Searching for Love: The Complete Story Read online

  When she was certain he hadn’t followed her, disappointment pulsed through her, surprising her in its intensity.

  You told him not to come, so why are you bummed that he did as you asked?

  With a frown, she shook her head and marched up the beach toward the Pacific Coast Highway.

  Brody watched Reese from a distance. Shortly after she had left, he had excused himself and made his way down to the beach. His only concern was to make sure she made it home safely. He had kept back quite a distance—with no one else on the beach, it was easy to keep her in sight. Now, as she crossed the wide-open beach and approached the PCH, he stayed where he was.

  If he were to go any farther, there would be no hiding from her view. With reluctance, he turned and headed home, and when he arrived, only Logan was there to greet him.

  At the questioning look on Brody’s face, Logan said, “I called a taxi to pick them up.”

  Brody couldn’t say he was unhappy they had left.

  “What’s up with you and Reese?” Logan asked as he sat on the couch across from Brody.

  Brody laughed. “What makes you think there’s anything up with us?”

  Logan rested his left ankle on his right knee as he leaned against the couch cushions. “She looked familiar. Where’d you meet her?”

  “She’s the girl who nearly drowned the other day.”

  Logan nodded. “Oh yeah. Okay, I remember.” Then his eyes narrowed. “How does she know where you live?”

  Brody filled his brother in on all that had happened with Reese.

  “Guess your charm isn’t working as well as usual,” Logan said with a laugh.

  “Guess not.” Brody frowned. “I wonder why she wanted to take pictures of us.”

  “You’re such an idiot,” Logan said, then shook his head. “She must’ve thought that’s what you wanted.” He leaned forward. “Look at it from her perspective. She shows up. You have people over. You invite her in—her and her camera.” He laughed. “Of course she thought you wanted her to play photographer.”

  “You’re right. I am an idiot.”

  Logan shook his head and laughed. “Yes you are.”

  Ten

  When Brody checked his email the next day, he found a message from Reese.

  I’ve attached the photos I thought were best. No payment necessary. Consider it a thank you for helping me when the waves took me down.

  Reese

  Brody stared at the message, trying to figure out a way to convince her to come over again. After several minutes, he pressed Reply.

  Thank you for the photos, but I was hoping we could look through them together. I have some modifications I’d like you to make, but I would prefer to discuss it in person.

  Brody

  He pressed Send, then pulled up his latest app project while he waited for her reply.

  The moment Brody’s reply hit her inbox, Reese opened it.

  “What kind of modification could he want?” she asked out loud. “I’m no Photoshop expert.” Then she frowned, irritated that he might expect her to do this for free. She had already given him the photos she had taken the night before. It had been bad enough that she had gone to his house expecting to be able to take pictures she could sell—and to spend time with him—and had found him on a date. But then she had squandered the magnificent sunset to take pictures of him with the blonde woman—and then had given him the pictures at no charge.

  I have to make a living too.

  She glanced toward her fridge, which was nearly empty, then had an idea. She pressed Reply.

  I have some time this afternoon. I’ll come over to discuss your modifications with you, but I’ll charge my usual hourly rate, which is $150.00 per hour. Let me know if that works for you.

  Reese

  With a smile, she pressed Send. She didn’t have a usual hourly rate, but if she was going to waste her time on this incredibly hot—and out of reach—man, she might as well get paid for it.

  When Reese responded so quickly, Brody was surprised but pleased.

  Is she only interested in me as a client now?

  Regardless, he immediately accepted her offer.

  “What modifications are you interested in?” Reese asked after she followed Brody into his living room that afternoon. She glanced towards the balcony, remembering how out of place she had felt the night before.

  “Please,” he said with a smile. “Have a seat.”

  She sat on the white couch, which had the best view of the ocean, while Brody sat on an adjacent white chair. She pulled her laptop out of her bag, logged in, then looked at Brody expectantly.

  “First of all,” Brody began, “I want to apologize for last night.”

  Confused, and more than a little annoyed that he was messing up her carefully constructed reason for being there, she said, “You realize the clock is ticking, don’t you?” She had no desire to rehash how stupid she felt for even showing up the night before. Looking at the pictures of Brody with the blonde woman had been like having a sharp fingernail digging at an old wound—a reminder that she would never be the type of woman he would invite over as a guest. Especially if he knew how opposite she was from him. She definitely came from the wrong side of the tracks, and she was certain if he knew that, he would lose any bit of interest he had.

  He gazed at her a moment. “Yes. I’m fine with that.”

  Of course he is. Money’s not an issue for him. A soft sigh escaped her lips. “Okay.”

  “Like I was starting to say,” he continued, “last night I hadn’t been expecting you.”

  Clearly. And I wish I hadn’t dropped by.

  He smiled. “I’d meant it when I said you could take pictures of the sunset from my balcony.”

  Not sure why he was bringing that up, Reese wanted to get the meeting back on track. “Why don’t we talk about the modifications you’d like?” She turned her laptop so he could see the screen. One of the pictures of Brody, Logan, Trinity, and Rochelle was visible. “This one, for example,” she said as she tapped the screen. “Is there something here you’d like to change?”

  She saw Brody barely glance at the image on her laptop before he focused on her. “I can’t see it very well from here,” he said. “May I sit beside you?”

  Torn between wanting to get this meeting over with, and wanting to get closer to him and his penetrating blue-green eyes, she slowly nodded. “Okay.”

  He stood, and she moved over to make room. A moment later he sat beside her, their thighs nearly touching. With the computer on her lap, she angled it so they could both see it.

  This was the closest he had been to Reese since he had met her, and he liked it. A subtle floral scent reached his nose, and he wanted to lean closer to her, to breathe in all of her unique scents.

  “That picture’s fine,” he murmured.

  She scrolled to another one and he said it was fine as well. They went through several images this way, until they reached one of him and Trinity by themselves. Trinity was smiling at Brody and he was gazing at the camera—at Reese.

  “Stop,” he said.

  Reese looked at him out of the corner of her eye, trying to ignore his alluring masculinity. “What’s wrong with this one?”

  Brody leaned slightly toward the screen, then outlined Trinity’s head with his finger. “I want this changed.”

  “What?” Reese pulled back and looked at him, unsure what he was asking.

  He turned and looked at her, and something in his expression made her breath catch.

  “I want her replaced,” he said with a half-smile.

  “Replaced?”

  He nodded. “That’s right.” He paused. “Do you know how to use Photoshop?”

  Certain she wouldn’t be able to give him what he wanted, she said, “Not very well.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  Maybe I can do it. I could try at least. “What do you want to replace it with?”

  His head cocked. “With you.”

&
nbsp; Reese’s heart stuttered. What is he saying? “I don’t understand.”

  “Reese, I want you in that picture. Not her.”

  This doesn’t make sense at all. “Then why did you have me take the pictures in the first place?”

  His mouth curved into an amused smile. “Logan showed up unexpectedly with those two women last night. I don’t know them—and I don’t care to.”

  This was the last thing she expected, and she didn’t know what to say, what to do.

  “When I saw you on the beach,” he continued, “I wanted to send my brother and his friends away . . .” His words trailed off.

  Oh. “But that would’ve been rude,” she said, completing his thought.

  He nodded. “They’d only been there for a short while.”

  “Okay.” But where did that leave things? That didn’t change their different circumstances, their unsuitability for each other.

  “I never wanted you to take pictures of us, Reese.”

  Now she felt even more stupid for what had happened the night before. She had acted inappropriately and had looked like a fool. Blood rushed to her face. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come back with you.”

  Eleven

  Brody could see he wasn’t explaining himself at all. He could tell she thought she had done something wrong, when it had been him who had made the mistake.

  “No,” he said. “That’s not what I’m saying.”

  The blush on her cheeks charmed him. It wasn’t often the women he met felt embarrassed about anything. They were all so sure of themselves—he was usually the one who felt like an oaf. Well, he felt like one now, but that had nothing to do with Reese doing anything wrong and everything to do with him being an idiot.

  “What I’m trying to say,” he said with a smile, “is that I want you to be here. If you want to take pictures too, that’s fine. But mostly I want to enjoy your company and get to know you.”

  Her soft brown eyes met his and he felt a powerful need to protect her, to shield her from hurt and harm.

  And right now he wanted to kiss that luscious mouth. His gaze fell to her full lips, then rose to her eyes. She didn’t seem to have a clue as to the effect she was having on him, and he liked that. Again, he wondered about her life—what experiences had shaped her into the person she had become? Could he mend the hurt he saw in her eyes? Could she mend the tear in his heart?

  The striking blue-green of his eyes drew Reese in. It was as if she could see into his soul and she found herself becoming lost in the depths of those eyes.

  He wants me here? He wants to get to know me? Joy swept over her, but after only a moment it was replaced by panic. That would be a mistake. Eventually he’d tire of me and realize I’m not right for him, that my background is a liability. Just like my ex-husband did.

  She thought about Josh, the man who had been her high school sweetheart, and then her husband. They had been so much in love. As least until he had met someone else. Someone he said would be better for his new career. How would it look, he had asked, to have a wife who’s father is in prison? And a mother who is a drunk? No, he had told her. It was time for him to move on. Besides, he had said, he didn’t love her anymore. They had married too young. They hadn’t known what they were getting into. He had made a mistake. He loved someone else now.

  The memory assaulted Reese, making her heart ache as if he had said the words to her only that morning. It had only been a matter of months since the divorce had become final, but that didn’t matter. Her soul was still tender, and she knew it was up to her to protect herself, to keep a safe distance from Brody.

  “So you don’t actually need me to make any changes?” she asked as she scooted several inches away from Brody.

  It was obvious he had gone about this the wrong way. He had thought he was being clever, but obviously Reese didn’t find it funny. At all. She had physically moved away from him.

  Am I so repugnant? Do I reek of shallowness? Out with one woman one night, then hitting on another woman—the same woman who saw me with Trinity—the very next day? Using the very photos Reese took of me and Trinity to woo her? What is wrong with me?

  “I’m sorry, Reese.”

  “You’re wasting my time,” she said as she snapped her laptop closed and slid it into her bag. A moment later she stood. “I have actual work to do.”

  She’s leaving. And she’ll never come back. Why would she? I have her email address, but I have no idea where she lives. I don’t know anything about her.

  Brody jumped up from the couch. “Wait.”

  She gazed at him steadily, as if she was trying to read his intent.

  “Please.” He wasn’t used to begging, but there was just something about her. “Let me make it up to you.”

  Reese didn’t really want to leave—and she had no work waiting for her. But Brody’s magnetism was dragging her toward him, and to keep the walls around her heart intact, she had to put distance between them.

  “What did you have in mind?” she heard herself ask.

  He smiled, and the blue-green of his eyes intensified. “Let me make you dinner tonight.”

  Reese pictured the inside of her refrigerator and felt her stomach rumble. Don’t do it, Reese. Don’t do it. “I suppose that would be all right.” What are you doing?

  His smile grew. “Fantastic. How’s six?”

  She nodded, all the while digging her nails into the palms of her hands. I’ve got to get out of here before I commit to something else. She turned toward the door.

  “I’ll see you then,” Brody said.

  With a last smile at the man she was finding harder to resist, Reese walked to the door and let herself out, then after making her way to the beach below, she began scolding herself.

  What do you think you’re doing? Do you want to have your heart crushed? You know he’s all wrong for you, so why start this? You’re supposed to be letting yourself heal from Josh’s treachery, not opening yourself up to a potential new assault.

  With a shake of her head, Reese continued walking, glancing at the people who were enjoying the beautiful spring day.

  Why can’t you just be happy taking pictures and living your simple life? Why do you have to complicate it with a gorgeous man like Brody?

  She gazed at the ocean as she walked down the beach.

  Maybe he’s different. He’s not Josh, after all. Maybe I should give him a chance.

  She weighed the pros and cons of spending any more time with Brody, and as she unlocked her RV and climbed inside, she considered emailing him and canceling their dinner date. She didn’t owe him anything. But when she pulled up her email account and saw an email from her older brother, she immediately forgot about Brody.

  Twelve

  Reese read the email from Seth—the only person on her family tree who she cared about. He was in the military and he didn’t email often, so she was always excited to hear from him.

  Hey sis - How’s it going? Your last email said you were headed to California. Are you there now? How do you like living in an RV? I can’t imagine it’s much different from the places we lived growing up, except now you get to pick where you park, which is so much better.

  She smiled at his reference to their chaotic childhood, glad there was one person in her life who truly understood her—who knew exactly what she had been through, yet still loved her. She adored her older brother, and as she read through the small bits of information he could share about where he was—somewhere in the Middle East—she was grateful to know she could always count on him.

  She read the last paragraph with tears in her eyes.

  I hope things are going well for you, sis. I know you don’t like it, but I’m going to keep depositing money in your account each month. You claim you don’t need it, but it makes me feel better to know you have it.

  Take lots of pictures, and when I see you next, I expect a full report.

  Love you!

  Seth

  Reese immediately wro
te him back, telling him that everything was great, that she was loving life in her RV, and that she was happier than she had been in a long time. So what if that wasn’t strictly true? He didn’t need to know. There was nothing he could do about it, so why make him worry? She added a heartfelt thanks for the money, and though she once again told him it wasn’t necessary, the truth was, it made a big difference.

  Eventually I’ll earn enough from my photography that I really won’t need his help.

  She was eager for that day to arrive.

  She sent the email, then pulled up the pictures of Brody as she debated whether or not to cancel. She zoomed in on his face and remembered how pleased he had seemed when she had said she would come to dinner.

  That’s right, Reese. You promised you’d come. Who do you want to be like? Dad and Mom who don’t know the meaning of a promise? Or like Seth, who always keeps his word?

  Not wanting to decide just then, Reese closed her laptop, grabbed her camera, and headed outside, deciding to make up her mind later.

  “I hope she likes salmon,” Brody murmured to himself as he put the finishing touches on dinner, and when it was nearly six, he set the table on the balcony. Anxious that Reese come, Brody’s gaze strayed to the beach as he watched for her approach.

  When he had invited her, he had sensed her reluctance and now he hoped she wouldn’t bail on him. If she did, he didn’t know what he could do, and wondered if he would have to give up.

  He turned the salmon on the barbecue, then looked at the beach again, and when he saw her walking in his direction, a smile of pleasure curved his mouth.

  She actually came.

  Finishing his task, he kept an eye on her progress, and when she began ascending the stairs, he went to the door and met her at the top.