Forbidden Kiss (Carson Cove Scandals 1)

A few of the people that had previously ignored us in the bar area took notice when we started walking towards the door—and I heard a few whispers. It would have probably been better if I had left on my own, but I was supposed to be his date for the evening—as far as Alexis Devereaux was concerned. A few rumors might be enough to keep her far away from Bryant. It wasn’t like anyone there knew who I really was—I didn’t have a name that carried any weight in Carson Cove. I went to school with some of their kids, but most of them ignored me too. I wouldn’t have been able to match the family trees together if they were standing in front of me—and I preferred it that way.

“That’s my car.” I pointed at the Toyota Corolla, which stood out like a sore thumb amongst the luxurious cars that surrounded it.

“Should I pick you up, or will you meet me there?” Bryant turned towards me once I got to my car.

“I’m sorry—what?” I nearly dropped my keys as I pulled them out of my purse and hit the button to unlock my door.

“The auction.” He tilted his head with an expression on his face that indicated I should have known what he meant without needing an explanation.

“I’m not going to the auction.” I quickly shook my head back and forth. “I won a raffle ticket to come to the art show—the auction is for people who actually intend to bid on those masterpieces.”

“People who plan to bid…” He nodded. “…and their dates.”

“I wasn’t really your date.” I looked down and felt my face get warm—I was definitely blushing.

“You are now,” he chuckled under his breath. “Alexis will be at the auction, and I could use the back-up.”

“I think you can handle her on your own.” I looked up at him, and a half-smile formed on the edge of my lips. “You already know that she’s just after you for your money.”

I would prefer not to be on her radar—I’ve heard that everyone who crosses her regrets it. Maybe I should have thought about that before I introduced myself…

“Why risk it?” He shrugged. “Especially when I could have someone as beautiful as you on my arm the entire night.”

Beautiful? Me? Surely, he’s just being nice…

“You really want me to go?” I raised my eyebrows and studied his expression.

“Absolutely.” His response came without a hint of hesitation. “I promise you’ll have fun.”

“Okay…” I nodded. “I definitely don’t have anything going on that night.”

Or any other night—unless I have an assignment for school that I need to work on.

“Then it’s settled. I’ll pick you up at six.” He leaned forward and opened my door—he was so close to me that I could feel the heat resonating from his body.

“Six…” I repeated what he said for no reason at all—and then quickly sat down in my car.

I just agreed to be his date for the auction. I should have declined—I could have done it politely.

Bryant waited until I was seated and then pushed the door closed. He gave me a slight nod—and then started walking towards his car. I tried to process what had just transpired as I cranked up my car and put it in drive. I never expected a man like him to call me beautiful—that was for damn sure. I reminded myself more than once that he was Victoria’s father as I drove towards my subdivision—there was no way anything could ever happen between us. I had a crush on him when I was younger, but it was harmless—I never expected him to see me as anything more than a teenage girl that was friends with his daughter. I wasn’t a teenager anymore, but Victoria was still my best friend. It didn’t matter if my heart raced when Bryant looked at me—or my stomach twisted into a knot when he called me beautiful—he was totally off-limits. Nothing could change that.

I’ll be his date for the auction, but that’s it. Once it’s over, I’ll go back to being the normal girl I’ve always been—the girl that doesn’t exist in the world of the privileged.

Chapter Four

Bryant

Two hours later

I needed to be in bed—not sitting in my living room, enjoying another glass of Scotch while I tried to sort through the events of the evening in my head. The people that worked for me had Sunday off, but I didn’t really get a day to completely shut myself off from Benson Enterprises. There was always something that needed my attention. I might have cut myself a break if I was sitting on my couch thinking about work, but that wasn’t the case. I was thinking about Alexis Devereaux—and the beautiful Taylor that made Alexis seethe.

It was quite satisfying to see Alexis get knocked off her pedestal and storm out of the art show. She wasn’t the kind of woman that just accepted defeat though, and I knew she was already planning her revenge. Taylor wasn’t from one of the so-called privileged families in Carson Cove, so there wasn’t much that Alexis could do to her if she felt like she had been insulted.

Even if she could—I wouldn’t let her.

There was something about Taylor that drew me in like I was a moth circling a flame—and I was going to get burned if I let my thoughts get out of control. Taylor was all grown up. She wasn’t a kid anymore. She was always pretty, but I never saw her as anything more than my daughter’s best friend. I certainly wasn’t attracted to her back then—but the years had been kind to her, while they were cruel to me. The last time I saw Taylor, she was walking across the stage to get her high school diploma—while the woman I loved was clapping alongside me. I had no idea that it would be the last event we attended together as husband and wife. I certainly didn’t realize that I was weeks away from hurling my wedding band into Carson Bay.

Now the memories are just fucking with me. I’m going to bed.