Текст книги "Breaking Brandon"

Автор книги: Elizabeth Reyes

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 3 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

Chapter Five

Regina

Now

Week two of this boring ass assignment hadn’t gotten any better. Regina missed the lavish projects she’d gotten in New York already. This would never live up to the excitement of working on sky scrapers and one-of-a-kind buildings like the Ronnet Museum she’d worked on early last year. She’d taken this transfer only because of its location. Now she wondered if she’d made a mistake.

She thought working on the west coast and living on the beach would be an exciting change, the change she needed. But the job was turning out to be so boring. Of course, she’d been notorious her entire life for having the worst luck ever. Her family and friends had labeled her the female Charlie Brown. They thought it was funny. It never failed. If something could go wrong at the most inopportune time to any of them, no one had to guess which one of them it would be. It was never anything real bad, or maybe her family wouldn’t think it so funny, just frustrating, mistimed, or inconvenient things like always being the last to be served at a restaurant when in a group or the restaurant no longer serving the specific dessert she’d craved all the way there. On the airplane, she’d been stuck next to the chattiest person on the planet when all she’d wanted to do was sleep.

Taking a deep breath, Regina folded her arms in front of her as she went and stood by the window of her makeshift office. Her sister had been right. There were a ton of soldiers here, which meant major potential for meeting someone. But as usual, as her rotten luck would have it, she was stuck working on the side of the base where it was mostly basic training with brand new, way-too-young troops who seemed terrified of doing anything inappropriate that might get them in trouble like flirt or even talk to a civilian—that and a bunch of hardnosed drill instructors and their even harder superiors. So far, the only one who had caught her eye seemed to be the hardest of them all, the same one she caught staring at her at the airport in Washington D.C. He’d blown her smile off then and then again when she’d run into him a few days ago.

Because they were on the same flight to San Diego and he’d been wearing fatigues, she figured since she’d be working on the base there was a small chance she might run into him again. But she never imagined it would be this soon and certainly not that they’d be working in the same building. At the airport, she’d thought she’d imagined the look of distaste she’d picked up from him—distaste for her. She’d chalked it up to him having a bad day or something. Their flight had been delayed over two hours. Even she’d been irritated by that. And certainly there could be no reason for him to dislike her. He didn’t even know her. But the other day, the way he’d looked at her was even worse. For whatever reason, the man found her repugnant. Of course, that made him all the more intriguing than when she’d first laid eyes on him at the airport.

Sighing, she walked away from the window and sat down in front of her desk. For all she knew, the guy was married. He was certainly good-looking enough. None of that mattered anyway. Her excitement about working on a base full of soldiers had all been an act, just as this entire last year had been. She pretended she was excited about meeting men and getting on with her life. Of course, her family would never know the truth. She’d never forgive herself if she were ever the cause of anything that might send either of her parents back into the hospital. Between her dad’s bad heart, and her mom’s high blood pressure, she didn’t dare tell them.

The day dragged on as the previous days had, and she finally made her way out of her office, down the elevator, and out to her car. Hitting the ignition button with one hand, she checked her texts with the other then pulled off her name badge. The radio turned on along with the car. She was so engrossed in reading a text from her sister it took a few seconds for the song playing to register, but when it did, she froze.

Would you know my name, if I saw you in heaven?

Immediately choked up, she hit the off switch, but it was too late. She felt herself drowning fast in that overwhelming grief and despair she thought she’d made progress dealing with. Choking back the tears because she was not about to fall apart right there or go into hysterics as she knew she could very easily do, she took a deep breath, fighting the anguish that bathed her so quickly and mercilessly.

She tried to think of something, anything she could channel her thoughts into instead. Her therapist had instructed her to do just that at times like this when she thought she might lose it. So she breathed in deeply and began channeling. She thought of her work, the designs she’d presented to her subordinates today, but it wasn’t working, so she thought of her plans for that evening. She’d be going to the gym later, and then it hit her. Her Fitbit, the pedometer she used around her wrist to count her steps, the battery had died today, and she left it hooked up to her computer, charging in her office.

Glad it seemed to be working because she was already grabbing her keychain and pushing the car start button off, she opened her door. Taking more deep breaths even as the tears continued to spill from her eyes, she could feel herself calming. It’d been months since the last time she’d broken down as she almost had today. She’d consider this progress. This was the first time she’d been able to fight it.

Knowing her face must be a mess, she didn’t care. It was late, and there were few people still walking around. She reached the door of the building just as it opened, and out walked the guy from the airport, who she now knew was a sergeant up there in rank. He stopped when he saw her, and she stopped too. They faced off for a moment, and the sudden puttering of her heart surprised her. She wiped the tears from her face even more regretful now about her sudden outburst because she was certain she must look a mess. This close his deep blue eyes were even more amazing than she first thought. The long dark sheath of lashes that draped over his eyes as he blinked almost in slow motion nearly took her breath away.

For an instant so quick it was over almost as soon as she thought she saw it, there was the slightest softening of his hardened stare as she wiped her eyes again. But then it went rigid again.

She started to reach for the open door, but he didn’t move. “You’re not wearing your badge,” he said as stoned-faced as ever. “I can’t let you in.”

“But,” she tilted her head, pinching her brows, “you know I’m authorized—”

“Only if you’re wearing your photo ID.”

Regina smiled nervously. He had to be pulling her chain. “Are you serious?”

She didn’t think his expression could go any more severe, but it did, and she knew now he was absolutely serious. “Those are the rules, ma’am.”

Her mouth fell open for a moment, but she closed it quickly when she saw his eyes drop down to her open lips. “I just need to get something I forgot on my desk—”

“Without your ID, you’re not allowed.”

Chewing the inside of her cheek in frustration, she squeezed her hand around her keychain. She was tempted to ask him if he actually had something against someone he didn’t even know or if he was really just this big of an asshole. Afraid somehow that might get her in trouble, she refrained.

“Fine,” she said through her teeth. “I’ll go get it from my car.”

She spun around, stalking off to her car, and she wondered if he’d even be there when she got back, making her need to walk all the way back to her car a waste of time. To her surprise, but even more puzzling, she was pleased to see him standing right at the door, waiting for her. At least he hadn’t made a fool of her, making her go back to get a badge she’d wouldn’t have anyone to show.

Walking up the stairs, she looked him straight in those intense eyes that still gave her no clue what his damn problem with her was. Even as she got closer and he stared her down as she imagined he did to intimidate his recruits, she hated how damn good he was at it. The determination to continue to stare back at him without looking away was beginning to wane as she got closer. He held out his hand, and she shoved her badge into it, noticing that even as she pushed down his strong arm hadn’t budged.

His eyes were still on hers even as he held the badge in his hand, and it made her gulp, but she refused to look away. Finally, he looked down at her badge and studied it. She glanced at the badge he wore—Gunnery Sergeant Billings—but turned away quickly when he lifted his eyes from her badge and looked into hers. His expression was completely unimpressed, even though her title as an engineer had the words “Senior” and “Lead” in them. At her age, that was almost unheard of, but then she shouldn’t expect him to know that.

“Make sure you always have this on you, Mrs. Brady,” he said, handing it back to her, offering not so much as a tiny smile in exchange for having made her walk all the way back to her car. Then he just walked away, leaving her standing there.

Seriously? Not even a goodnight or have a good evening? Regina was beginning to wonder if the man ever smiled. She stood there, not sure if she should be mad or happy that he successfully yanked her right out of her depressed mood because now she was pissed. Who the hell did he think he was anyway? He may be a high-ranking officer, but she was not in the Marines. She had her own superiors to answer to, and he wasn’t one of them.

Feeling completely annoyed as she made her way quickly to her office, she now hoped she’d never run into him again. Unlike the past few days where the anticipation of seeing the mysterious sergeant again made her feel like a silly school girl, she now had no desire to be anywhere near his self-important ass ever again. He may have every right to talk down to his recruits, making them feel inferior to him, but he had no right to look at her or make her feel that way.

Armed with a sudden feeling of resolve, she grabbed her Fitbit from her computer and put it on. The next time she ran into Sergeant Billings, because she knew it was inevitable, she’d give him that same hard look he’d given her from the very beginning. The look that practically said just the sight of her left a bad taste in his mouth.

* * *

After working out last night, Regina had called her best friend, Janecia. She was the only childhood friend who hadn’t drifted away over the years. In fact, she’d been her best friend for as long as she could remember. She’d even vacationed the last few years in New York and came out and stayed with Regina a week out of the year. She also made shorter visits often for weekend getaways. The girl loved New York. She’d been sorely disappointed that Regina had moved back because she’d hoped to move out there eventually. Janecia was also the only one who knew about Regina’s secret, but even she didn’t know the whole story. Regina was taking that to her grave. Only Quinn, Mrs. Shimley, and Regina’s therapist knew the whole truth, and the only one Regina had any intention of ever reuniting with was the latter.

Regina had been in San Diego over a week now and was beginning to feel like a hermit, something she’d never been. She’d gone straight from her place to work to the gym and back to her place. Part of the deal she’d made with herself when she decided to move back home was to do what her therapist told her she needed to do—move on. Live again. She was still very young, and there was so much she had yet to experience. Despite her doubts that she could ever find the kind of love she once had, she knew she could, at the very least, enjoy other aspects of her life.

Because she enjoyed cooking, trying out new restaurants was one of her favorite treats. She and Janecia had visited The Gaslamp Quarter a few times when they were younger, and she’d always said she was determined to go back there and try every single restaurant on that strip.

Now that she lived so close and Janecia was only a half hour away, Regina was ready to try and have fun meeting that goal. When she told Janecia last night, her best friend was, as expected, all for it. Since today was Friday, they’d get right on it, starting tonight after work.

Grabbing her Starbucks cup from the cup holder, she grabbed her things from the passenger side and got out of the car. She hurried up the steps of the building and inside, glad that her plan on getting to work extra early meant she’d miss most of the morning elevator commute. She was the only one in the hallway as she reached out and hit the button to retrieve the elevator. The elevator dinged, and she held her breath, hoping he wouldn’t be behind the doors when they opened. Thankfully, a couple of other sergeants stepped out, but neither were him. She got in and pressed the button for the second floor, feeling a little anxious when the doors took a few seconds before starting to close. She exhaled slowly. Just as the doors nearly touched closed, they opened suddenly. Someone outside had hit the button and caught the elevator. Great.

Standing in the middle of the elevator as the doors opened completely, she was now face to face with Sergeant Billings. A nod so minute it was barely perceptible was the only greeting she got from the jerk. Lifting her chin and glad she was wearing her stupid badge, she took a step aside, ignoring the nod and him completely. The doors once again began closing. This time they closed all the way, and the elevator began moving. They reached their floor as the elevator came to a slow stop and not a moment too soon. Ignoring him was one thing, but ignoring how damn good he smelled was quite another. Regina needed to get out of that elevator before she was tempted to say something to him.

Just as the elevator came to a complete stop and the doors began to open, everything went black, making Regina gasp. Except for the early and cloudy morning’s dim sunlight that streamed in through the small crevice of the barely opened doors, they stood there in near pitch darkness.

She felt Sergeant Billings move forward and block the only light they had as he tried to push the doors open. “It’s just a power outage,” he explained as he grunted, trying in vain to push the doors open. “It should be temporary.”

Regina knew all about the power outages. They were necessary when working on parts of the construction near or around dangerously high-voltage areas. She also knew they saved the longer power outages for the early morning or late evenings when it was less inconvenient to those working in the buildings.

Of course! This shouldn’t even surprise her sorry ass. It made perfect sense that she’d get stuck in an elevator with of all people him.

Chapter Six

Brandon

Sensing her resentment the moment he walked into the elevator, Brandon had actually been amused by it. Now he wasn’t sure what he was sensing from her. When the lights had gone off, he thought for sure it was alarm. Judging from the tears he’d seen last night, he’d already pegged her as an emotional one. Emotional equaled weak as far as he was concerned, so when he heard her gasp, he’d been sure he’d have his hands full, trying to calm her ass down. Instead, from what little he could make out in the darkened elevator, she was now leaning against the wall, seemingly undaunted.

“It’s Ms. Brady, by the way.”

Brandon looked up in her direction, barely able to make out the silhouette of the business suit that hugged her body. He saw her phone light up as she pulled it out of her purse. The moment the light illuminated her face, his eyes were on her lips. He remembered now even as he’d walked through the first-class cabin where she’d been sitting in her seat already enjoying a Bloody Mary how his eyes had been drawn to those lips then too.

On the plane, he’d watched as her lips wrapped around the celery stick that came in her drink. He hadn’t quite been able to shake the visual almost the whole flight. Just like last night when she’d pressed her lips together because he’d pissed the princess off, she looked like she was pouting, but he could tell her extra full lips just made it appear as if she were. Since he’d first seen her here, she’d worn her hair up in that same twist and wore her glasses. Today was the first time since seeing her at the airport that her hair was down and the glasses were gone.

Before he could respond to her clarification, she was on her phone. “Antonio, I’m stuck in the elevator. Can you please have them turn the power back on so I can get out of here?”

Seeing those lips curve into a smirk should’ve had him fighting his own lips from doing the same. Even when she’d lifted that sweet chin and given him the cold shoulder earlier it had him fighting a smile. Instead her smile irritated him now.

“You did?” she said, her smile going even more playful—brighter. “Oh, wow. All the more reason to get me out of here as soon as possible. Now I really can’t wait to get to my office. Thank you, sweetie.”

Sweetie? Brandon finally pulled his eyes away from her lips, annoyed at himself for getting caught up in them. She was probably used to having guys like Antonio and all the other saps she worked with wrapped around her finger. Years of having Daddy wrapped made for good practice, no doubt. Any guy who’d never been around her type didn’t stand a chance.

He noticed her putting her phone away, and he turned back to her. “Did he say how long it would be?”

“Few minutes,” she said without looking up at him, but he did notice the bright smile had gone flat.

With the sun shining in the crack a little brighter now, he could even see her delicate eyebrow arch significantly as she sipped her coffee, scrolling through her phone, very noticeably avoiding eye contact. This time he did fight the urge to smile. Was the princess still pissed he hadn’t fallen for that smile last night and given into her as she’d likely been certain he would?

The lights went on and the doors opened. Brandon was tempted for a weak moment to tell Ms. Brady to have a good day. Then he thought better of it. She might actually be that full of herself to think the only reason he’d not given into her last night was because he’d assumed she was married. Happy that he caught the almost slip-up, he walked out of the elevator, saying nothing more to her or even looking her way as he began down the hall.

He heard her step out behind him, and if he weren’t mistaken, the tapping of her heels against the floor was a little louder than normal.

“Sergeant Billings?”

Curious and mildly pleased to hear her say his name, he stopped and turned to look at her. Seeing her once again in the light, he ignored the fact that she looked better every goddamned time he saw her. “Yeah?”

She took a few steps toward him. “Aside from the airport in Washington D.C., have we met before?” Her expression was visibly annoyed. “Or do you think you know me from somewhere else?”

Letting out a dry chuckle, Brandon shook his head. He’d hit it right on the nose. She really was struggling to figure out why he hadn’t fallen all over himself to charm her from the moment he first laid eyes on her. Obviously, it’s what she was used to. What a piece of work!

He was grateful for this added confirmation that she was a self-entitled little princess, because he needed it now that his eyes locked onto hers and they were even bigger and darker than he remembered. As she took a few steps closer and he got an even longer look at the fine details of those big brown inquisitive eyes, he had to focus on what he’d just confirmed. He suddenly needed the knowledge that he’d been right about her all along as a safeguard. It helped with the dislike he knew he needed to continue feeling for her. “No, Ms. Brady, fortunately, we’ve never met.”

Her eyebrows spiked. Just like last night when he first ran into her and the hurt in her tearful eyes was so palpable, there was no hiding what she was feeling now. Utter annoyance. This time he pressed his lips together to refrain from smiling. Why the fuck did her annoyance with him amuse him so much?

“What exactly does that mean? Fortunately? You’ve obviously made some kind of assessment about me, yet you know nothing about me.”

“That’s right. I don’t. And I’m sorry that my lack of desire to know more upsets you.”

It pissed him off that even with his years of training in discipline he was incapable of keeping his eyes off those lips, especially when her mouth fell open as it did just then. Glancing back up at her eyes instead, he saw that little eyebrow lift again. “It doesn’t upset me,” she said. “It’s just that. . .” She glanced around flustered. “I’ve just never—”

“I know you’ve never, Ms. Brady.” He walked away, thinking he should be feeling smugger that she may as well have admitted she wasn’t used to men not being interested. Instead, he felt somewhat disappointed he’d been spot on about her.

The sound of her heels clicking once again quickly and with conviction against the floor made him smile. But he wiped the smile the moment she came around him and stood in front of him, forcing him to stop. She stood so close that the subtle scent he’d picked up in the elevator overwhelmed his senses now. Whatever she used to wash those thick tresses was distracting as hell. “You don’t know anything about me, Mr. Billings—”

“Sergeant Billings,” he corrected her immediately rewarded with a very annoyed pucker of her lips.

Refraining from smiling, he considered for a moment that pissing her off might be a new amusing pastime. It’d certainly keep things safe if she disliked him as much as he wanted to dislike her. Unfortunately, it amused him a bit too much, so it was dangerous. He stared at her straight-faced as she took a deep breath.

“You don’t know anything about me, Sergeant Billings. So whatever preconceived notion you think you’ve figured out about me is completely unfair, but you know what? I don’t give a shit. As a matter of a fact—”

The lights went out again, and she glanced around for a second. Then their eyes locked once again in the dim hallway. Shaking her head, she didn’t finish what she was going to say and started around him, but he moved in front of her, stopping her. It took her by such surprise her hand lifted, pressing against his chest. “As a matter of fact, what?” he asked, gulping as he stared in those startled brown eyes.

She held his gaze for a moment as her hand stayed put against his chest. Infuriating images of having her hands in other places assaulted him, and as much as he knew he should move aside and let her through, he couldn’t bring himself to move away.

Clearing her throat, she finally took her hand back but didn’t step back. The anger he’d seen in her eyes moments before the lights went off was gone. The stunned look in her eyes as she stared at him gave a hint of something else. For as much as she was protesting, she did care what he thought of her.

“As a matter fact,” she started, and she was so close he could smell of sweet coffee on her breath. He’d always hated coffee, but at that moment he’d give anything to taste it. “I don’t even know why I’m wasting my time. Think whatever you want of me.”

She walked around him, and he let her by this time as he stood frozen in place. He had another moment of weakness where he considered taking it back—apologizing for prejudging her. But he’d already slipped once by showing even the remote interest in what she had to say. He had to get a grip. He’d only been around this girl a handful of times, and already his will to show complete indifference had been weakened more than once. Even seeing her cry last night had done something to him. Thankfully, he’d handled that as he should.

Today he’d nearly blown it.

* * *

Most days Brandon had glimpses of Ms. Brady either heading out to lunch or in the break room buying a soda or just like last night when he’d run into her as he was leaving. Today either Ms. Brady had gone out of her way to avoid Brandon or it’d been just coincidental that he hadn’t seen her at all after their morning’s insightful exchange. If it was the former, he should be glad.

In case her plan and admittedly his as well to avoid each other faltered and he did run into her again, he had every intention of going back to the way it was before that morning’s incident. He wouldn’t be exchanging so much as a smile with her. It just wasn’t safe. Every time she’d smiled at him—the morning Sergeant Carter showed him to his office and last night when she’d smiled at him despite the tears still her eyes—he’d felt more than the only thing he should be feeling, annoyance. It was all he should feel just as he had at the airport. But since he’d arrived here, the annoyance of what that sweet smile did to him was being subdued by something else, something that felt dangerously wrong. And this morning, he’d confirmed it.

This was too close to what might lead to him to the temptation of breaking his number-one rule—no attachments. None. He’d done so well for so long he wasn’t about to blow it now. Even the sexual encounters he’d had in the last several years he made absolutely sure were completely meaningless. He’d even figured out a way to keep the act itself especially cold while making the women he was with think it was all part of the performance. He never even slept with the same woman twice much less engage in the usual protocol of dating such as calling her again or even asking her out for another round. It was too risky.

His best bet was to hope he’d pissed her off enough she now hated him. That would eliminate any more of those sweet pouty-lipped smiles, smiles he wanted so much to hate. Today was proof he was losing that battle. The bad thing was Brandon wasn’t even sure now what was worse, the smiles or her obvious contempt for him. For some reason, that seemed to amuse him almost as much as the smiles were beginning to soften him.

The thought of losing battles reminded him of something else and made him groan inwardly. He hadn’t even been here a week yet, and already his anti-social ass had to go hangout with some of his fellow workers that night after work. He’d been warned before he even transferred that a few of the other sergeants had mentioned taking him out when he got here, kind of a welcome-to-the-team type of deal. That meant tonight he’d put on his social mask.

He was glad that for once the overly inquisitive and talkative personality of his office roommate Sergeant Evans had come in handy. He’d asked Brandon if he had any big plans for the weekend as soon as he walked in that morning, forcing Brandon to mention the trip he was making up to Los Angeles tomorrow. Later when Rodriguez arrived, letting Brandon know they’d be taking him out for drinks, his I-can’t-be-out-late excuse that would get him out early tonight held far more weight.

He wasn’t meeting his former drill instructor until late in the afternoon tomorrow, but they didn’t have to know that. Tonight they’d be under the impression he had to be in L.A tomorrow early, which meant he’d have a few drinks and be done with this welcome-to-the-team party.

“Hey,” Rodriguez said, standing up. “Either of you guys get a load of that sexy little thing working with the engineers?”

Brandon didn’t even turn to look at him. He didn’t have to ask who Rodriguez was talking about, because he already knew. Normally Rodriguez’s banter about women and his admitting he was always horny were amusing. The guy could be funny. But Brandon had begun to worry about one thing. Ever since the day he realized Ms. Brady would be working in such close proximity to him, nothing about what he was feeling for her was normal. Hearing Rodriguez speak of her now, the way he did, was anything but amusing.

Pretending to be too caught up in what he was reading on his screen to be bothered, Brandon listened anyway as Evans confirmed he had gotten a load of her.

“Yeah, yeah,” Evans said. “The girl with the glasses.”

“You seen her today?” Rodriguez asked.

“Nah,” Evans responded.

“Holy shit!” Rodriguez said a bit too excited. “She must be going out tonight or something because her hair is down and she wasn’t wearing glasses. I thought she was sexy before but damn.” He lowered his voice a little since the door to the office was still half open. “Swear to God I’d risk my job and fuck her in the bathroom if she’d let me. I mean, shit, the girl’s got it going on. I just about popped a boner, watching her walk down the hall.”

Inappropriate. Technically, as Rodriguez’s superior, Brandon could tell him so and end the conversation right there, but he never had before, and Rodriguez had always been this vivid with his stories. Since Brandon had only been here a little over a week, he didn’t want to make a big stink about some raunchy guy talk amongst them. He always figured, since it was in the privacy of their own office and most of the stories Rodriguez told were of past conquests or women outside the base, it was no big deal.

“And she’s gotta be at least a full C cup. Damn,” Rodriguez laughed. “I’m getting a chubby just thinking about—”

“Well then, stop,” Brandon said, sounding more annoyed than authoritative, so he cleared his throat before he continued. “She works in the same building. If someone outside this office,” he motioned toward the open door, “gets wind of you talking like this, I may have to write your ass up. In fact,” Brandon turned his chair around to face him, glad Rodriguez had been stupid enough to make the comment about risking getting fired, “based on what you just said, I don’t wanna see or even hear that you’ve been anywhere near her. Unlike you, I’m not about to risk my job. So to play it safe and not force me to keep an eye out for what you might be doing behind closed doors around here, I’d be more comfortable if we just make the sexy little thing off limits to you. Is that understood?”

Rodriguez and Evans exchanged humorous glances, and before either of them could ask if he was serious, because Brandon had never been more so in his life, he asked again, only this time he used that tone he was known for using out in the field. “I asked you a question, Rodriguez. Is that understood?”