Unbelievable by Lori Foster Read Free Book Online Page A

darkness, only an occasional streetlight glimmering across her features. His heart still aching with the memories of his painful childhood, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, to take comfort and give it. But the moment his gaze dropped to her mouth, she stiffened, and once again he accepted the rejection.
    This would probably be the longest five days of his life. Brandi didn’t want him—might not ever wanthim—yet every minute with her made him want her more. He felt an affinity with her that he’d never shared with another person. It didn’t make sense, not with Brandi so petite and innocent and sweet—so much his opposite. Yet he felt it, because he felt her understanding, her concern, her giving….
    Though he’d had lovers and female friends, none of them had affected him this way. Never had anyone gotten past his guard so effortlessly. Sharing so much time with her alone would be a unique form of torture.
    He laughed off the discomfort. He really had no choice. “I’m incredible? Now you’re starting to sound like Shay.”
    She grinned. “Heaven forbid.”
    When she continued to stare at him, her expression curious, he asked, “What?”
    “You’re such a…big man. I can’t quite imagine you as a little kid. Do you look like your mother?”
    “No. She was small, like you, but better rounded.”
    Brandi chuckled. “Shay is always telling me to eat more. But I could gain twenty pounds and still not be rounded, at least not in the right places.”
    “You’re fine just the way you are. Tell Shay to mind her own business.”
    He’d said it in a teasing tone, but still Brandi looked embarrassed. “I’d like to meet your mother some day. I imagine she’s very proud of you.”
    “She died years ago, Brandi. But my mother was always proud, even when I didn’t deserve it. She used to claim I was the only good thing she had to look forward to. Which, when I look back to my misspent youth, is really pretty sad.” Then he grinned, just so shewouldn’t see how the topic affected him—how she affected him. “It’s a parent’s duty to be proud, no matter how you screw up.”
    In a voice so low he almost couldn’t hear her, she said, “My parents haven’t always been proud of me.”
    He stared at her profile, at her downcast expression, and frowned. “That can’t be true. You’ve just said how your father dotes on you, and Shay brags about your mother all the time. They love you a lot.”
    “Yes, they do. But I’ve made some pretty terrible mistakes.”
    He wanted to know what kind of mistakes she was referring to. He couldn’t imagine Brandi doing anything irresponsible or reckless. She didn’t seem the type. But he also wanted her to confide in him freely. So he didn’t ask. His job had taught him patience, especially with women, and he knew that if he bided his time, if he let her get to know him, she’d learn to be more comfortable with him.
    She wouldn’t look at him, and he had to cup her chin to turn her face up to him. “We all make mistakes, honey. That’s part of being human.”
    “I can’t….” She hesitated, not another word forthcoming.
    Sebastian gave her a small smile. “It’s okay. No pressure, remember?”
    She drew a deep breath, then blurted, “I shouldn’t be here. You should have had this vacation with another woman. It was unfair of Shay to foist me off on you like this. But it’s not too late. Maybe we could—”
    “Brandi.” She went still as a stone, then blinked up at him. “I didn’t want to be here with anyone else. I wanted to be here with you.”
    “But you don’t understand.”
    “Understand what?” His temper frayed a bit and he struggled to control it. “That you’re not interested in getting cozy with me? Believe me, I’ve figured that out already. And it’s okay. I’m still enjoying your company.”
    “I fell asleep!”
    “You were tired. I didn’t mind.”
    “It was rude,” she grumbled.
    His sigh was long and loud. “Do