Fortune's Deception (7 page)

“Brittney, stop.”

She stood still, waited for him to say something. She had nothing to say, too afraid of what might come out of her mouth if she looked at him, if he said something sweet.

Don’t let me go. Hold me tonight. Make me feel better.

No, she didn’t want to admit any of that.

“Would you like to get together sometime this week? Go out to dinner, see a movie?”

She closed her eyes for the briefest moment. Why did he even bother? Why did he insist on treating this like something more, treating
her
like something more? “I don’t know.”

“Britt.” His fingers loosened around her arm, glided up and down her bare flesh. Goose bumps formed in their wake and she realized nothing felt as good as his simple touch, his flesh pressed against hers. “You need to trust me.”

“I can’t.” She’d trusted no one for so long, certainly never trusted any man. If he’d said “trust me” to her a month ago, she would’ve laughed in his face.

Now she wanted to believe in him so badly, but her mind wouldn’t allow it, didn’t know how to allow it.

“You willingly give me your body but you won’t give me anything else?”

She turned around, angry. And embarrassed. She didn’t need him to judge her, she shouldn’t have to explain herself. “I’ve told you from the start that I don’t do relationships, Charlie. This is nothing but good sex between us. Yet you insist on making it into something more.”

“That’s because it is something more, but you’re too damn stubborn or scared to realize it. Is that what it is, Brittney? Are you scared of me, of us? I have to admit I’m scared too.” He pulled her close, his hand cupping her cheek, forcing her eyes to meet his. “I’ve never experienced anything so intense with another woman before. Ever.”

“It’s just sex,” she whispered again, her words weak. His thumb stroked her lips once, twice. She wished he would kiss her.

“Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel good. I know better.” He brushed his lips against hers in the briefest kiss and her mouth followed his when he broke apart, wishing for more. Bitter disappointment filled her.

“Do you know everything, Charlie? You sure act like you do.” She yanked away from him, curled her arms in front of her to rub her arms up and down with her hands. Trying to ward off the sudden chill overtaking her.

He ran a hand through his hair in what looked like a frustrated gesture. “I wish I did. I wish I knew what you were hiding from me, or why you’re so damn scared to get involved in an actual relationship. But I won’t know any of that until you talk to me, really talk to me. I guess I’ll just have to be patient and wait you out.”

“You’re willing to wait me out.”

“You look surprised.”

She was. No one waited her out, no one cared to hang around long enough in the first place. His statement stunned her, made her wonder at his motives.

Typical. He said something nice and she was immediately suspicious.

“Remember how you said there was more to me than meets the eye? Well, I feel the same way about you, Brittney. And I definitely think discovering that, discovering you, is going to be worth the wait.” He kissed her again, then opened the front door and practically pushed her onto the doorstep. “You’re about to find out I’m a very patient man.”

“Are you and Charlie dating or what?”

Startled at Lauren’s sudden question, Brittney dropped her fork onto her plate with a loud clang that rang throughout the noisy restaurant. “Lauren, I told you to wait until she’s ready to say something. You know how Brittney is.” Maddie glared at Lauren then turned a sweet smile on Brittney. “You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.”

“What do you mean, you know how Brittney is?” She couldn’t help but take offense at Maddie’s comment.

Maddie sighed, set her fork down. “When it comes to relationships, you’re gun shy. Heck, we’re all gun shy, though you have more reason to be than any of us. We’ve had suspicions for a while that you’re seeing Charlie, but I told Lauren we needed to wait until you’re ready to admit it.”

“I couldn’t wait any longer, I had to know.” Lauren sipped from her glass of iced tea before she continued. “The way you two mooned over each other last week in his office. Just how you say his name clinched it for me. I know you have your flings, your guys on the side, but I’ve never seen you react over a man like this.”

“I did not moon over him last week,” Brittney muttered, at a loss. She knew Lauren was right, she
had
mooned over him in his office when they all met to discuss the project. He kept shooting intimate looks her way, his eyes seeming to say they shared a secret and it thrilled her. Made her feel good.

It had been six weeks since that first official date at his house and she still wasn’t tired of him. Amazingly, he wasn’t tired of her either. They’d spent many evenings together going out to dinner or watching movies at his house, Lou the giant black Lab reclining on the couch with them. Charlie was so sweet, so thoughtful, always taking care of her in every way but one.

He hadn’t made any overtly sexual moves on her since that last time in his office. He was slowly driving her mad, she wanted him so badly. Night after night with him had her going home to yet another lonely session with her trusty vibrator. But it wasn’t enough. She wanted the real man.

Brittney had a feeling he was waiting for her. She still hadn’t confessed her childhood secrets to him, the way she’d lived, the terrible treatment she’d received from her mother. The rape at the hands of a perverted eighteen-year-old when she’d been in her early teens and stuck at a foster home. She hadn’t confessed any of it.

She was afraid he would turn her away if she did.

But withholding her secrets made him withhold sex from her, she knew it. He was playing dirty when all she wanted was to feel his body on hers again. Inside of her.

Oh, they kissed long into the night. Wonderful make-out sessions on his couch that left her dizzy with longing when he finally pulled away. The man was a master with his mouth and his hands. On more than one occasion she’d come at just his mouth on hers and his hand rubbing her crotch. Once he even came after a particularly vigorous night that ended in dry humping, the both of them sprawled on the floor. She’d felt like a teenager all over again.

“Are you dating him, Britt? Come on, you can tell us,” Lauren coaxed, her hazel eyes beguiling.

Brittney’s cheeks heated and she looked away. “Okay, yes, fine, we’re dating. But please don’t make a big deal about this, cause it’s really not.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. Charlie’s so nice and he’s very handsome.” Maddie clasped her hands together, her expression wistful. She was the definite romantic of the group. “Is it serious?”

Brittney shrugged. “I have no idea.”

“You’ve never dated anyone like this before so it has to be serious.” Leave it to Lauren to figure that out.

“He scares me.” Brittney gulped, knew she had to continue when her friends turned questioning gazes her way. “I think he really likes me, and I think I…like him. But I don’t do this kind of stuff, and once he finds out about the real me, he’ll leave. I know it.”

“The real you? What are you talking about, honey? This is the real you. What you see is what you get with Brittney.” Lauren shook her head, clearly confused.

“Not true. He doesn’t know anything about my past.” Brittney released a shuddering breath. It had been hard to even mutter that word.
Past
. It followed her everywhere she went.

Though her statement wasn’t one-hundred-percent true. She had dropped hints here and there, looking for some sort of reaction from Charlie. She’d mentioned her crappy mother more than once, told him briefly about her debilitating drug habit. The man hadn’t batted an eye, just nodded his head in sympathy. He was probably an excellent poker player.

She’d even mentioned her stay in foster care one afternoon when they’d discussed the charity plans. How scared she’d been when she’d admitted it to Charlie, but she’d wanted him to understand her motive, the reason behind her passion for the center. He’d said all the right things, given her a hug, praised her for her compassion and generosity for doing what she was doing.

The man was perfect, ideal. No way could that be true.

“Your past isn’t what makes you, Brittney, you’ve more than proved that.” Maddie reached across the table and grabbed Brittney’s hand, startling her from her thoughts. “If you allow it to hold you back, it will. And you don’t have to tell him everything.”

Problem was, she did and didn’t want to. If she wanted this relationship with Charlie to flourish, she needed to be honest. Completely, no-holds-barred honest. But she was afraid he would hear the details of her troubled childhood and flee like a raving madman.

She didn’t know what to do.

“I bet he’s a lot more understanding than you give him credit for.”

Brittney glanced in Lauren’s direction, saw the tenderness in her friend’s eyes. She was probably right, Charlie would listen to her, never say a word, and hug her when she

was finished. Hold her tight and tell her everything was going to be okay. She would believe him too, because she knew that Charlie would make everything all right.

She had to tell him, then. She had to give him this so he could give her his gift right back. His body—maybe even his love.

“So can I tell you the name I came up with for the center?” She was desperate to change the subject, bring it back to what she had planned on discussing with her friends anyway. The children’s center that was now in full development.

“Of course. I couldn’t come up with anything after you asked.” Maddie smiled.

“How about Three Sisters?” Brittney sat up straighter, her heart pounding hard in her chest. She wanted to show these two women how much they meant to her and she couldn’t think of any better way than naming the center after how she felt about them. “That’s what I think of you guys, as my sisters, the only family I really have. The Three Sisters Children’s Center—I think it has a nice ring to it.”

“Oh.” Maddie rested her hand on her chest, tears forming in her eyes. “I think that’s wonderful, sweetie.”

“I do too.” Lauren’s voice was gruff and she actually dabbed at the corner of her eyes for the briefest moment. “It’s perfect.”

Brittney grinned. “You should see the plans. I met with the architect yesterday and they’re coming along beautifully. The property has already gone into escrow and Charlie has rounded up two other sponsors to join us in the funding. It’s going to be beautiful, all of the bedrooms themed for boys or girls. I hope you can volunteer there, because I plan on spending practically all of my free time at the center once it’s finished.”

“I will definitely volunteer, of course.” Lauren nodded.

“Me too,” Maddie said.

Warmth washed over her as she realized that finally she felt good about herself. She was doing something right, something that had meaning, that would give back to the community. She could take care of all of those children who reminded her of her own young self, give them somewhere to stay where they wouldn’t be so frightened. Where they would feel safe and protected. Something she had rarely experienced in her youth.

“You seem happy, Britt. Really happy.”

“I am happy, Maddie. I’ve been focused on putting this center together. I haven’t gone on a shopping spree in weeks. I bet Charlie’s thrilled.”

“I’m sure Charlie is thrilled with you in more ways than one,” Lauren said with a snicker.

She wouldn’t be too sure about that. She needed to talk to him. Tell him everything, like she did so long ago with the girls. Once she got it out of the way then she could deal. If he accepted her with open arms then wonderful. But if he turned her away without any more explanation, disgusted, she could deal with that too.

Hopefully.

***

The ringing was insistent, sounding throughout the quiet of his house and Charlie sat up in bed, rubbed his forehead with the palm of his hand. He glanced at the clock, saw it was after midnight. Who the hell could be ringing his doorbell so late?

There was only one answer and deep down he knew it.
Brittney
. He hadn’t seen her in days, had only talked to her briefly on the phone and she hadn’t sounded like her usual self. No, she’d sounded distracted, almost shy. A little wary.

Had he come on too strong with the insist-they-date stuff? Was she pissed that he wouldn’t give in to his animal urges and fuck her all through the night like he wanted to? His hand was cramped from the constant masturbation and he’d been humiliated when he’d actually come in his jeans that one night a few weeks ago. Why he didn’t just do her he didn’t know. It was ridiculous to deny them both what they craved so badly.

But he needed her to see how much he cared for her. He couldn’t help that he was falling in love with her. That realization had been like a punch in the gut this very evening after he got off the phone with her. He’d resolved then and there that he wasn’t going to deny himself any longer.

It wasn’t going to be about animalistic fucking, though. No, he was going to make love to her. Slow and sure until she nearly died from the pleasure of it all. He just wanted

to give her everything he had, show her the depth of the emotion he felt for her. Hopefully she would return the feeling, maybe even open up to him and share whatever wounded secrets she held so close to her heart.

She’d revealed odd bits and pieces about her past, usually in unguarded moments. It was as if she didn’t realize what she was saying and he certainly didn’t acknowledge it. He didn’t want to spook her, didn’t want to point out her revelations for fear she’d clam up and watch the way she spoke.

Damn it, he didn’t want her to have to watch the way she behaved around him. She should be comfortable, feel safe. Her childhood sounded rough, a stable, nurturing family nonexistent. Was it foolish of him to want to give that to her? Provide her with a stability and love that maybe she thought didn’t exist?

Charlie planned to prove to her that it did exist. That he would be the one to shower her with it.

Loud knocking now sounded on the door and he hurried, afraid she would wake up the entire damn neighborhood. Lou barked excitedly as if he knew who stood on the other side of the door and he quickly let the dog into the garage. He did not need his freaking dog distracting the woman he loved, which Lou had a way of doing. It was all about him and her tonight.

He threw open the door and Brittney stood there, a goofy grin on her face. She wore a clingy brown halter dress, the skirt cut high revealing those sexy legs. The neckline plunged low, showing off her delicious cleavage. She wobbled on her feet, giggled and walked into the house as if she belonged there.

Which in fact, she did.

“Charlie, I need to talk to you.”

He shut the door and turned the lock, wondering why her voice sounded different. She stopped in front of him, rested her hand on his bare chest, her fingers burning his already hot skin. He took one look into her eyes and realized what was up.

She was most likely a little drunk.

“What’s going on, Britt? It’s awfully late.”

“I knew you’d want to see me. Especially because I have something to tell you.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed the lightest kiss to his chin. “It’s confession time.”

He rested his hands on her shoulders. “You don’t have to do this.”

“I want to.” She took his hand, led him into the living room. “Come on.”

They sat on the couch, their bodies pressed close and she snuggled closer to him, rested her head on his chest. He slipped his arm around her shoulders, ran a comforting hand up and down her arm. She sighed, her lips tickling his skin as she talked.

“You always know how to touch me, Charlie, to make me feel better. How do you know?”

He shrugged. It was all instinct. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together. I’ve gotten used to figuring out your moods, your needs.”

“We have spent a lot of time together and yet I don’t tell you anything.” She paused, her breathing heavy, as if she had just completed a long race. He squeezed her shoulders, wanting her to know it was okay. His own breathing increasing. Her reaction worried him. Scared him. He hoped she was okay.

“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, baby.” And he meant it.

“I must.” She breathed deep and then the words gushed out of her. “My mother was a druggie who fucked every man she met. She fucked so many men she didn’t even know who my father was. She had the number narrowed down to four.”