Remember Me. Laura Browning
didn’t add he had been a major investor in the resort, much to Alexander Barlow-Barrett’s frowning disapproval. But the money had been his, from the trust fund that had come into his control when he’d turned twenty-five. And it had paid off. Matt had not only succeeded, he’d already paid back Brandon’s investment with interest.
“Do you miss the competition?”
Brandon shook his head. “No. It was never that serious for me. I guess my family would tell you I’m the same about many things in my life. I enjoy sailing too, even competed in a couple of international races, but it wasn’t my life. What about you? What do you enjoy?”
Lucy laughed. “I’ve sailed. I grew up along the Maryland shore. I worked a couple of summers at a resort where I taught people how to sail little skiffs. I’ve never been on anything big.”
He caught her hand in his, the energy sizzling between them again. “Maybe I could take you out some time.”
She slipped her hand from his, and smoothed her hair from her face. “Maybe.”
“What else do you enjoy?”
“I’m a potter. I’ve got a small studio I work in from home.”
“So is that what you do? You’re an artist?” He could now understand the strength in her hands if she spent a good part of her day manipulating clay.
She shrugged. “It’s a hobby, I guess. It’s not like I’ve earned any real money from it. What about you? I know you ski. I know you wear suits and have breakfast meetings.”
Brandon shifted. “I work for my father’s company. We’re in communications.” It wasn’t a lie. And unless she examined National News in great detail, she would never notice the Barrett Newspapers, Inc. at the bottom of the logo. He didn’t get the feeling she’d tied the name Barrett to communications, but something sure as hell was bothering her. She’d set her napkin aside and pasted a cool, polite smile on her face.
“You must be busy. Look, I should get going. Thanks for the ski lesson and the lunch.”
She stood and Brandon followed suit. “That sounds a whole lot like a goodbye.”
She evaded his eyes. “You have plans. I have plans.” She shrugged.
“Can I take you out to dinner tonight?” He saw her hesitation. “Friends, Lucy. I won’t deny I’m attracted to you, but if you’re not… I get that, okay? No pressure. Just two people on vacation trying to enjoy some time together.”
“All right.”
He grinned. “Put on some dancing shoes. There’s a great dinner and dance club. Quiet. Plenty of jazz.”
He held her jacket for her while she slipped it on. The flowery scent of her hair and skin teased his nostrils. His hands lingered for an instant while he fought the urge to lift her hair to the side so he could nuzzle her neck. He only hoped his ski pants would hide the hard-on he now had. So simple, yet the scent of her was enough to turn him on. She glanced over her shoulder at him with those expressive eyes of hers.
“What time?”
“Seven.” Brandon couldn’t resist. He stroked a finger along her cheek. “I’ll see you this evening.”
* * * *
Back and forth. Lucy hoped the repetition of her swimming workout would make her forget how much she wanted to touch Brandon, and how little she trusted those feelings. He worked in his father’s business. It reminded her too much of all those years ago, of the one man who had broken through her wariness. Edward had been everything she’d thought she wanted. He had known right from the start what she was. In fact, he had seen her dancing. That was how they’d met, but he had been different from the other men. There hadn’t been any catcalls or suggestive remarks. Instead, he’d shown up several nights in a row. After the fourth night, he had invited her out for a late dinner. From there, it had turned into flowers, dinner dates, picnics in the park. Eventually it led to bed. She’d given him her innocence, and he’d given her an education.
Lucy executed a perfect flip-turn and continued to swim, her stroke fluid and efficient. She had gone out for the swim team at her first high school. The early morning practices got her out of the house. She’d been good too. Then her foster father had tried to invite himself into her bed. There’d been no swim team at the second high school. By the time she’d reached the fourth school, Lucy had seen little point in joining anything. Instead, she kept to herself and made sure she got her school work done. If she couldn’t get a scholarship, then she would at least make sure her grades were high enough she would be eligible for loans to pay her way to college. That was one goal she would not give up.
An hour of swimming, then Lucy vaulted from the pool. She ignored the looks from the men coming out of the locker room and wrapped her towel around her body. She ducked into the Jacuzzi in the women’s locker room and laid her head against the back, letting the bubbles from the jets soothe her tired muscles. She closed her eyes and Brandon’s face came to mind. He was so gorgeous that every time she was around him, she wanted to touch him. Would it be so wrong? Could she just enjoy what they had for this week? This vacation was like a slice out of time. It wasn’t the reality of her life. This was her reward, and wouldn’t Brandon be one more facet?
By the time he knocked on her door, Lucy had come to a decision. She would grab onto everything she could during this week, including Brandon, but she would do it with her eyes wide open this time. She smoothed her hands over the black silk dress she’d donned and opened the door. Her reward was the widening of his eyes and the smile curving his mouth. He was in a dark dinner suit, once again looking like a powerful businessman rather than an ex-skier on vacation.
“You look beautiful,” he murmured. “Do you have a coat?”
“A jacket.”
He helped her on with the short white wool jacket, then kept a hand at the small of her back while they made their way out to the parking lot. The club was everything he’d promised, tasteful and understated with music that added to the atmosphere without overwhelming it.
She ate with gusto, even consuming an extra roll. Brandon raised a brow. “Splurging?”
Lucy laughed. “I’ve decided to get into the spirit of things. It’s my vacation, after all, so I’m going to enjoy it.”
Brandon reached across the table and captured her free hand. “Does enjoying it include spending more time with me?”
“I would like that, but I don’t want to hold you back from skiing like you should.”
His thumb stroked across the back of her hand. “I can ski the expert slopes while you swim or run. I want to spend time with you, Lucy.” God knew, she wanted to spend time with him. Looking into those green-gold eyes of his right now was making her stomach flutter and her breasts tingle. “Why don’t we dance? Then I’ll have an excuse to hold you close.”
“Yes.” She was definitely onboard with dancing. As they walked toward the polished wood floor, she wondered if it was her imagination or had his hand slipped from the small of her back just a little lower? The music was jazzy but slow, so he turned her into his arms and held her close to the length of his body. His hardness pressed against her hip.
When she glanced at him, he leaned down to whisper in her ear. “That’s what you do to me. I won’t deny it, but nothing happens unless you say so.”
Their gazes locked. Lucy laid her head on his shoulder. Was she ready to take the next step? Ready to take him as her lover? She’d told herself she wanted to grab onto everything this vacation had to offer. It seemed Brandon in bed was on the menu.
* * * *
Something was different about her tonight. She had come to some sort of decision during the afternoon, and Brandon hoped her decision included spending time with him. It seemed, as they danced, that it did. He closed his eyes, her body rubbing along him. Any brush