blush (Westbrook Series) by Mitzi Vaughn Read Free Book Online

pack the pain had
stopped enough for Brandon to try and get some sleep.  He tossed and turned
with only unsuccessful attempts at dozing off; his thoughts kept going back to the
night before in Missy's apartment.  He adored laying with her as they stared
into each other.  He had committed to memory each of her features as he traced
them gently with his fingers.  They laughed and nuzzled until they both fell
asleep.  It was the best he had ever rested.  Now just twenty-four hours later,
he was miserable.  He reached for his phone and sent her a quick text.  "Sorry
about tonight.  I'm an ass."  He waited for a response until his eyes
became heavy. 
    The next morning Brandon had still not heard from
Missy.  He swung his legs over to the floor and slowly pulled himself out of
bed.  After an hour run and a thirty minute scalding shower, he still had no
response.  He couldn't stress about it now, he promised his mom he would have
lunch with her, his sister Dayna, and the new man in his mother's life, Enrique.  Great! This is going to be awesome .  Brandon picked up his cell giving
it one last glance.
    "Brandon, I would like for you to meet Enrique." 
Brandon put his hand forward and shook.  He eyed the man then continued around
to the other side of the table to sit next to his sister.  She chuckled when he
rolled his eyes.
    "So you two, tell us how you met," Dayna requested
cheerfully.  She tossed her most dazzling smile toward Enrique, hiding the pain
Brandon was causing by kicking her under the table.  When she unyieldingly
kicked back, he bit his lip and rubbed his shin.  "Yes.  We would love to
hear about it," Brandon stammered trying to push back the stinging in his
leg.
    Brenda started laying out the accounts only stopping
for Enrique to add a comment here and there.  He lovingly had his arm around
her shoulder and tucked her in to kiss her head every so often, not
interrupting her story.  He joked around with Brandon and Dayna about the
touristy things Brenda had made him do all over the Mediterranean.  Enrique was
actually a really great guy.  He had a wonderful sense of humor and was much
more down to earth than the stuffy control freaks Brenda usually associated
with.   By the end of the meal, Brandon was feeling a tad more optimistic about
everything.  He was happy his mother had found someone she truly seemed to
enjoy, even though the sight of two people gushing over one another reminded
him of Missy.  He shook the thoughts out of his mind.  His mom was a pro at
reading his emotions and he didn't want to worry her. 
    Brandon had still not heard from Missy that evening;
he came to the conclusion that the times they shared were a thing of the past. 
She was obviously not able to forgive him for his barbaric actions at the bar. 
He remembered the paralyzed fear she had on her face before she turned
completely pale and insisted on leaving.  He was going to bring her home but
Marcy was adamant about taking her instead.  Marcy advised Brandon to give
Missy some time to process everything.  He really did try to do just that, but
he wanted to be able to apologize.  Now that he had, he should let her calm
down.  He would see her on Monday at work so anything else he had to say would
need to wait till then. 
    Missy laid in the uncomfortable bed trying to replay
the events of the past few days:
    She remembered walking into her building, but still couldn't
recall where she had been.  She recalled heading up the third flight of stairs
toward her studio apartment when she felt him grab her from behind.  His large
frame towered over her; he had to be at least six foot four inches.  He held
her arms tight to her body and jabbed his fist into her ribs.  Missy felt the
opportunity to escape and she went into action, bending her knees and plunging
her elbow into his flabby stomach.  She didn't stop there, without thinking
twice she reared her elbow back for another hit, this time to his face.