Carae's Touch (Long Line of Love, #4) (8 page)

He didn't ask how Bancroft knew he'd dreamed of Carae. Sometimes Bancroft just knew things.

"You were in the midst of a nightmare when I arrived. I tried, but couldn't wake you. All I could do was get in bed and hold you until the worse of it passed."

He sighed. The nightmares were getting more frequent and powerful. "Then you know why I can't touch her," he said.

"You can't not touch her. Everything happens for a reason, Hoss. Lelia told me she and Carae have been friends for three years. There's a reason Lelia made Carae the first friend she's ever invited to a family party. There's a reason why I felt compelled to talk you into attending when you wanted to spend a quiet Friday at home. There's a reason why you went.

"More than any of the others, I know how much Rissa meant to you. I know there's a gigantic black hole in your heart and soul. I have a mirroring one in mine because I hurt with you. When she died a part of the light in my life was snuffed out as brutally as her life was because I knew what it would do to you.

"When I think of her and I often do, I'm filled with despair, regret, and pain. I can't tell you how many bitter tears I've shed for her and will continue to shed until you give me a reason to hope."

Bancroft didn't need to because Brandon knew. Rissa's death had deadened his feelings and emotions so deeply that he hadn't shed a single tear for her. But he hadn't had to because Bancroft, the other half of him, had cried for them both.

"Will her death ever stop hurting?" he asked.

"It can stop with Carae, Hoss, if you let it. Let her in so we can both heal. You must know by now that we're tied together in a way that few twins are. I know I won't find love until you do. Don't condemn us both to a life devoid of romantic happiness by turning away from her.

"I know what I'm asking won't be easy, but it's time. Rissa loved you with her entire being. You know that and knowing that you must know she wouldn't want you to live a life devoid of happiness. You can honor her memory and her love for you by reaching out and grabbing the happiness waiting for you with Carae."

More likely he'd end up hurting and disillusioning her as he'd done with Rissa, the love of his life. He shook his head.

Bancroft sighed. "Come home, Hoss. Please."

"I can't. Not until I get Carae out of my system."

"Even if you stay here ten years, that's not going to happen."

"And why not?"

"I think we both know why not."

"If you're implying I have some finer feelings for her—"

"If you're implying that you don't, don't bother because we both know better. She's so perfect for you, Rissa's spirit might have sent her to you."

"She is perfect. Why don't you—"

"I have no more romantic interest in her than you'd have in her sister, Hoss. She's yours. Reach out and take her."

He shook his head and rolled onto his stomach. "I'm not going to touch her, Croft. So leave it and while you're at it, go home and leave me in peace."

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes. It is," he said and kept his eyes closed until he fell asleep again.

When he woke, he was alone in the apartment. Alone with his warring thoughts of Rissa and Carae.

Two weeks later, Layton called one night and put Malita on the phone.

"Uncle Daddy!"

He smiled. "Hi, sweetheart! How are you?"

"I miss you. I want to see you. Come see us, Uncle Daddy? Please?"

"Of course I will."

"When? Soon, please."

"I'll be home this weekend."

"And you'll come to see us?"

"Of course. Now it's probably past your bedtime."

"Daddy said I could stay up to talk to you."

"I'll see you soon, sweetheart. Now let me speak to your daddy."

"Love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart."

"So?"

He compressed his lips when he heard Layton's voice. "That should have been beneath you, Hawk," he said, annoyed that he'd used his fondness for Malita against him.

"When it comes to looking out for one of my siblings, nothing is beneath me and she's been asking about you for weeks. You've never gone this long without seeing them, Hoss."

"I've spoken to them both at least once every week."

"At their age, seeing is what counts. They both miss you, but you know she's more attached to you than Brandon is. So what are you planning to do about seeing them?"

"I'll be home this weekend."

"When?"

"Friday night after work. Satisfied?"

"Far from it, but it's a start. I'll see you sometime this weekend, Hoss."

"Give Temp and Brandon my love."

"I will."

"And don't count your damned chickens before they hatch!" he said and hung up.

* * *

A
fter several weeks out spending every weekend clubbing, Carae sat at 30
^th
Street Station watching the arrival board for an inbound train from New York. Even though she'd only been waiting thirty minutes, by the time Brandon walked up the stairs from the boarding platform, she felt as if she'd waited a lifetime to see him again.

Although she still wasn't sure she'd made the right decision, she couldn't deny she was happy to see him. Smiling, she picked up her suitcase and rose. As she walked after him, she realized that he wasn't alone. A tall, slender blonde walked at his side.

Narrowing her gaze, she increased her stride. "Brand—sweetie. Back here, sweetie," she called.

He glanced over his shoulder, saw her, stopped, spoke briefly to the woman, and then quickly walked towards her.

He stopped within a few feet of her. "Carae!" He smiled. "Hi, hon..."

"Go on," she said. "Finish your greeting."

"I did," he said.

"No, you didn't. You were about to call me honey or sweetheart, or darling, or light of your life or whatever you call the special woman in your life."

He lowered his lids. "And the special woman in my life would be?"

"Me," she said. "Who else?"

"What are you doing here, Carae?"

"Aren't you happy to see me, Brandon?"

"I think you know that I am," he said with a quiet assurance that sent a thrill through her. "Actually, I thought...I was afraid..."

"What did you think or fear, Brandon?"

"That I'd scared you away."

"I thought you had too, but here I am."

"Yes. You are." He smiled again and for a moment, she almost expected him to lean forward to hug or kiss her. "If you're so happy to see me—"

"I am."

"Then a more important question would be who is that woman you're with?"

"I can multitask."

"Meaning what?"

"I can be happy to see you and still give her a ride home."

"Is that all you're doing with her?"

"Yes, Carae. That's all."

She sighed. "Thank you, Brandon."

"For what?"

"For not stating the obvious; that you don't owe me an explanation."

"I have no problem giving you one, Carae. Now, what brings you here?"

"Like her, I need a ride. Can you give me one?"

"Where are you going?"

"The night we met, you were gung ho to take me anywhere I wanted to go. In fact, I remember you singing that no place was too remote to go for me."

"That was a line in a song."

"So you're saying you didn't mean it?"

"I didn't say that, Carae, but—"

"But what? Either you meant it or you didn't. If you did, fine. If you didn't, don't go around singing about love at first sight. You damn sure don't sing Barry White to a woman on a first date."

"It wasn't a date—"

"It felt like one with you singing one sexy love song after another. In fact, every song you sang was a love song. So don't tell me you weren't singing and making love to me with your voice because you were!"

"Carae—"

"Did you mean it, Brandon?"

"Yes. Of course I'll drive you home or anywhere else you want to go." He reached down to pick up her suitcase. "Are you going home?"

She gave him a noncommittal smile.

"Come meet Alexis."

When he turned, she fell into step beside him. "Does she know?"

"Does she know what?"

"That you're mine."

He glanced at her.

She couldn't read the expression in his gaze but was satisfied that he hadn't taken issue with her assertion.

When they drew even with the blonde, he turned to her. "Alexis Smythe, Carae Harrington."

Sensing the unmistakable dislike the other woman projected at her, Carae was tempted to slip her arm through Brandon's. Almost as if he knew of her intention, he stepped away from her.

She smiled at the other woman who looked as if she had just walked off a catwalk. "Nice to meet you."

"And you," she said in a cool voice before looking at Brandon.

"Carae needs a lift as well," he said. He gestured towards the exit. "Ladies."

The three of them walked forward in silence.

At the exit doors, he turned to look at them both. "If you'll wait in here, I'll stand outside until my car is brought around," he said.

The moment Brandon walked out the exit, the other woman turned a cool stare on Carae. "So. You're a friend of Lelia's."

"What makes you say that?"

She looked surprised by the question. "You're clearly not a friend of Brandon's or of any of his brothers. That leaves Lelia."

Although annoyed by the implication that Brandon couldn't possibly have a romantic interest in her, she smiled. "If you believe that, you'd be shocked to know that I woke with hickies all over my neck the morning after we met."

"I find that difficult to believe."

Carae widened her smile. "I'm sure you do, since you've probably never enjoyed such a pleasure with him."

She laughed. "Don't be so naive. At the risk of sounding unkind, you're just not in his league. If what you say happened, I'm sure he was just curious about life on the other side."

Carae arched a brow, shaking her head slowly. "It must be awful to be so delusional."

Before the other woman could respond, Brandon opened the door. "Ladies."

She turned and pushed past Carae to walk out the door first.

By the time Carae followed, she was slipping into the front passenger seat of the door Brandon held open.

He closed the door before opening the rear door on the passenger side for her.

Carae gave him a cool stare.

He ignored it, urged her inside, and walked around the car to the driver's seat.

"It's time I returned the favor for the dinner I owe you, Brandon. We can have dinner at Mario's after you drop Lelia's friend off."

Fuming in the backseat, Carae waited for Brandon's response.

"I'm going to have to take a rain check," he said. 

"Do you have other plans?" she asked.

"No."

Pleased that he didn't offer the other woman any explanation, Carae smiled and settled back in her seat. However, she listened with growing annoyance as the jealous bitch went on to discuss work related issues that excluded her.

Brandon endeared himself to her when he turned the conversation to current news and made sure to include Carae.

Finally, forty minutes later, Brandon pulled into a quiet tree-lined cul-de-sac. He got out and walked around the car to open her door.

"Come in for a quick drink," she said, placing a hand on his arm when she slipped out of the car.

"Maybe another time."

"I'm sure Lelia's friend won't begrudge you a few minutes," she said as they walked away from the car and down the driveway towards the house.

Carae watched out the window while the woman placed a hand on his arm again before leaning over to plant what looked like a kiss on his mouth. To her relief, he immediately stepped back, nodded at her, and walked away.

When he reached the car, he opened the front and rear passenger side doors. "Join me in the front," he invited.

"Of course." Carae got out and slipped into the front seat.

When he got in beside her, she glanced at him. "Did you tell her I was Lelia's friend?"

"You heard what I told her about you when I introduced you," he said.

"Have you and she ever been more than friends?"

"We're not friends. We work in the same building and on the same floor."

"How does she know about Lelia and your brothers?"

"We're not friends, but we are acquaintances. She invited me to a party at her house. I went. When Layton had a party, I asked Tempest to invite her and her husband to return the favor. They came. Whenever Layton and Tempest give a party, there are always several of us in attendance. She's met some of my brothers and she's met Lelia a few times when we were all returning from New York on the same train."

"Is that all?"

"I've already told you that it was. If I were in the market, it wouldn't be with her."

"Why not? She's gorgeous."

"So are you. Just so you know, Carae, I don't date white women."

"Ever?"

He shrugged. "I dated a few in college to see what all the fuss was about, but still couldn't see the attraction."

"Does she know that?"

"In case you didn't notice the ring, she's married."

"I saw it, but does she remember that when the two of you are alone?"
Like when she was trying to kiss you at her door?

"Even if she didn't, I would. I have zero interest in any relationship with another man's wife."

"Good," she said softly.

"What were you doing at 30
^th
Street Station, Carae?"

"I was waiting for you," she admitted.

"How did you know I'd be there?"

"A little birdy told me," she said.

"And would that little birdy be named Layton or Bancroft?"

"Does it matter? I was hoping you'd be glad to see me, Brandon."

"How many ways must I say I am and was happy to see you, Carae?"

"I'll eagerly listen while you say it in as many ways as you like," she said.

"Then I'll tell you yet again, that turning around to see you tonight was the highlight of my week...hell, who am I kidding? It was the highlight of the entire damned long and lonely four weeks and five days since I last saw you. Satisfied?"