Page 22 of Forgotten Desires

“That’s fine.”

“Would the young lady like a water?” Cliff asks.

She shakes her head. “I’m good, thank you.”

“Cliff, this is Brynlee Whitlock, an old friend from college.” Cliff knows she’s much more than that. When I came home from that trip, I confessed everything to him. He didn’t hold back telling me how wrong I was, and how stupid I was for letting her go if I felt that strongly.

He was right, but at twenty-two, I didn’t have enough sense to fix my error, and then a year later, I was with Jacqueline.

“Miss Brynlee, it’s an absolute pleasure to meet you.” I can see his eyes warm as he looks at her through the mirror.

“You as well, Cliff.”

Through most of the ride uptown, Brynn stares out the window, seeing all that New York is at night.

“That’s where I live.” I point out the residence tower.

“You live inthatbuilding?”

I nod. “Yup. I’m the one with the huge balcony about eighty percent up. I have spectacular views.”

She laughs once. “Of course you do. Isn’t that the area of the city they call billionaire row?”

“It is.”

“Well, I guess it’s fitting you live there then.”

When I left Jacqueline, I needed to move to a place that would piss her off. Petty as it is, I didn’t care. She always wanted to live there. Instead, I bought a brownstone in Greenwich Village that was where I wanted to start a family. After that family dream imploded, I didn’t give a shit and told Kimberly to find me a penthouse.

My sister, being the most ridiculous person in the world, found a three-floor penthouse as a joke and I bought it.

“I think Kimberly thought it would be funny and I wouldn’t buy it.”

Brynn grins. “Or she figured you were defiant by nature and knew you would.”

I laugh and Cliff does too. “Sorry, sir.”

I shake my head. “Don’t apologize, you know me too well.”

Brynn turns her attention to him. “How long have you worked for Crew?”

“Since he was a boy.”

She turns to me, realization dawning on her. “You mentioned him. I remember you talked about someone who was like an uncle to you.”

“That’s him. Once I took over my companies and could afford it, I asked Cliff to come work for me. He lives in the penthouse as well.”

Her eyes widen. “Lives with you?”

“We have staff quarters and Cliff stays there.”

“Does he treat you well, Cliff? You can tell me, I’ll beat him up.”

Cliff laughs. “Mr. Knight knows I’d take him over my knee if he wasn’t kind.”

I sigh because I have no doubts. “Yeah, yeah.”

Brynn laughs and I swear it goes straight to my heart. “You mentioned Kimberly, I remember you have two brothers too?”

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