Whisper My Name Page 13

  At the sound of her voice, Brody turned in her direction, scanned her face and frowned. “I would love to stay for lunch.”

  Danielle lifted a brow at him and smirked. “We’re having red quinoa salads topped with slivers of dried mackerel, pine nuts, and slices of green apples.”

  He grimaced at the sound of it. She knew he was a man who liked steak. He swallowed the distaste in his mouth. “Sounds good.”

  Nicole clapped her hands. “Good. It’s all settled. We’re eating out on the terrace. Come through when you and Ashton are finished…uh…talking…in five minutes.” She turned and walked away. Danielle did the same but not before she threw him a hard glare. It wasn’t noticeable to most but he felt the anger vibrating from Danielle. He could tell by the pursed set of her mouth and the clenched fist resting at her side.

  Brody rounded on Ashton, taking deep breaths to calm his anger. “You lied.”

  “How?”

  “Danielle never left Dallas?”

  “Not true.”

  “What in the hell does that mean?”

  “She left Dallas and arrived back a week ago.”

  “You should’ve told me that.”

  “What’s wrong with you, Brody? First of all I didn’t know you were keeping tabs on Danielle’s comings and goings. Second, it never crossed my mind you would be interested, and third, I’ll state it again, it’s none of your business.”

  “The hell it isn’t.”

  Ashton narrowed his eyes. “Why?”

  Brody refused to answer. He never explained himself to anyone and he wasn’t going to start now. Especially when he didn’t know the answer or why he was feeling unbalanced. Confusion wasn’t an emotion he dealt with and he didn’t like it. He wiped a weary hand along his jaw.

  “It’s personal.”

  Ashton laughed and countered with a withering scorn. “Personal as in relationship? Danielle is an important part of this family. I won’t have her mistreated by anyone…especially a friend.” Ashton issued a long sigh. “I’m disappointed in you. Although you won’t admit it, I believe you took Danielle to bed without thought or consequence. I don’t know what the hell you were thinking with but it damn sure wasn’t your brain.”

  “That’s low, even for you, Ash.”

  “Yeah, but it’s the truth.”

  Wisely Brody kept his mouth shut because if he didn’t the conversation would turn ugly. His past liaisons weren’t up for discussion.

  “You do realize the girls, eventually, will get together and discuss what happened between you and Danielle.”

  “Sally doesn’t know anything,” Brody said.

  “Don’t count on it. Of all three, your sister is the most inquisitive.” He sighed and took a long, deep breath. “Hell, why did you go there with Danielle?” he asked again.

  Brody thought about her exuberance and utter lack of pretense that had delighted him as much as her luscious body. There was much more but he didn’t want to examine those areas, at least not while he was with Ashton.

  “There were a lot of things,” he offered grudgingly.

  “Well, I hope those things will help you when Nicole and your sister confront you.” He clapped Brody on the shoulder. “You better fix it and fast. Come on, let’s eat.”

  “I know you can’t possibly like quinoa?” Brody said.

  Ashton laughed. “It’s an acquired taste.”

  “One I hope not to obtain.”

  ###

  Brody strolled onto the terrace and found Danielle sitting alone. Nicole had waylaid Ashton and asked him to come to the kitchen, giving Brody an opportunity to speak to Danielle alone. He saw she held her cellphone in her hand and looked as if she was texting at a furious pace.

  He chose not to sit next to her but instead took one of the wooden cushioned chairs across from her. She didn’t look up once he was seated. She was intently focused on what she was doing. Her shoulder length hair was tucked neatly behind her ears. He leaned back in the chair and observed her.

  Danielle was unquestionably beautiful and highly intelligent. He learned from his sister that she had graduated in the top ten percent of her college graduating class. An impressive accomplishment.

  Her smooth, soft skin and captivating eyes left him breathless to the point he would lose his train of thought during conversation.

  Every muscle in his body tightened and his blood surged in places he tried to ignore. This woman had infiltrated his dreams for longer than he cared to admit. Even after two months, she still had the capacity to fill him with burning rage and smoldering desire at the same time. The woman confused him. It unnerved him because he didn’t understand it. He had an analytical brain. Life was black or white. There were no gray areas in his thinking or life.

  As he watched her, it gave him the chance to gain control. He looked out over the grounds, inhaling deeply. Even though they both occupied the terrace, he felt as if he was alone. Common sense told him to leave and catch the flight to Montana. Ashton and Nicole would understand his departure. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d left abruptly. He would be there in a few hours, away from Danielle and his need to make her his—for good. Whoa. Damn. He didn’t do monogamy. Go! His brain shouted at him. He stayed. Let it go. But he didn’t want it to be over.

  “Are you going to ignore me through lunch, Danielle?”

  “Ah. Uh.” she murmured without looking at him.

  He smiled at the response that greeted his question. She was at least talking to him. He exhaled and it floated into the breeze upon hearing her melodic tone, leaving him flushed.

  “Will you look at me?” he said gruffly.

  She directed those beautiful eyes on him without emotion. To be honest, she looked pissed.

  “Now isn’t that better?” He fought for the cold-control he was known for. She could make him angrier in a flash quicker than anyone he knew but he refused to let it happen today. He scooted back his chair, dropped his hands between his legs, and leaned forward to stare at her.

  He’d worked hard to wipe her out of his thoughts, and to all outward intents and purposes, he had succeeded. His life returned to what it was before he met her, the driving routine of work interrupted with many nights spent in bed with nameless women, leaving behind the bitter taste of impotent fury and a burning need for fulfillment that he couldn’t achieve. He admitted silently that he didn’t like himself right now. The passage of time and dreams of her had sent him to Ashton, seeking her out.

  “You’re angry.”

  “Nope.”

  “Danielle.”

  “What?”

  “Hell, Danielle, talk to me. Not these one word responses,” he stated bluntly.

  Patience was a virtue he had always prided himself on, but Danielle was seriously testing its limits.

  She tightened her lips and scowled. “Why did you stay for lunch? Was it to irritate me? I know you didn’t want to, and I certainly didn’t want you here either.” Danielle tilted her head and glared at him. “Strange. You want to talk. What’s bothering you? Is it the fact I didn’t beg you to stay with me? Or maybe because I’m not crying over you and making a fool of myself?” she said calmly, but with enough ice her tone to put a chill in the warm air.

  Irritated at how nonchalant she sounded, he was determined to crack the glacial manner.

  “Look Brody. Although I wish I could avoid you. Ashton is your best friend and Nicole is mine so that’s virtually impossible. Saying that, I don’t want to be uncomfortable when we happen to be in each other’s company. We had sex. You got what you wanted and I certainly got what I needed. So back off.”

  “I thought you knew the score.” He stared at her for a long time. Finally, he said, “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  Her laugh was hard and filled with venom.

  He stiffened at the sound.

  “Hurt me?” she said, “In your dreams, mister.

  The curt smile she offered didn’t reach her eyes. With a sly tilt to the corne
rs of her mouth, she resumed texting.

  Before he could say anything, the housekeeper appeared with a large tray of prepared salads and sandwiches, followed by Nicole with a pitcher of lemonade and water. They set everything on the table.

  “Ashton should be out in a minute.” Nicole smiled at Brody. “I fixed roast beef sandwiches for you guys. From the pained look on your faces, I knew you didn’t want the quinoa salads.”

  “Thanks,” he murmured but kept his eyes on Danielle.

  Finally she laid aside her phone, putting it close to her plate.

  Nicole sat beside Danielle and began to prepare the plates. Brody reached for a glass of lemonade, took a sip, and continued to stare at Danielle over the rim, his sharp eyes taking in the slight jerkiness of her hand when she poured the water into the glass in front of her.

  The housekeeper moved to fill the remaining empty plates on the table, but Nicole stopped her. “It’s okay, Mrs. Garrison. We’ll serve ourselves.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” She smiled and walked away.

  Ashton strolled onto the terrace. “Sorry about that, it was an important call.” he said and planted a kiss on Nicole’s upturned lips.

  Nicole pouted. “You say that about every call.”

  “Sweetheart, I know I promised no business today. But now, I’m all yours.”

  Then he reached for the chair next to Brody and pulled it closer to her. “With Brent on the line, the conference call took longer than I anticipated.”

  Nicole’s eyes widened. “Brent? He hasn’t been home in a long time. Where is he now?”

  “He just closed a deal in L.A. Then he’s coming here to Dallas before he heads to New York.” Ashton took a sandwich and bit into it. He held it up. “Thanks for thinking of me, honey.”

  Nicole smiled and nodded. “What’s in New York?”

  “More business for Sinclair Engineering.” He sipped the lemonade and then drank deeply.

  “Are things better between the two of you?” Danielle asked.

  “In the past month it’s gotten better.” Ashton sighed. “I can’t put my finger on it, but he seems different. More at peace, less abrupt with me.”

  Nicole laid her hand over his. “I’m happy to hear it.”

  Brody grabbed a sandwich from the tray and absently chewed not tasting anything.

  He kept his eyes glued to Danielle. She was ignoring him and he certainly didn’t appreciate her little speech about him getting what he needed and so did she. She was treating him like a one night-stand. It made him angry as hell.

  He finished off the sandwich. Then he grabbed a glass of lemonade, feeling the coolness of the liquid, he drained the contents and set the glass on the table.

  “Danielle,” he said.

  She slowly looked at him with caution outlining her beautiful eyes.

  “Ashton said you left town. I thought you came to Dallas for a vacation. Did Texas become too slow for you? Being a supermodel, you require stimulus. Did you grow tired of us country folk?”

  “Wow. That was a mouth full. I didn’t know you could run so many words together,” Danielle said cheekily, shooting daggers at him.

  “What are you talking about, Brody? Danielle grew up here.” Nicole admonished him.

  “I’m sure after living in New York, Dallas is no longer considered home. At least not for a girl like her.”

  It came out harsh and with sullied undertones but he couldn’t seem to help it. She made him say and do things he couldn’t restrain.

  Danielle’s eyes narrowed. “A girl like me?”

  Now he had her attention. He leaned forward, releasing all his anger, confusion and helplessness. “Models. They can be petty, manipulative and spoiled...Royal bitches.”

  Nicole gasped. “Brody! What’s gotten into you? Apologize, this instant!”

  “No.” Danielle held up her hand. “Don’t. He wouldn’t mean it. Besides, since he only speaks the truth, I don’t want his fake words of apology,” she said nastily. “It might ruin his image,” she said to her friend, while still glaring at Brody across the table.

  “Damnit, Brody! Who put a burr up your ass?” Ashton grunted, angry lining each word. “Danielle is as much a Texan as the rest of us.”

  Although he had made Ashton madder than a pissed off snake, he lifted a brow in question.

  “It’s alright, Ashton.” Danielle laid her fork and knife meticulously across her plate, and pushed it away from her. “Your friend is the perfect asshole, which is so typical for a man like him.”

  “What in the hell is that supposed to mean? A man like me,” Brody roared.

  She directed her words to Nicole and Ashton, ignoring him. “Having money doesn’t afford him any measure of grace, morals, and least of all, manners. Once a bastard, always a bastard,” Danielle sneered.

  Nicole shouted. “Danielle!”

  She continued. “Some personality traits are embedded deeply into a person.” She stopped, took a deep breath and offered a forced smile to Ashton and Nicole. “Don’t hold it against him.” She raised her chin stubbornly, flashing Brody daggers as if she would like to plunge them in his heart. “Don’t ask me to apologize, because I won’t.”

  Their eyes tangled and he felt the rush of heat and the agonizingly powerful connection between them. He knew she felt it, but it was with more anger and disgust this time.

  Danielle threw her napkin on the table, pushed back her chair, and stood. Ashton and Brody came to their feet also.

  “I’ve lost my appetite. Please excuse me.” She leaned over and gave Nicole a hug. “I’ll call you later.” She pointed a finger at Brody. “And you can kiss my royal, bitch, supermodel ass.”

  Nicole breath hitched in shock.

  After that, the only sound was the soft chirping of the birds. Danielle strolled from the table, her head held high, without giving him another glance, and left the terrace.

  He threw his starched cloth napkin on top of his unfinished plate of food and swore beneath his breath.

  “Brody Beaumont! I know you can be cruel but you just insulted my best friend. What in the hell is wrong with you?”

  Nicole moved to leave the table.

  Brody put his hand to stop her. “No. I’ll go after her. Please stay and finish your lunch.”

  “You better not insult her again. It better be an apology.” Nicole threw at him. “Prove to me you aren’t the asshole she said you were.”

  “Nicole,” Ashton said with a warning in his tone.

  “What!” She turned her angry eyes on him.

  “Nothing.”

  Brody hurried after Danielle before Ashton joined his wife in berating him further. He didn’t want to cause trouble between his best friend and wife. They were his family. Although, Ashton had remained quiet during Nicole’s dressing him down, the tick in his jaw left no doubt he would be hearing from him…and soon.

  Brody caught up with Danielle as she was getting into her car. He grabbed her arm to get her attention. She tried to jerk away from him.

  “Don’t touch me!”

  “Danielle—”

  “No.” She snatched her arm from his grasp and backed away from him. “Stay away from me. I won’t tolerate your bullshit! You have a serious problem. You need to lie on someone’s couch.” She rested a hand on her hip, leaned toward him and pointed a finger. “I never pressured you. I didn’t ask you for anything. When it was over, we were done. When I saw you again, I expected you to be cordial…decent, civilized, not a son-of-a-bitch.”

  “Danielle, listen to me. I’m sorry. I didn’t…”

  “Stuff it and you know where.” She opened the door to the car and slide in. “I made a huge mistake sleeping with you. I thought I was done with assholes, but I keep entertaining them. It won’t happen again.”

  She put the car into reverse, turned around and headed down the long driveway. He watched until the car disappeared from his sight.

  Brody walked slowly back to where Nicole and Ashton were sittin
g on the patio. The day was warm, but after the encounter with Danielle, he felt a chill in the air. He felt unsure, indecisive and off-kilter. He didn’t recognize that person. He was losing it. What was happening to him?

  Nicole stared angrily at him but didn’t say a word.

  She stood. “Since the day has been ruined, I think I’ll visit with Sally for a little while. Maybe I can get her to help me finish my shopping.”

  “Honey, it’s Sunday and the kids are at my parents, I thought maybe we—”

  She shot Ashton an angry glance that spoke volumes and then turned to Brody with fire still brimming in their depths. “The both of you have more pressing business,” she said, and left the patio.

  Ashton threw his napkin on his plate, stood and planted his hands at his waist.

  “Damn, Brody. You just had to go and mess it up, didn’t you? Now I have to deal with Nicole’s anger,” Ashton clipped, definitely unhappy with him.

  “I don’t need you to tell me I fucked up.”

  “You went too far this time,” Ashton continued.

  He didn’t say anything because he didn’t need to be told what he had done. He had spiraled out of control.

  “Admit the truth. Did you sleep with Danielle?”

  Brody threw him a quick nod.

  “What the hell is that? Did you, yes or no?”

  “Ash, must you twist the blade deeper?”

  His friend remained silent but still glaring at him.

  “Alright. Yes. I did sleep with Danielle. Satisfied?”

  Ashton swore at his confirmation.

  “No, I’m not satisfied.” He pointed his finger at Brody. “I specifically asked you to stay away her, didn’t I? But you had to conquer the chase, no matter the consequences.”

  “I’m not a child—”

  “No, you are a grown ass man who thinks that every woman that crosses his path is fair game.”

  Brody bristled at the words.

  “Are you sure ending it with Danielle is what you want?” Ashton inquired.

  “Yes. It needed to be done so I did it. She wanted more.”

  “How the hell do you know that, did you ask her?”

  “I didn’t need to…I felt it.”