Page 23 of Boss with Benefits (Boss of Seduction #6)

“I love you,” Jessica said.

Brady’s blood ran cold. His first inclination was to get up, put his clothes on, and go straight to the airport. He could disappear with the wind, never to be heard from again.

Was he overreacting? Perhaps. But he didn’t think so. He was ready to run. The panic in Jessica’s eyes changed his mind. He could tell she hadn’t meant to say the words and instantly regretted them. That made him feel better.

Brushing his lips against her forehead, he mumbled, “Get some sleep.”

The fact she was drunk probably meant she wouldn’t remember saying the words to him by morning. Her mind would be a blissful blank. Or an awful hangover would give her something else to think about besides him.

Brady rolled onto his side and pulled her with him.

He held her in a snug embrace. Outwardly, he appeared calm.

Inside, he was a twisted mess. The truth was, if it were possible for them to be married and happy and raise a family together, he would be all for it. Unfortunately, he’d seen his future.

She groaned. “I don’t know why I said that.”

“How many glasses of champagne did you have?” he asked.

“Three or four. Maybe five. I lost count.”

He kissed her forehead again. “Okay, then. It was the booze talking. Let’s forget the whole thing.”

She was quiet and still for several minutes. His muscles unclenched, and he began to relax. He was sure she had fallen asleep. Now, maybe he could get some rest.

Her shoulders started shaking, and something wet fell on his bare chest. It took him a second to realize she was crying. His arms tightened as he tried to reassure her without words. He rubbed her back with both hands.

When that didn’t work, he spoke. “Forget about it,” he said. “I already have.”

“I’m not crying because of…” Her voice trailed off.

Then she tried again. “I’m just... I made a big mess of everything.

You’ve been so good to me and Axl, and how do I repay you?

I get drunk, make a scene in front of half of Seattle, and then say the three words I know you never want to hear coming from a woman’s mouth. What is wrong with me?”

“Nothing.” He pulled back slightly so he could see her face. “There is nothing wrong with you. Trust me. You are perfect in every way.”

She scoffed. “Right. That’s why you look absolutely terrified every time I say or do anything too wifey.”

The conversation was on a dangerous track and picking up speed. He didn’t know how to stop it before the inevitable messy crash. After taking a deep breath, he admitted, “If I could love you, I would. If I could give you the life you want, I would. But I can’t. That’s a fact no one can change.”

Part of him expected her to start crying in earnest or plead with him to change his mind. What he didn’t expect was an explosion of anger.

Jessica burst out of bed, jumping to her feet. Her eyes flashed like lightning, and blond waves fell over half her face. To him, she looked like an avenging angel. She yelled, “Who the hell do you think you are to decide what I want?”

He blinked, thrown off by her sudden anger. “Huh? Why are you mad at me?”

“Seriously? You have no clue about women. If you weren’t so freaking gorgeous, all of woman-kind would avoid you.”

He repeated, “ Why are you mad?”

She struggled into her robe and prepared to exit the bedroom. “I think I’ll sleep in my son’s room tonight.”

“Don’t you think you’re being overly dramatic?”

“No.”

She headed for the door, but Brady intercepted her. He raced across the room on his bare feet and grabbed her by the waist. He stopped her from leaving. Still a little drunk, she was bound to do something crazy. He hoped she was coherent enough to put her son first.

“Honey, think,” he said. “If you go to Axl’s room and he wakes up, he’ll smell the booze on your breath. Do you want that? What if he mentions Mommy slurring her words or acting weird to the wrong person? Randy’s lawyer would be all over it.”

Jessica’s anger dissolved, and she started to cry again. He made a mental note to keep her away from alcohol in the future. The woman could not hold her liquor.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” she asked. “Am I a terrible mother?”

“No. You’re not.”

He steered her back to the bed and tucked her in on her side. If it would help, he would insist she drink some coffee, but that would just keep her awake all night. She needed to sleep it off.

He tried to place a kiss on her forehead, but her arms looped around his neck, almost knocking him off balance enough to pull him down on top of her.

Normally, he enjoyed having a woman make the first move.

Not tonight. He wanted her to sleep so he could get some rest. Taking care of a drunk wife was not fun.

“Come to bed,” Jessica said. “I don’t want to sleep without you.”

“Let go of me, and I will.”

She was like a drunk octopus.

A cute pout pursed her lips, and she reluctantly removed her arms from his neck.

He walked to the other side of the bed. A hundred things went through his mind.

He wasn’t so sure sleeping next to Jessica was a good idea tonight, but someone had to be there for her in case she got sick. He needed to take care of her.

Knowing he didn’t have another choice, he slid into the bed next to her. She immediately turned over and snuggled against him. Her head and hand rested on his chest. She mumbled something.

“What?” he asked. “I didn’t catch that.”

She lifted her face. “I said, I’m sorry I’m causing you so much trouble.”

He forced a smile. “You aren’t any trouble.”

“Why do you think you can’t be happy or love me?”

The question was spoken without a hidden agenda. She was obviously curious why he’d said it and probably wouldn’t remember his answer tomorrow anyway. So he told her the truth. “I’m not husband material. Or father material, for that matter.”

“You’re a good man,” she said. “I think it would come naturally to you. Being a father, I mean.”

He didn’t believe that. Besides, he’d read several studies on the subject of young men raised by abusive fathers.

None of them good. He didn’t want to turn into his father.

Despite Deacon’s beliefs on the subject, Brady wasn’t sure how to keep from becoming the man he hated most in the world.

It’s not like his father had woken up one day and decided he wanted to be an abusive monster.

“I didn’t see love or feel loved when I was growing up,” he said. “How can I possibly learn to give love to another person?”

Jessica moved upward and kissed him on the throat just above his drumming pulse. “I could teach you how to love me,” she said.

He marveled at her ridiculous statement, something he knew she wouldn’t have said if she was sober. She was totally wasted.

Then he asked, “Didn’t your mother warn you not to try to change a man? It doesn’t work. Just makes you miserable.”

She didn’t respond.

He waited.

Soft snoring met his ears, and he smiled with relief.

∞∞∞

“Deke, I’m in deep trouble.” Brady burst into his buddy’s office without knocking. Unfortunately, the good doctor already had a patient on the couch. “Oh, I’m sorry,” Brady said. “Betty wasn’t at the desk, so I thought you were free.”

The elderly patient on the couch popped up so he was sitting, and he averted his face as if ashamed of being there. Deacon looked over his shoulder from his chair. Brady apologized again while backing out of the office.

“Can it wait?” Deacon asked. “Or is it an emergency? We were just finishing up here.”

“It can wait a few minutes,” Brady said.

The patient leaped to his feet, spry for a man his age, and he stumbled over his words. “I think we’re... uh, it’s enough for today. I’m d-done.”

“I’ll see you next week then,” Deacon said. “Same time and place.”

The man quickly left, and Brady closed the door behind him. “I am so sorry, Deacon. I didn’t mean to barge in like that.”

“Don’t tell me. Let me guess.” Deacon closed his eyes and put a hand to his head, playing psychic. “I see a beautiful woman with long blond waves. You entered into a sham marriage with her, and now she wants to make it real.” He peeked through a slit in one eye. “Am I close?”

Brady fumed in silence for a moment. He hated it when Deacon acted like he was always right about everything. They needed to talk, so Brady sat on the couch. He didn’t stretch out on it. Too wired. He clenched his hands into fists and told his best friend what was on his mind.

“Jessica told me she loves me.”

Deacon wore a triumphant smile. “I knew it. I tried to warn you. Didn’t I tell you she would want more?”

“I’m not sure she does,” Brady said. “The words were a slip of the tongue, and she was drunk.”

“Oh. A drunk I-love-you doesn’t count. We’ve all been there.”

Brady nodded, feeling instantly better about it. “You’re right. She was plastered, and she took it back almost immediately. She even apologized.”

“Sounds like you’re in the clear. For now.”

Brady leaned back against the middle cushion and forced himself to relax. He didn’t have anything to worry about. His pulse stopped drumming in his throat, and the panicky feeling that had followed him from his house dissipated. He had freaked out over nothing.

“Other than your wife telling you she loves you, how is married life treating you?” Deacon asked.

“Shut up,” Brady said with a wry smile.

“Seriously. Anything else on your mind?” Deacon asked. “The rest of my hour is free.”

Brady sighed. “I’ve been thinking about leaving town after she gets sole custody.”

“What!?” Deacon jumped and the notebook fell to his lap. “You can’t do that. If you leave, who am I going to bitch to about Samantha?”

“Hire a professional.”

“Bah!” Deacon picked up his notebook and gave Brady a dirty look. “Why would you want to leave Seattle? If you want to get away from Jessica, kick her out of your house and buy back her part of the agency. You’ll never have to see her again. It’s a big city.”