Beginnings (Brady Trilogy) (21 page)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morning arrived with a surprisingly cheerful sun for winter, brightening Luke’s room. He opened his eyes and watched a very naked and blissfully pleased Isabel peacefully asleep. She was pressed next to his side as her head lay on his shoulder and her delicate hand rested on his lower stomach. He smiled contently as last night’s events recapped his memory. She must be well exhausted for he kept her up all night. He couldn’t help himself for they were both insatiable last night. He kissed her warm lips
until she woke up. Isabel quietly hummed as pleasure slowly worked its way through her body. When Luke deepened his kiss she moaned.

“I can’t get enough of that sound.” He whispered against her lips. “It makes me want to never stop pleasing you.”

“Who said you have to?” Isabel challenged him.

Luke chuckled. “Don’t worry
love, I’m not done with you yet. Not by a long shot.”

Isabel straightened up quickly and looked over to his dresser where the clock announced it was almost noon. “Luke you have a meeting at twelve-thirty. You’re late.”

Luke laughed. “Don’t worry sweetheart its close by. But I’ll get up now.” He kissed her again and rose from his bed. Isabel immediately missed the warmth of his body. “I’m going to take a quick shower. Please do me a favor and don’t join me. I won’t be able to stop myself and then I really will be late.

Isabel giggled and Luke grinned. There was that giggle that melted his heart.

Minutes later, Luke stepped out of his bathroom with just a towel wrapped low around his hips and was pleased to see that Isabel was still lying naked on his sheets. “You’re taunting me with that body of yours. At least throw a cover over you or I’m going to take you again.” He warned and earned a seductive glance from her. She arched her back and stretched lazily which caused her plump breasts to push up higher.
Oh she knew very well what she was doing to him. The woman was after his heart. 
He grumbled and muttered to himself as he headed towards his closet. Isabel laughed, but when Luke’s towel hit the floor, she gasped at the site. Luke’s body was much hotter with tiny wet specks of water spread all over him. She was half tempted to seduce him back to bed and lick every speck of splash she could find. But for now she enjoyed the view of watching him get ready. She loved every minute of watching Luke dry himself then suit up for his meeting. The man made every piece of clothing so damn sexy. Especially suits.

Once he was ready he leaned over and kissed her lips. “Meeting might take long. Stay here and catch up on some rest since we fly back tomorrow afternoon.”
             

She nodded and accepted his lips again. She closed her eyes and laid back into bed getting ready to fall back asleep. Luke smirked and after kissing her lips once more, he told himself he needed to leave or else he would spend another hour just devouring her lips.

A few minutes after Luke had left, Isabel realized she couldn’t sleep without him next to her. She instantly missed the feel of his body next to hers in his warm bed. She sighed happily, rolled out of bed and headed for Luke’s massive bathroom. There was a hot tub with massage jets in there and it had her name written all over it.

It was close to eight in the evening when Luke got back to his father’s estate. He yanked off his tie and handed his briefcase to the doorman that greeted him. It was one hell of a long meeting. Dawson Inc. was an international architectural firm Luke had been trying to obtain as a client for the past year. The owner of the company was a bit paranoid about trusting outside businesses. The last company that handled Dawson Inc.’s prints and advertisement had cost Brent Dawson a few clients, including a
lawsuit, therefore he was skeptical with everyone who tried to do business with him. But Luke, being the determined man that he was, remained relentless and kept on persuading Dawson since he didn’t take no for an answer. He kept making one proposition after another until his deal was so appealing that Dawson called on for a meeting. Luke didn’t mind the added attention and work that was needed to book this client. Once he had Dawson’s signed contract in his hands, immense opportunities awaited B. Pentagon as Dawson Inc. would become one of their largest clients. Luke already had in mind to open two new branches to solely handle this account. If all went well he would continue adding B. Pentagon locations across the nation. Hell, since Dawson had extended his business internationally then Luke might even broaden his horizons and follow suit.

It sure as hell was difficult to keep focused though. When Luke dealt with his clients, especially large accounts, he gave them his undivided attention and dedication. But his thoughts kept slipping back to Isabel and how one night with her had changed so much. Her beautiful smile and dark eyes kept taunting him throughout his meeting. By the time it was six in the evening, Luke became anxious to see her again. To touch her soft delicate skin once more.
To taste her sweet lips and hear her silky voice. Maybe even tempt her back to his room and make her moan again since the sounds of her sensual whimpers still echoed in his head. God he couldn’t get enough of her. And then his thoughts trailed to the danger waiting for her back home. He’d tapped his foot nervously throughout the entire meeting thinking of what he was to do with her situation. He needed to keep her close and safe. And though she was far away from whatever provoked her nightmares, tomorrow he would be taking her back towards the very danger that awaited her. He swore he would not allow her to even get close to anything remotely threatening.  He was losing his mind with all the uneasy emotions swirling through his head. He was desperate for her. Wanted her and needed her just as much as he felt she did for him. Luke couldn’t deny that he was falling in love with her. That explicit, overwhelming, consuming your entire mind, body and soul type of love. And the thought of her shutting down and pushing him away if he tried to help her again instilled incredible fear.

Just as he walked towards the staircase that led to the upstairs bedrooms, Andrew was walking down. “Hey. How did it go?”

“Pretty good.” Luke nodded. “Dawson’s a pain in the ass but he’ll come around soon enough. Do me a favor though.”

“Sure bro what do you need?”

“Knowing Dawson, he might call on another meeting soon. But I’ll already be back in San Diego. He’ll want to go over what I already told him twice. Contract details are in my briefcase so I’ll leave them here just in case he calls on another meeting. We fly back tomorrow.” Luke informed.

Andrew nodded solemnly. “Not a problem. I’ll go over it with him again. I’ll take care of it. I got a call from Donald Layton an hour ago.” Drew grinned. “I close the
deal for Langmon Hotel tomorrow.”

“Sweet.”
Luke laughed. If anyone understood the satisfaction of booking a new client, it was his brother Drew. They talked business and upcoming events a little longer. It was looking like another promising year for B. Pentagon and both Brady brothers were content yet relentless. “So where is everyone?” Luke asked.

“Mom and dad went to the Country Club with the Henderson’s this morning and haven’t been back since. Emilia’s at Amanda’s and I’m heading there myself.”

“What about Isabel? Where is she?”
She couldn’t possibly still be in bed
Luke thought.

“
Uhh. She’s here.” Andrew scratched his chin. “Luke I need to ask you something.” He lowered his voice and looked down the hall.

“What?” Luke drew his brows together.

“I know it’s probably none of my business but something happened and I’m just fucking confused.” Andrew scratched his head this time and looked down the hall again.

“Will you just fucking spill it out Drew?” Luke snapped losing his patience.  Andrew was obviously stalling and Luke was trying to keep calm. Something told him he wasn’t about to like what he heard.

“She completely freaked out.” Andrew shook his head still stunned.

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t do anything to her and she freaked out. Maybe I caught her off guard. I don’t know but I didn’t expect her to react like that. I felt terrible.” Drew continued to ramble half lost in his own thoughts.

“Andrew what the fuck
are you talking about? Can you explain this shit a bit more clearly because you’re confusing the shit out of me. What the fuck happened?”  Luke snapped again. His reactions involving anything that had to do with Isabel being hurt were pretty violent.

“Will you calm the fuck down?” Andrew hissed. “I’m trying to tell you.”

“Hurry.” Luke breathed and waited for his brother to speak again.

“It was just us two at the house. Like I said mom and dad have been gone all day. Emilia called me to go join her at Amanda’s. I didn’t bother calling your cell since I know how shit is when you’re dealing with Dawson.  I went looking for Isabel to see if she wanted to come with me to Amanda’s. I didn’t want to leave her alone since I had no idea when you’d come back. I found her at the far end of the library staring at some books. The room was pretty dim and she had none of the lights on. I called out to her but I guess she didn’t hear me. It was weird as shit bro she wasn’t even moving.
Just standing in one spot looking at the same book. I went closer to her and the second I touched her shoulder, she lost it and completely freaked out. She started gasping and couldn’t breathe like she was having some sort of panic attack Luke. Totally scared the shit out of me. I didn’t know what to do.”

Luke’s breathing had become rigid. “Did you touch her again?”

               Drew pulled his head back in shock. His brother’s words struck him as odd.
What the fuck?
“For fuck’s sake Luke I’m not about to make a woman who’s having a panic attack even more uncomfortable. You think I would be crazy enough to try to touch her when she is already shaking with fear?” Drew spit out.

              “I know man I’m sorry I don’t know what I was thinking.” Luke brushed his hand roughly through his hair. This woman was going to make him lose his mind.

“Before I could help her she bolted out the fucking door and locked herself in her room. I didn’t know if I should go after her. I tried talking to her through the closed door but she said she was sorry and she was fine and wanted to be left alone.” Drew sighed heavily and ran a hand nervously through his hair, subconsciously mimicking his brother’s move. “I mean I get the whole getting scared or startled part. It’s odd as hell but I can somewhat in a weird way understand it. But what I didn’t understand is the way she looked at me.”

              “What do you mean?” Luke was almost afraid to ask.

              “She looked at me like I was some kind of rapist or something Luke. Like I was going to hurt her.” The alarmed look in Drew’s eyes was evident. Women didn’t look at him in such ways so this was a true shock to him.

              “Fuck.” Luke let out a line of curses. Andrew silently watched him shake his head and curse hoping it would help Luke cope.

               “So what’s her deal? Why did she react like that?” Drew wondered when he thought it would be safe to ask.

“I don’t know. She won’t fucking tell me.” Luke was getting tired of repeating that line. He felt as though long sharp nails were clawing at his skin. His patience was wearing thin. Too many unanswered questions to Isabel’s past just kept piling higher. Just when he thought she was doing better, some odd shit like this happened.

“So when did this happen?”

“About two hours after you left.” Drew informed.

Luke looked at his watch and it was nearly eight- thirty now. His meetings had lasted longer than he had anticipated. He had counted every minute that passed by, eagerly waiting to return to Isabel. He was starting to sound obsessed and he knew part of him was. He didn’t like leaving her alone, for obvious reasons like this. Why couldn’t she see how some of her reactions were unhealthy and unstable? He had to get to the bottom of this once and for all.

“Where is she now?”

“I saw her go into the office where you two have been working.”

Luke gave a curt nod. “I’ll go see how she’s doing.”

“Luke if there is anything I can do…” Andrew trailed off seriously. “I didn’t mean to scare her like that. I’d never hurt her.”

Luke nodded again and squeezed his brother’s shoulder. “I know. You don’t have to explain it to me. I know.”  He repeated.

Luke watched his brother shake his head and leave. He headed towards the office where he knew he would find Isabel and began mentally preparing himself. He was uncertain how to approach the situation. He had tried to ask her directly what she was hiding more times than he could count and she had not given him the answers he wished for.
You need to tread lightly Brady.