The Billionaire's Betrayal (Highest Bidder #3) - Carmen Falcone Page 0,57
in this business for a while, and she fooled me when I interviewed her. I’m usually good at seeing people’s demons.”
“Can you see mine?”
She caressed his cheek, sliding her fingers down his face. Her eyes spoke of pity and forgiveness, and he wasn’t sure which he needed more. “I know she was a part of your family that you lost. I know you regret not being there to avoid all this.”
He cleared his throat, raw emotion welling up inside.
“I also know wherever she is, she was a lucky girl. No one cared for me when I was a teenager, alive, the way you still care for her now.”
A lump of regret lodged in his throat, making it hard to speak. “She’ll never know that.”
She put her hand over his, her fingers caressing his in a gentle motion that sent a calming sensation down his body. “I’m sure she knew. She just thought she’d have more time. We always believe we have more time.”
Brooks picked up the phone, listening to the voicemail from his mother’s caretaker. He’d paid her to warn him whenever something happened to his mother. A couple of times already, she had—when his mother had been hospitalized with a flu, and when she’d been asking about him. He counted on Vanessa more than his own father to keep him updated on his mother’s health. Hi, Brooks, I’m sorry to bother you so late. I’m calling because your mother fell after her bath. She slipped on the rug. We took her to the emergency care, and she broke her leg but didn’t get injured anywhere else. She’s okay now, but asked for you, and since your father is out of the country, I thought I’d let you know in case you have time to visit her.
He rubbed his eyes, frustration stinging behind his lids. His mother had fallen and broken her leg. Poor Mom. Even though he’d held her guilty by association so many times, one look at her and the anger melted away. And now, besides paid help, she had no one—where the fuck was his father? Probably on a tropical beach with a woman half his age.
“What happened?” Alexa pulled the ties of her silky robe together.
He rubbed his temple. “My mom fell and broke her leg. I have to go see her.”
“Oh no. I’m so sorry.” She touched his arm. “Will she be okay? Was that the doctor?”
“No. Her caretaker, Vanessa. She’s at the hospital recovering.”
Alexa enfolded him in a tight embrace, one he wished to never let go. “Can I do anything to help? Do you want me to call the pilot or is there anything else I can do?”
“Come with me,” he said, his lips working faster than his brain. Damn, this was supposed to be no-strings-attached, but the idea of Alexa coming with him soothed him like a cozy, well-worn quilt on a cold winter’s night.
She withdrew her arms from him and took a step back, furrowing her brows. “That’s big, Brooks. I mean, I think you’d probably be better off going without me.”
Disappointment trickled down his spine, but he didn’t retreat easily, his eyes searching for hers. “I wouldn’t have asked otherwise.”
She bit her lip, and an emotion he couldn’t read darkened her gaze. “I know, but I’d hate to impose.”
“You’re not. I asked you as someone I know and someone I care about.” He stretched to his full height. Damn it, why lie to himself anymore? Why lie to her? He cared about her, and if she came with him to Texas, this had zero to do with finding closure to his sister’s death or the male auction. She knows it, too. That’s why it’s so hard for her to say yes.
“I…” She glanced around, folding her arms. A pang of pain shimmered in the depths of her eyes, like a part of her wanted to give him a different answer but couldn’t. “I can’t go. I’m sorry.”
A knife sliced through his heart, cooling his bloodstream. He cleared his throat, pacing around, searching for his clothes. “I understand,” he lied, picking his shirt up from the floor and whipping it on. “I have to go, but I’ll get in touch when I’m back.”
“Let me know how your mother’s doing.”
Why don’t you come with me and see for yourself? He swallowed the bitter words, and simply nodded. Wasn’t fair to put this on Alexa. He shouldn’t have asked her to fill in for a girlfriend by going with him. She’d made it