Chapter 18

Bradley rested his hand on Carissa’s back and gently nudged her out of the elevator and into the penthouse foyer. He’d known coming here wouldn’t be easy, but he didn’t expect the ambush of bad memories to hit him so hard. But the second he stepped over the threshold, he was bombarded with the haunting sounds of his ex-girlfriend’s cries, of her shrill screams and nasty words—all hurled at him because he refused to propose on her terms.

He momentarily closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. That night was a long time ago, and he’d moved on since then. The things she’d said about him weren’t true—he knew that—and he’d worked hard to prove to himself every single day that he wasn’t the cold, uncaring, selfish man she accused him of being.

“Wow.” Carissa left his side and wandered farther into the penthouse. “This place is amazing.” She took her time strolling through the living room, her gaze perusing every inch.

He smiled watching her, remembering the first time he’d seen this place, too. His reaction had been much the same, but now this place was like a second home. Or rather, it had been. Now it was simply a place he avoided—until tonight.

She went straight for the floor-to-ceiling window on the far side of the living room. The view of downtown Phoenix was astounding and one of the main reasons his father had chosen this particular building.

“This view…” she said, stunned.

Her face was reflected back to him in the window, and her eyes were wide, the brown and green flecks twisting among the city lights. Her face was still a little red and puffy from crying, but she was a vision to him.

“Incredible, isn’t it?” He joined her at the window and gazed out at the city skyline.

“If I lived here, I’d never leave.” She laughed. “I’d spend all my time right here.”

Bradley stuffed his hands into his pockets. “And you could, too, if you wanted. The glass is tempered so the sun shining through isn’t so brutal.”

“Smart.” She turned toward him. “So, do I get to see the rest of this place?”

“Sure. C’mon.” He motioned behind him. “This is obviously the main room. There’s the kitchen.” He nodded toward the sleek, modern kitchen to his right.

The penthouse had a very spacious and open floor plan and utilized furniture as opposed to walls to divide the rooms. A long island separated the kitchen and living rooms. A medium-size dining room with a modest table that sat six was set off in an alcove directly across from the kitchen.

He led her down a small hallway that extended from the living room. “Here are two of the three bedrooms.” He opened a door on his right and another on his left, flicking on the lights as he did. “And the bathroom.” He swung open the door directly in front of him.

Carissa peeked into each room, but she didn’t offer any comments. Was she still impressed? Or overwhelmed? He’d been to her house, and that place was a veritable mansion. No way was this penthouse too much for her. Maybe the opposite, though. Maybe she thought this place was too small, too cute and cozy for her tastes.

He didn’t want to believe she was anything like his ex, but then again, he’d never dated anyone who could rival the balance in his bank account. For all he knew, Carissa thought he was poor compared to her. Not that he cared. His money—nor hers—mattered to him.

Shaking off the thoughts, he said, “The master suite is this way.” He spun on his heel, strode back through the living room and kitchen, and down another small hallway that ended at hand-carved French doors. He grabbed the brass handles and yanked them open.

Carissa didn’t waste any time moving around him and striding into the room like she owned the place. A double king size bed sat in the middle of the room, the custom-designed headboard the focal point. Matching nightstands with Tiffany lamps adorned either side of the bed.

“Let me guess… the master bathroom?” she asked, pointing at a door within the room.

“Complete with the largest jacuzzi tub my mother could fit in there.” He laughed.

Carissa grinned. “This place is gorgeous. So, which room is yours?”

His eyebrows shot up at her question. “When we’d stay here as kids, my brother and I would share the first bedroom I showed you. My sister had the other, and my parents stayed in here. But now when I’m here, I pretty much sleep wherever I want.”

“Right.” She nodded. “Where are you planning to sleep tonight?”

What was her obsession with where he was going to sleep? Was she worried he’d try something or force her to be too close to him? She had to know he’d never do that. Or was she trying to ask him to stay with her but was too afraid to come right out and ask?

Bradley shrugged. “Why don’t you tell me where you want to sleep, and then I’ll take one of the other rooms?”

She hesitated and shifted on her feet, clearly uncomfortable.

“First, though, there’s one more thing I want to show you. C’mon.” He left the room, and she followed. Stopping in front of a door in the hall, he punched in a security code on the keypad, and the otherwise hidden door slid open to reveal a small service elevator. “Ladies first.”

She glanced at him, eyes narrowed. “Is that thing safe?”

“Yes,” he said around a laugh. “We use it all the time. Just trust me.”

Keeping her gaze on him, she stepped into the elevator, her distrust evident in her expression. Bradley pressed the up button. The door slid shut with a soft whoosh, and then the elevator lurched. Carissa clutched the handrailing and gave him a “you’ve got to be kidding me” look.

A second later, the door once again slid open, and Bradley held his arm out for her to go. Reluctantly, she did as he wanted, and then she stopped abruptly, nearly causing him to bump into her from behind.

“Whoa,” she breathed out in awe.

“Pretty neat, huh?” He rocked on his heels and grinned.

The roof was his favorite place to spend his time whenever he was here. Not only was the roof quiet and peaceful, it housed an in-ground lagoon-style pool. Lounge chairs were scattered around the pool, along with an umbrella table, a grill, and bar—all encased in hand-laid brick.

She took a few steps forward, then stopped again. “Now I really wish I had clothes, because I am getting in that pool before we leave.”

A satisfied grin lifted the corners of his mouth. “This is my favorite place,” he admitted with a wistful sigh. “I love to just sit up here and think. And look.” He pointed up, showing her the millions of twinkling stars dotting the otherwise dark sky.

Carissa tilted her head and stared up. She was silent for so long, but then she lowered her head, her gaze settling on him. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“For what?”

“Everything.”

He nodded. The urge to move closer, to yank her into his arms and kiss her until neither of them could breathe consumed him, but he forced himself to stay right where he was. If she wanted something to happen between them, she’d have to make the first move. He wasn’t going to take advantage of her vulnerable state.

“Mind if we sit up here for a while?” she asked.

“Not at all.”

Before he’d even finished answering her question, she was sitting on one of the lounge chairs. Leaning back, she extended her legs and folded her hands on her stomach. Her gaze was once again on the sky.

Bradley claimed the chair right next to hers and stared up at the sky, too. He wished, more than anything else, that he’d brought her here as his girlfriend, that they were here to spend a romantic weekend together. But that was so far from what this was.

She was in a relationship with another man, and she’d needed Bradley’s help tonight. He was nothing more than a friend who’d rescued another friend. But God, what he wouldn’t give to be more than that for her. He heaved a sigh, his mind once again warring with his heart.

“You okay?” Carissa asked.

“Yeah. Why?” He turned his head to look at her. “And shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?”

“You just sound… I don’t know.” She shrugged awkwardly. “Tired or frustrated.” She twisted her hands. “I’m really sorry if I ruined your plans tonight.”

He took a controlled breath, refusing to get upset with her for something she probably didn’t even realize she was doing. “Why are you always apologizing to me?”

She shrugged again. “I don’t know. It’s polite, I guess.”

Bradley let out a disbelieving laugh. “Polite?” He shook his head. “No. Polite is apologizing when you’ve done something wrong, and you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong, Carissa.”

She nodded and chewed on her bottom lip. “I guess I’m just worried you’ll think I’m too much trouble or a burden or something. I mean, we barely know each other, and it seems like every time we’re together, I’m either crying or we’re arguing.” She scrunched up her face. “Not exactly the best way to start a friendship.”

“You’re not a burden,” he said, refusing to respond to anything else she’d just said.

Her emotions and the situations she’d been in were not her fault, and he was not going to do or say anything that would lead her to believe otherwise. Danny was the one who bore all the responsibility, not Carissa.

“Have you ever slept up here?” she asked, abruptly changing the subject.

“Only once,” he whispered.

The night his ex-girlfriend had dumped him. He couldn’t stand to be in the penthouse when every inch of the place reminded him of her, so he’d come up to the roof. She would never come up here with him because she was terrified of heights, so the roof was his one truly safe space, free from bad memories and the emotional pain that always accompanied them.

“I bet it was so peaceful,” she said, her voice taking on a dreamy quality. “I think I want to sleep here tonight.”

He laughed. “It’s supposed to rain.”

She groaned and sat up. “Fine. Can I have the master bedroom?” She gave him a sweet but mischievous smile.

He stood and held his hand out to her. “You can have anything you want.”

Carissa studied him for a moment, and he expected some sort of question or snarky remark, but she simply took his hand, and he pulled her to her feet. Once standing, she didn’t attempt to move away from him, and his heart pounded with anticipation.

If she tried to kiss him again, he wouldn’t stop her. He wasn’t strong enough to deny her a second time, and truth be told, he didn’t want to. He wanted her, and if that meant he had to fight for her, then so be it.

Carissa flattened her palm on his chest, and his heart pounded even harder and faster. No way she didn’t feel that beneath her hand, but if she did, she didn’t say anything.

She rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his cheek. His eyes fluttered closed at the feel of her soft lips and warm breath. All he had to do was turn his head, and they’d be locked in a kiss, exactly like he’d done the night of the TOP party. But something held him back.

“Thank you, Bradley,” she whispered. “I don’t know what I would’ve done tonight if you hadn’t shown up.”

He nodded and cleared his throat. Then, without another word—because he didn’t exactly trust himself to speak at that moment—he escorted her back to the penthouse. After giving her the rundown of where everything was… towels, toiletries, etc., he stood in the master bedroom doorway.

“Need anything else?” he asked.

“No, I don’t think so.” She shook her head.

“Okay. Well, good night, then.” He turned to leave.

“Bradley, wait.” Her voice cracked, and he froze, his back to her.

Slowly, he spun around, brow raised. “Is something wrong?”

Carissa shifted on her feet, lowered her head, then glanced up. Her expression was tormented, if not a little humble. “I have this thing… I have a hard time sleeping in strange places, and my emotions are already so messed up…” She once again hung her head.

He closed the distance between them and gently lifted her chin so she was looking directly into his eyes. “Whatever you want, all you have to do is ask,” he said. If she only knew what he’d be willing to do for her.

Her shoulders slumped. “Will you stay with me until I fall asleep?”