Forever Branded (Billionaire Love Series #1) (8 page)

First of all, she was beautiful. With high cheekbones, dark lashes which framed her chocolate-brown doe eyes and a full, pouty mouth that begged to be kissed, she was more gorgeous than I realized. But she seemed determined to hide her beauty behind loose clothing and a super serious expression which disguised her beautiful smile.

Second, she captivated me. I couldn’t get over the way she tossed her long, dark hair over her shoulder, and the way her eyes lit up when she showed her dazzling smile on occasion. My favorite, though, was hearing her infectious, throw her head back laugh which infused the whole room with joy. That was pure magic.

The funny thing was, the more I found out about her, the more I wanted to know. It became my daily project, just to watch her and figure out what made her tick. Her face crept into my mind, slowly overtaking my thoughts. I kept telling myself I was just gathering information and I really wasn’t interested in her.

Yeah, I know. It was a big, fat lie.

Anyway, in my reconnaissance, I saw Marla eat lunch a couple of times with Stacy Obermeyer. I’d known Stacy for a long time and I thought she would be a good source of information.

I keyed in on her one day after school at her locker. “Stacy, what’s up with your home girl?” I asked.

She glanced up at me, her frizzy ponytail bobbing up and down as she chewed on some gum. “Which home girl are you referring to?”

“Marla.”

“What do you want with Marla?” she asked in a sassy voice, her hand on her hip.

“Just wondering what her story is.”

“Man, don’t mess with her. She’s had a rough time of it and doesn’t need you fuckin’ with her.”

Stacy always talked tough. You would have thought she was born and bred in New York City instead of Baltimore, Maryland.

“It’s nothing like that. I’m just trying to get her to tutor me in English.”

“Tutor you in English, huh?” Her voice was filled with total disbelief.

“Yeah, I need some help with my paper.”

“Listen, Marla’s a great person, but she leads a complicated life right now. She’s not like those other bimbos you usually date.”

I managed to look offended. “I don’t want to date her. I just want to get to know her a little.”

She studied me thoughtfully with her blue green eyes. “Then be gentle and kind, and don’t try any shit with her.”

“Yeah, I know. I already tried to flirt with her and went down in flames.”

She let out a loud, obnoxious laugh that ricocheted off the metal of the lockers. “She already shot you down and you’re coming back for more? She’s got your number, dude.”

I wasn’t going to give her any more ammunition. “Like I said, just lookin’ for her to tutor me.”

“Whatever. Just tread lightly.”

“Will do. Thanks for the info.”

I wasn’t sure if talking to Stacy was worth the information I got, but she did make me more curious about Marla’s life.

I was on a mission now.

My first order of business was to get Marla’s attention.

It was a safe bet she liked chocolate. Most girls I knew did.

So I left a Snickers taped to her locker.

Without a note.

A little mystery was good.

I hoped it would make her ask around and give me a chance to come forward with my good deed. But when she peeled the Snickers off her locker and gave it a once over, all she did was toss it in her bag without so much as a look around.

Gotta say, I was disappointed.

My second attempt involved my first and last go at poetry. It wasn’t pretty, but it would do the job. I left her a pathetic poem on the back of a chips bag pleading with her to help me with my paper.

My paper blows

It really, really blows.

Please help me say more than kite.

Cuz I don’t want my paper to bite.

Please help!

Beau

I timed it perfectly, taping the poem to her locker, so she would get it right before lunch. I spied on her from several lockers away as she read the poem. Her face lit up in amusement for a long second as she studied my masterpiece, but then she chucked it in her locker like she was throwing it away.

Damn, it didn’t work.

Gotta admit, my pride was wounded.

Nothin’ was working with this girl.

I wasn’t giving up, though.

I was just going to have to up the stakes and bring my A game. While I was thinking and planning, she continued to ignore me. But a couple of days later, I had a perfect opportunity to get on her good side. It fell into my lap while I was walking to my business math class.

Glancing down the wide hallway, I saw her strolling with a special needs kid I had known most of my life and an idea occurred to me.

Yeah, I know.

But I wasn’t above using the kid with Down’s syndrome as my wingman.

I rolled up on them as they strolled down the deserted hall. “Hey, Jonathan!” I said as he wheeled a dolly full of half-size boxes in my direction.

“Beau buddy!” he greeted, giving me a high five.

He was a round kid, with a permanently happy face. His brown eyes were always bright and his smile went from ear to ear all day long. You just couldn’t help but smile around him. He was always glad to see me, unlike his partner in crime.

“Hey, Marla!” I turned toward her, trying to gauge her reaction.

She shot me a suspicious stare as she crossed her arms. “When did you meet Jonathan?”

“I’ve known Jonathan since elementary school. Isn’t that right, buddy?”

“Yep! Beau buddy and me have always been friends,” Jonathan agreed heartily as he slapped me on the back.

“Uh-huh. So you’re buddies?” Marla asked, pointing at both of us.

“Yep. Buddies look out for each other, isn’t that right, Jonathan?” I asked, trying to show I was a good guy.

Jonathan nodded wholeheartedly, his whole face lighting up in agreement. “That’s right.”

“Are you taking good care of Marla?” I asked with a wink.

“Yep, she’s helping me with my Coke duty,” he said, pointing to the dolly loaded with boxes of soda. “I have to put all of these in the machines.”

“I see. Do you need any more help?” I asked eager to spend more time with the duo.

“Sure, Beau buddy. Want to push the soda?” Jonathan asked sweetly.

I was about to ditch my sixth hour. “I can do that.” I grabbed the dolly from him.

“Wow, you push good,” Jonathan praised as he walked beside me.

“Thanks, buddy. I’m doing my best.”

Marla sullenly followed us as I talked to Jonathan about his beloved cartoons. He was especially fond of
Alvin and the Chipmunks
.

“Who’s your favorite, Beau buddy?”

“I like Alvin. He’s always getting into trouble.”

“Yeah...he is,” Jonathan chuckled as we arrived in the empty cafeteria.

We found the soda machine and got down to business as I helped him load it up. Marla stood in the background, annoyed by my presence.

“Where else do we have to go, Marla?” Jonathan asked as we put the Coke machine back together.

“The teacher’s lounge and the gym. Why don’t you go on, Jonathan? Beau and I need to talk about something for a second.”

“Okay.” He wandered out the door as Marla turned her wrath on me.

“I know what you’re trying to do and it won’t work!” She fired off as soon as Jonathan was out the door.

“What am I trying to do?”

She sighed, bothered by my answer. “You’re trying to show me what a good guy you are by hanging out with the special needs kid.”

Shit.

She was on to me.

“Whaaat?” I asked in feigned outrage. “That’s not true. Believe it or not, I do have a soft spot for special needs kids.”

“Really? How come I’ve never seen you work with them before?”

“Just because I don’t work with them, doesn’t mean I don’t talk to them.”

“I don’t know if I believe that. I’m watching you, Shepard. Don’t try anything funny.”

I laughed at her serious tone. “I’ll be on my best behavior. Scout’s honor.” I held up three fingers.

“Whatever. Just don’t use this kid to get to me, Beau. That’s not cool,” she said, her doe eyes flickering with panic.

Whoa.

What was scaring her so badly?

I didn’t like seeing fear in her eyes.

I immediately shifted gears, backing off from my original plan to win her over. “I promise. I’m just along for the soda, okay?” I said gently.

She sighed in exasperation. “All right, but I’m watching you.”

She proceeded to ignore me as I talked to Jonathan and we made the rounds to the different soda machines around the school.

“Coke is my favorite. What’s your favorite, Beau buddy?” Jonathan asked as I wheeled the dolly through the double doors leading to the gym.

“I like Pepsi,” I said.

He pursed his lips in obvious distaste. “Nah, you gotta like Coke, Beau buddy.”

“I like Coke; it’s just not my favorite. Why don’t you ask Marla her favorite?” I said, glancing up at her.

The sunlight was streaming in just right to light up her dark hair as we entered the big gym.

Damn, she was pretty.

She scrunched up her little button nose. “I don’t drink soda. I don’t like the way it tastes.”

“What? That’s crazy talk,” I said trying to get her to smile.

She glanced sideways in my direction. “I prefer to put only natural things in my body and soda isn’t natural.”

“Not natural? Un-American,” I said, trying to tease her.

She rolled her eyes at me. “Whatever. Jonathan, you ready to load up the machines in here?” she asked sweetly as she turned her attention to him.

“Yep, Marla. But you should be nice to Beau buddy. He’s a good guy.”

“Oh, really? Did he pay you to say that?” Her tone was skeptical.

“No way! You’re funny, Marla, thinking Beau buddy isn’t a good guy. He always looks out for me.” Jonathan stared at me like I was Superman. “One time, he helped me get my candy back for this mean kid and another time he saved me from some bad boys who weren’t very nice.”

“Really?” she asked in a less hostile voice as she glanced at me curiously.

“Yeah, really. I can’t stand people picking on Jonathan,” I said, meaning it.

I had protected him several times growing up.

I hated bullies.

“I put up my dukes and said, ‘Don’t touch my friend Jonathan.’” I turned sideways and put up my fists, moving them around as if I was getting ready to box.

“Yeah,” Jonathan agreed, doing the same thing.

I pretended to hit him and he grinned as we play boxed around the gym.

“See, Marla? Me and Beau buddy are a good team,” Jonathan said as we horsed around.

Marla thawed several more degrees and actually smiled. “I’m glad you have someone looking out for you, Jonathan. I’m here for you, too.”

“Aw, thanks, Marla,” he said, giving her a big hug.

We made the rest of the pop deliveries, a new ease between Marla and me.

I knew I had a chance to win her over.

I just had to figure out what to do next.

CHAPTER SIX

Marla:

I threw my keys toward the bowl on the front entry table and heard them hit the purple porcelain dish with a clatter. I put my purse down on the glass tabletop and breathed in deeply.

I was home.

I could relax.

I sighed as I kicked off my black Dansko clogs.

It had been a long day.

I had spent it putting out fires ranging from a customer accidently getting the wrong hair color, to talking one of my clients down from having a nervous breakdown. Her boyfriend had just left her and she was beyond crushed. I prayed she made it through. I hated seeing anyone in so much pain.

It made me glad I wasn’t in the throes of a passionate affair. I knew what it meant to busted up over a guy.  It wasn’t pretty and I was lucky to find my equilibrium after Beau left.

I glanced around my spotless house. Usually, I was tripping over Charlie’s size twelve sneakers and dealing with his crusty cereal bowls in the sink.

I’d enjoyed the quiet and calm since he’d been away. But I missed him terribly. He brought such youth and enthusiasm to my life. I was going to be so sad when he moves out someday and I will be all alone.

It was a situation I both dreaded and longed for. For now, I was just going to enjoy having the time to myself.

I walked into the kitchen, debating my evening plans. I could either be disciplined and throw on a yoga DVD, or I could sit around and relax. I always enjoyed stretching out my body, but I wasn’t sure I was up to it after the day I had. I was super tired.