Chapter Eleven
Brandon
I knew something was wrong with Selena when I caught her by the main stairwell at Mel’s house. She was pale, quite a feat considering her olive-hued skin. She also looked like she was wavering on her feet. It didn’t mean she still wasn’t hot. She was in a short bright pink summer dress that made every curve pop and made my dick leap to attention. Still, there was something off about my tiger.
I slid up to her and worked to play the correct role; the vaguely aware boss and father of her best friend. It was too crowded downstairs to do more than that. However, I could give her the hint of exactly which bedroom upstairs I knew would be the most secluded, and easiest one to be in and out of. I hadn’t been here often, but, begrudgingly, I’d shared a couple of Christmases over here for Tammy’s sake. As a result, I knew the lay of the land just well enough to make everything work.
“Hello, Miss Cole,” I said. Keeping my distance from her was necessary, but it made me itchy. I wanted to reach out and stroke her hair, lean close enough to pinch the tight firmness of her ass. But I couldn’t. That was what disappearing discreetly was for. “How are you today? I can’t thank you enough for coming out to Tammy’s birthday party.”
She narrowed her eyes for just a moment, apparently not amused at all about the reminder for why we were brought together. Tough. I wasn’t going to let a chance to see her go by without also fucking her rotten. We’d be fast, we’d be hidden, but we were damn well going to do it.
“Mr. Duncan, you know I couldn’t leave Tammy to celebrate the big twenty-one on her own. Actually, I think she’s by the bar with the signature cocktail. Nice use of rum by the way, almost feel like I’m in some place tropical even in New York.”
I winked and fell easily into the chitter-chatter. “It’s August and about a hundred degrees. I think it’s easier to think of this as the islands than any other time. However, I don’t think you need to rush off to see her.” I looked over my shoulder to make sure that nothing else was invading our space. “In fact, I think you can come with me upstairs.” I lowered my voice. “I know the perfect place.”
She bit her lip as her eyes darted around her. “I’m not sure that’s the best idea.”
“It won’t take long.”
Selena smirked; some of her humor finally returning to her hazel eyes. “Then it’s definitely not a winning idea.”
“Oh, don’t impugn me, Miss Cole,” I said. “Come upstairs. Hell, just come.”
She cast daggers at me with her glance but followed me several steps behind up the stairs, then followed me through the twisting hallways to the bedroom farthest away from everything. Despite the pounding bass of the music, and the animated conversation below, when we slipped into the bedroom, it was quiet. So quiet that I could hear her breath, its ragged gasps confusing me since we hadn’t even started yet.
I sat on the bed and waited for her to follow my motion. “Okay, what gives?”
She pulled her purse closer to her and clutched it so tightly her knuckles went white. I wondered what she had in there. Maybe I didn’t want to know.
“Everything’s fine.”
“Then why do you seem jumpier than I’ve ever seen you. Selena, I can tell that something isn’t right. You’re halfway between looking like you want to set me on fire and looking like you might just pass out from dizziness. Are you okay?”
She sighed, but her grip remained on her bag. “I’ve had the flu lately, that’s all.”
“That’s good to know it’s nothing more serious. You look pale.”
Her lower lip seemed to wobble for an instant before she spoke again. “Great, it’s always good to know that I look like shit.”
I reached out my hand and stroked her hair back from her forehead. “I didn’t say that. I do think you seem off, and I don’t know why. I’m worried about you. Please, Tiger, let me know what’s going on.”
Selena shook her head. “Like I said, just haven’t been able to keep food down much the last couple of days and feeling more woozy than normal. I’m fine.”
“Something’s wrong though.” She leaped up and started to the door. I followed after her and backed her against the wall. “You don’t want to do that.” My hips were practically pinning hers, and my breath was hot on her cheeks. “Tiger, please, you’re upset, and I want to know what’s happening. How I can fix it?”
Tears brimmed in her eyes and it felt like a hot poker in my heart. I’d never seen her like this.
“Trust me,” Selena said, her voice ragged, “you can’t help me.”
“I think I can and—”
The door opened, and we both jumped back from each other as if we’d been scalded. Well, in Selena’s case, she pushed herself into the wall and then, once she realized it was just Jonathan, brushed past both of us and disappeared down the hall.
“Fuck, man, what’s the big idea?” I demanded.
Jonathan shook his head. “Do you really think I’m the only person who noticed you and then Selena follow you up the stairs? Come on, Brandon. You’re usually smarter about these things. The merger is still going through the final approvals. You want a page six disaster at your own daughter’s big bash?”
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“You didn’t even bother to lock the door. If I had been anyone else, you’d have been fucked. I mean, think about this. What if it had been Mel? Do you really want to have to explain to your ex what you’re doing or whatever the fuck you think you’re doing?”
I balled my hands up into fists at my side and tried not to let my temper rise further. It was a struggle. Part of me just wanted to beat Jonathan down for all his meddling, even if, rationally, I knew he was right. If it had been anyone else, both Selena and I would have been royally screwed.
Not in the fun way.
“I know, but we weren’t actually doing anything this time. I was trying to get her to open up to me.”
“I’ll say.”
I clenched my jaw and then spoke. “I’m serious. Something’s bugging her, and I almost had her ready to explain what it was. Then you burst in.”
Jonathan sighed. “I didn’t know that.”
“Well, no shit.”
“I’m sorry, but you had to let her go. Here, you’re just the CEO of the company she’s interning for and the best friend’s dad she’s only officially met once. You can’t let that façade fall. It’ll ruin you both if you do.”