Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

Rose

Brandon doesn’t go with the rest of the party down to the small beach. Today is Harry’s birthday, and they’ve taken a picnic and champagne down to the gazebo that Graham set up overnight. The children were wearing their bathing suits and carrying buckets and spades, and the itinerary stated that the adults could swim if they so wished. The day is to be easy and informal in anticipation of the special banquet being prepared for the evening when Harry will open his gifts.

Ruby doesn’t know about Brandon’s visitor. He asked me to fetch a pot of coffee and a jug of iced water to his father’s study, his tone businesslike, his eyes barely grazing mine.

My stomach sinks when I realize that what happened in the pantry meant nothing to him. I’m not even sure if he remembers what happened. I rush to the family kitchen to prepare coffee with hot stinging tears in my eyes and allow them to spill when I find the room empty.

I’m such an idiot. What did I think it meant to him? He’s a wealthy businessman with the kind of hot actor looks that could get him any woman he wants without even trying. Did I think that calling him a goddamn coward would win him over?

What am I even doing contemplating winning over Brandon Weiss?

I’ve been away from Jess for too long and my head is way up there in the clouds with a mojito in one hand and Brandon Weiss in the other.

I blot my face dry with kitchen paper, prepare the coffee, and blink furiously before carrying the tray to the study. Don’t make eye contact, I tell myself. If he does remember our kiss in the cupboard, it will only make him think that I want to take it further, and that’s not happening.

A few more days. That’s all I have to get through, and then normal life can resume. Surely, I can keep away from Brandon Weiss for a few more days.

The study door is open when I make my way back along the hallway, keeping my eyes on the coffee pot in case it spills. I hear voices. The visitor is standing so close to the open doorway that I can see the tip of one shiny black shoe, and I freeze when I hear the name Russo—the same name I overheard outside the Blond Giraffe.

I shouldn’t be listening.

I turn around slowly—perhaps I can get back to the kitchen before Brandon notices me. But the man is still speaking, and my legs have stopped working.

“The insider trading claims won’t stick, Brandon, but the media will lap up those images with a spoonful of honey on top. They’re visual. It’s what people want to see—it brings you down to their level and then some.”

Images? Whatever they are, they were important enough to bring this man out here on the day of Harry Weiss’s birthday. Important enough to keep Brandon in the house and incur the wrath of his mother.

Brandon’s voice is low, so low, I strain towards the door to hear what he’s saying. I only catch the last few words. “…what I pay you for.”

“I know. If it was anyone else, I’d have thrown the dead cat on the table and wiped the tabloids clean already, but the Russos won’t take that kind of retaliation lying down.”

“What do you suggest?” Brandon’s voice sounds closer, and I instinctively press my back against the wall, praying that the coffee cups don’t rattle.

“There’s only one way you’re getting people to forget they’ve seen the size of your dick. Give them something to love, and I’m not talking about bragging about how long you can keep it up.”

My cheeks are burning. I need to turn around and walk away before they both catch me red-handed. So, why won’t my legs move?

“One of America’s most eligible bachelors?” the guy continues. “You really want me to spell it out?”

That’s when my brain finally tells my legs to move.

I’m building sandcastles and collecting shells and splashing in the shallows with the girls, but my eyes keep darting back and forth to the wooden walkway that leads down to Small Beach. Where is Brandon? Why isn’t he here with the rest of the family?

I’m hoping he forgot that he requested refreshments in the study. Because now that I’ve had time to think about it, how can I explain why I didn’t bring them? Oh, sorry, I overheard you discussing compromising images being leaked to the tabloids and did a runner.

I already know how that’s going down.

“Rose, honey.” I’m trying to hold up a wonky sandcastle that’s about to create a landslide, when Ruby’s voice interrupts my concentration. “Have you seen Brandon?”

The castle collapses to groans of disappointment from the three girls.

“Rose knocked over the castle,” Georgie says loudly.

“We’ll build it again,” Frankie, the eldest granddaughter says. “Leave Rose and Grandma alone.”

I stand up and brush sand from the seat of my pants all over Ruby’s sparkly sandals. I flinch. “Sorry.”

She dismisses the apology with a wave of her manicured hand. “Brandon?”

“I saw him in the house before I came down.”

“Is he going to grace us with his presence?”

Snippets of the overheard conversation replay in my head, and I pray that Ruby won’t see the heat in my cheeks. “I don’t know. He wasn’t—He seemed a little … preoccupied.”

I know I’ve said too much when Ruby purses her lips, her eyes narrowing behind the designer sunglasses. “Do me a favor, honey, and remind him what day it is today.”

I peer down at the children who are still trying to rebuild the crumbling ruins of the castle.

“Kelly’s here—she can take over.” Ruby catches Kelly’s eye and returns to her seat.

I’m dismissed.

My pulse races as I retrace my steps along the wooden walkway. I don’t even hear Damon until he falls into step beside me.

“So, what’s my wayward brother been up to?” He gives me a sideways smile. “He can’t possibly have thought that our mother would let him get away with missing today’s picnic.”

“He was busy.” I keep my eyes fixed straight ahead. Damon has a habit of invading my personal space whenever we’re together, and I don’t want to encourage it. “Do you need me to pick something up from the house for you?”

“Oh no. I’m not coming back to the house. I haven’t seen much of you and just wanted to find out how you’re getting on.”

He’s just being polite, I tell myself. So, why does it always feel like a loaded question coming from Damon?

“Fine, the treasure hunt was … unexpected.”

“I must say, the zoetrope was genius.” Damon pauses but keeps walking. “ You found it, didn’t you?”

I laugh. “Yes, but don’t tell anyone. Brandon can take the glory. I still can’t believe the generous prize.”

“Brandon’s good at that—taking all the glory,” he says, ignoring my comment about the prize. “Although it doesn’t always work in his favor.”

I keep quiet. I’m not sure I want to know where this is going.

“My brother and Kelly dated for a while when they were at Harvard.” Damon isn’t wearing shades, and he squints at me then against the backdrop of blue sky and high sun.

My pulse is racing. My heartbeat skips erratically, and I force myself to keep my expression neutral. “Why are you telling me this?”

Damon stops walking. “I like you, Rose. My brother can charm his way out of a rabbit hole, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”

“Wh-why would I get hurt? I don’t understand. There’s nothing going on between Brandon and me.”

“My mistake, I’m sorry.” He raises his hands in mock surrender, and the wide smile is back. “Forget I said anything. I’d best get back—wouldn’t want us both to disappoint our mother on the same day.”

Brandon is still in love with Kelly.

That’s what I tell myself as I hurry back to the house, head down, eyes filled with tears. I knew I’d sensed something between them the day I arrived. I was crazy to kiss him back in the cupboard, and even crazier to think that I’d cracked the shell and gotten a glimpse of what’s inside Brandon Weiss.