Broken (5 page)

Chapter 6

September 2007

Ian passed a note to Gabby in fifth period. She smiled as she secretly opened it placing it under her history book. She thought back about how the past month since the pool party had been the best month of her life. She was absolutely smitten. She and Ian took every opportunity to make out and could barely keep their hands off each other when they were alone. Ian, however, had decided that until they got to know each other better, they would refrain from public displays of affection. His reasoning had been that if people knew they were affectionate, they would rush their relationship and he wanted to take it at their own pace. Their friends all thought they had just grown to know each other through studying and were getting to being close friends. None of them knew just how close they already were when they were supposed to be studying. Lindsey had an idea that things were more than that, but no matter how much she pried, she couldn’t get Gabby to admit to anything more than just studying. Gabby knew this type of behavior was so uncharacteristic for her, but for Ian, she was willing to do whatever she had to do to continue seeing him. She knew he would eventually come around and make the commitment to her she longed to have with him. She glanced down at the note when the teacher turned her back to write on the dry-erase board.

“Gabs. Meet me at my house after school to study. I am struggling with anatomy—Ian.”

Gabby blushed because she knew that the only anatomy they would be studying was each other’s and now the day couldn’t get finished fast enough. She jotted back “Can’t wait,” and nudged his side for him to grab the note.

The rest of the day buzzed by and all Gabby could think about was being with Ian. Every word her teachers had spoken had been a blur, as if she were an outsider watching the class from above, she definitely had not been an active participant. She was thankful her teachers had not noticed her daydreaming and called her out to answer a question. She quickly rushed to her locker after her last period brushing up against students. Some students yelled at her to slow down and watch where she was going. She grabbed the books she needed for her homework and quickly secured the cold lock back into place. She threw her backpack over her shoulder and with the biggest grin ran outside toward her car. On her way out she heard a familiar voice call her name.

“Gabs, wait up! Where are you running off to in such a hurry,” quizzed Lindsey. “Oh, hey Linds. I gotta go. Ian needs to study for a test tomorrow and I promised I’d call out flash cards for him after school.” Lindsey laughed, “Okay, I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the party at John’s tomorrow night? Do you have plans? I’m sure Ian will be there.” Gabby tried not to look disappointed. Why hadn’t Ian invited her to John’s party? Why was she hearing about it from her best friend? She could understand that he wouldn’t want other people to think it was a date, but seems like he could have at least mentioned it and invited her to go with Lindsey. Gabby dismissed the unpleasant thoughts as she was too excited about what she knew was about to happen to dwell on anything unpleasant. She shook her head and quickly blinked to snap out of her thoughts.

“Yeah, I’d love to go. Do you want to drive or do you want me to drive?” Even though Gabby asked, she already knew the answer. It ultimately was a rhetorical question. Lindsey laughed, “I got it, Gabs!” Gabby laughed because she knew that her old, faded black Honda Civic that had been Sam’s in high school was not nearly fashionable for Lindsey. She rolled her eyes. “Great, what time should I be ready?”

“Seven okay with you?” asked Lindsey.

“Yep, that works. Well, I better get going, Ian’s waiting for me. I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks for inviting me, Lindsey. I miss you. Hopefully we can hang out more now that things are getting settled with back to school.” Gabby grabbed her best friend for a quick hug. She was sad that she and Lindsey not only hadn’t any classes together, but they had different lunch periods, too. She felt like she hardly got to see Lindsey anymore.

“No problem, Gabby. I told you that I wanted to hang out more, just call me when you have some free time. I’ve been trying to hang out with John more. We have several classes together. I really like him, Gabs. I wish he’d ask me out, but he doesn’t seem that interested. Wouldn’t it be cool if you and Ian got together and me and John got together? Geez, Lindsey. I need to snap out of it! Oh well, I better let you go. See you tomorrow, Gabs.” Lindsey giggled realizing she had been thinking out loud and rambling to Gabby. “Bye, Linds. See you tomorrow.” Gabby smiled and hurried the rest of the way to her car.

Lindsey turned to walk away with her head down and sighed at the thought of John. She wasn’t used to not being able to date whomever she desired. John had presented her with a challenge. She thought he was funny, cute, and he treated her respectfully. Then her thoughts went to Gabby. Her best friend seemed so bubbly. Ever since the party they had both professed they were just friends, but they were both acting differently. It was obvious to Lindsey that Gabby wasn’t telling her everything. She smiled at the thought of her best friend finally having the guy she had pined for and lusted over for the last four years. Then Lindsey wondered why Ian had not asked her to the party.
Had he even intended to ask her? Surely Ian wouldn’t just use Gabby to help him get good grades and hide her out in public and act like he didn’t care for her
. She quickly tried to move her thoughts to happier ideas as she opened the door to her red Camaro and slid down the black leather seats.

Gabby pulled up to Ian’s massive brick home. Unlike John, his house was farther away from the beach in a prestigious gated neighborhood. It was much larger than John’s house. His parents were both doctors and often worked late hours. Ian was the only child and he wanted for nothing.

Gabby grabbed her book bag, although the thought made her laugh because she knew she didn’t really need it. She locked her doors, but as she did realized her car was by far the cheapest car in the neighborhood. It’s not as if anyone would want to steal it when there were BMWs, Mercedes, and Lexus readily available. The feeling of inadequacy she often felt around her friends rushed over her like a tidal wave. She shook her head and reassured herself that her social standing didn’t matter, Ian wanted her and that’s why she was here. She walked down his drive and then up the long staircase to his front porch. She pursed her lips to spread her freshly applied lip gloss and pushed her hair behind her shoulders as she rang his doorbell.

Ian opened the door towering over Gabby with a seductive smile. “Hey, you,” he drank in her body. “Oh yes, I am having some serious trouble with anatomy. Remind me what this is called?” He leaned in and kissed her softly on her neck. “And this?” He kissed her cheek. Gabby closed her eyes and giggled. “Please come in and I’ll show what else I need help with.” Ian grabbed her hands and pulled her inside, Gabby giggling with anticipation. As she walked through the door he playfully spanked her supple behind. It completely caught her off guard as she jumped, “Youch!”

Chapter 7

June, 2010; The Present

Bradley was now furious. What was so maddening about this woman, who was walking away from him? He was seeing so many emotions in her. First she had been flirty, then shy, then playful, angry, and now she was sad, he shook his head realizing he thought she was sad. He shook his head as he watched her walk back to Sam. No, he didn’t need someone so complicated in his life. He had thought she would be fun and flirty when he first saw her and he thought with the way she was reacting to him she would be putty in his hands. He had not quite expected such resistance from her. He loved a challenge, but she seemed very complicated. He had enough complication in his life, he wasn’t sure he needed anything else. But, as he watched her toss her hair back and lick her lips before she took a sip of her wine he realized that this woman was irresistible and mysterious.
What had happened to her that made her unable to see how sexy she was to him?
Yes, he knew he could have any woman there, but he had chosen her. She had pushed him away. Bradley Banks didn’t get rejected and he wasn’t going to start tonight.

He took a deep breath and with narrowed eyes and pursed lips he strode over to Gabriella Gerhart and came up behind her. Sam saw him and her eyes widened. Gabby had not the time to react to her sister’s terrified look before Bradley grabbed both of Gabby’s arms and forcefully turned her around and pulled her as close to him as he could. She gasped and her eyes widened. Electricity surged through her body and she could barely breathe. She looked up into his fierce blue eyes. They were blazing with desire and in an instant he forced his tongue into her mouth and kissed her passionately. Gabby could barely move. She stood paralyzed by his actions. She was surprised, pleasantly surprised. Oh, she had daydreamed about his lips on hers the entire day and he was so refreshing. She savored his taste as his tongue assaulted her mouth, pulling on her bottom lip gently as he released her.

Gabby tried to catch her breath and seriously thought about slapping him for assuming he could just walk over and do things like that to her, never mind that she had actually liked it. It was rude, in fact as the night went on she was finding him more and more rude.
Who did he think he was?
He had known her for all of five minutes, if that. But, the other part of her now knew that the chemistry they had was not just on her part. She knew that there was something there, something very special.

“Now that you’ve had your glass of wine you wanted so badly, you will come back and dance with me.” Bradley insisted handing her glass to Sam and nodding his head. He grabbed Gabby’s hand and they started to make their way back to the dance floor. Sam smiled an unsure smile.
Oh boy,
she thought,
what in the world had Gabby gotten herself into with him
.

He embraced her and started to dance.
Where did he learn that?
Gabby thought. He led her perfectly and she had no choice but to follow. Looking up into his clear eyes she wondered if she would be able to ever resist him. No, maybe not. But, she had to try.

“Mr. Banks, with all due respect, just who the hell do you think you are? Do you think I’m some puppet on a string and you can just order me around? You might be used to controlling other women, but I will not be controlled by anyone. I told you I’m no good for you. Why are you making this so hard?”

“You told me I could have anyone here, and you’re right. I could, but I want you. Why are
you
pushing me away?”

“I have more baggage than baggage claim. I’m damaged goods. I’m not good at,” she released him for a moment and fingered between the two of them
“this.”

“Well, I think you’re dancing just fine, Miss Gerhart,” he smirked. He knew that was not what she meant, but he had hoped to lighten their mood. Maybe if he could get her to relax she would give him a chance.

“Ha, that’s not what I
meant
at all. You have a way of twisting my words, Mr. Banks. Tell me what it is you do?”

“I own my own architecture company. We design high rises and sky scrapers.” He proudly smiled and his eyes never left hers. His head cocked to one side. He liked that she was talking to him. He hoped it would continue. He could watch the way she bit her lower lip as she listened to him talk all day, well probably not. It only made him want her even more. He moved his body a little closer and she was slightly startled as she could feel his length pressed against her.

“So, Miss Gerhart, I know what you do to me, but what do you
do
?”

Gabby gasped at his forward comment and all of the blood in her face suddenly rushed south. No, he could not have this effect on her. She could not be hurt. It was like writing on a billboard that he was clearly just trying to get a good time out of her for the night and she was not in a place where she could do that for him.

Ignoring his comment she sassily replied back, “I am a student.”

“Oh really, how old are you Gabby?”

“Don’t you know it’s not polite to ask a woman her age? Oh wait, you aren’t polite. You say tacky things while pushing your erection against a girl you met five minutes ago, brutally kissed, and—”

Bradley interrupted her by putting one finger over her lips and said “Shhh. Tell me how old you are, Gabriella.”

“Old enough, how old are you, Mr. I own my own architecture firm,” she snapped back rolling her eyes insulted.

His eyes changed and he was suddenly very gentle. His hand moved to her chin and he moved his thumb from side to side under her lips. Her breath hitched at the thought of him kissing her again. Maybe she could be one of those girls who just hooked up with a guy for a night without expecting anything in return. Maybe she could get the hurt out of her head for one night and just have a good time. Oh how she wished he would gently kiss her. The first kiss had been full on passion and she had never been kissed like that before, but she longed for him to be gentle with her, too. Her thoughts were interrupted by his low soft voice.

“Well, as for my age I’m twenty-nine. Now, I’m trying to get to know you. You’ve complained because I had a girlfriend, which I didn’t. I don’t. You’ve complained that you have only known me for five minutes, when it’s actually been several hours. I’m just trying to meet your demands, Miss Gerhart. Please play fair and give a man a chance,” he pleaded with her moving his head closer to hers. He put both hands around her face. She closed her eyes and leaned her head up toward his yearning for him to kiss her.

“Oh no, Miss Gerhart. As much as I want your lips on mine again, we need to talk. I know you feel
this
. I know you want me. You have wanted me since I walked you down the aisle, but you don’t trust me. You’re hot and cold. One minute you are leading me on and the next minute you’re pushing me away. Why don’t you tell me? What do you want with,” he mirrored her motion from earlier “
this
.” His lip curled and he cocked his head to one side waiting for her answer.

Her jaw dropped
and he could feel her body writhing beneath him. Oh yes, she definitely wanted him. He enjoyed the challenge Gabby was giving him. She pushed buttons he didn’t know he had and she lit a fire of desire in him unlike any of the other women he had ever had one night stands with before. But, he knew his
M.O
. As soon as he had sex with her and the challenge was over, he would be ready for a new challenge. But, it didn’t feel that way this time. For the first time in his life, he felt he was losing control because he knew from his earlier kiss he couldn’t get enough of her. She had put him in a power struggle and no woman had ever done that before. He had pegged her for such an introvert. He had not expected her feistiness, but yet he found it such a turn-on.

“I don’t know.” Gabby put her head down breaking their eye contact and slouching in his embrace. He felt the desire leave her body. That was not at all the reaction he had expected. But, nothing with Gabriella Gerhart had been what he had expected.

“I don’t have a lot of...well, experience. Again, guys like you hurt girls like me and I would rather not feel anything than feel that. You bring emotions back that I have tried very hard to never feel again. Yes, I feel it
this
. But...” His eyes sparkled as the stringed lights that had been hung for the reception and the glistening waterfront bounced off his eyes. This man begging for her body was so irresistible and beautiful. She was so frustrated and confused. She could barely think straight in his presence and he made her emotional. She said and did things she had never thought of doing before. He reached up and put one hand on the side of her face and she reflexively leaned into his hand so eager for every ounce of touch he would afford her. “But what, Gabriella,” he spoke softly. “I can’t give you what you want, what you need,” she whispered. “And what do you think my needs are?” The band was now playing “Brown Eyed Girl” and the irony wasn’t lost on him. He smiled looking into her hazel eyes. Even though the tempo was more upbeat, they still stood in a close embrace in a world of their own swaying from side to side neither unable to break their gaze.

“Um...” She thought for a moment if she should tell him she was a virgin. But, if she was going to be honest about what she couldn’t give him, she knew she had to tell him. The thought quickly jumped into her mind that this would also be perfect for getting him to run away from her and relieving her of any more heartache. She felt sure that once he found out he would start laughing like he had earlier when she thought the model was his girlfriend and this time he would turn and walk away. The thought of him walking away from her was just as heartbreaking as staying with him and giving everything to him, just for him to turn around and break her heart. She was in a lose–lose situation. He would either have his way with her and leave, or he would leave without having his way with her. Either way, she knew that there was no way to escape the situation without being hurt by him. A tear came down her cheek. He brushed it away with his thumb and looked concerned.

“Shhh. Why are you crying?” His voice was even softer and he was being so tender and delicate with her. She didn’t understand. She knew what his goal was. It was like every other guy. He wanted to get screwed by a cute college girl and then he’d go back to his life as big CEO and she would be left to feel like a cheap whore. Oh, she knew that feeling all too well. The thought of being used like that again made her angry and once again her emotions changed.

“I’m a virgin, Bradley. I know guys like you want to get laid with cute little college girls like me and then leave the next morning like nothing happened. I’m not a cheap whore. I don’t sleep with the first guy who is charming. I can’t give you what you need. Well, I could, but I won’t. I’m not looking for a one night stand. I’m looking for...well, actually, before today, I wasn’t looking for anything,” she rambled at him and she was about ready to run away again, but his hold tightened knowing she would bolt after that comment.

“So, before tonight, you weren’t looking for anything. Can I take that to mean now you are? What are you looking for now, Gabriella? Obviously, I will admit, much to my disappointment, you say
sex
is not an option. So I would like to know what it is that you want?” His head cocked to the other side and he had a sly smile. He found her so many things, and amusing was one of them.

“Nothing. I don’t want anything.” She put her head down again.

“That’s just not true, Gabby. Tell me what you want.” He tilted her chin up again to look into her eyes once more.

“I don’t want to share any part of me with a stranger who is just going to walk away. With every touch, every kiss, every word, I give a piece of myself and to have someone take, take, take and then just walk away makes me feel like a piece of garbage that can be tossed out when...when I’m all used up. I would like for once for a boy, I mean, ahem, a man, to get to know me first before taking my body. I am more than my body. The next man I let get close to me will have to want my mind, body, and soul. I told you I can’t give you what you need, and frankly, I don’t think you can give me what I need, what I deserve. Are we done?”

Gabby couldn’t believe she had just said all of that. But, she was tired. The emotional toll this day had waged on her body coupled with the wine made her just want to be in bed curled up with a good book before she dozed off to sleep. Maybe now he would finally let her go like she had tried to do so many times before that night.