“I swear. I’ll do anything for her.”
“I know.” She winked. “That’s what makes this so romantic.” She paused. “You do realize the favors I’ll have to owe people, the negotiations that will have to take place in order for this to fully work?”
Brock swallowed back his anxiety. “I do.”
“Well, I have been known to manipulate in my day…I guess this just means I’m back in the game.”
He suddenly had the sinking feeling that he’d re-created a monster.
“Your grandfather…”
“Leave him out of this,” Brock snapped.
“Hmm.” She merely stared at him. Hard. As if trying to figure him out. “You know, he isn’t as bad as he seems.”
Brock let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “I know, I just. I can’t lose her.”
The corners of her mouth worked into a bright smile. “Then leave it to me. Trust me to do what I do best.”
“And what’s that?”
“Why…” She winked. “Everything, of course.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
The auction was tomorrow.
Jane tried to ignore the pain in her chest.
Clearly, he was going through with it.
Without her.
Two days had passed and there’d been no word from Brock. She wanted to trust that he was dealing with it, but, really, part of her was already so depressed that she still hadn’t heard from him that all she wanted to do was sob into her ice cream and watch crap TV.
With a grimace she walked over to the freezer and pulled out some Rocky Road, then took a seat on the couch. After the fight with her sisters they’d come home, grabbed some of their things, and told her yet again not to wait up.
She was pretty sure they were still going to the auction.
Without her, unless she used the money that was burning a hole in her pocket to buy a ticket to the dinner.
She groaned.
Did she really have a choice?
Her own sisters were sacrificing everything to go.
They’d see Brock.
Brock.
Another groan escaped her lips. Why hadn’t he texted her?
Had he stood up to his grandfather?
Was he happy? Sad?
Why the hell did she care? She was sad. She was eating Rocky Road.
With a frustrated sigh she dug her spoon in.
And then.
Her doorbell rang.
“No!” she yelled. “Not more.” Probably because even though she was going crazy, the last thing she wanted was for another visit from the media. They’d been relentless all day, since it was the night before the auction.
The doorbell sounded again, then someone knocked so hard that she thought they’d break the door down. She shot up from the couch and stomped over to throw it open.
“Bentley?”
“Jane.” He smiled. He really did have a killer smile.
“Um? What are you doing here?”
“Getting your sizes, of course,” he said as he handed her a garment bag. “For some reason women keep leaving their clothes in my apartment. As if I’d invite them back. Ha. Anyway, let’s see if any of these fit.”
“Wait, what—”
“Trust me,” Bentley shrugged. “Can you do that?”
It was the same thing Brock had said to her.
“But Brock—”
“Trust him, too.” Bentley said gently, although his gaze was a bit harsh, as if he didn’t have the patience for her to argue with him. “Now, let’s get you out of those clothes.”
She jerked back and eyed him up and down. “Some things never change.”
“Shit.” Bentley rubbed his temples. “That came out wrong. What I meant was, let’s see if any of these fit. So we can figure out what kind of dress to get. Please?”
“For?” Jane rubbed her arms and stepped back into the house.
“Cinderella has to go to the ball, don’t you think?”
She shook her head. “Bentley, this is sweet, you’re sweet, but I haven’t heard from him in two days and, even though I have the money to buy a ticket….” Had she really lost trust in him that fast? When he swore he’d make things right?
“His phone was dead on day one and he’s been…advised.” Bentley chose his words carefully it seemed. “He’s not supposed to make actual contact with you until the right time. He’s working on a solution to this whole mess, believe me. And you’ve had the media camped outside your house for God knows how long. It’s a simple question, Jane. Do you trust him?”
She stared Bentley down. He seemed genuine, but oh how her heart hurt. “Yes,” She finally whispered. “I do.” Tears threatened again. “But the company, it’s everything to him, and not letting you guys down and his grandfather; don’t even get me started on that piece of work and—”