Mending (23 page)

After Gabby l
eft him at the wedding, he had
play
ed
back the conversations
over the years
with his father.  He looked back on his life and how many women’s hearts he’d broken.  He realized he wanted more, but more than anything didn’t want to
turn out to
be his father.  If he didn’t change, he was full well on his way.  He wasn’t sure if he would be able to do it.  That’s why he had waited so long before contacting her.  He wanted to make sure that he was able to go for a period of time without being with anyone.  He knew he needed women in the past.  He wanted to make sure that he was in a position to give her what she needed; a man who could value her decision to wait until she married to lose her virginity.

When they got out of the car, Gabby grabbed his arm. “Hey, are you okay?”

He pulled her into a hug and rubbing her nose with his, “I’m fine, why?”

“You just seem quiet today, not yourself.”

He caressed her checks with the back of his hand, “I’m sorry. I’ve wanted to give you space so you can enjoy your sister.”

“Well, snap out of it.  I want my playful Bradley back for putt
putt
, please.” She smacked his butt.

His eyebrow raised and he tilted his head, “Did you just smack my ass?”

She giggled as she tried to back up but he squeezed her harder. 

“Nope, you’re not getting’ away.”

Gabby stood tall and determined, “I sure did.  What are you
gonna
do about it?”

He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes playfully, “
Hmm, let me think about it.  I have a few things in mind.”

Gabby shook her head and winked. “I’m sure you do.”

Gabby and Bradley were behind Ryan and Sam.  They were playing couples against couples. Bradley was leaning up against the fence and had his club palm resting on the top of the club, his legs crossed.  “They look like they are hitting it off pretty good.” He nodded towards them.  “What do you think, Gabby Girl?”

Gabby leaned up to the fence beside him, scooting in close.  “I think you did a nice job, Mr. Banks.” She giggled.  “Let’s add matchmaker to your title.”

He chuckled, “I’m pretty good at reading people.” He turned towards her, “Like you.” His voice was husky. “I know right now that it’s all you can do to resist making out with me right here in the middle of all these people.”

Gabby’s
brows furrowed and she gave him a sarcastic smile, “Well, that’s a given most anytime I’m with you.”

He leaned in to where their faces were nearly touching, “Me, too.  Kiss me.”

She leaned up and kissed him soft and slow until Ryan whistled and Sam yelled, “Oh C’mon, there are little kids around!”

Their lips were still on each other, but they both curved them into smiles. 

“Did I mention that Sam forgets she’s my sister, not my mother?” Gabby teased.

“Hey, it’s your turn anyway Gabby.”

She reached up and gave Bradley a quick kiss on the cheek and skipped up to the green.

Bradley resumed his spot on the fence and crossed his hands in front of him as he watched her putt.  This was precisely why he had chosen putt
putt
and he couldn’t help but grin at how adorable she was at being pretty horrible at putt
putt
. 

When she was done, it was his turn. Ryan and Sam had taken the place where he and Gabby had been standing waiting on them to do their round at the hole.  Bradley was an avid golfer.  It was almost a pre-requisite for being in the corporate world.  He had tried not to show off too much, but he was an excellent putt
putt
player.  As he was about to sink a birdie, he heard Gabby call his name.  “He
y, are we’re on the same team, don’t sabotage me.
” He
winked
as he looked back over his shoulder to her.

Gabby had her phone out and was smiling as she took a picture of him. “
We are indeed on the very same team.  But,
I thought you looked so cute like that.  I wanted to get a new picture of you for when you call me.”

Bradley shook his head, “
Hmm, maybe I’ll just take a picture of you next time you go to putt.”

Gabby giggled, “You do that.”

Gabby and Bradley had gone ahead and gotten out of the Ryan’s Land Cruiser to give them some space.  Sam was standing near him at the driver’s side.  It was obvious there was chemistry there.  Bradley put his arm around Gabby, “C’mon.  Let’s go on inside and give them some time.”

Gabby smiled up at him as they started to walk away. “You did a nice job with them.  They really seemed to hit it off.”

He looked down and kissed her head, “Yeah.  I told you, I’m good at reading people, baby.”

Gabby giggled.

They spent about an hour and a half showering and getting dressed up to go to meet his parents.  Gabby was visibly nervous.  Bradley walked up and turned her around grabbing her shoulders, “Babe, it’s
gonna
be ok.  They are going to love you.”

“I’m just nervous.” She fidgeted.

“I
know,
me too.”

Gabby’s
lips formed a half smile and she arched an eyebrow, “Why are you nervous?” she asked sarcastically.

“My dad is a bit of a womanizer, Gabby.  I don’t bring girls home.  I just worry how you’ll feel around them.” He shrugged.  “I mean, I know they are going to love you.  But I worry my Dad will be a dick to me and make you feel uncomfortable.”

Gabby cupped his face in her hands, “Why would he be that way to you?”

He looked down closing his eyes, “We have a great relationship when I do what he wants me to do, but if I buck him he is just an ass, okay.”

“Buck him about what?”

He looked at her and his pained baby blue eyes were detached, “Let’s not discuss this now.  Let’s go have a nice night and just remember how much I love you.”

She smiled as she ran her fingers through his wet hair from his shower, “You look really nice tonight and I love you.”

Chapter 1
5

January, 2011
:  The Present

2:00pm

Bradley

He ran up the steps to try to release some of the stress that had building up in him all day.  This had turned into one of the worst days of his life and he had this infuriating woman to thank for it all, and he fully intended to do just that.  He knew that if he took charge she would be turned on and let her guard down.  There had been several times in the past when he would have had a terrible day at work and he would come over just like this and totally take control of her in every single pleasurable way he could. 

He pounded on the door with his fist.  “
Roni
, it’s me.”

She opened the door and looked alarmed.  “Hey.”  She looked up to him with concern as she rubbed her belly, “I should have known you would blow up like this.”

“Oh, you sure as hell should have.” He barged past her into the apartment.  “Now, shut the damned door.”

She did as she was told and slowly started walking towards him with a sly smile on her face.  “I knew you would come around.”

He stood there relaxing slightly and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Did you?”

She closed her eyes looking up to him waiting for him to kiss her.
“
Mhmm
.”

All he could think about was Gabby and how he wanted her in his arms instead of her.  He strummed his finger down her cheek, “Tell me, did you plan it?”

“Plan it?” she looked up bewildered.

“Yeah, did you come off the pill or something hoping to get yourself pregnant?”

“No!  I told you, it’s not always 100% effective.”

He leaned in a little closer to her, teasing her,
“But, you said you weren’t upset about it either.  Are you hoping we’ll what, get married and live happily ever after?”

“Well, I’m not
gonna
l
ie. 
I would like that very much.”

It took every ounce of self-control to not shove her away.  “Do you want to hear what I want?”

“Of course.”
She fluttered her eye lashes that were covered in mascara.

“I want you to tell me the truth.”

“About what?”

“About whether I am the father or whether Ian is.”

She swallowed and it was obvious to him she was trying her best to lie, “I don’t know an Ian.”

He pushed her away, “You really are a lying, conniving little bitch.”

She huffed and turning on her heel.  “How dare you.”

Bradley grabbed her arm and spun her back around.  “Excuse me.  How dare
you
?”  He pulled her closer, “You tell me everything or so help me God I will use every piece of ammunition in my arsenal to get you disbarred for conspiracy to commit fraud.”

She jerked her arm away from his and started to sob.  “You wouldn’t.”

Again, using his ability to seduce her to his advantage, he took a step closer narrowing his eyes.  “Oh, I would and I will.  Spill it. 
Now.”
He firmly spoke through clenched teeth.

“I love you, though.”

“No, you don’t love me.  You love the idea of me.”  He gestured between the two of them, “This isn’t love.”  He closed his eyes tightly trying to keep back the tears that were pricking the back of his fierce blue eyes, “You’ve got five seconds to start spilling your guts or I’m outta here and I’ll wage war against your ass so fast you won’t know what hit you.”

Her voice and bottom lip quivered, “I’m not sure if the baby is yours.”

“
Mhmm
, keep going.”
He balled his fingers into a fist at his side.

Her eyes were filled with tears and she was having trouble talking. “I had only been with you up until the night of your cousin’s wedding.”

Bradley closed his eyes as he listened because he couldn’t stand to look at her any longer.  He briefly opened them before closing them again, “Keep going.”

“I met Ian and he made me feel so incredible and wanted.”  Vero
nica blinked quickly,
a look of anger
spread across her face
.  “He didn’t make me feel like a cheap whore.”  She looked out of the window.  “I had too much to drink and so did he.  We left and came back here and he made love to me all night.  Are you happy now?”

Bradley chuckled
facetiously
, “Oh, no I’
m any and everything
but happy right now.  Keep going.”

“That’s it.”

“
Seven years of education plus all the time and effort you’ve been pouring into making partner.  That’s a lot to just throw down the drain.  Is that your final answer?
”

She sat down and cupped her head into her hands.  Her sobs were causing her body to heave. 

“I didn’t think that was your final answer.”