Undisputed (17 page)

“H
ow do you know her again?” I ask, turning away from the gorgeous woman talking to Connor and raising my eyebrow at Breccan.

Pressing his lips together, he looks away from me for a brief moment before answering. “Uh, she’s just an old friend. I saw that she was in town doing a shoot, so I gave her a call.”

He’s not telling me the whole truth, but I decide I would rather not know anyway. Especially after the taste of the jealousy that washed over me as I watched swimsuit model Haley Nicole kiss Breccan’s cheeks in greeting a few minutes ago.

But there is no reason for my jealousy.

Yeah, Breccan kissed me last week. And, yeah, I liked—no, loved—it. And, yeah, I’ve been eager for more and disappointed when the more I’ve wanted never happened. But one toe-curling kiss doesn’t make him mine.

I’m not sure what I expected from Breccan after he’d dropped us off after the game. But, whatever it was, it was more than what I got.

For three days, it was radio silence on his end. I was like a teenage girl waiting on her crush to call. Every time my phone rang or pinged with a text, my heart would leap into my throat, only to be disappointed when it wasn’t him.

When I finally did hear from him, it was a text asking if
Connor
had any plans for this weekend. When I responded that he didn’t, he then wanted to know what
Abby
was doing. It was only after informing him that Abby was once again away on assignment—which happened to be a sore subject at the time—that he asked about
my
plans. I was tempted to tell him that I was busy for the next…say, eon, but I instead typed out a long message listing all the reasons why I was annoyed with him.

None of those reasons included my hurt feelings over his lack of interest. No, they were ridiculous reasons, like showing up unannounced weeks ago and crap of the like. When I realized I was bordering on nutcase territory, I quickly erased it before simply responding that I wasn’t doing anything.

Turns out that he was ready to help Connor cross another item off the list and had made a few arrangements. He refused to tell us what the plans were, only insisting that it was going to be more exciting than skydiving and the football game combined.

I’m just thankful I took the time to actually fix my hair and put makeup on.

Because here we are, in the middle of a photo shoot with one of the most beautiful women in America, while Connor alternates between hyperventilating and drooling.

Breccan was right. This
is
more exciting than the last two things we crossed off the list—for Connor.

For me, it was just awkward and, honestly, boring.

I’m zoned out, mentally going over all the things I could be doing at this moment instead of watching Connor’s wet dream come to life, when Breccan, using his thumb and forefinger, turns my head towards him.

“Hey. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

Not wanting to tell him that I’ve been obsessing over him in bed with what’s her face, I pull my head out of his hand and ask, “Why didn’t you call me?” It came out barely more than a whisper, and I mentally kick myself for sounding so whiney. The last thing I want is to sound like one of his pathetic groupies.

Did fighters have groupies?

His strong brow wrinkles in confusion. “What are you talking about? I did call you. Well, I mean, I texted. Same thing.”

I glance up to check on Connor and see that he’s laughing with Haley about something. Smiling at his joy, I try to shake off my insecurities. “Never mind. I just expected to hear from you after, you know…”
After you kissed me.
“Yeah, you texted, but it was about Connor. Which, on a side note, thanks for not telling me what we were doing,” I say sarcastically. “I’m glad I took the effort to put on makeup and do something with this.” I shake my wavy locks around.

He tugs at the ends of my hair. “Come on. This kind of beauty just comes naturally. Who are you tryin’ to kid?”

I glare, pursing my lips, and then retort, “Oh, please. You know you say that to all the girls.”

His grin fades, and he stares deep into my eyes. “Yeah, actually, I do. But I’ve never meant it before you.”

Holy shit.

Clearing my throat, I shake myself out of his spell. “So, again, you didn’t call because?”

His gaze darts around, landing anywhere but on me. “Uh…Mark’s kept me in the gym all fucking day, every day this week.” His gaze finally meets mine, and he rubs his palms on his thighs. “My next title fight isn’t for a couple of months, but he’s old-school and insists I train year round.” Turning the tables on me, he asks pointedly, “Why didn’t
you
call
me
?”

Shit!

Why didn’t I call him?

“Well…” I nervously glance away. “Abby had to leave again, so I was pretty busy with Connor.” It’s only a half lie.

With Abby on assignment—again—I
was
busy. But there’s no way I’m going to admit to him that I was anxious at the thought of being the first to reach out. I also refuse to tell him that I picked up the phone to call him a dozen times but talked myself out of hitting send each time.

Besides, he’s the guy. Isn’t he supposed to do the chasing?

“See?” he says, kicking his feet out in front of him, crossing them at the ankle. “You can’t blame me for being too busy when you were busy too. So, what’s the deal with Abby anyway? Why is it that everything with Connor falls on you?”

I’m relieved at the change of subject. Although I’m not sure that this subject is any easier to talk about.

Grimacing, I tell him, “It’s nothing exciting, really. You sure you want to know?”

When he nods, I continue.

“Abby’s always been, well, Abby. I mean, she’s a bit of a gypsy. Our mom used to say she was like a bird, always in the wind. Anyway, for as long as I can remember, I’ve always been taking care of things for her. In school, I did her projects. In college, I stayed up with her, cramming for tests she had forgotten about. Then she ran off on vacation and came back pregnant. No guy to help her. And then our parents died, leaving just me and our brother. Jeremy’s in the military and off on his own adventures. Pretty much, that only left me.” I half shrug. “We were on our own, ya know? How could I tell her no when she came to me, begging for my help?”

“But what about
your
life?”

I chuckle. “I didn’t have a life. I mean, I did have this amazing condo. God, it was a fucking steal. It was on Lake Murphy. Have you ever been there?”

He shakes his head.

“Really? God, I loved having picnics there. It didn’t matter if it was springtime or winter—it was so beautiful and peaceful. I would sit on the bank and write.”

His eyebrows pop in surprise. “You write?”

“A little. Just short stories. I’m definitely not the next JK Rowling. I just like to people-watch and then make up stories about their lives.” My face flushes.

Abby’s the only person who knows about my hobby. I don’t have any clue why I’m spilling my guts to him, but the way he’s intently watching me spurs me to keep talking.

“Anyway, the condo was on the lake, and it flooded. The owners couldn’t afford the repairs. It went into foreclosure. The insurance money from our parents’ accident was enough to buy it outright and pay for the repairs. So I threw myself into the project. It was so much fun being able to make every decision and knowing I was in control of every little detail.” I realize I’m rambling, so I pause and laugh without humor. “You don’t care about that!”

He smiles that genuine, slow grin of his, and my heart stops.

“Of course I care. Sounds like you loved it. So, why don’t you live there now?”

Once my heart starts beating again, I shake my head. “Well, when Abby started traveling all the time, I had to stay with Connor. He was only seven then. It was easier for me to come to her place than to bring him to me. Eventually, I realized I was spending more time there than at my house. It just made more sense to sell it.”

The memory of signing those papers flashes in my mind, and I have to blink several times to keep from crying. It was the day I gave my life up. I don’t regret it, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still sting from time to time.

With a shaky voice, I continue. “In the end, it worked out, and I know that. But I was so resentful towards Abby those days. It took a lot of time to come to peace with the decision. Because, you know, it was my decision. I could have told her no. I didn’t have to become Connor’s keeper. But I wanted to. So there was no reason to be angry at my sister.” I’m not sure who I am trying to convince: him or me.

What I said was true—I had come to terms with the fact that I’d put my life on hold to rescue Abby. But there are still times when the old feelings of bitterness creep back in. And this is becoming more and more frequent the longer she stays gone.

Frowning, Breccan asks, “Okay, so that’s why you were taking care of Connor before. But he wasn’t sick back then, right?”

I shake my head.

“Yeah. That’s what I thought. So, now that his health isn’t great, shouldn’t she be around more?”

His question is exactly what I’ve been asking myself since this whole ordeal began. I don’t have an answer though.

I glance at my shoes. “I haven’t asked her, but I can only assume that she can’t handle it. When our parents died, she disappeared for, like, a month. It’s how she copes, I think.”

Gently, he links his fingers between mine. “But what about how you cope? Who’s there for you?”

Emotion clogs my throat.

Is he offering to be there for me?

Confused by how comforted I am by him in a matter of a couple weeks, I realize I am desperate for his answer to be yes.

“Want to get dinner?” I blurt out, not ready to completely open up to him. I need a diversion before my mouth betrays me and I tell him more than I want.

His face goes blank, and he pulls his hand from mine. A strange sense of loss comes over me when I lose the physical connection, and I begin to backtrack.

“Uh. I mean. Well…” I stumble over my words and become more and more flustered.

“Yeah, dinner sounds good.” He puts me out of my misery. “I know this awesome pizza place. Connor’s gonna love it. They cook the—”

“No. Uhm. I meant without Connor. Just you and me.”

Surprise registers on his face, but he doesn’t say anything for what feels like an eternity. “Oh! You mean, like, a date?” he asks hesitantly.

“Yeah. Usually, when two people go out to dinner alone, that’s what it’s called. You have been on one before, right?” I tease. Meanwhile, my inside are being eaten by nerves.

Please say yes. Please say yes.

Or no would even be fine at this point.

Just say something!

His knee begins bouncing up and down before he clears his throat. “Actually, no. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a real date before.”

I laugh before realizing he’s serious.

My mouth falls open. “Seriously? Never? What do you do then? I’ve seen you with women in the tabloids.”

His cuts his gaze towards Haley, and I instantly regret my question.

“Never mind. Just forget I said anything.”

I begin making up excuses as to why we have to leave if he says no. While it would totally bum Connor out to cut his day with the swimsuit model short, there’s no way I could continue to sit here with Breccan if—when—he turns me down.

Pulling at the collar of his shirt, he finally gives me an answer. “Yeah.” He grins at me. “Dinner sounds great, actually. When’s Abby supposed to be home?”

I fight the urge to jump from my chair in victory and barely manage not to squeal. Biting my bottom lip, I pull my phone out to check Abby’s itinerary and nearly die with excitement when I see that she’s due back tonight.

I glance up and notice that he’s watching me, his eyes glued to my teeth chewing on my bottom lip. As my tongue darts out to dampen my lips, his nostrils flare, and for a moment, it feels as though all the oxygen has been sucked from the room.

Riding the high of knowing I’ve turned him on, I reply breathily, “Looks like she’s scheduled to land later tonight, actually.” Reluctantly, I look away from his face to check the calendar.

She doesn’t have another assignment for at least two weeks. I relay this to him and make a mental note to e-mail Abby and threaten her life if she takes anything last minute.

“What about tomorrow night?” he asks, surprising me.

Nodding entirely too quickly, I say, “Okay. That works for me. I’ll let Abby know so she doesn’t make any plans.” My mind is reeling. I just asked him out. And he said
yes
!

“I’ll pick you up in Daphne, then.”

I giggle at the silly nickname for his car.

“How does six sound?”

It sounds like I’ve got a freaking date with Breccan Carlisle!

“Perfect.” I smile.