Surrendering To His Mrs. Right (Soul Food Diner) (12 page)

“Won’t Brenda be put off?” His signals were all over the map.

“This relationship with her is some fun. Nothing more. She isn’t the best in the sack either.”

She got it. The woman was someone to let him stab the box, do the kinky shit he was into and get high out of his mind with. Indy
, on the other hand, wouldn’t touch the stuff and didn’t let men use her body. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

“I’m telling you what’s going on with me. I’m not explaining. It’s the same reason I want to understand why you
’re suddenly hanging out with Saint Tim.”

“Can you not call him that? It doesn’t make me want to open up to you when you attack him. He
’s been really nice to me.”

“He’s my brother
. It’s a bad habit,” he grumbled into the phone.

“Tim and I
’ve been hanging out. That’s all.”

“Has he come on to you?”

Maybe. It was hard for her to know if his getting off in the hall was a come on or a convenience. “Liam, that’s none of your business.”

“So you came on to him while you were tipsy and he didn’t even bat an eye?”

“I wasn’t making a move on him. You assumed that’s what happened. I was my usual mouth-with-no-filter self and Tim seemed to take it in stride like he always does.”

“And you wonder why I think he’s a
saint. Thankfully, though, he is.”

“What’s that supposed to mean
?”

“I’m not going to act like I want you to hang with my brother, because I sure as hell don’t.”

“Let’s drop this. I’ve gotta jet. Lisa is having a meltdown man problem and wants me to go over.”

“I think that will be real good for both of you. You know how she gets when she’s dumped,” he said.

Why did she sense there was more to his encouragement than him wanting her to help out poor Lisa? “Right.”

“Are we cool?”

“Coolish…” That wouldn’t go away after one call. She also needed time to figure out things with Tim and her. If there even was a Tim and her. “I’m still annoyed with how you’ve acted.”

“I’m sorry, Indy. You know I care about you. It would kill me if you got hurt.”

Brenda’s voice came from the background.

The only thing was he’d already hurt her. “See you in a few. Night.”

“I can’t wait to hold you… Later.”

The line went dead. Had he just said what she thought he’d said
? That didn’t seem like the kind of comment friends made to one another. She was probably reading too much into it.

A few days of space between her and men in general would be good for her.

She texted Lisa.
I’m packing then heading over.

As Tim
had predicted, there’d been no further outings with Indy. She’d spent every night at her best friend Lisa’s since Christmas day. More questions than answers were swirling in his mind.

There was a
knock on the front door as he finished up his coffee. It was nearly time to head out to the airport so he knew who it was. He opened the door.

Indy set down a bag and hugged him
, letting go much quicker than usual. On his side, he had to struggle to release her. It was official. He was a bastard. In that moment, he knew he loved Indy. Not only was he sure of it but he wanted to make her his wife.

“Are you ready to jet, Santa?” She giggled.

No long time no see. Nothing. “Hi, Indy.”

“Hello, Tim.” She had the prettiest brown eyes he’d ever seen but they weren’t looking his way right now.

After the time they’d spent before Christmas he didn’t want to go back to being acquaintances. “How have you been?”

“Huh, you know. Busy.”

“Me too,” he said. “Have I done something to upset you?”

“No. I was with Lisa, lending moral support
. She got dumped and she was dragging me out. Why would you say that?”

“I got the impression you were avoiding me.”

She pinched her bottom lip. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel that way. I figured you’d be grateful for the reprieve.”

“Seeing you again is the
reprieve
, Indy.” With any luck he’d made himself clear. Now it was up to her.

“Thank you.” The tops of her cheeks turned pink.

“Are you ready to go?”

She nodded, her curls bounc
ing. “I’ll be staying here until my parents get back. I’m sorry you’re on babysitting duty again. Daddy can make me feel like such a child at times.”

“I don’t think he meant it like that. You’re an attractive woman, Indy
, and he’s just looking out for you.” He grabbed his keys from the table by the door.

“You have the information about the stop at the Santa Monica B
oulevard BreadBar?”

“Yes, I do.” He closed the door behind the
m. “It’s why we’re leaving so early.”

“I don’t mean to be a pain.” The change in her manner toward him wasn’t subtle.

“Yeah, you do, but I don’t mind.” A woman that knew what she wanted was easier in his opinion than one that didn’t. “At least you don’t act pissed when I’m helpful.”

“Liam doesn’t mean to be like that with you but you are a hard act to follow.”

“I guess that depends who you’re asking.” If his brother could make her withdraw from him like this, he had some clout. “I’m definitely not in the black books of half the women in Malibu.”

“True.” She shrugged. “But
a lot of people assume you’re gay.”

“What?” They got in the car.

Indy laid her head against the window. “You don’t sleep with anything with a pulse like your father and brother so rumor is you’re gay.”

Great. “I’m not.”

Her hand came down on his lap. “I know, Tim. But I’m not going to set them straight.” She chuckled.

When she didn’t pull it back he grew hard.

Soon she was sleeping. It would appear she hadn’t been resting much the past few days. She and Lisa had been tearing up the town. Men gushing over her, offering to buy her drinks. Saying nonsense to get her to go home with them. He was jealous and hated it.

Tim pulled into the parking lot of the plaza where the BreadBar was located. The curls around her face had flattened on her skin. Her eyes fluttered open.

“Are we here?” she asked.

“We are.” Tim turned off the car. The late December sun shone overhead.

They walked in sync up to the building. Sparkling light came from the Tiffany display window. An emerald-cut, three-stone diamond in a platinum engagement ring sat alone on blue velvet.

“That’s the kind of ring a man gives a woman when the only possible answer
is yes,” Indy said over her shoulder.

“I didn’t expect you to say such a thing given your opinion of marriage.”

“Even I’d wear that.” She winked. “That’s not a regular skating rink. That’s an Olympic-size hockey rink.” That was the Indy he’d come to be so enamored by.

“Huh.” If any other woman had said it he would have dismissed the statement. Indy wasn’t all about designer labels
and status symbols.

The ring represented something. A leap. Hope. That one day she’d let him slip it on her finger. It was tangible. And it was sappy. Indy was prone to being outrageous and saying stuff
she didn’t mean but most of what she’d shared with him was deeply personal, and he was sure the ring was a revelation. It sure as hell was a revelation to him because even if she couldn’t see a future with him, at this moment he could see one with her. Joy welled in his chest at the thought of bending his knee and presenting her with this token of his commitment to her. Shit. Where had that come from? He shook his head to dismiss the thought. But the damage was done. Seared into his mind. She would have that ring.

“Are you coming?”

Not yet but possibly soon. He shook his head. There was a line inside the BreadBar. “In a few, I want stretch my legs.”

“I’ll go get in the lineup so we aren’t late.” She pointed inside.

He paced. What was the worst thing that could happen if he bought the ring? She and Liam realized they were in love and he handed it over to his brother? Because if that was the ring Indy would wear, the man she loved should give it to her. It made him so old-fashioned but what else could he do? If nothing else, he could return it.

When she went
into the BreadBar she turned away from him, and he slipped into the jewelers.

“Can I help you, sir?” the stuffy looking man asked.

“Yes. I’d like to buy the ring in the front display case outside.” Tim pointed over to the area.

“A man who knows his lady.” The flattery sales pitch. Not working for him.

No, a man with a lady who knew her own mind. “Something like that.”

“It’s a wonderful piece
. Would you like to see other similar—”

“This is the ring she wants
, so this is the ring she’s going to have.” Tim would have wanted to see each piece compared and analyzed but that wasn’t how Indy did things.

“Understood, sir.”

“I’ve got to be at the airport shortly so speed would be much appreciated.” He didn’t want Indy to find him in there. From the door he saw her peering out of the BreadBar window.

Tim handed the man his credit card. The man fussed behind the counter
for a moment before requesting ID then disappearing. It happened less and less but when he’d first got the trust fund it had happened all the time.

The line in the BreadBar appeared held up by the woman at cash register. On the counter were mountains of boxes.

Indy looked around outside again.

The man came
returned from the back with a big smile. “Mr. Boyd, let me finish up the purchase for you.”

The sale went
through. A clerk immerged from the rear area of the store with the ring in a fancy box, a card and bag in hand.

“I won’t be needing the bag.” Tim slid the ring in
to his coat pocket and the authenticity card into his wallet.

When Indy reached the counter and had her back to the store window he slipped out and into the BreadBar to join her.

Greeted with a smile from her, he wanted to kiss her but stood next to her. The woman behind the counter wrapped up her items. Tim handed her his credit card and picked up the bag.

“Tim, please don’t.”

“I know how tight money can be when you’re in school so don’t fuss over me covering for some food you want while a guest in my home.”

“Thank you.” She hugged him and kissed his cheek.

The comfort level between them had definitely improved since this morning. “My pleasure.”

T
he woman handed him his receipt and card, and they headed to the car. Now to watch her reunion with his brother.

It might kill him.

Indy paced next to Tim in terminal seven at LAX. The drive had been peaceful—with Tim regaling her with stories about the staff at the hospital and some of their strange behaviors—but she was far from it. Three days without seeing him or answering his calls had been difficult. She hadn’t expected how much she’d grown into the headspace he’d provided. The little thoughtful actions. Helping each other. Not trying to outdo the other. Her pacing seemed to concern him but she was trying to make heads or tails of what was going on. Liam would be there soon and all reason would vanish from her brain.

“Baby girl
,” Liam said as he picked her up and hugged her from behind.

Engulfed by the feel of his arms and his spicy scent, she gasped. “Liam, babes
,” she let out with surprise and darted a look at Tim, who’d turned his gaze from her. Did he know how she felt about Liam? What had held her back from fully letting things play out with him?

The one thing she was sure of was
that if she slept with Tim, Liam would never touch her. She would be dead to him. Another man wouldn’t bother him but Tim was the no-fly zone. There was too much competition in Liam’s mind. Though most of it was in his head. Tim saw his brother as he was and still loved him. Why the same couldn’t be true for Liam escaped her.

“Are you
okay?” Liam asked.

“Yeah.” As
good as a woman could be in her predicament. Stupidly wishing Liam would want her while also being interested in exploring things with Tim—a man who seemed to want her back.

Liam set her down. Though the man before her
, resembled the one she'd desired for so long she felt distant from him.

“Hey
, bro.” Liam and Tim exchange a tense one armed hug.

“Welcome home,” Tim responded.

“What’s on the agenda for tonight?” she asked, trying to seem attentive to Liam though she sensed Tim’s every movement.