Obligation, page 12
Instant, fiery-hot rage sparked inside Bradley’s chest. “He left you here?” he said, his words tight and barely controlled.
The last thing he needed to do was blow up at her when she’d done nothing wrong. Every ounce of anger he had was aimed at Danny and no one else. He took a deep breath in an effort to calm himself.
Carissa nodded. “I was going to just walk back to campus,” she admitted quietly.
“The hell you are,” Bradley said a little harsher than he intended. “C’mon.” He wrapped his arm around her. “I’ll take you home.”
But rather than fall in step with him, she turned her body toward his, wrapped her arms around his waist, and buried her face against his chest. Then, she sobbed.
Without hesitation, he held her and let her cry until she was ready to let him go. He had no idea how long they stood there, but for him, it wasn’t nearly long enough. Not that he wanted her to keep crying, but he did want to keep her in his arms, to show her that he wouldn’t abandon her like Danny had.
He rubbed her back and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. In return, she tightened her hold on him. Sporadic droplets of rain fell from the sky and splattered on him. That explained why the bonfire ended so abruptly.
“C’mon, we should go before we get soaked,” he said softly.
Carissa nodded and eased away from him, her actions reluctant. “Okay,” she whispered and once again wiped her cheeks.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, tone full of concern.
She shrugged.
Clearly she didn’t want to talk about what happened. He’d respect that. They walked in silence to his car, the rain becoming steadier with each step they took. Bradley unlocked his car, opened the passenger door for Carissa, then raced around to get in behind the wheel. He closed his door a split second before the sky opened up and the rain poured down in a deluge.
He started the engine, cranked up the defrost, and turned his wipers on high. But he made no effort to leave. Not yet. Mostly because he wanted to wait out the rain for a few minutes, but also because he wanted to give Carissa a little more time to calm down.
After several long moments of silence, Bradley glanced at her. She had her head against the window, eyes closed. Something inside of him snapped at seeing so broken and sad. He wanted to strangle Danny for whatever he’d done to make Carissa feel that way.
“Tiffany went home with Garrett and Jeremy. They’re having an after party,” Bradley said and shifted the car into drive. “I have no idea if Danny’s there, but if you want to go…”
“No,” she said, opening her eyes and sitting up straighter.
“Okay.” He understood why she didn’t want to go, but he hated that he’d have to drop her off at her residence hall where she’d be alone again. He carefully drove away from the bonfire clearing and turned onto the main road.
“I don’t want to go home, either,” she said.
His ears rang, and he sliced a look at her. “Where do you want to go, then?”
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I don’t want to go to a party, but I don’t want to be alone. And I really don’t want to be anywhere Danny will find me.”
Bradley swallowed around the lump in his throat. His mind raced with possibilities of where to take her. They could go get food, hang out until she felt better. But if she didn’t want to go to a party, then she probably didn’t want to go anywhere public, either.
“Want me to take you to your parents?” he asked.
“And listen to my father lecture me about how he was right about Danny? No thanks.” She huffed. “I’m sorry. You can just take me back to campus. I’ll be fine.”
Panic seized him. He didn’t want to just drop her off somewhere. He might not get another opportunity to spend one-on-one time with her. Not that he expected anything to happen between them—he wouldn’t ever take advantage of her like that.
“Thought you didn’t want to be alone,” he said.
“I don’t.” She fidgeted with her hands.
Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. “Do you trust me?”
She turned to stare at him, confusion twisting her expression. “Yeah, I guess. Why?”
“If you want to get away from everything, I know a place we can go.” His heart pounded furiously. “My dad owns a penthouse in Phoenix. We’re only a few hours from there. It’s quiet, and no one will know you’re there.”
“Phoenix? As in, Arizona?” she asked.
“Yes.” He licked his lips, suddenly second guessing his idea. “If you don’t want to, I’ll totally understand. Just thought I’d offer.”
Carissa was silent, and Bradley waited to see what she’d say. He slowed his speed, unsure if he should prepare to make the upcoming turn toward campus or keep going straight for the highway.
“Okay,” she finally said. “Let’s go.”
Did she really just say yes? He couldn’t believe she’d agreed, but he wasn’t one to argue. Speeding up, he drove past the road that would lead to campus and headed for the highway.
He hadn’t been to the Phoenix penthouse in well over a year… not since the night his ex-girlfriend dumped him during what was supposed to be a romantic weekend. The place didn’t exactly hold a lot of warm, fuzzy memories for him, but hopefully he could change that by bringing Carissa there.
Granted, taking another man’s girlfriend to a penthouse Bradley had only ever used when he wanted time alone with a woman wasn’t his smartest idea. In fact, this was probably the worst idea in the history of bad ideas, but there was no going back now. Plus, he couldn’t stand how upset Carissa was, or how confused and lost she appeared.
She needed a safe place to regroup, and that was the least he could offer her. He’d be whatever she needed right now, including a shoulder to cry on. Biting his tongue about his true feelings toward Danny would be difficult, but for her sake, he’d try. He guessed the last thing she needed or wanted was someone ragging on her boyfriend.
“What were you doing wandering around in the woods?” she asked, yanking him from his thoughts.
“Huh?” He shook his head and tried to catch up with what she’d asked him.
“Back at the bonfire. It was over, and almost everyone was gone. But you were wandering around in the woods. Why?” She curled her legs onto the seat and sat cross-legged.
He winced, unsure if he should tell her the truth. “Honestly?” He glanced at her, brow raised.
She nodded. “Yeah, I’ve had enough lies to last me a lifetime. You can always tell me the truth, no matter how much you think it might hurt me.”
Adjusting his grip on the steering wheel, he blew out a breath. “I was looking for you.”
Carissa whipped her head around to stare at him with wide eyes. “Me? Why?”
“Because everyone else had left, and I hadn’t seen you since you took off after…” He frowned. “I hadn’t seen Danny’s SUV, either. I was worried.”
“Oh.” She averted her gaze and fidgeted with her hands in her lap. “Well, thanks.”
Bradley simply nodded, and they fell silent. The drive to the Phoenix penthouse would take a few hours, so he settled in for the drive. Prior to finding Carissa, he’d been tired, but now he was wide awake, his emotions wound tight. What would happen once they got to the penthouse?
Soft snores came from the passenger seat. Carissa once again had her head resting against the window, and her eyes were closed. Her chest rose and fell with even breaths. He smiled softly at how peaceful she looked in that moment.
But whatever momentary contentment he’d felt quickly vanished when an image of her sitting on the ground sobbing flashed in his mind. He flexed his fingers around the steering wheel and took a calming breath. How dare Danny leave her like that, especially with a broken phone? She’d had no way to call for help. Anything could’ve happened to her.
Carissa groaned and shifted positions, then she reclined the seat as far as it would go, never once opening her eyes. Bradley returned his attention to the road, but within seconds, his gaze drifted back to her.
He may not know her very well, but what he did know of her was incredible. She was beautiful—inside and out—had a killer sense of humor, a snarky streak a mile long. She was very obviously smart, too. And she had money, which meant she probably didn’t care about his. That was a refreshing thought after all he’d been through with his ex-girlfriend.
Whatever problems she had in her relationship with Danny, Bradley still couldn’t wrap his mind around the way Danny treated her. Constantly yelling and arguing. Calling her names. Accusing her of throwing tantrums. Letting her take off—or leaving her—without a flicker of concern for her safety.
What kind of man did that to the woman he claimed to love? Even when things had been the absolute worst between Bradley and his ex, he never once treated her poorly. Sure, he’d said things in anger that he later regretted, but he never once put her down or turned his back on her.
Carissa deserved to be with a guy who would treat her right, who would dote on her and make her feel special every second of every day for the rest of her life. Danny was not that guy.
But Bradley was.
And he could prove that to her. Doing so meant going against what he believed in, though. He’d told her he wouldn’t steal another man’s girl, but a guy like Danny needed to be taught a lesson. And losing a girl as amazing as Carissa would certainly teach a hard lesson.
Bradley picked up his speed. Regardless of how long they stayed at the penthouse, he was going to take advantage of every moment and prove to Carissa that he was the better man for her.
Chapter Seventeen
Carissa sat up and groaned. Her muscles were stiff, and her head throbbed. She put the seat upright, yawned, and glanced out the window. “Where are we?” she asked.
“About ten minutes from the penthouse,” Bradley said, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. “Feeling better?”
“Yes and no.” She laughed. “Your car is not very comfortable to sleep in.”
“Are you hungry? There’s a twenty-four hour diner not too far from the penthouse. We can grab something, if you want.”
She stretched her arms and twisted her neck to ease the ache. “Yeah, I’m actually starving. I haven’t eaten anything since I made that S’mores.” A quick glance at the clock on the dashboard indicated that had been almost five hours ago. Her stomach rumbled.
Bradley switched on his blinker and turned into a mostly desolate parking lot. A small mom-and-pop diner, complete with a fading sign and a patched roof came into view. He parked in an open spot near the front door, killed the engine, then hopped out.
Still groggy and slightly disoriented, she fumbled with her seat belt. A second later, Bradley opened her door an extended his hand. She stared at him in disbelief, but then she took his proffered hand and let him help her out of the car. Danny hadn’t done anything like that for her since their first date. Usually, she was scrambling out of his SUV and jogging to catch up with him because he’d take off without waiting for her.
“Thanks,” she said, her voice hoarse with sleepiness.
Bradley shut the door behind her, and together, they walked inside. The scent of fried foods, grease, and freshly baked bread greeted her, and her stomach grumbled again. She pressed her hand against her belly in an effort to make the rumbling stop, but the only thing that would help was food.
“Sit wherever ya like,” said a waitress from behind the counter. She poured a customer a cup of coffee, then disappeared into the back.
Resting his hand on the small of Carissa’s back, Bradley guided her toward a booth near the windows. She slid into the seat, and he did the same on the opposite side. Menus were tucked behind the napkin dispenser, so she grabbed one and flipped it open.
Hunger pangs aside, she had no idea what she was doing here with Bradley. Why on earth had she agreed to go to Phoenix with him? Was her need to not be alone stronger than her good sense? Apparently. She huffed and shook her head.
“Something wrong?” Bradley asked.
She peeked at him over the top of her menu. “No. Why?”
“You’re making angry noises at your menu.” His smile was teasing. “Did it do something to upset you?”
She rolled her eyes, unable to hide her smile. No way this wasn’t going to blow up in her face. She was already crazy attracted to Bradley, and the spark that constantly flickered between them was undeniable. And now she was going to his penthouse where she’d be completely alone with him. With her current feelings toward Danny being what they were… What the hell had she been thinking?
“What can I get for ya?” The waitress stood at their booth, order pad and pen in her hand.
Carissa hadn’t been paying attention to the menu, so she quickly glanced at the selections and chose the first thing she saw that she liked. “I’ll have the bacon cheeseburger. Deluxe, please, with fries and a soda.” She closed the menu and tucked it back where she’d found it.
“That sounds good. I’ll have the same,” Bradley said, smiling at the waitress.
“You betcha.” The waitress smiled, then sauntered off.
Carissa blew out a breath, stared out the window, and drummed her nails on the table. What was she supposed to say to Bradley? Better yet, how was she supposed to act around him now? She was totally out of her depth here.
“If you want, we can go to the mall tomorrow and see about getting your phone fixed,” he said, arms folded on the table.
The waitress returned. She set their drinks, straws, and wrapped silverware on the table, and then walked away again.
“Yeah, I’m going to have to.” She busied herself with peeling the wrapper off her straw and sticking it into her glass. “When we get to the penthouse, I might need to use your phone to check in with Tiffany. I don’t want her to worry.”
“Sure.” He leaned back, the picture of ease. “You can call whoever you want.”
She shifted in her seat. Was he implying she could—or should—call Danny, too? Because he was the very last person she wanted to talk to. In fact, letting him wonder and worry about where she was would serve him right for what he’d done.
“I’ll have to call my dad to tell him about my phone,” she said. Then, another thought suddenly struck her. “I don’t have any clothes with me, and these”—she glanced down at her jeans and shirt, both of which were dirty and sweat-stained—“do you happen to have a washer and dryer?”
“Yes, but my sister always has extra clothes at the penthouse. I’m sure you can wear something of hers until those are clean.” He nodded at her attire. “Or until you buy new clothes at the mall. Whichever you want.”
“Thanks.”
Before she could say anything else, their food arrived. The smell of meat and cheese and bacon wafted from her plate, and her mouth watered. Originally, she and Danny were going to grab food after the bonfire, then go back to his place for the night. That obviously didn’t work out.
Carissa snatched the ketchup and squirted a generous amount onto her plate. Swirling a fry in the ketchup, she popped the crispy potato into her mouth. Her eyes fluttered closed with satisfaction, and for the first time since Danny had shown up at the bonfire, her body relaxed—truly relaxed—as if her cells instinctively knew she was safe now. When was the last time she’d felt that way?
She glanced up just as Bradley dipped a fry in mustard and bit into it. She scrunched up her face. “Eww. Mustard, really?”
He laughed. “You shouldn’t yuck someone else’s yum. That’s rude.” He wagged his finger at her, his grin light and contagious.
“Whatever you say.” She shook her head, then mumbled, “Weirdo.”
A split second later, a French fry smacked her in the forehead. She jerked her head up, jaw open in disbelief. “Did you just throw food at me?”
“Maybe. What’re you going to do about it?” His voice was low and rough, a delicious mix of taunting playfulness.
“Oh, I’ll get even. That’s a promise.”
“Mm-hmm.” He took a large bite of his burger, his eyes dancing with humor, and if she weren’t mistaken, a dare, too. “So.” He wiped his mouth and took a sip of his soda. “How long do you want to stay here?”
She shrugged and pushed fries around on her plate. “I don’t know. Is there a time limit on this invitation?”
“Nope,” he said without a moment’s hesitation. “You can stay as long as you want. With or without me.” He met and held her gaze.
Carissa’s breath caught in her throat, and she reached for her drink, needing to dislodge the emotion choking her, and to cool her rising temperature. Bradley’s offer was generous and sweet, and she’d never be able to tell him how much this meant to her, but no way would she stay in his penthouse without him. That seemed… wrong, somehow.
“Is there any store or pharmacy open now?” she asked and tossed another fry in her mouth.
“I don’t think so. Why?”
“I need a few things. Toothbrush, hairbrush. You know, the necessities.” She lifted her burger from her plate. The thing was huge, and she had no idea how she was supposed to eat without making a mess.
“We have all that at the penthouse. Mom always keeps it stocked with extra stuff like that just in case any of us ever need to go there.” Bradley finished his burger and pushed his plate away. “And like I said, my sister always has clothes stashed there. Most of them have never been worn.”
She nodded, grateful she wouldn’t have to go into a store looking like she did. Thankfully, the diner was empty save for one customer at the counter, so she wasn’t too concerned right now. Besides, she was quickly running out of steam. The past two days had been non-stop, and then fighting with Danny tonight had drained her. The nap she’d had in Bradley’s car only made her more tired. She really just wanted to sleep.
They finished their food in silence. While Bradley paid the check, Carissa used the restroom. Her face was streaked with makeup, and her hair was a mess. She wetted paper towels and cleaned her face as best as she could; then she tamed her hair with her fingers. She wouldn’t win any beauty pageants, but she no longer looked like a hobo, either.
