Page 43 of Forbidden Desires

I nod. He never gives himself time off, I’m not surprised he’s still working today. But I am surprised he’s decided not to go in to the hotel.

His pancakes are some of the best I have ever tasted, so light and fluffy. I polish them off quickly, wanting to lick my plate clean, but I refrain. He eats more slowly, enjoying every mouthful. I can see he’s deep in thought. I take my plate to the sink, then wander over to the glass bifold doors, looking out over the view of the ranch. “What is this place? It’s so beautiful.”

“My refuge from it all.” He smiles a genuine happy smile. He loves this place, that much is clear.

“It’s yours?”

He nods, collecting up his plate and taking it over to his sink. “I bought it as an investment a couple years back. My uncle is a very smart man, and he likes investing in properties. This one came up, and he showed it to me. I knew I had to have it. At the time I didn’t really know why, but now it’s clearer. There’s a part of me that’s always wanted to be back here, where I grew up. It’s funny how life can sometimes throw you a curve ball when you least expect it, but it turns out to be just what I needed.”

“I can’t see it.” I smirk playfully. “You in jeans and a plaid shirt driving your tractor.” I laugh. He said something similar to me the first night I met him.

“I wasn’t born in a suit, Gisele,” he snips, and I can see I have offended him.

“Are you sure? You wear it like you were.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He joins me, looking out over the fields. “You know, I had dreams of my own before I inherited the hotel.”

I hadn’t considered the hotel wasn’t what he saw for his life, but the truth is, I don’t really know that much about him. “What were your dreams?”

“You really want to know?” he asks, surprised.

I nod. I really do. Anything this man can tell me about himself, I want to know it all.

“Come for a walk with me. I’m sure I have a pair of Em’s boots around here somewhere.” He goes looking for them, returning with a pair of red boots. I slip them on, and he opens the door, showing me outside. The morning air is fresh and crisp and smells of magnolia trees. I inhale deeply. I can see how living out here would become addictive, it’s so peaceful.

I follow him around the side of the house. Surrounding the property are manicured gardens with clear landscaped paths. Rows of vibrant maple trees border the land, their leaves turning various shades of reds and oranges. The property is backed by rolling green hills that amplify the relaxed charm of the ranch-style home.

We walk in silence even though I know he’s got something on his mind. Part of me thought he would have ripped into me after last night. I know he’s disappointed in me, but mostly he just seems happy to have me here in his space with him. “How’s your head feeling now?”

“Much better. Thank you for making me breakfast. That was really kind of you.”

He takes a strand of my hair and examines it as he runs his fingers through it. Then his hand comes to my face. “Someone has to look after you.”

I stare up at him, his words making me feel all warm inside. I’m not sure how he has the ability to do that. It’s something in the way he wants to take care of me that just melts me into a puddle. He’s different today away from the hotel, more relaxed. It’s nice to see a glimpse of him. Brody Alexander the man, not the boss trying desperately to bring his family business out of struggling debt. “And that’s your job?”

“Yes.” He releases me, stopping under a particularly large maple tree, looking out over the property. “I remember as a kidcoming out this way to see my grandparents on a ranch just like this. Kicking up the crumpled leaves in my boots and running through the yard with their golden retriever. Riding their horses. My mama was the best female rider in the region. Spending time out there with her are the happiest childhood memories I have. I always knew eventually I would get sick of the city and want to find a place on this planet that’s just mine. Somewhere peaceful where I could raise a family of my own.”

I glance toward him. “You want kids?” I ask, surprised. After our conversation in the coffee shop, I just assumed he wasn’t the kids or family type.

He shrugs. “Part of me thinks all that is a bad idea, after what happened with my parents. I swore I would never let myself get so close to someone that I could end up hurting them the way my father did my mother. But the older I get, the more I feel like I’m punishing myself for his mistakes. What if I’m missing out on the life I should have had because he couldn’t be the man he should have been.”

I study him, seeing the hurt in his eyes. He’s carrying around so much guilt for what his father did. It doesn’t make any sense. “I read the article. The one about your dad,” I admit, not sure how he will take it.

He glances at me, looking me over, but doesn’t say anything. He also doesn’t appear angry at me.

“What happened? How did your mother die in that accident?” I ask, knowing I’m probably overstepping the mark hugely, but I’m dying to understand him. Why he’s so wounded. Why he doesn’t let anyone close to him.

He takes a seat on a bench under the tree, and I join him.

“Sorry, you can tell me to mind my own beeswax.” I smile softly.

He drops his head, kicking the discarded leaves with his boot. “My father had been sleeping around on her for years. I have noidea how many women he was with. He couldn’t keep his hands to himself. I had no idea. After one of my football games, the boys and I were celebrating in the yard of the Alexander Estate. We had a bonfire and thought my folks were in the house with some of the other parents. So, we figured we’d sneak into the garage and swipe a few bottles of beer from the back fridge to drink by the fire. The five of us walked in on them. Mid fucking. There was no denying it, her skirt was up around her waist and his pants around his ankles. They weren’t even trying to be careful.”

I gulp, unable to help it. What a disturbing thing to walk in on.

“Worst part was the person he was fucking was Prescott’s mama. Hamilton lost his shit, blaming me. It caused a rift in our group. But none of the other adults knew. We all kept it to ourselves. Hamilton swore us all to secrecy, afraid of what his father would do to his mother if he found out. There was no way I was shattering my mother’s heart. So, I agreed, we all did. And they got away with it. You’d think that would have been warning enough for him to stop, but he couldn’t help himself. Less than twelve months later, he was caught again, this time by Mama.”

I gasp, my hand instinctively flying to cover my mouth as horror washes over me, empathizing with teenage Brody’s unimaginable ordeal. To see one of your parents doing that and then to carry the burden of protecting his mother with lies—it’s almost too much to bear.

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