Clearly, someone had come by to stock the fridge with food before they arrived.
Brianne found a skillet, put it on the stove and placed some strips of turkey bacon in it to cook. Next, she got the coffee started. Then she set about cutting fresh apple slices and sectioning oranges and arranging them on a platter.
She was mixing eggs in a bowl to scramble them when she heard the patio door slide open. Whirling around, she saw Alex entering the house.
Heat zapped her body with the force of a Mack truck.
Lord have mercy…
Though she’d seen Alex from the terrace, seeing him up close—half naked—was something she wasn’t prepared for. He was all hard muscles and ripples, and every inch of his body upper body was gleaming with sweat. Forget a six-pack. Alex easily had an eight to ten-pack.
Good Lord, the man was sinfully sexy. All six-foot-four, decadent-chocolate inches of him.
He smiled as he regarded her, and Brianne’s heart slammed against her rib cage. What was wrong with her?
“Morning, Bree.”
Brianne tried to speak, but her throat was too dry for any sound to escape. Again, she couldn’t help wondering what was wrong with her.
She reached for her mug of coffee and downed a liberal sip, wetting her throat.
“Hey,” she managed. “That was one long run.”
“Yeah.” Alex blotted his face with a hand towel that he held. “I love starting my day with a run when I’m down here. Do you mind getting me a bottle of water from the fridge? I don’t want to drip sweat all over the floor.”
“Oh, sure.” Brianne put the bowl of eggs down and scurried to the fridge, then brought a bottle of ice-cold water to Alex.
“Something smells good,” Alex said as she handed it to him.
“I wanted to surprise you with breakfast.”
“I can’t wait to dig in. I’ll get showered and be back in a bit.”
When Alex turned and walked back outside, Brianne quickly asked, “Where are you going?”
“I’ve got a shower out here. Makes it easy.”
Brianne’s mind immediately conjured the image of an open-air shower, where Alex would stand naked as the day he was born, protected from prying eyes by only a few hedges or a short stone wall. And the image made her skin flush.
She couldn’t help creeping to the patio doors and peering outside once she put the eggs in the skillet, but Alex was nowhere to be seen.
What am I doing?
Brianne went back to the stove before the eggs burned, mentally chiding herself for being so desperate for a glimpse of a naked Alex.
Clearly, it had been
way
too long since she’d had any action.
That would be rectified soon enough. Once she and Alex found Carter.
Provided Carter wasn’t already involved with someone else.
The thought sobered Brianne as she finished scrambling the eggs. She was sharing portions on two plates when Alex appeared at the patio doors. He was wearing a T-shirt and long nylon track pants.
“Do you have a guest house out back?” she couldn’t help asking as he entered the house, a hint of humor in her voice. Then again, she wouldn’t be surprised if he did.
“A change room, sauna and a shower. It’s much easier to jump in the shower out there when you’ve been in the pool or at the beach.”
This kind of life was so foreign to Brianne, she could barely wrap her mind around it. And yet here she was, in Alex’s magnificent
vacation
home.
“You really do lead a charmed life,” she found herself saying.
“Don’t confuse the things I have with the kind of life I live,” Alex said. “I’m definitely blessed, I know that. But I work hard, travel a lot and don’t always get to enjoy what I have. And there are times when all the money in the world can’t buy you the happiness you want. Nor prevent bad things from happening.”
“Like what happened to Carter,” Brianne said softly.
Alex nodded. “And not just Carter.”
There was a seriousness to his demeanor, one that told Brianne he was referring to something very painful that had happened in his life. But she didn’t want to pry. She took the plates from the counter to the table, then went back
for the coffee mugs. She was surprised when she turned and found Alex standing directly in her path.
“My mother died when I was eighteen,” Alex said. No preamble, no warning and no particular emotion. But as Brianne looked into his eyes, she could see the pain there. And she wanted to wrap her arms around him and hug him, the only comfort she could offer.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“I don’t know why I’m telling you this. I don’t really talk about her passing. But you…I like talking to you. You’re a good listener.”
Brianne was surprised—and touched. She figured for sure that Alex thought her nosey after she asked him about girlfriends last night. It meant a lot that he actually trusted her enough to share this with him.
“How?” Her tone was gentle. “What happened?”
“Lupus,” he replied, agony twisting his face. “We always knew the day would come, but…”
“But you’re never prepared for it,” Brianne finished for him.
Alex shook his head, not speaking.
“You were close,” Brianne said, knowing with certainty that they were.
“Very.”
“I can’t imagine…I can’t imagine losing a parent.” She wanted to hug him, and yet she didn’t want to behave inappropriately. The last thing she wanted to do was lead him on.
“What I regret most is that she died before I made something of myself. She always believed in me. I wish she’d been able to live longer, that I could have spoiled her with nice things.”
“I’m sure your love was enough,” Brianne said. “She
knew you loved her, and that’s what would have meant the most to her.”
Alex’s jaw flinched, and for a moment Brianne wondered if he were angry. But why would he be angry at a time like this, after speaking so fondly about his mother?
“The breakfast’s getting cold,” she announced, changing the subject before the mood became too grim. “If you grab the coffee carafe, we’ll be set.”
“Sure,” Alex said, but he sounded distracted.
Moments later they were both sitting at the round glass table in the kitchen, eating in silence. Brianne was glad when Alex lifted a remote control from the center of the table and turned on the refrigerator’s TV—even if she wasn’t particularly interested in the fluff piece on CNN.
Several minutes later, Brianne spoke after washing down some turkey bacon with coffee. “Thank you.” At Alex’s confused expression, she quickly explained. “For coming to me with the news about Carter possibly being alive. I know I wasn’t sure if I wanted to be involved in this when you told me about it, but I have no doubts now. This is exactly where I need to be. Where I want to be. So thank you.”
Alex nodded as he chewed a mouthful of food.
“What’s the plan for today?” Brianne went on.
Alex swallowed and then said, “I have the address for Dean Knight’s office. It opens at ten. I say we get there right when it opens.”
Brianne glanced at the digital clock on the stove. It was 8:34. “So in ninety minutes, we’ll get some answers.” She drew in an unsteady breath. “By the end of the day, we could be reunited with Carter.”
Chapter 9
N
o question, Florida was one of the most beautiful states. Maybe it was that stunning view of the water—both from Alex’s house and as they drove along North Atlantic Avenue—but Brianne had never seen a prettier view.
Alex turned right along West International Speedway, and they traveled over a bridge that took them to part of Daytona that was separated from the beach. This city was sprawling, from what Brianne could tell. Businesses were not crowded together, but rather spaced apart. Maybe that was because the city planners had left enough space for beautiful flowers and greenery to line the streets.
Alex made a series of turns off of the main thoroughfare and ultimately ended up on a street named Orange. At five minutes after ten—precisely twenty minutes after they had pulled out of Alex’s driveway—Alex pulled up in front of a moderate-size two-story house. Also different from the city of Buffalo, Brianne noted that many of the businesses
in Daytona were converted houses. Or perhaps they had been designed to look like houses from the beginning. Whatever the case, she liked the look. The colors were bright and warm and welcoming.
“This is it?” Brianne asked. Though it was obvious. A sign on the building read DEAN KNIGHT ENTERPRISE.
“Yep.” Alex turned off the car’s ignition and faced her. “Don’t be nervous.”
It was then that Brianne realized she was tightly clenching her fingers together. She loosened them. “It’s just suddenly so real.”
“Answers. That’s why we’re here.”
“You have the pictures?” Alex had shown her a handful of photos that he had printed of Carter.
“Yeah. I’ve got them.” He removed the small envelope from the glove compartment. “Are you ready?” Brianne nodded.
Alex exited the car door and came around to the passenger side. He opened the door for Brianne, who had been sitting there. Not waiting for him to be chivalrous, but sitting, frozen, in a state of sheer panic.
What if Alex were wrong? What if they had come this way only to learn the Carter he had seen was some other person altogether?
“It’s okay, Brianne,” Alex said gently. “No matter what happens.”
She nodded shakily. “What if Dean’s not here?”
“See that Ferrari in the driveway? It’s the same one I saw on television. He’s here.”
She was stalling, she knew.
Alex offered her his hand. “Come on.”
Brianne accepted Alex’s hand, noting just how strong it was. He helped her down from the Navigator, but didn’t release her hand once her feet were securely on the ground.
And she didn’t pull her hand away. She held Alex’s hand, taking strength from him as they both went up the walkway to the front door.
There was an exterior screen door, through which they could see into the office, given that the interior door was open. Alex had explained that Dean Knight had created a charitable foundation to help children with autism, an issue near and dear to his heart since he had a younger brother who was autistic.
There was a glamorous black woman sitting behind a high glass counter. She looked at Brianne first—then her eyes widened with interest when they landed on Alex. Her subsequent smile was warm, and perhaps a bit flirtatious.
“May I help you?” she asked. She fluffed her long hair, looking only at Alex.
Oh, yeah. She was flirting.
Alex rested his elbows on the counter, leaning forward. “Yeah, you can.” He returned her smile, and it was all dazzle. “I’m here to see Dean Knight.”
The receptionist looked down at a large desk calendar. “Do you have an appointment?”
“No, I’m sorry. I didn’t get to make one.” His voice was deep and sultry. “Will that be a problem…or can you help me out?”
Brianne narrowed her eyes as she stared at Alex. Oh, my God.
He
was flirting right back.
“I’ll see what I can do. You’re lucky he’s in today. Tomorrow he heads to California.”
“Lucky me.”
Why are you standing there making goo-goo eyes with this woman?
Brianne wanted to ask.
Can we get on with this already?
“What’s your name?” the woman asked.
“Alex. Alex Thorpe. And your name is?”
“Ginny.”
“Nice to meet you, Ginny.”
Brianne crossed her arms over her chest and barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. It was as if she wasn’t even there.
Ginny stood, revealing a perfect hourglass figure tightly clad in a black minidress. Brianne couldn’t help it—she felt a spate of jealousy.
“Can I tell Mr. Knight what this is in regards to?”
“It’s a personal matter.”
Ginny blushed, as if Alex had just told her that he wanted to whisper sweet nothings in her ear.
Seriously?
“Give me a minute,” Ginny said. “I’ll see if Mr. Knight can spare some time.”
Ginny strutted off, revealing superlong legs accented by sexy black heels. Brianne was certain she was exaggerating her hip sway for Alex’s benefit.
Alex turned to Brianne and said, “That went well.”
“Hmm.”
“What?” Alex asked.
“Nothing.”
“Why do you seem upset?”
Brianne blew out a harried breath. What was wrong with her? Why
did
she feel upset?
“Because we’re here to find Carter and you’re…
flirting.
” She felt ridiculous for saying the words, and yet she couldn’t stop herself.
“Sometimes a little flirtation goes a long way.”
As if to emphasize that point, Ginny returned, her ear-to-ear smile revealing that she had good news. “Mr. Knight will see you,” she announced.
“Great,” Alex said. “Thank you, Ginny.”
“Follow me, please.”
Brianne wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Ginny had forgotten she was even there, it was so clear that the woman had eyes only for Alex.
So what?
Brianne asked herself. It wasn’t like it mattered. If Alex had made a love connection, good for him.
Dean Knight was standing when Alex and Brianne entered his office behind Ginny. He was noticeably shorter than Alex. Though most men who stood next to Alex were.
He looked part Caucasian, part Asian and one hundred percent cute. Brianne could only imagine that women threw themselves at him. Women who loved men who lived on the edge.
It was the one thing she
hadn’t
liked about Carter, though she’d fallen for everything else. She never liked his living on the edge, always fearing it would be the death of him.
“My assistant says you want to see me,” Dean said, his eyes registering caution.
Alex walked toward him, his hand outstretched. “Hey, man. How you doing?”
Dean shook Alex’s hand, still looking guarded. “I’m good. Do I know you?”
“I’m Alex Thorpe,” Alex said. “And this is my friend, Brianne Kenyon.”
“Hi.” Brianne raised her hand in a small wave.
Dean acknowledged her with a nod, then gestured to the two chairs on one side of a large mahogany desk. “Please, have a seat.”