His to Keep (Beauty and the Brit) (20 page)

Brynn wandered into the kitchen where she found Tash sitting at the pink table with tears in her eyes. Brynn had never seen her friend so distraught before. Angry, bitter, homesick, yes, but Tash was a tough cookie.

Brynn pulled a chair out and sank down. “What happened?”

“Zeke is dick. I want my mother and sister to come for visit. But he says no.”

“Why not? You miss them like crazy.”

Tash nodded, dislodging a few more tears. “He say if they come, they never leave. And we cannot afford plane tickets. I want to go home, Brynn. I thought coming here would be good thing, but I am unhappy. I may as well be unhappy with my own family.”

Brynn patted her hand. “Listen, why don’t you stay here for the day? Just relax and don’t make any hasty decisions, okay?”

“Yes. Thank you, Brynn.”

“You’re welcome. I’ve got to get ready for work. You’ll be all right here on your own?”

“Yes. I am fine. You go.”

Brynn felt terrible leaving her here, but she had too much going on, especially since Cass’s company was circling the drain. Brynn rose and left Tasha sitting alone in the kitchen.

After grabbing a hasty shower, she pulled her wet hair into a loose ponytail and threw on a long, blue dress, making it out the door in record time.

She climbed into the backseat next to Iain and adjusted her skirt around her legs. “Hey.”

“So what’s her sob story this time?”

“Iain, she’s homesick. Her husband won’t let her mother and sister come for a visit. It’s sad. This was her dream, coming to America.”

“Duping a stranger into marrying her.”

Brynn whipped her head so fast, her ponytail went airborne. “That’s a really cruel thing to say. And it’s not true. They communicated for a year. Tash thought she knew everything about Zeke.”

“You’re telling me it was a love match, are you?”

“I’m not telling you anything. But your lack of compassion is disturbing. Natasha is hurting. Maybe
you
can look at someone who’s in pain and turn them away, but I can’t.”

“You’re too kindhearted for your own good. By letting her pop over every time she fights with her husband, you aren’t doing her any favors. She should stay put and fix her own mess.”

And there he was—the hard-assed businessman. Whenever Brynn thought she saw a glimmer of something more, the heartless side of him always reared its head. She stared out the window and ignored him for the rest of the drive.

When the car stopped in front of his office building, Iain placed a hand on her leg. “Brynnie. It’s none of my business what you do, love. I just don’t want to see you get taken advantage of.”

She didn’t look at him. “Caring about people isn’t a flaw, Iain, but a lack of compassion is. I pity you.” She grabbed her bag, slipped from beneath his touch, and out of the car.

Brynn didn’t wait for him as she walked into the building or when she hopped into the elevator before the doors slid closed. No matter how fabulous the sex or how many orgasms he gave her, if Iain couldn’t show even a modicum of human decency, then he wasn’t the right man for her.

Brynn forced a smile on her face when she walked into the Blue Moon offices, said hello to a few people, and headed straight for Marc’s office. She rapped on his door once and after hearing him mutter something, she opened it and peeked through the crack.

“Brynn, come on in.” He looked more rumpled today. He hadn’t shaved and his hair appeared a little unkempt. The overall affect was sexy and disheveled, but Brynn had a feeling that wasn’t the look he was going for.

She walked toward his desk and set her bag in the guest chair. “I came to get you for our meeting.” He had dark circles under his bloodshot eyes. “Are you all right? We can reschedule.”

“No need for that. Just women troubles. The worst kind, eh?”

“And here I thought man troubles were bad.”

Standing, Marc walked from behind his desk. “Iain giving you problems? He’s good at that.”

“But why is he so”—she made claws with her fingers—“urgh?”

“I knew it was only a matter of time before you’d want to strangle him. We’ve all felt that way a time or three.” Marc walked to the door and held it open. “It’s part of his charm.”

That was an infuriating answer that told Brynn nothing. And Iain’s hard-assed ways weren’t the least bit charming. What made him so disconnected from other people?
Are you looking for a reason to excuse his behavior? There is no excuse, jellyfish.
Maybe not, but this was Brynn’s Achilles’ heel—her faith in people, her belief in their innate decency. What was Iain’s tragic flaw? Everyone had at least one.

Probably his cold heart. Or the fact that he couldn’t care less about anyone else’s feelings. Yet he’d read her manual. Even found something nice to say about it. He could be funny and warm and generous. But he could also be an asshole. Those glimmers of humanity kept her hanging on. The rational part of her wanted to give up on him, but the
glass half-full
Brynn thought he deserved another chance. Still, after their argument in the car, she didn’t want to face Iain alone. That’s why she’d sought out Marc. He could act as a buffer.

Marc waited while Brynn warred with herself. She hadn’t come to any conclusions. Iain was both kind and cruel. She couldn’t separate the two. He was a total combo platter.

With a sigh, she grabbed her stuff and exited the room. Marc kept pace with her, and they walked toward Iain’s office.

Amelia saw them and rolled her eyes. “He’s in a mood. Coffee and breakfast are on the cart. Tell him I’ll be there in a sec.” Her blue gaze scanned Brynn’s face. “Don’t let him rattle you, sweetie.”

Brynn’s feet dragged her forward. Only Marc’s solid presence at her back kept her from skedaddling out of here.

Entering the office, Brynn’s gaze searched the room and found Iain sitting on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, his face a mask of irritation. “About time you two showed up. Let’s get on with this. Get Amelia in here to take notes.”

Marc walked to the cart and poured himself a cup of coffee. “Keep your hair on. She’ll be here in a mo.” His glance slid between Brynn and Iain. “You two having a tiff or wha’?”

Iain’s expression darkened. “Mind your own.” His eyes cut sharply to Brynn. “Going to stand there or have a seat? Or maybe you’ll just run. You’re so very good at it.”

Swallowing her discomfort, Brynn raised her chin in the air. This same man had tied her up last night. Had his tongue all over her,
in her
, just a couple of hours ago. If he ever wanted to do it again, he’d better shape up. She wasn’t going to take this shit from him. “I’m not going anywhere. And if you can’t put your personal grievances aside, perhaps we should table this meeting for another time when you aren’t feeling so emotional.” Shock flickered across his face as she strode forward, grabbed a napkin and a bagel, and dropped into a chair. From her bag, she dug out her notebook and a pen.

Iain leaned forward, elbows resting on his thighs. “I don’t get emotional, pet. That’s your department.”

Marc watched them, his head swiveling back and forth as if he were watching a tennis match.

“And yet,” she said calmly, “you’re the one who seems bad tempered this morning.”

“Can’t imagine why.”

Amelia walked into the room. “Iain, stop causing trouble.” She sat on the opposite end of the couch, her tablet and stylus at the ready. “I believe we’re discussing office morale?”

Her cool demeanor allowed Brynn to direct her energy toward the meeting. For the next thirty minutes, she threw out ideas, which Iain shot down, one by one. Exasperated but trying desperately to hide it, she placed her untouched bagel on the side table. “All right,” she said, “what are your suggestions? We want your employees to feel valued. You don’t like any of my ideas, so you must have a few of your own.”

“Cash. Cold, hard,
unemotional
cash,” he said. “If they make certain goals for the quarter, they get a bonus.”

“We’ve already discussed this,” Brynn said. “Several times, in fact. Money won’t change the environment in this office. Your attitude will.”

Marc sighed and rubbed his eyes. “For crying out loud. The two of you have obviously rowed, and frankly, I don’t have the patience to sit through this nonsense today. Amelia, let’s leave them to it.”

“Agreed.” She faced Brynn. “But I’m supposed to order lunch for the entire office?”

“Yes. They’re going to pick their delegates.”

Iain gazed out the window. “Bloody waste of time,” he muttered.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear that. Why don’t you speak up so that we all can partake of your wisdom?” Brynn wasn’t sure where this snarky mood was coming from, and she was too ticked off to care.

Iain glared at her from the corner of his eye. “I said, what a fucking waste of time.”

Marc stood and placed his cup back on the cart. “I’m out. Just shag you two, and get it over with. You’re driving me mental.”

Amelia stood as well, cutting a chic figure in her green dress. She placed her hand on Brynn’s shoulder as she passed.

Once they left, Brynn closed her book. “I’ll finish talking to your employees so that I can make more useless suggestions that you won’t follow. You’re right. This is a waste of time.” She rose but stiffened when Iain popped out of his seat.

“I don’t need your pity.”

“What?”

He skirted the coffee table as he moved toward her. “You pity me? What a laugh. You’re going to continue to live a pathetic little life where you blend into the background and try not to offend anyone.
I
feel sorry for
you
.”

Anger had her trembling. She raised a shaky finger and pointed it in his face. “I’ve told you what I want, but you’re too stubborn and rude to hear anything but your own yapping. My life may seem pathetic to you, but at least I have people who care about me. You’re going to die old and alone, having alienated every person who gives a damn about you.” She swung around and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Tears filled Brynn’s eyes as she hurried past desks and left the office.

Damn it, she hated everyone seeing her like this, hated being the center of attention—it was embarrassing. On top of that, she couldn’t just speed out of here. Because she’d left her car at work, Brynn was going to have to catch a taxi, and she’d rather walk than use Iain’s driver.

Iain Chapman can seriously blow me. What a dickhead.

* * *

As soon as she huffed out the door, Iain knew he’d made a howler. Amelia was in his office three seconds later to confirm it.

“What the hell is wrong with you?”

Hands on his hips, Iain stared down and watched the traffic. “If I knew the answer to that, I could avoid these delightful conversations.”

“First Marc, now you. Neither one of you know how to treat a woman. Didn’t I teach you anything?”

“If this morning’s fiasco was anything to go by, apparently not.”

“I was going to ask you to speak to Tyler, but you’re clearly not yourself.”

Iain turned. “What’s wrong with him?” At twelve, Tyler was smart and athletic, but he could be a bit rambunctious. “Getting into trouble at school, is he?”

“Yes. His grades have been slipping. Now, what’s going on with you and Brynn?”

“None of your business.” He walked forward and slammed the dice down on his desk. “She’s exasperating and wonderful, and I’m a dickhead.”

“So go apologize.”

Fuck that. He didn’t want to apologize. Brynn should be apologizing to him. Iain was successful—a self-made man. He had money and prestige. He didn’t need some wisp of a woman trying to change him. “I so appreciate the concern, I can’t even tell you. Why don’t you go help Marc now? He could use some of your sage advice.”

“Save the sarcasm. I’ll stay out of it. But if you lose that girl, you’re going to regret it. I see the way you look at her. The way she looks at you. Just think about swallowing your pride. For once.” She banged out of the office the same way Brynn had.

After several minutes, Iain forced himself to sit down and get to work. He had plans and bids and inspections to deal with. The row with Brynn would have to go on the back burner.

The problem was, every time he started to study the numbers, her words came back to him.
You’re going to die old and alone, having alienated every person who gives a damn about you.
He didn’t have anyone in his life except for Marc and Ames.
You could have had Brynn.

Pushing back from his desk, he stood, tugged on his waistcoat, and walked out of his office. “Is she in the conference room?”

“Nope.” Ames didn’t look up from her computer screen. “She’s gone.”

Panic shot through him. “Gone?” She’d run out on him
again
. Well, this was the last time. Iain’d had enough. “I’ll be out for a few. What time is Tyler coming?”

“Not until five. He has a soccer game after school.”

“Text me the address. I’ll be there.” He walked out and swept past the HR department. But before he made it to the door, Iain turned back. “James, what’s going on?”