Whisper My Name Read online

  WHISPER MY NAME

  Renee Wynn

  Copyright ©2015 by Wynn, Renee

  Smashwords Edition

  ISBN 978-0-9907672-9-9

  First Edition Electronic November 2015

  Published by Revel Publishing LLC

  This is a book of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead or events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. The reproduction or utilization of this work in any form or in any part by any means electronic, photocopying or other means available now or in the future is forbidden without written permission and/or consent.

  For permission please contact Revel Publishing, PO Box 12091, Wilmington, De 19850 or [email protected]

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, it would be appreciated if you purchased a copy for each recipient.

  Thank you for sharing this journey with the author.

  ~Whisper My Name ~

  Supermodel Danielle Evans headed home to Dallas for her godson’s christening and for some much needed rest. What she didn’t expect was to encounter her teenage crush and her best friend’s brother, billionaire Brody Beaumont. He was everything she didn’t want in a man, drop-dead gorgeous, brooding and a womanizer. She made it her business to stay clear of him.

  Brody Beaumont wanted Danielle Evans the first moment he saw her. He knew she was his sister’s best friend but didn’t remember her as a teenager. It didn’t matter. He was determined she would be his. However, there was one problem… he didn’t do commitment.

  Dedication

  For Michael and Derek, the loves of my life.

  Chapter One

  Brody Beaumont III sat slouched in a chair away from the noise of the music and the chatter. The ballroom in the Sinclair’s mansion was crowded with friends and family mingling. Everyone had just returned to the house after the morning christening of his best friend, Ashton Sinclair, and his wife, Nicole’s second son. Their sons were a light in his life and he loved being their godfather, but not the mandatory celebrations. He was known for a lot of things but being idle wasn’t one of them.

  He felt the eyes of the women in the room on him. There were young, older, married and single women staring at him but he ignored them. He hated being the center of attention.

  After all these years, there were still people curious about his heritage and him. He valued his privacy as much as he despised being a topic of conversation.

  He’d been left on the doorstep of an orphanage wrapped in a Native American woven blanket with a note stating that he was five days old, a good baby and to please take care of him. A few weeks later he was adopted by Claire and Brodus Beaumont II.

  He swirled the whiskey in the glass, trying not to look bored. Then he saw her—again. He straightened in his chair and stared.

  Danielle Evans, a tall, slender and brown-legged beauty, had captured his attention from the first moment he saw her in the church, flitted from one guest to another.

  Brody had noticed throughout the day how she casted coveted looks his way. He pretended he hadn’t seen them. Pursed lips and a frown on her lovely face made him aware she knew he was watching her. He could tell she didn’t like it and that fact alone excited him. A woman had never made him so aware and alert until he set eyes upon her.

  He valued honesty, the keenness to focus, wisdom and complete control over mind and body. He’d caught the quick looks she threw his way, it fueled his need to get her into his bed. Never in his life had he let emotions rule him—until now.

  Dressed in a short, pale-pink dress with a wide, gray belt cinched at her small waist, it flared at the end, showing off her long legs. His mind shifted, imagining those legs wrapped like a bowtie around his waist.

  Her laughter, inviting and captivating, continued while she moved from one person to another, graceful and poised.

  “What are you looking at?” His sister Sally, flopped in the chair beside him, grabbed the drink out of his hand and took a sip. “Ugh.” Her nose turned up. “Nasty.”

  Brody retrieved the glass from her hand without taking his eyes off of Danielle. “It’s not for youngsters.” He swallowed the remains, stood and placed the glass on the tray of a passing waiter. He kissed his sister’s cheek, and turned to walk away.

  “She’s not your type, Brody,” she said.

  He stopped. His gut clenched. He turned.

  “Who?” He kept his face neutral.

  “Danielle. Although she’s a supermodel, she’s a good girl. Leave. Her. Alone.”

  “What makes you think I’m interested?”

  “You’ve been watching her. I’ve been watching you.”

  “All men notice gorgeous girls.”

  “Don’t do it.”

  “Stop worrying little sister.” He kissed her cheek. “I’ll give a warning before I pounced.”

  ###

  She noticed him. Dressed in a tailored black suit, a starched white shirt, and no tie, he stood out. He had a lean tan face, with beautiful green eyes and long, black lashes. His mouth was wide and thin-lipped, his chin narrow and strong. His thick jet-black hair glistened like black diamonds against his shoulders. He was the only man, in the room, whose hair flowed past his shoulders—dangerous and wild. It was right for him.

  Danielle Evans tried to ignore Brody Beaumont’s intense gaze. She busied herself making sure that the guests were comfortable.

  The blatant stares of the men and the women were felt. It didn’t bother her. She was used to it in her profession. Being one of the world’s top fashion and runway models meant she was always on display. However, at twenty-eight she couldn’t remain at the top forever.

  She peered at Brody again. He was one outrageously handsome man. Heir apparent to an oil and gas dynasty, Beaumont Oil and Mockingbird Leasing, Brody was known as a brilliant strategist, but his reputation with women was legendary.

  Throughout the christening ceremony, his eyes had stalked her every movement. She’d begun wondered if there were smudges on her face or lipstick on her teeth. Danielle couldn’t very well pretend he didn’t exist; since he was the godfather to her godmother role to baby Aiden.

  After all she’d gone through with her ex, she had learned to mask her emotions in public. But it was something about his brooding stare that unsettled her. Brody looked dangerous and that wasn’t a road she was going to travel again. She would ignore him like she did every other man that tried to capture her attention. Most of them gave up, realizing she wasn’t interested but he was a different breed. It seemed the more she pretended he was invisible, the more he made his presence known.

  “Hello Danielle.”

  She took a deep breath and turned around. “Mr. Beaumont.”

  “Call me Brody.”

  “Okay. Brody.”

  The bold straight nose, the finely defined mouth with a sensually lower lip, caused her to tingle in places she’d thought were long dead. She stepped back. He moved closer and touched her arm. His bold gaze captured her attention. She found herself lost in their depths. A slight shake of her head was meant to clear the confusion seemed to compound it. Did he notice how he affected her? She took another step back to give both of them breathing room and tried to calm the pounding in her chest that seemed louder in her own ears.

  “I haven’t been a good co-host,” he said.

  “Everything has been taken care of,” Danielle replied nonchalantly.

  “So, you’re friends with my sister, Sally?”

  “Yes.”

  “For
a long time?”

  “Since we were twelve.”

  “I don’t remember you.”

  “Why should you? You were much older and away at college.”

  “Yeah. I guess I should’ve listened when she talked about her friends.”

  “We weren’t important.”

  “Why do you say that?”

  “Never mind. I have heard a lot about you from Sally.”

  “All good, I hope.”

  “She’s your little sister, what do you think?” She shrugged and offered a tiny smile. “She gave her truth of the situations.”

  He lifted a brow. “That bad, uh?”

  She couldn’t help but notice how impeccable he looked. A gold Rolex with two small diamonds adorned his wrist. His soft Italian soft leather shoes appearing to be made to fit his feet, and completed his look.

  Danielle tapped a finger to her chin. “Well, she did tell about the torture you administered when she was a kid.”

  “Really? I don’t recall. It was more the other way around. Sally could be a menace.”

  “Like the time she spied on you making out with one of your girlfriends? When you caught her, you locked her in her room until your parents came home.”

  “That was an emergency. Seeing eyes peering at you from behind a skunk mask, while trying to get to second base wasn’t nice. I couldn’t get the girl to stop screaming and Sally from laughing.”

  Danielle laughed. He captured her hands, holding them in his. Surprised, she abruptly stopped laughing.

  “I like your laugh.”

  Danielle cleared her throat and tugged at her hand. He held firm. She tugged harder. He let go, but then ran a finger across her cheek. Air hung between them, creating a bridge of silence.

  “There you two are.” Her best friend, Nicole, along with her husband, Ashton Sinclair interrupted the silence.

  Startled, Danielle offered her friend a tentative smile. “Hey, you finish feeding my godson?”

  Nicole chuckled. “Yes. Aiden has such a healthy appetite. He’s different from Trey, who I had to wake up to feed. This boy lets me know when he’s hungry, which seems to be all too often.”

  Ashton pulled his wife toward him and kissed her temple. “Honey, he’s a growing little boy. He likes to eat, like his daddy. He just can’t get enough.”

  She touched his cheek. “I feed you.”

  “Yeah, you do. Plenty.”

  “Ah, I believe we are still standing here,” Brody said with a straight face.

  Nicole grinned. “I’m sorry.”

  Brody squinted. “After being married for five years and two kids later, you two still act like newlyweds. You need to cut it out.”

  Ashton slapped Brody on the back. “Your turn will come.”

  “Don’t count on it.” Brody’s hard tone caused Danielle to throw him a sharp glance.

  “Brody doesn’t believe in love or marriage,” Nicole whispered to Danielle.

  “I never said that. If it works for others then so be it. I won’t fall into that trap.”

  “You’re cynical. Look at me and Ashton.” Nicole’s arm slipped around her husband’s waist. “We’re happy.”

  “Yeah. After a rough start, but you’re the exception. Not all marriages turn out like yours.”

  “Most relationships have road blocks, Brody. The key is to learn how to maneuver around them. Look at your parents, they have been married for forty-five years.”

  “Another exception,” Brody said.

  Nicole sighed and looked at Danielle. “How are the hosting duties coming along?”

  “Great. It was a breeze.”

  “Danielle did all of the work,” Brody interjected.

  Nicole rolled her eyes. “It figures.”

  Ashton rubbed his wife’s back. “Honey, leave him alone.”

  “I don’t like these sorts of gatherings,” Brody murmured.

  Nicole leaned further into her husband’s side. “Brody, you and Danielle seem comfortable with each other. I’m glad.”

  “Danielle said she used to visit the house when all of you were kids.” A deep frown crossed Brody’s face. “I don’t remember those times.”

  “Really?” Confusion marred Nicole’s features. “I thought for sure you were around. Danielle had a huge crus—”

  “Nicole, let it go. He said he didn’t remember. Besides it was a long time ago.” Danielle didn’t want Nicole to tell him of her silly hero worship. She was in awe of him from the moment she met him at thirteen. As she grew older, the hero worship turned into something more. To keep her friends from knowing, she made it her business to be absent when Brody was home. “I wasn’t always around you and Sally anyway. Most of the time, I was occupied with a book or something.”

  Bewilderment cascaded her friend’s face. “Hmm. Really? That must’ve been it.” Nicole slipped her hand into her husband’s. “We’re going to go mingle some more. We’ll catch you two later. Thanks for taking care of the hosting duties.”

  Danielle breathed a short sigh of relief. Now, left alone again with Brody, she tried to look everywhere else other than at him. When she couldn’t ignore him any longer, without being rude, she struggled for a topic to talk about.

  His hard gaze raked over, freely without restraint. “Let’s take a walk.”

  Shocked, she asked, “Why?”

  “It’s broad daylight. I won’t take advantage of you. At least not yet.” His tone was soft and seductive, one that refuted the hard glint in his eyes. It was as if he was a chameleon, only showing what he wanted her to see at that moment.

  “I didn’t think you would.”

  “Yes, you did. You’re feeling what I’m feeling and wondering if you should explore it.”

  “Even if I did, I’m not going to.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m a cautious person.”

  “You believe I’m dangerous.”

  She studied him. “Absolutely.”

  He was silent for a very long moment. “You’re a beautiful woman,” he said, ignoring her statement about him being dangerous. “You intrigue me.”

  “I’m sure I’m not the first, nor will I be the last,” Danielle uttered, feeling unsettled by his directness.

  He frowned. “I’ve been intrigued by many things, countries, the stock exchange and politics to name a few, but never a woman. It was meant as a compliment.”

  “Mr. Beaumont…”

  “Brody.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not interested in what makes you tick, catching your attention, or what intrigues you.”

  “Why not? I’m interested in getting to know you.”

  “Yeah. Right. Well, I’m not. Besides, you must have better things to do than—”

  “Not at the moment.”

  She shook her head. “Look, I have read about your...lifestyle.”

  “I’m flattered.”

  “Don’t be. It wasn’t all complimentary.”

  He crossed his arms into a relaxed stance. “Enlighten me.”

  “Like Ashton, you have the Midas touch when it comes to business. Your family’s wealth, which I read is now well into the billions, increased under your leadership. You buy what you want. Playing hard and dating beautiful women is your calling card. So what’s the catch?”

  He arched a brow. “You’re gorgeous. I’m interested.”

  “I’m not your type.” Her head tilted to the side. “When did you decide to go slumming?”

  His green eyes flashed with anger. “What the hell—”

  “I shouldn’t have said that.” She held up her hand. “I don’t know you at all.”

  “You’re damn right you don’t know me. I paid you a compliment and you threw it back in my face. I don’t know what your problem is lady but insults aren’t something I’ll take lightly.”

  “I told you I shouldn’t have said it, what more do you want?”

  He moved closer and got right in her face. “You can’t even begin to know what I want
but I guarantee you will soon.”

  He pivoted and walked away.

  Chapter Two

  Brody stared out the window of the restaurant, seeing nothing. People were filtering through the streets of downtown Dallas but they were just images to him. He hated times like this when his mind refused to cooperate with his body. Physically he was tired but his brain was in overdrive. He was working on a huge acquisition for his family’s company. But that wasn’t the problem. The problem was a one long-legged beauty who refused to leave Brody’s thoughts.

  “Earth to Brody,” Ashton said, snapping his fingers in front of Brody’s face.

  “What?” Brody threw his best friend a glare.

  It was almost two weeks since the christening and they were having a late lunch at Callahan’s, a well-known steak house in Dallas. Although it was after two in the afternoon, the restaurant was still full.

  “You zoned out on me. What’s up with you? When you dropped by the gym a couple of days ago, you were in another world. Your attention span was zero. What’s bothering you?”

  “Nothing,” He cut into his steak.

  “No need to kill the steak, Brody, it’s already been slaughtered.”

  “What are you today, a laugh a minute?”

  “I’m not trying to be funny. Something is bugging you.”

  “I have a lot on my mind.”

  Ashton shot him a quick glance. “That’s nothing new. You always do. But I can tell this is something different.”

  “Look, Ashton, I don’t—” He stopped in mid-sentence and stared at the figure coming through the door.

  The woman occupying his thoughts had just walked into the restaurant. Danielle smiled at the host and then followed him to a small table in the corner of the restaurant. She hadn’t left for New York as he had assumed.

  “Damn,” Brody uttered in a strangled tone. Her beauty caught him off guard each time he saw her.

  Today she was dressed in a pair of cream slacks and a yellow blouse that exposed one shoulder. Her thick hair was styled into a high ponytail that swung with every movement she made. Although slender, he watched her round ass in those pants and almost lost it. When the waiter came to her table, she gave him a smile as he placed water goblets on the table. A flush tinged the man’s face at the attention. With a simple smile she could capture a man’s breathing or slay his heart.