you said we were going to get a dress, but where?”

“Well, I thought we’d stop by Saks. They’ll fix you up pretty fast. What are you, a size ten,” he asked.

“Saks! That’s a bit much, don’t ya think? And, um, I am not going to ask you how you knew what size I am.” She tried to hide her smile as she looked out the window. She could feel her face begin to blush. He obviously had far too much experience with women if he could look at a girl and figure out her clothes size. This could not be good, but she admitted to herself finally, there was nowhere else she wanted to be than with him at this moment.

“Reservation for two, Bradley Banks,” he spoke authoritatively to the maître d’.

“Ah, yes. Please follow me, Mr. Banks,” his posture had heightened and he was grinning as if trying to impress Bradley.

Bradley, holding Gabby’s hand, led the way to the outdoor private dining area. It was breathtaking. One table centered in the middle of a lush courtyard. There were several balconies overlooking the area. Trees with heavy green foliage were surrounding the space. There was a rectangular stone water feature beside the table. The table had a large vase of the same flowers Bradley had brought to her earlier.

Even though it was usually extremely hot in August in Charleston, a cool front had passed through the area the day before making it more pleasurable to be outside. There was also a nice breeze blowing, but not too much. Bradley pulled Gabby’s chair out and motioned for her to have a seat by putting his hand out palm up in front of him pointing to the chair. As she released his hand and sat down in her seat he moved her hair back behind her shoulder and whispered in her ear, “I love that dress. I love the shoes. I love everything. You look sensational, Miss Gerhart.” She couldn’t help but blush. He was so, well, charming. Even though she was scared and reserved, she had forgotten how wonderful it felt to hear that she looked nice from a guy. She had forgotten what it felt like to feel these magnetic feelings. They felt good and she wanted badly to forget the hurt she had been through, and just give into them, but she knew she couldn’t.

The waiter promptly was at their side as soon as they had made themselves comfortable in their seats. Rather than asking what they wanted to drink, he had a bottle of champagne and he immediately began filling their glasses. When he was finished he placed the bottle in a silver wine carousel wedging the bottle in between the ice cubes.

“Rather presumptuous, aren’t you? What kind of champagne is this?” Gabby picked up her glass and smiled a wry smile as she took a sip. “It’s Champagne Perrier—Jouet. 2004 Belle Époque Rose.”

“That’s a mouthful,” she teased. “Pun intended.”

“Yes, it is a quite a mouthful in more than one way. Do you like it?” His eyes narrowed and his smile was seductive. He curled his finger over his mouth and gently brushed his finger along his lower lip as he appraised her as she took another sip. “Yes, it’s delicious. I’ve never had champagne that tasted so good in all my life, but then again, I can only imagine the price tag on this bottle and so that doesn’t surprise me that I’ve never had it. We, um…we live two totally different lifestyles.” Her smile faded and she looked down at her fingers in her lap and started to fidget. “Well, you’re young, Gabby. I’ve never really been interested in someone quite so young. I’ve always just been interested in women that were at the same point in their lives as I was, who didn’t want a commitment. I don’t expect you to be where I am. It will come, though. I’m sure you’ll be successful in whatever you do. Cade says you go to Columbia College.”

“Well, I don’t know about all that. Hmmm, you’ve talked to Cade about me, huh,” trying to change the subject from their social incompatibility, her eyes brightened and the mood had been temporarily restored.

“Yes.”

“Is that all he said about me, that I went to Columbia College,” she asked flirtatiously.

“No.”

Narrowing her eyes back at him, “You’re being monosyllabic, now, huh?”

“Yes,” his expression never changing, still with his fingers curled on his lower lip, eyes narrowed and that seductive smile. “I suppose I am.” He started to bite the side of his lip as he continued rubbing the bottom of his lip and it was obvious he was partially thinking about what to say and partially teasing her. Then he moved his hand away grabbing his glass. He leaned back in his chair taking a sip, shrugging his shoulders, “You know, we just talked. You happened to come up, that’s all.”

Gabby had leaned forward as he had leaned back, narrowing her eyes with a half smile, “So, you just happened to be talking to Cade and I just happened to come up in conversation. Right,” she was sarcastic, rolling her eyes. She threw her head back with a laugh, like she had done at the reception.

It was becoming harder for Bradley to contain his grin. He loved watching everything about her. She was a mystery to him, but her every move made him want to embrace her and kiss her passionately as if his life depended on it. It was taking all his self-control not to do just that. He had made up his mind he would take things slowly with her. She had run away once before and he wouldn’t allow that to happen again. But, he knew he had to make her realize that there was something there that was yearning to be explored.

“Persistent little thing, aren’t you. No fooling you. Okay. So, when I called Cade to get Sam’s number, I asked him to tell me more about you. You know where you went to school, how old you were. I just don’t want to get myself into any trouble. I know you were drinking at the wedding, but I just wanted to make sure you were
old enough
.” He repeated the words she had told him at the wedding about her age. “And, as it turns out, you’re not old enough to be drinking, but this is private dining, so I took care of that whole situation.”

“Oh, but you still asked. So you didn’t believe me. Right. Because I was clearly trying to hide my age to seduce
you
and have sex with
you
as a minor. No, if I recall, that would that would have been
you
. Give me a friggin’ break.” She couldn’t control the harshness of the comment, she felt like he was patronizing her about her age again. Again, in too many ways they were just too different. This would never work.

“No, you were certainly not trying to seduce me, more like trying to wound my ego, break my heart, I dunno. Did you like how you felt when you walked away? Do you prefer that emotion to
this
?” He smirked as he cocked his head to one side throwing his glass of champagne back and finishing off his glass. He motioned for the waiter to bring a refill. “Well, I doubt very seriously I broke your heart in the five minutes I knew you, being a bit dramatic, eh? Now as for wounding your ego, now that I would believe.” She grinned and put her head down only slightly embarrassed, but also proud of the feistiness he brought out in her.

The waiter refilled their glasses and then brought their appetizer, Lobster 3-Way. “I hope you like seafood,” Bradley grinned. “Actually, I am allergic.” Gabby tried really hard to keep a straight face. She wished she had been videotaping his response to her comment. He nearly spewed his drink across the table at her, or maybe he looked like he might choke. She had mercy on him and put her hand over her chest diagonally as she busted out laughing. “Just kidding, geez, don’t choke over there! Again, it was mighty presumptuous for you to assume that I liked seafood. You know, a lot of people can’t stand it or really are allergic to it. Actually you presumed a lot of things, didn’t you,” she grinned. “I can order something else if you don’t like it. I’m so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking. I just wanted to show you I had put a lot of thought into this. I told you I don’t really do dates, serious relationships. I told you at the beach, though—I’m trying.” She couldn’t let this go on any longer, he was being so sweet. “I don’t get to eat a lot of lobster, but I do love seafood in general.” She extended her fingers to where they met his on the table and when they touched she felt as though she had been shocked, the electricity from his touch was so intense and she craved more. “That wasn’t very nice, you know! Your little stunt.” He was trying to sound wounded, with a seductive smile and narrowed eyes he let out a slight laugh as he shook his head from side to side, falling not so slowly for the girl across the table. With every word that came out of her mouth, he grew more fond of her. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist,” she tilted her head and her smile curved to the side as she blinked her eyes in an innocent way. She lifted one shoulder up as her head went in the opposite direction. Reaching over, she placed a piece of lobster ravioli on her plate and cut a small bit. “Mmmm,” she murmured as she closed her eyes tight, a slight closed smile escaped as she savored the succulent taste of the delicious appetizer. Bradley watched her with amusement, “You like, huh?”