Finding Him: Second Chance Billionaire Romance (Finding Love Book 1), page 31
I run my hand nervously through my hair. I’d like nothing more than to have lunch with her, but I can’t today. Jesus Christ, how am I going to get out of this one without lying? I feel like I’ve been deceiving her a lot lately, but with good reason. This, however, is on a totally different level.
I sigh. “I wish I could, but I just can’t swing it today. I’m sorry.” I feel like such a cad.
“That’s okay,” she says. I can hear the disappointment in her voice, and it makes me feel even shittier. “It was worth a try.”
“How about we organise lunch for tomorrow? I’ll move mountains to make it happen.”
“I’ll settle for tomorrow.”
As I go to speak again, Rose buzzes me. “Hold on a minute, babe.”
“Yes, Rose.”
“Mr. Cavanagh, Amanda Campbell just called. She said she’s running about twenty minutes late for your lunch date.” Tilting my head back, I pinch the bridge of my nose. Shit.
“Thanks, Rose.”
“Are you there, Brooke?” I say, placing the phone back to my ear as I silently pray she didn’t hear that, but knowing she did.
“You’re having lunch with Amanda? Please tell me it’s not Amanda your ex … the waitress from the restaurant.”
I blow out a long breath. “Brooke, it’s not like that. Let me explain.”
“Oh my god, it is her. I … I can’t believe you.”
Before I get a chance to speak again, the line goes dead. “Fuck!”
I burst out of the lift as soon as the doors open and run through the apartment. “Brooke!” I call out at the top of my voice. Please still be here. “Brooke.”
I’m pretty sure I forced Chris to break every road rule on the drive over here.
“Mr. Cavanagh,” Jill says, exiting my office. She has a dusting cloth clutched in her hand.
“Where’s Brooke?”
I’ve been calling her nonstop since she hung up on me, but her phone continues to go to voicemail.
“I think she’s upstairs. Is everything okay?”
I don’t bother replying as I rush towards the stairs, taking them two at a time. I’m relieved she’s still here; I was worried she may have left already.
Flinging open the door, my heart drops the moment I see her packing her suitcase.
“Brooke.” I waste no time closing the distance between us, but when I reach for her, she shuns away.
“Don’t touch me,” she says with her back still to me.
My hands drop down by my sides, but when I observe her wiping her eyes, I know she’s crying. Stepping forward, I wrap my arms around her tightly from behind.
“Babe.” She struggles to free herself, but there’s no way I’m releasing her until she hears me out. “It’s not what you think.”
“I was right all along. You lawyers are all the same. I feel like such an idiot.”
Her comment stings, but I let it go. I’m nothing like them!
“Amanda called my office this morning. It’s the first time I’ve heard from her since the restaurant, I swear to you. She asked if I’d represent her; she’s chasing Brent for child support, amongst other things. I told her no, that I couldn’t help. I don’t want anything to do with either of them. Please believe me.” I’m rambling, but I need her to understand.
When she stops resisting, I release my grip a little and turn her in my arms so she’s facing me. The moment I see her red swollen eyes, my heart breaks.
“But you thought you’d have lunch with her for old times’ sake?” she says, choking on her words as she speaks.
I’m responsible for her distress, and I hate myself for hurting her.
“No. I didn’t want to do that either.” I let out a long breath. “When I told her I couldn’t help, she started to cry. She said she’s struggling to get by on her own, that her kids are doing without because of it. I felt bad for her. I told her I could give her some advice as a friend and recommend a good family law lawyer, but that was it.”
“Over lunch?” she challenges, arching an eyebrow.
“Lunch was her idea. I should never have agreed to it.”
“Then why did you?”
“To be honest, I felt sorry for her. I also didn’t want her in my building. I was going to tell you everything tonight. I just didn’t want to do it over the phone.” She buries her face in my chest and starts to cry again, so I tighten my hold on her. “She means nothing to me. It’s the truth. Even if I didn’t have you, I still wouldn’t touch her. That part of my life is over. I love you. You’re all I want … all I’ll ever want.” Cupping her face in my hands, I tilt her head back slightly so I can see her. The pads of my thumbs brush lightly across her cheeks to wipe away her tears. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you straight away. I just thought it would be better face-to-face. Please forgive me, I don’t want this to change things between us. I can’t lose you.”
“I thought I could trust you, but now I’m doubting everything we have.”
“Fuck.” I glance up at the ceiling. How am I going to fix this? “You can trust me,” I state, moving my gaze back to her. “I would never disrespect, or hurt you like that.”
“Is she the reason you’ve been putting in such long hours lately?”
“What? No! I told you, today was the first time I’ve heard from her. I’ve just had some big things going on that are monopolising all my time, and before you ask, there’s nobody else either. Please tell me you believe me?”
Tears shine in her eyes, but she remains silent, so I know she’s still harbouring doubts. I have to do something.
Taking a step backwards, I pull my phone out of my pocket and dial Rose. I’m not sure if this will help, or make the situation worse, but I need to try.
“Rose,” I say when she answers the call. “Can you text Amanda Campbell’s number to me please?”
“Of course, Mr. Cavanagh,” Rose replies. “I’ll do it right away.”
My request has Brooke shaking her head in disgust, and when she goes to turn away from me, I reach out and grasp her elbow. “Don’t.”
“Fuck you,” she snaps, thrashing her arm, trying to free it from my embrace. “Let me go.”
“Brooke … baby,” I plead, sliding my arm around her waist, and resting my forehead on her shoulder. “Give me five minutes. I’m going to call Amanda and put her on speaker. If you still don’t believe me after that, I promise I won’t stop you from leaving.”
It will kill me to let her walk away, but I’m a man of my word.
When my phone chimes with the text from Rose, I let go of Brooke and open it. I click on Amanda’s number and press call, the entire time praying that this doesn’t backfire in my face.
“Amanda,” I say, the moment she answers.
“Logan, hi.” She sounds breathless. “I’m almost at the restaurant. The traffic in the city is horrendous, so I got the taxi driver to let me out, and I’m walking the rest of the way.”
Brooke’s back is still to me, but she hasn’t moved, so that’s a plus.
“Actually, that’s why I’m calling. I’m cancelling lunch.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m an idiot. I never should’ve agreed to meet you in the first place.”
“Then why did you?”
“If I’m being honest, I don’t know. When you started to cry, the compassionate side of me felt bad for you … for your kids. But what I failed to realise, is that I don’t owe you anything.”
“But we have a past.”
“We had a past. One I’d rather forget.”
“You don’t mean that,” she dares to say which pisses me off.
“Yes, I do. You betrayed me in the worst possible way, Amanda. Not only were you sleeping with my best friend behind my back, but you also ended things between us via text. On my fucking birthday! Before blocking my number like a coward so I couldn’t even respond.”
Brooke turns to face me. I never told her that part of the story. It’s one of the things I struggled with most. At first, I thought it was a joke, but when I tried to call Brent only to find he’d blocked my number as well, I knew it was true. That kind of betrayal, from two people you care so much about? It’s a hard pill to swallow. I was never granted any kind of closure. To this day it still burns.
“I’m sorry,” Amanda whispers into the phone.
“What you two did, it changed me. You killed my trust. It took me a long time to work through it, but I realise now you did me a huge favour.” My eyes lock with Brooke’s as I speak. “My fractured heart sat in a state of limbo for ten long years, just waiting for the right person to come along and put those pieces back together. So, for that I thank you.”
“Why would you thank me?”
My free hand reaches up to caress the side of Brooke’s face.
“If it wasn’t for your deception, I never would’ve found what I have now … a beautiful, healthy relationship with the kindest, sweetest and most loyal person I know. The woman I love more than anything in this world. The one I plan on growing old with.”
With that, I end the call and drop my phone to the floor.
“I love you with every fibre of my being … please never doubt that.”
“I love you too, Hot Stuff,” she says, her voice catching.
Thank Christ for that.
Pushing up onto her toes, she places her lips against mine.
I walk us back towards the bed. I refuse to leave this room until I know with all certainty that we’re going to be okay. The meetings I have this afternoon will have to wait. None of that is as important to me as she is.
Chapter 48
Brooke
Lifting my arms above my head and straightening my legs, I stretch my body before rolling over. I’m wearing a huge smile, but the moment I see Logan’s side of the bed is empty, it instantly drops from my face. I’d been looking forward to this all week: our first weekend off with just the two of us.
John moved into his own place during the week. He’s renting a small apartment until his property settlement with his wife goes through. It’s not far from here, so I’ll still get to see him often.
Throwing back the covers, I rise from the bed and go in search of my man. He’s been run off his feet with work, and it shows. He looks worn out. I was hoping we could spend a lazy day in bed. We both need it.
“Good morning,” Jill says when I enter the kitchen.
“Morning. Do you know where Logan is?”
“He had to go into the office.”
“But it’s Saturday!” I say, feeling hurt that he didn’t mention this to me last night, or at the very least wake me before he left.
Is he really at the office?
I never would have doubted him before, but things have changed. It might just be my insecurities, but that seed has been planted, and I can’t seem to shake it. While he has constantly been reassuring me since the Amanda incident, I can’t help wondering if he would have even told me about his lunch date with her if I hadn’t caught him out? What would have happened between them if he had met her that day? I want to believe what we have is different, but at the end of the day can anyone ever really be sure?
“He left you a note. It’s on the counter.”
“Thanks,” I say, picking it up.
“Are you okay? You look upset.”
“I’m fine.” I’m probably overreacting. Or it might just be the birthday blues.
“If you say so, dear. Coffee?”
“Please.”
Although I’m upset, I waste no time tearing open the envelope.
I’ve organised for Michelle to pick you up at ten. She’s taking you for a day of pampering at the spa. My treat. Tonight, we’re going out on a date, just the two of us. Be ready by six. Wear the blue dress.
Love,
Logan. xx
Refolding the note, I swallow down the bitter taste of disappointment. I don’t know why I’m so upset that he never mentioned my birthday. Does he even realise it’s today? I haven’t mentioned it. Or am I more concerned about where he is? I never suspected Jake was cheating on me every time he told me he was working back; I just believed him. Look how that turned out for me.
“Here you go, dear,” Jill says, placing the hot coffee down in front of me.
“Thank you.” Standing, I pick up the mug. “I’m going to take this upstairs and drink it on the balcony.” As much as I care for Jill, I’m not up for talking right now.
“Okay. Would you like me to bring your breakfast up to you?”
“No, thanks. I’m not very hungry this morning.”
I hear her sigh as I walk away.
My mood has turned around somewhat by the time I arrive back home in the afternoon. It is just after four, and I’ve had the most amazing day with Logan’s sister. We spent two hours at the day spa being pampered, followed by a long lunch, and then she took me to her hairdresser.
Michelle didn’t realise it was my birthday either, and I didn’t tell her. It was just nice to do something special today. My mum always made a huge fuss about birthdays when she was alive, but Jake often forgot.
I didn’t hear from Logan all day, which concerns me. I almost brought it up with Michelle so I could hear her take on Amanda, but I decided against it. I have to let this go or it’s going to destroy us.
Arriving back home, I can’t help the smile when I see Logan waiting for me in the foyer.
“There’s my girl,” he says, his smile matching my own. When he opens his arms, I practically leap into them. “I missed you so much today.”
“I missed you too, Hot Stuff.” Drawing back, my eyes meet his. “You look tired.”
“I am. It’s been a long day.”
“Why don’t we give tonight a miss and stay home. We can go on a date another time.”
“No can do, I’m afraid. Besides, I can sleep in tomorrow.” Releasing me, he reaches for my hand. “Come, I have something for you.”
“You do? What?”
“It’s in our bedroom.”
“Oh,” I say, laughing. I should’ve known … this man has a one-track mind.
When we enter the room, he leads me towards the bed where a small gift bag sits on top of the covers. Picking it up, he hands it to me.
“Happy birthday, babe.”
“You remembered?”
“How could I not? I’m sorry it’s taken me,” he pauses to look down at his watch, “until four twenty-three to say it. But it was five o’clock when I left this morning, and you looked too peaceful sleeping. It didn’t feel right to mention it in the note or say over the phone. I wanted to do it in person.”
“So, tonight isn’t really a date night?”
“No, it’s I’m taking the love of my life out on the town for her birthday, which was previously disguised as a date night.”
“You’re the sweetest.”
“If you’re lucky, there may even be some dancing involved.” He cocks an eyebrow as his arms slide around my waist, drawing me closer.
“You hate dancing.”
“Not with you, I don’t. You’ve changed me for the better. Now anything that involves you is my favourite thing to do. Plus, it means I get to hold you close, and that’s always a good thing.”
“Well, I look forward to that part of the evening then.”
“Open your gift.”
Removing the tissue paper on top, I pull the small box out of the bag and open the lid. “Hot Stuff,” I gasp.
“It’s not as extravagant as the necklace I gave you when we went to the ballet, but I had this one custom-made. A ballerina, for my ballerina.”
“It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” I pull out the fine gold chain on which the ballerina pendant hangs. The tutu she’s wearing is diamond encrusted. “I love it.”
“I’m glad,” he says, brushing my lips with his.
“I’m going to wear it tonight with my blue dress.”
“I was hoping you would. Your hair looks nice,” he says, wrapping one of the soft curls around his finger.
“After lunch, Michelle took me to her hairdresser’s. I had my nails done too.” I hold my hands out to show off my French polish. “Thank you for the day of pampering. It was nice. I also enjoyed spending time with your sister. I really like her.”
“I’m glad, babe. She really likes you too. Hopefully, you’ll become good friends.”
“I’d like that.”
I’ve had plenty of friends over the years, but never anyone I’ve been exceptionally close to like a sister. Maybe it’s because I’m an only child, but I’ve always longed for a relationship like that.
“You look nervous,” I say as we ride in the back of the limousine to our unknown destination.
“I’m okay,” he replies, placing his hand on my leg. “I just hope tonight is special for you.”
“I’m with you, so it already is.”
He smiles. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”
“Yes, but I don’t mind hearing it again.” My fingertips skim over the ballerina necklace adorning my neck. It looks beautiful paired with the baby blue one-shouldered dress I’m wearing. The sheer chiffon outer layer accentuates the femininity of the gown. “You don’t look so bad yourself, Mr. Cavanagh,” I say, arching a brow as I lean over to brush my lips against his.
He looks down at his watch for the umpteenth time before gazing out the window. “We’re almost there.”
Is he nervous about tonight, or is something else playing on his mind?
“Almost where?” I ask, hoping for a hint.
“Almost at our destination,” he replies, chuckling.
Reaching into the pocket of his jacket, he pulls out one of his ties.
“Oh, I thought you were opting for a more casual look tonight by not wearing one. I think it looks sexy with the top buttons of your dress shirt undone. And on the plus side, it’s less for me to undo when we get home later.”
“The tie isn’t for me—it’s for you. I needed a blindfold, and it’s the best I could come up with on short notice.”
