Alphas & Fairytales: A New Year's Eve Anthology Read online

  Brick wasn’t a guy who was used to being refused. By anyone. Anger flashed hot in his eyes. “Then at least have the decency to tell me why you left me.”

  I shook my head and drew in a deep breath. “You know exactly why I left.”

  He straightened and gave me a stern look. “Damn it, tell me.”

  My eyes widened at his caustic tone, and I crossed my arms. “Screw you, Brick. I don’t owe you a damn thing.”

  He leaned closer, lowering his voice, probably to keep anyone else from hearing him. “The fuck you don’t. If you want to break off our engagement, then I think it’s only fair that you explain why.”

  “What do you mean ‘if I want to break off our engagement’? I already did, remember? And stop pretending like you don’t know why I left.”

  “I don’t know. Damn it, Addison. I thought everything was okay between us. We were content.”

  I rolled my eyes. “You shrewd bastard! Of course you were content. You had your cake and were eating it too.”

  His eyes crinkled in confusion. “I don’t know what that hell that even means. But I want an answer to my question. Now.” Brick’s hands clenched at his sides, the usual signal that he’d had enough of my temper.

  Well, that was just too damn bad. “Why don’t you go find someone else to take back to your room and just leave me the hell alone?”

  “Fine, I will.” He started to walk away, but then stopped and glanced back. “You just remember one thing, Addy. You quit on us. Not me.”

  Chapter 3

  God, I felt cold and numb.

  I couldn’t believe he’d said that to me. How Brick could look me in the eyes and imply that it was all my fault that we’d broken up was beyond fathomable. It only punctuated the sting I’d already felt from his betrayal.

  Maybe to him having sex with his secretary was just a casual work affair. But I wasn’t the type to stay with a man who slept around. And as far as I was concerned, there were no such things as accidents when it came to sex. It wasn’t possible for a guy to fall and accidentally slip his dick into a woman. It was a deliberate decision between two people. And not only had Brick made the wrong one, but he would be held accountable for it.

  I refuse to marry a man who wasn’t going to stay faithful to his wife. No matter how much I loved him and missed having him in my life, I couldn’t be with a man I wasn’t able to trust. Thank God I’d collected my common sense and gotten away from him so I could think clearly again. After bowing out of our engagement, Brick hadn’t worried about winning me back. So why the hell was he trying so hard tonight?

  When I caught sight of Brick up ahead, I quickly ducked to the left and merged into a large crowd, weaving my way through the guests to get to the back of the ballroom. My mind was still on Brick and what he’d said to me, but I hoped I’d taken care of that situation. At least for the time being. If I could just avoid him for a few more hours, I’d be home free.

  “Oh, hello again,” a woman said from behind me. “Addy, right?”

  It was Margaret, the charismatic older woman who I’d spoken to earlier in the evening while Brick had been otherwise occupied by her husband, Bill Shanklin. I offered her a pleasant smile, though it was hard to put any real feeling into it after my recent encounter with Brick. “Hello, Margaret. Are you enjoying your evening?”

  “Yes, I’m having the time of my life, actually. All thanks to you, of course.” A delightful smirk tugged at her painted lips. “I’ve been watching you and Brick dance around each other all evening, and it’s been wonderfully entertaining.”

  I laughed. “Well, I’m glad you think so. I, on the other hand, might have a slightly different opinion.”

  “Oh, but you two make such a perfect couple.”

  I shrugged. “We used to. But not anymore.”

  “I don’t know. The way that man looks at you? I have a feeling there is still some unresolved feelings between the two of you. Perhaps there’s a reconciliation on the horizon?”

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  She smiled, anyway. “May I ask you a personal question?”

  I hesitated but figured what the hell. “Sure.”

  Margaret gazed at me inquisitively. “Do you still love him?”

  “Can I be blunt with you?” I asked, biting my lip.

  “Of course, dear.” She smiled, showing off her pearly whites. “It’s exactly the way I prefer things to be. Always.”

  I glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was listening in, and then leaned toward her. “Then yes,” I whispered. “I love Brick. But I can’t be with someone who can’t keep his dick in his pants.”

  The shocked look on her face instantly made me regret saying anything. Clearly stunned, Margaret blinked rapidly, and her limbs stiffened. I wasn’t sure if she was even going to respond to what I’d said to her.

  Thankfully she finally did. “My goodness. I’m so sorry to hear that. I never took Brick for the cheating type. He’s seems so…steadfast. My husband has known him for years and thinks very highly of him.”

  “I’m sorry, too. I probably shouldn’t have said anything.” Disgusted and disappointed with myself, my nose wrinkled. “I’ve been keeping that to myself for the past two weeks, and you’re just so easy to talk to. I forgot your husband has business relations with Brick. Please forget I said anything. The last thing I ever meant to do was badmouth him to anyone.”

  Margaret took a deep breath. “It’s understandable. You’re upset. Besides, my first husband cheated on me, and I know how exactly how you feel.” She continued to stare at me, and I could almost hear the gears grinding in her head. “I like you, Addy.”

  “Thanks, Margaret. I like you too.”

  “Good. I was hoping you’d say that,” she said with a smile. The woman opened her small gold clutch which matched her dress perfectly and pulled out a business card, thrusting it in my direction. “I want you to call my office first thing on Monday and set up a meeting with my secretary.”

  She wants to keep in touch? “Okay,” I said, unable to stop the curiosity from tainting my voice.

  And she must’ve noticed since she giggled. “I’m looking for someone to maintain my portfolio and invest my assets. I think you would be the perfect person for the job.”

  I blinked at her. “But isn’t that what Brick does for you and your husband?”

  “No. He solely works for my husband with Vanderwood. But I have my own money and stocks that I would like to diversify.”

  “I appreciate the offer, Margaret. I really do. But I…well, I don’t think I’m the right person for the job. Brick has way more experience than I do. Your investments would be safer in his hands.”

  She smiled. “Dear, you just confirmed that you’re exactly the person I want watching over my accounts. You’re honest and forthcoming, which is exactly what I was looking for.” Margaret pressed the business card into my hand. “I’ll be expecting your call.”

  Then she flitted away before I even had a chance to thank her.

  I stared at the card in my hand and shook my head. Had all of that really just happened? After pissing Robert off and losing the Largo account earlier in the evening, I was sure that I would be looking for a new job by Monday. But now... Without even trying, I’d somehow just landed the biggest account of my career.

  Feeling like I needed to properly thank Margaret for the opportunity, I glanced up to see if I could spot her. But instead, I caught a glimpse of Brick’s assistant walking my direction. I turned sideways and lowered my head, letting a tall guy standing next to me block my petite frame as I waited for her to pass. But she’d apparently run into a friend of hers that was strolling by at the same time, and Courtney let out an animated squeal.

  I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop on their conversation, but they were standing directly behind me and taking their sweet-ass time about moving on. Most of their conversation was pretty uneventful. They’d exchanged pleasantries and talked about the MMA fight and how hot the f
ight winner, Gavin “The Ripper” Jones, was.

  Then Courtney said something I hadn’t expected.

  Chapter 4

  I walked through the ballroom in a daze.

  Sadly, I couldn’t even recall which direction I came from or where I was heading. I just needed to get away from Brick’s assistant as quickly as possible so I didn’t have to listen to another word that popped out of Courtney’s mouth.

  My shoulders tensed, my body went taut, and the only way to describe my mood was somber. I was acutely aware that I was about to burst into tears and needed to retire to my room before I did so that I didn’t cause a scene. Otherwise, I would probably end up on the floor in front of a crowd of people, sobbing madly while they all stared at me in horror.

  Up ahead, Brick sat at a table that he had claimed solely to himself and was drumming his fingers impatiently on the top of it, as if he were waiting for someone. The moment our eyes met, mine filled with tears, and he surged to his feet to come toward me. But the last thing I wanted to do was talk to him right now.

  So I bolted out a side exit nearby and ran the entire length of the long corridor to get to the elevators. It dinged and the doors flew open. I rushed inside, hitting the button for my floor and then tapping the “close door” button repeatedly.

  “Addy!” Glancing up, I saw Brick coming after me, running the same hallway to try and get to me before the elevator doors closed. “Damn it, Addison! Wait!”

  My palms sweated. I should’ve known he wasn’t going to let me go that easy. Brick always loved a challenge. But thankfully, the doors slid shut a second before he arrived.

  He cursed violently and punched the outside of the metal door. I’d never seen Brick lose his cool before. Not completely. Not like this. He’d exploded down the hallway, and the fury flashing in his eyes looked like something that had come from the dark depths of his soul.

  My heart hammered against my ribs, and my stomach churned with anticipation. Because the next time I came face to face with Brick, something told me it wasn’t going to be pretty. But for now, I’d lost him. Or so I thought. Because when the elevator doors opened on my floor, a panting man was there waiting for me.

  Wrapping a strong arm around my waist, Brick tugged me out of the elevator. “We’re going to talk,” he commanded in a low voice. “The only question is whether we do it here or somewhere a little more private. It’s up to you.”

  I don’t know how he’d gotten there so fast, or how the hell he knew which floor my room was on. But he had me at a disadvantage, and we both knew it. So I pulled out my key card and handed it to him. With a tender smile, he nestled me against his muscular frame and led me down to my room, swiping the card in the door and shoving it open.

  Once inside, he released his hold on me and regarded me somberly. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

  My lips parted but no words came out. Pain twisted the knot in my stomach, and my eyes again filled with tears. The anguish I felt had me weak and vulnerable.

  “Why are you crying?” he asked, confusion and concern lighting his voice.

  Again, I didn’t answer him. Instead, I closed my eyes in pain.

  He made an impatient sound in the back of his throat. “Addison.”

  “W-what do you want from me?”

  “The same damn thing I’ve always wanted since the first day I met you. Your heart.”

  I once again forced images out of my head that I didn’t want to see. “No.”

  “Yes. I want to be with you. And I know you want to be with me, too. Just stop pushing me away so I can make you happy. I’m crazy in love with you and I want to marry you.”

  Every word was like a sucker punch in the face. “No. I said no.”

  “That seems to be your stock answer for everything. Then tell me why. What the hell did I do that has you this upset?”

  Resentment exploded through me like a hot bullet to the brain, and the words fell from my lips before I could stop them. “Congratulations. You’re going to be a father.”

  Brick blinked rapidly. “You’re pregnant?”

  “No. Not me. Courtney is.”

  “Courtney, as in my assistant?” Brick’s mouth flattened into a grim line. “Uh, why exactly would that make me a father?”

  “Because you’re sleeping with her,” I said abruptly.

  Temper flared in his eyes, but he somehow managed to control the volume of his voice. “The fuck I am. I haven’t slept with anyone else since well before our first date.”

  “Don’t lie to me.”

  “Addison, you know me well enough to know that I’m not a liar. What in the world would make you think that I’ve been sleeping with my assistant?”

  “Well, for starters, she’s always around, always answering your phone, and always going to all of these business meetings of yours. I’m pretty sure she sees you more than I ever did.”

  “Addy, that’s her job. She can’t assistant me if she’s not with me. I pay her to be on top of things and she’s good at what she does.”

  “If she’s handling everything, then how come every time I call, you’re always unavailable or in a meeting?”

  He sighed. “I’m a businessman. I have lots of meetings. Sue me.”

  “Don’t try to convince me that something isn’t going on. You bought her a fucking dress, Brick. And not even just any dress, but a designer evening gown that cost fifteen hundred dollars. Don’t tell me you do that for all of your other employees.”

  “No, I don’t. But that’s because they’re not the ones who have to attend the required formal business functions with me like Courtney does. She can’t afford that kind of a dress and I wasn’t going to buy her a cheap one when she’s going to be surrounded by a lot of high-profile women who would know the difference. I didn’t want to embarrass her.” He shook his head. “But it wasn’t a secret. I put the receipt in my briefcase so I could tell you, but it disappeared and I forgot all about it.”

  “I…um, have it. I found it in the side of your briefcase and thought you were hiding it from me. But what about how you let her pick out my engagement ring? Why would you do such a thing?”

  “I don’t know what you’re even talking about. Courtney didn’t pick out your ring. I did. And I was alone when I did it. My assistant wasn’t even with me that day.”

  “Then how the hell did she know what it looked like before I even showed it to her?”

  “I ordered the ring and when it came in, I was in an important meeting. So I had Courtney pick up the ring from the jeweler’s because I planned to propose to you that night. But she didn’t even look at it. She just brought it to me like I’d asked. I was so proud of your ring; I’m the one that gave her a sneak peek.”

  “Then explain this,” I told him, eyeing him warily. “The day I left you, I called your cell phone. Courtney answered it and was giggling and said you were in the shower. And don’t try to tell me you weren’t there because I could hear water running and you were singing in the background.”

  He wore a wry smile. “You’re right. I was there…along with several other people. Our sprinkler system outside the building malfunctioned and went off for no apparent reason when we were coming back from a meeting. We got soaked on the front lawn.”

  “But…what about earlier tonight? I saw you whisper something into her ear.”

  “Baby, it’s a silent auction. I can’t just shout out my bid for others to hear. Otherwise, they’ll outbid me. But Courtney only came tonight to handle all of the charitable donations for me because she knew you would be here and it might be my last chance to win you back.”

  “So you aren’t sleeping with her or anyone else for that matter?”

  He shook his head. “I wouldn’t do that to you, baby.”

  Guilt and embarrassment were dueling swords, wreaking havoc inside me. I ran a hand over my face. “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe this. I feel like such a damn fool.”

  “No, it’s okay. I’m just glad we go
t all of this figured out. You had me really worried that I had lost you forever. When I walked in and found the ring with your note… God, I didn’t know what to do, Addy. It gutted me.”

  I shook my head. “But you didn’t do anything. That’s part of why I thought I was right about all of it. I left and you didn’t seem to care.”

  “No, sweetheart. That isn’t true at all. For you to do something so drastic, I knew you were really upset by something I’d done. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I was just letting you have some time to cool off. Two weeks was my limit, and it was the most miserable two weeks I’ve ever had. I knew you would be here tonight, and I came to win you back. I wasn’t spending another night without you. I love you, sweetheart.”

  My eyes misted over. “I love you, too.”

  Brick pulled the engagement ring out of his pocket. “Then let me put this back on your finger and don’t you ever take it off again.” He slipped the ring back into place, then took me into his arms and bent his head, covering my mouth with his. His fingers dug into my waist, pulling me into a long, hard ridge rising in his pants. “God, baby, I missed you.”

  “I missed you, too. I couldn’t stand the thought of you being with someone else.”

  “I’m yours. All yours,” he rasped against my throat. “Baby, I need to feel you under me. It’s been too long.”

  He found the zipper on my dress and lowered it, his hands moving down my naked back, while I loosened his collar and unbuttoned his dress shirt. Brick slid out of his jacket and let the shirt fall off his shoulders as well. I reached for the button on his pants and quickly opened them, shoving my hand inside. My fingers grasped his length, giving it a gentle tug as he thrust into my hand. He kissed me again as he dropped my dress to the floor.

  Brick backed me toward the bed until my legs touched it, then he gave me a little shove to make me fall back. He slid my silky panties down my legs and dropped to his knees in front of me. Licking his lips, he found me with his mouth. I writhed against him, whimpering as the pressure inside of me built higher and higher. I gasped his name, panting heavily until I thought I couldn’t stand it anymore. But before I could explode, Brick stopped and pulled back.