If Only In My Dreams (Seven Brides Seven Brothers Book 5) Page 13

  ***

  The flight to Virginia on the company jet was as smooth as silk. Brandon was a calm flier even on turbulent flights. He’d traveled enough on business to consider it routine. There was something relaxing about hanging out way up in the sky above the clouds. During the flight he’d told Mac all about Davis Montague and his threats towards Rose.

  “This guy walked out on Rose and AJ six years ago.” He’d felt bile rising up in his throat at the mere thought of a man with no sense of honor. “He didn’t even spare them a backward glance. When Rose went into the hospital to deliver AJ, she was all alone. All because of this gutless wonder.” He shuddered at the thought of it. “He never so much as sent a single check or attempted to check in on the well-being of his son, all because he wanted to distance himself from attaching the Montague name to an out of wedlock kid.”

  Mac’s eyes narrowed. “So, why did he show up in Breeze Point after all this time? Wouldn’t it make sense just to keep running from his responsibility?”

  Brandon steepled his fingers in front of him. “Because now he has a use for AJ. As a political pawn. Seems Mr. Wonderful is poised to run for office and his wife can’t have kids. And from what I saw in his background check, he’d never get the okay to adopt.” He shook his head. “There’s also the possibility that he wanted to flip the situation around just in case it came back to bite him during his run for office. So he threatened to take AJ away from Rose and basically dared her to try and stop him.” Brandon clenched his fists. “And still and all, the man has never even laid eyes on the boy he’s trying to steal away from his mother.”

  “Sounds like a punk,” Mac grumbled. “Any man who threatens or intimidates a woman is a disgrace to mankind as far as I’m concerned.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Brandon spit out. “I’m going to have a heart to heart talk with Mr. Montague, one that will hopefully show him the errors of his ways.”

  “You love her, don’t you?” Mac threw the question out with no warning. Typical Mac, Brandon thought. He was a man of few words, but he always got straight to the point without complicating the issue.

  He bowed his head. He wasn’t used to talking about romantic feelings. There had been so few memorable women in his life. “I do…I do love her. More than I ever realized I could love. I think I might have been in love with her all this time. It’s either that or she was right under my nose for the last five years and I was blind to the possibilities. And then my heart just cracked wide open when I wasn’t paying attention.” He let out an easy laugh. “I don’t know…who knows? It just feels like I’ve always loved her. It’s almost impossible for me to imagine a life without her…or AJ in it.”

  Mac blinked. “Those are pretty deep feelings. Did you tell her?” Mac asked.

  A sigh slipped past his lips. “No, I haven’t told her yet.”

  “What are you waiting for?” Mac said in a gruff tone. “Time waits for no man.”

  Why? Because the thought of telling Rose he was in love with her made him feel vulnerable. There were so many what ifs in the situation. He’d hinted at it last night, but he hadn’t wanted to blurt it out right before he tackled the Davis Montague situation head-on. When he declared his love to her he didn’t want there to be a single cloud hanging over her head. He wanted the whole world just to fade away so she could absorb his heartfelt sentiments without being distracted by a single other thing.

  It had taken him so long to find his other half. How could he even put into words the feelings that were roaring around inside him? Rose was a practical woman. She might view this as rash or sudden and discount his feelings. Or she might think he was on the rebound from Thalia. Neither of those things were true, but how could he convince Rose of that fact?

  “I guess I just haven’t got up the nerve,” he confessed. “I’ve never felt like this before…as if I’m no longer living just for myself and our family. I’m living for her and AJ…and all the possibilities stretched out before us.”

  Mac leaned forward in his seat and gazed at him with wide eyes. A look of disbelief was stamped on his face. “You? You don’t have the nerve. The man who has nerves of steel.”

  “This is different, Mac. My whole life…my future…is riding on whether or not Rose loves me back. It’s rattling me a little bit,” he confessed.

  Mac clapped Brandon on the back. “I’m praying for it to work out the way you want it to, brother. I can see how invested you are in Rose and AJ.”

  “I am invested, Mac. Way too invested to be afraid of rejection. Because, guess what? Even if she doesn’t love me right now, I’ll be happy with a maybe I can love you in the future.” He let out a harsh laugh. “I sound pathetic, don’t I?”

  Mac reached out and gripped his hand. “Never. You’re the strongest man I know other than the old man. You sound like what you are, Brandon. A man who’s head over heels in love with a woman. There’s not a thing wrong with that, other than the obvious.”

  Brandon raised an eyebrow. “And what’s that?”

  Mac crossed his hands over his chest and huffed. “And then there were two. It’s just me and Wyatt now. The only Donahue bachelors.”

  “I’m still a bachelor…sort of.” He scrunched up his nose. “It feels like I’m not though because my mind has already fast forwarded to all the things in my future. Proposing to Rose. Getting married at St. Mary’s church. Building our family together. All those beautiful moments that might all just be in my head.”

  Mac reached out and slapped him on the shoulder. “Hey! Snap out of it. Have a little confidence, why don’t you. Why wouldn’t Rose love you? The ladies say you’re pretty handsome. You’re the smartest Donahue in the whole clan. And you’re super loyal. Not to mention rich.” Mac let out a loud chuckle. “Richer than rich, in fact. You’re loaded.”

  Brandon frowned at his brother. “That’s pretty much the last reason I would want Rose to love me for. I want her to love me if I’m a pauper.”

  Mac began to laugh even harder, which made Brandon crack up. “Good thing you’re not a pauper though. Right?” Mac asked.

  “Right. ‘Cause I plan to spoil Rose for the rest of her life. Whatever she wants is hers for the asking.”

  “She seems like a very simple, down to Earth woman,” Mac reasoned. “She may not want the world in the palm of her hand. Maybe she just wants you.”

  “She is very down to Earth. And I hope she wants a life with me,” Brandon said. “But I want to pamper her a little bit, if she’ll let me. She’s been on her own for so long now. I don’t want her to have to work so hard.”

  “That’s a beautiful thing, Bran.” Mac stroked the stubble on his chin. “Not to change the subject, but what’s the game plan for Montague?”

  “As soon as we land we’re going to pay him a little visit.” Brandon patted the cognac colored briefcase next to him. “And then we’re going to make him an offer he’d be crazy to refuse.”

  **

  After touching down at the Richmond airport, Brandon and Mac located the sleek, dark-colored car waiting for them at the rental service. Using the GPS, Brandon punched in the address for Davis Montague. His residence was located about half an hour from the airport. Slight tension built up inside Brandon as he drove the car toward the residential destination.

  As the GPS announced they were nearing the address, Brandon let out a pent-up sigh. He wasn’t the type of man who confronted people without just cause. For most of his life he’d let grievances roll of his back, no doubt a carryover from a childhood of suppressing his feelings. For Rose and AJ he’d go to battle a thousand times over.

  He could feel the heat of Mac’s gaze. “You okay, Bran?” Mac asked.

  Brandon shot him a quick glance. “I’m fine. Just want it get this settled so Rose can breathe easy. I know she won’t rest easy until she knows Davis isn’t a threat anymore.”

  Before too long they were out of the downtown area and heading towards the Virginia countryside. Despite the fact that it
was December, no snow dotted the pastoral landscape. The further they drove outside the city limits, the more idyllic the scenery became. They drove past pastures, wildlife trails and horse ranches. Suddenly, the GPS alerted them that they were approaching Magnolia Drive. After turning down a dirt road, they pulled up into a circular driveway at 18 Magnolia Drive. The stately home was a large Tudor-style design. It reeked of old money and prestige. Horses grazed in the pasture behind the house. There wasn’t another house around for miles. Brandon was somewhat surprised there was no security team on duty.

  After parking the car, Brandon and Mac walked up to the front door. They stood there for a moment and surveyed the land. It was fairly magnificent. All this, Brandon thought. And he’d never lifted a finger to make his son’s life easier. Or Rose’s.

  Mac let out a low whistle as he looked off in the distance. “This spread is fairly amazing.”

  “I suppose this is what a political dynasty buys you these days,” Brandon drawled, his voice full of sarcasm.

  He turned around and pressed the doorbell. The tinkling sound of it echoed in the silence. Within seconds a gray haired woman wearing a maid’s outfit answered the door. She eyed them curiously. “May I help you?” she asked.

  “We’re here to see Davis Montague,” Brandon spit out. He clenched his fists at his side with barely contained rage. Remember to breathe, he warned himself.

  “Mr. Montague isn’t expecting anyone,” she replied in a no-nonsense voice.

  “Tell Mr. Montague that Brandon Donahue of BD Holdings is here to see him. That might interest him,” Brandon snapped.

  The woman shut the door on them, forcing the two of them to stand outside in rather chilly weather. Not that he cared, Brandon thought. As long as he could set this situation to rights, he’d stand on this doorstep in a blizzard if need be.

  After a few minutes, the door opened with a flourish. Standing there, dressed in a v neck charcoal colored sweater and khaki pants, Davis looked like a college professor. All he needed was a pipe and an argyle sweater to complete the look. Already feeling irritated by being in Davis Montague’s presence, Brandon wondered what in the world Rose had seen in this man.

  “Brandon Donahue?” he asked with a stunned expression. “CEO of BE Holdings?”

  Brandon nodded. “Yes, I’m Brandon Donahue. And that is my company.” He nodded toward Mac. “This is my brother, Mac Donahue. May we come in?”

  Davis grinned and waved them into his home. “Don’t stand on ceremony. Come on in.” He shook his head and grinned. “I can’t believe you’re standing here in my home. You’re a legend in the world of finance. Your book on corporate takeovers was riveting,” Davis gushed. “What brings you here to my neck of the woods?”

  “Sorry for just dropping in,” Brandon said, using every skill he possessed to keep an easy grin on his face. He didn’t want Montague to suspect they weren’t here for a nice purpose.

  “We happened to be in Richmond, so we took a chance on stopping by. We have a business proposition to discuss with you,” Brandon said.

  Davis’ eyes bulged. He licked his lips. He was practically salivating at the prospect of a business deal. “Why don’t you come into my private office?” He ushered them down the hall and into a large study with gleaming hardwood floors, rows of books sitting on mahogany shelves and an ornate desk with all the fancy accessories. It didn’t look the desk of a working man though, Brandon thought. It was way too tidy. He would bet his last dollar that Davis Montague was nothing more than the rich, entitled scion from a wealthy political family.

  Brandon took nice, even breaths, praying for discernment in this moment. He couldn’t let anger get the best of him, nor could he mete out any physical punishment. That wasn’t his way, no matter how much this man deserved it.

  “Take a seat,” Davis offered as he sank down into his cognac colored leather chair.

  Davis splayed his hands on his desk, causing the fancy gold and diamond ring on his finger to glint. A wedding ring. A sour taste rose up in Brandon’s mouth. Rose had loved this man and bore his son, yet he’d never offered her the benefits of marriage. Fool! He had no idea of what he’d thrown away.

  “So, let’s get down to business,” Davis said, swinging his gaze back and forth between Brandon and Mac. “Come on. Take a seat. Make yourselves comfortable.”

  “No thanks,” Mac said, drilling a hole through Davis. “We’re good on our feet.”

  “We’re going to make things nice and simple,” Brandon said. “This is the part where I tell you that if you ever go near Rose Maddock again I have every intention of releasing every document in this file to the press.” He patted the leather attaché case at his side. “Davis, you have more secrets than the Pentagon.”

  Davis gasped. His jaw dropped and he struggled for equilibrium. “W-hat? You came here under false pretenses!” he exploded.

  “On the contrary,” Brandon said smoothly. “We’re here for a negotiation. I give you something and you give me something. What I’m giving you is a chance to hold your head up high and not be dragged down into the media frenzy that will come about as a result of the stories I plan to leak about you to the press.” Brandon wagged his finger at him. “You haven’t exactly been doing great things with all your wealth and position, Davis. In exchange for my silence, I fully expect you to back off Rose…and don’t even think about going anywhere near AJ.”

  “You can’t tell me what to do!” Davis shouted. “He’s my son. My flesh and blood.”

  Brandon advanced towards Davis’ desk. Mac reined him in by grabbing him by the arm.

  “He’s nothing to you,” Brandon snarled. “Because you’ve treated him as nothing all these years.”

  A feminine voice cried out. “Davis! What’s this all about?” A tall woman with jet

  black hair was standing in the doorway with her hand resting at the pearls around her neck. “Who are these men?”

  Brandon jerked his chin in Davis’ direction. “Go ahead, Montague. Tell her what this is all about. I dare you.”

  “Yvette,” Davis snarled at his wife. “Please go back upstairs. This doesn’t concern you.”

  Brandon shook his head with disgust as Yvette scurried back out of the room. If this was the way he treated his wife, Brandon felt overjoyed that he’d never married Rose. She deserved way better than a manipulative political wannabe who was basking in his ancestor’s glory and being disrespectful toward women.

  As soon as she left, Brandon turned back towards Davis. “I assume your wife doesn’t know about your checkered past. Otherwise you wouldn’t have been so eager to get rid of her just now.” Brandon reached inside the folder and pulled out a piece of paper. “Shall we go back to your college days when you were arrested for possession of narcotics with intent to distribute?”

  Mac pointed a finger at a line on the paper and let out a snort. “Or you could focus on the dorm fire that killed three students at your fraternity house. You were the sole suspect in the origin of the fire. Seems you had a little drug lab you created. Daddy’s connections got you off the hook and you never had to face justice.”

  Davis sputtered. “You have no proof! Just rumor and innuendo.” His lips were trembling and little beads of sweat began to break out on his forehead.

  “Then there was the little matter of money that went missing from your family’s foundation. Money that numerous people associated with the foundation believe that you misappropriated.” Brandon made a tutting sound. “Can’t you just see the headlines now? Montague heir steals money designated for childhood cancers.”

  Davis’ complexion now resembled the color of pea soup. “You’re trying to ruin me.”

  “No, not at all. Really, I could care less about you,” Brandon explained. “But I will not stand by and watch you tear apart Rose’s life, all because you want to use AJ for some twisted political scheme.” Just thinking about AJ being used in that manner made his blood boil. He felt protective of both Rose and AJ. Davis
Montague had no idea he’d awoken the beast inside him, the one who would go to any lengths to protect the people he loved.

  “Just get out! Please…leave my home. I won’t go near them again. It’s not worth the time or aggravation,” Davis grumbled. “I don’t need all this negative publicity swirling around me. My family would be mortified.”

  Humph! He’d been right about Montague. All he cared about was his political dynasty family and protecting the Montague name from scandal. He felt a weight fall off his shoulders as the realization settled in that Davis had crumbled like a house of cards. He exchanged a look with Mac that signified that their work in Richmond was done.

  Brandon moved towards the door with Mac on his heels. Once he reached the door he turned and faced Davis. “Remember what I said, Montague. I’ll spend every dime I have to make sure you stay out of Rose’s life. Don’t make the same mistake twice unless you want your shady past on the cover of every newspaper outlet or internet page.”

  Davis’ eyes bulged. “Tell Rose t-this was a big misunderstanding,” Davis begged. Brandon shook his head at Davis as a feeling of disgust swept over him.

  Mac scoffed. “Misunderstanding? Don’t even try to run that game on us.”

  “Rose is a good woman,” Brandon spit out. “And an amazing mother. She’s decent and kind and she treats every person she comes across with humanity. Don’t insult our intelligence by suggesting she has this all wrong. We all know that’s not the case.”

  Brandon stalked out of the study, making his way outside of the home as if his feet were on fire. Their business was done and he hoped Rose would never have to run across Davis Montague ever again.

  Mac placed a restraining hand on his shoulder. “Take a deep breath, Bran. It’s over. This joker won’t be bothering Rose again. You can rest easy.”

  Brandon could hear the sound of his own rapid breathing. He was thankful Mac was by his side. A few times he’d been tempted to leap over the desk and throttle him. “That guy in there is not a man,” he said through clenched teeth. “I kept thinking of what Pops always says, the verse from Corinthians about what it means to be a man.”