Womanizer (Spoilt) (16 page)

Isabelle decided they were both in the same position. They both felt betrayed by the same man. Once again Isabelle decided it would be easier for her than him. To hate her father came naturally to her and having never had other feelings for
him, it was easy to continue to do so. For Anthony it was different. This was a man he knew his entire life, a man whom he loved and respected, a man who kept secrets from him for twenty years. Empathy became the only emotion now. It wasn’t his fault. And the letters ... well, time would tell and Isabelle hoped that the trust she was about to place on the brother walking towards her wouldn’t be a mistake.

Anthony placed her coffee on the table before joining her. His shy smile and apprehension in his eyes eased her concerns and allowed her to relax. Just because their father left her
- and Carol didn’t mean he may not have been a complete creep - and even if he was, didn’t mean that Anthony was. Despite her genes, she turned out alright; no reason Anthony hadn’t as well. Perhaps Greg had turned over a new leaf just as Mitch had. Perhaps it was time to let go of hatred and trust Anthony. It wasn’t every day a girl found out she had a brother and this above all else was what was important.

“So, Anthony, what do you do?”

“I’m studying at the moment, engineering.”

“Are you enjoying it?”

“Yeah ... the best thing about it is knowing I have a job when I’m finished.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah, it was Dad’s company. My uncle is running it at the moment but one day ...” His gaze dropped and his fingers traced over the scratches and grooves in the table. Isabelle realized he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable talking about their blood tie.

“You don’t have to avoid talking about him. Just because he wasn’t a father to me doesn’t
mean he wasn’t to you. You know, I’ve never even seen a picture of him …”

“Would you like to?” h
e asked so softly she wasn’t sure she heard him right.

“Sure.”

Anthony pulled his wallet from a pocket, opened it and passed it to her. The shock of seeing her father’s face for the first time soon gave way to something warmer that she couldn’t put her finger on. The photo appeared to be a few years old and would be how he would have looked not long before he died. His handsomeness was accentuated by age and her heart did a little leap. Immediately she saw Anthony’s resemblance along with hers. She studied father and son for a moment and realized how much she looked like her brother.

“You look like him,” she said her voice wavering slightly. The emotion of the day was catching up with her.

“So do you.” He paused to smile before his brow furrowed. An expression Isabelle recognized from her own face. “I can’t believe he had nothing to do with you.” The bitterness wasn’t hidden in his voice and he all but spat the words onto the table.

“Please don’t hate him for what he did to us. He was a good father to you
, wasn’t he?”

His eyes searched her face for a moment before his scowl disappeared. “Yes
, he was.”

“Then, please, tell me about him. Let me live the years I didn’t have through you.”

“I can’t believe how nice and understanding you are being. I turn up out of the blue and expect you to be OK with everything …”

“I’m OK with suddenly having a brother
.” They shared a smile. “Please tell me about him.”

And tell her he did. Three coffees and a slice of strawberry cheesecake later Anthony finished his story up until the day he found out about ha
ving a sister. The family man, the loving husband that Anthony described was the complete opposite to the man she thought Greg to be. It seemed good people made bad choices and perhaps it was time for Isabelle to bury her resentment and move on. Now she had a brother to do that with and this filled her with happiness. First she found Mitch and now Anthony. Life couldn’t get much better, except for the letters, of course. She still didn’t know what to make of those but after her afternoon with her new family she knew it wasn’t Anthony. How she had ever thought that he was responsible was beyond her.

With reluctance they parted company and agreed to meet again the following week after the gallery opening. With a spring in her step and a light heart, Isabelle walked towards home. She could barely wait to share her afternoon with Mitch.

The only things that burdened her mood were the letters, and what to do about them became her paramount concern. Perhaps going to the police, as Carol had suggested, was the right thing to do. Now she dismissed the ridiculous idea that Anthony was responsible she was as confused as ever. It was also time to tell Mitch. The guilt at having kept them from him thus far niggled at her but she was sure he would understand. She would tell him next week. The gallery opening was on Saturday and she didn’t want to spoil the excitement.

Chapter Nineteen

A Gallery Opening

The rest of the week leading up to Mitch’s exhibit opening was busy for them both. Between modeling shoots, preparing the gallery and Mitch’s secret house buying, the week flew, and before they knew it the morning of the opening arrived. Isabelle insisted that she and Jesse stay home the night before the exhibit so they would feel fresh. Mitch’s protests didn’t change her mind. She wanted him to have a good night’s rest and he agreed that he wouldn’t get much of that if she were to stay.

They had barely spent many nights apart in the past weeks and they both found they missed having someone to share a bed with, to wake up to. Jesse stayed home with Carol while Isabelle spent the day helping Mitch set up while trying to calm his frayed nerves. Isabelle could understand why he was nervous as this was the first time he would be displaying his work and she knew he hoped it wouldn’t fall short of public expectations. He said little over the course of the day and Isabelle thought he must be more nervous than she
had anticipated. Her usual chatty Mitch hid behind a stoic mask and it reminded her of Jared. Deep down, they weren’t so different after all.

Raw nerves greeted Mitch when he woke. Not only was he afraid of failure but he was worried that Isabelle would refuse his offer of moving into the house he’d successfully purchased. This scared him much more than being unsuccessful. He didn’t want to scare her off by rushing things again but he also didn’t want to wake up without her again. Who would have thought being in love was so exhilarating. Now he was with Isabelle he couldn’t understand how his life before her had ever been fulfilling. Life before Isabelle had been hollow and empty with nameless faces and loneliness. He couldn’t believe this life had appealed to him.

During the course of the day, as he
set up with Isabelle, he realized how introverted he was being and he knew she would have put this down to nerves about the opening. Though part of it was, he spent much of the day going over in his mind what he was going to say to her that evening when the opening concluded. Several times over the day he laughed to himself at his silly schoolboy behavior. It seemed Isabelle brought out many things in him.

Mitch fidgeted when opening time arrived. Isabelle stood by his side and held his hand, and he appreciated her all over again. His family were in attendance to offer their moral support, all glowing with pride. Charlotte and Jared had returned from their honeymoon earlier in the day and were standing intimately together as they absorbed each one of his photos. He was grateful for them cutting short their trip to be there and show their support. When Chelsea and Lucas arrived they came over.

“Hey, Mitch,” Lucas said extending his hand. “Your photos are great. Why so nervous?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Yes,” they all chorused.

“I can’t help it.” He offered a nervous smile. “Where’s Elle tonight?”

“With my mum,” Chelsea replied with a grin. “I have a free evening so I think champagne is in order.” She followed a waiter with a loaded tray before locating her sister.

“Good luck, Mitch,” Lucas said before following his wife.

One by one people began to arrive and soon the gallery was full. With Isabelle in tow, he mingled with the guests and answered questions about his pieces. An hour into the event Valery gestured excitedly from across the room before hurrying over to them.

“This is going even better than I knew it would,” she gushed. “I have sold two pieces already and quite a few have been consigned, including the one of Isabelle. I believe by the end of your two week exhibit we will sell them all.”

Mitch stared for a moment
, astounded. He never dreamed he would sell his work or they would have achieved the turn out they had. The whole night seemed surreal and this just topped it off. Now all he needed was for Isabelle to say yes.

“That’s great!” Isabelle cried throwing her arms around his neck. “I told you people would love them as much as I do.”

“I’m in shock.”

“I’m not,” said Valery waving to someone across the room.
“Must go, looks like we may have another sale. At this rate you will need to do some more pieces.”

After the evening wound down and the last guest left, Mitch swept Isabelle off her feet and kissed her with joy.

“I just can’t believe how well tonight went. As this rate I might be able to give up modeling shoots.”

“You will, which is great, except you won’t be photographing me anymore.” She winked.

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that,” he said lowering her to the floor.

Without saying anything further he turned to wave goodbye to Valery who told him she would update him on his progress. He took Isabelle’s hand and ignored her curious glance as he led her to the small, quiet caf
é across the street. Once they were seated and their coffee sat steaming in front of them, Isabelle began to worry. His expression gave little away. She wondered what was so important and what it had to do with modeling.

“Why the worried look, babe?
I hope what I’m about to say will make you happy.”

“W
ell don’t keep me in suspense. Out with it.”

“I bought a house and I’m selling my apartment.”

“Wow, that’s great news. What does it have to do with modeling?”

“I’m getting to it. Please let me get it all out before you say anything, OK?” His brow creased above his nose, the way it did when he concentrated. Usually she adored this expression but at the moment it concerned her. She had no
idea why he looked so worried. This was supposedly good news.

His eyes absorbed hers as she nodded and he offered a small grin before he spoke. “I know I
have asked you this before but …” He paused and took a deep breath while Isabelle held hers, waiting. “I bought the house so that we could live together as a family. You, me, Jesse and your mum too, if that is what you both want. I want to wake up to you every day and hold you every night. I understand your concerns about Jesse but I’m doing this for his security too. Now that my dreams have been fulfilled I want to do the same for you. I want you to go back and finish your degree. Without having to pay rent and with the money you have saved, you will be able to do this. What do you think? Will you come and live with me?’

Thoughts rushed through her mind as she absorbed his words. Jesse, the letters, the opportunity to be able to do what she loved and most of all, how much she loved Mitch. His face
screwed up and she knew he was worried she would say no again.

“Oh, Mitchell,” she said as hot tears slid over her cheeks. She couldn’t remember ever being so happy and the decision was made for her. “You are the most generous, sweet man
... yes, yes, yes!”

With an excited squeal she jumped out of her seat, threw her arms around his neck and sought his lips. She didn’t care that the few patrons in the caf
é could watch as she sat in his lap and kissed him. She was totally and completely in love and she wanted to the world to know.

“I thought you were going to say no again,” he said against her lips.

“I admit I wasn’t sure what to do at first but how I feel about you won out. You don’t have to support u,s though. I can work and study.”

“No,” he said as he ran his hand over her hair and down her face.

“No?”

“I don’t want you to have to model anymore. You have enough money saved to pay your share
, and like I said, without rent it will go further. I’ll own the house because I owned the apartment. I’ll show it to you tomorrow. I don’t get the keys until Monday but the agent has agreed to let me show you through.”

“Thank you, Mitch. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, to us.”

“You have changed my life, Izzy. Now I want to do the same for you.”

Isabelle woke early the next morning and with reluctance left Mitch in bed. She wanted to talk to Carol and Jesse first before Mitch took them to the house. Knowing she would wake up to him every morning made getting up a little easier.

Her
family were eating breakfast when she arrived home and Isabelle decided to launch straight into it. Mitch would probably turn up not far behind her as he was as excited as she was, and she wanted to ensure her family were happy with it first.