Priceless (Forbidden Men #8)(59)

Then Brandt’s words from the night before wavered through me. I’d do anything for you. I just can’t do this.

What the hell did I not know?

He had looked so vulnerable and lost. I couldn’t...no, I wasn’t going to listen to Colton and put Brandt through that again.

Except his brother said, “Please. If you have ever loved him, you’ll try. Just one more time.”

I closed my eyes. If Colton knew what Brandt’s secret was and was this determined that I help him break through whatever was keeping us apart, then...

“Okay,” I whispered, unable to believe I’d just agreed to this. “Maybe one more time.”

“Great.” Colton released my arm with a grin. “You won’t regret it, and I promise you, Brandt will appreciate it too. In fact...damn, I have an idea. Wait just one second.”

He stood, dug into his pocket, and pulled out a cell phone. After dialing, he pressed it to his ear and walked a few steps away so he could talk more confidentially to whoever was on the other end of the line. Then he hung up and strolled back to me, grinning.

“It’s all set up,” he announced. “This Saturday, you are to meet your contact at two p.m. sharp by the entrance of Victoria’s Secret at the mall, got it?”

“My...contact?”

He grinned and ruffled my hair. “Trust me.” With a glance at the time on his phone, he winced. “Damn. I have to meet with my advisor now.” Glancing up, he sent me a thumbs-up. “Good luck. See you on Saturday.”

“I...wait! What exactly is happening on Saturday?”

Instead of answering, he waved over his shoulder and kept hurrying away.

I frowned after him, suddenly very worried about what I’d just agreed to.





SARAH




When Saturday came around, I didn’t tell Reese or Mason where I was going, because I was sure Mason wouldn’t approve of anything to do with me possibly losing my v-card, and well...mostly because I wasn’t all that sure where I was going...or what I was doing. I still had no idea who I was meeting or where they’d end up taking me from there. I hoped my “contact” knew who I was because...yeah, I was clueless who they were, and honestly, I was completely uncertain about any of this.

Brandt had told me no, and he’d really meant it. I should respect that.

But Colton had texted me a message this morning, reminding me and assuring me everything would work out. I had no idea why I was trusting a seventeen-year-old who couldn’t even bother to stay home when he’d been grounded. But he seemed so sure of his idea, and I wasn’t sure of anything, so...I went with it.

Hopefully Colton’s instincts were better than mine and this wasn’t the stupidest thing I ever did.

I told my family I was going to the school library and took off in my SUV in the opposite direction as the campus. As soon as I reached the mall, my stomach began to clench. I hated parking there; their handicapped parking section left no room for me to lower my wheelchair without totally getting in the way of other traffic trying to park. I loathed inconveniencing others and forcing them to wait for me; they always seemed so impatient and irritated about me even existing, but I gritted through it and even made it inside without getting run over or cussed out. Plus!

Victoria’s Secret was located near the middle of the mall, close to the food court. My stomach growled as the scent of the various restaurant kiosks wafted out to greet me.

Mmm, I might have to pause for a soft pretzel with salt and cheese before the day was over.

Actually, I was debating whether I should head that way first, when someone called, “Sarah! Hey, there you are.”

When I spotted Brandt’s sister Caroline hurrying my way along with her friend Zoey—whose husband also used to work at Forbidden with Mason—I blinked in surprise.

“H-hi?” I said uncertainly.

Was Caroline my contact? I totally hadn’t been expecting that.

“Hey, woman!” She swooped in for a big hug. “How’ve you been? I was so excited when Colton told me you were finally ready to lay claim to Brandt, though honestly, it took you long enough. I’ve lost two bets to my husband so far, sure you’d have brought my brother to his knees years ago.”

“I...uh...” Yeah, I had no clue what to say to that.

But seriously, did everyone think we’d end up together? Why couldn’t I see what they saw?

“So, are we ready to get this show on the road?” Caroline popped behind me, grabbing the handles of my wheelchair so she could push me along.

I looked up to Zoey for help. “Show? What show? What exactly are we doing?”

Zoey opened her mouth to answer, but Caroline steamrolled right over her. “We’re buying you all kinds of sexy underthings to help you seduce Brandt into finally giving it up to you. Colton’s idea, but I approve.”

My jaw fell loose, which caused Zoey to laugh. “Are you sure you want to get mixed up with the Gamble clan?”

Actually, no. I wasn’t very sure about this at all. I was a little shocked both Caroline and Colton were so willing and enthusiastic to plan something like this against their brother.

But Caroline answered for me, bending down so she could bump our cheeks together. “Of course she does. We’re like sisters already. Might as well make it official.”