A Taste of Temptation(35)
It was time to leave for the show, so she took Eric’s hand, pulling him away from her father. “Come on, it starts in about an hour.”
“We have time. The place is only a half-hour away. What’s your hurry?”
“I just want to be there for the start of it. Is that so bad?”
Before he could answer, his phone rang. Brandi listened in on the conversation, getting what little she could. He flipped the phone down and turned to Brandi. “Dad has an emergency at the office to take care of before leaving town. He can’t sit with my grandmother until I get back from Breck’s.”
“Well, what do we do? We have these tickets. Can’t your mom do it?”
“She’s already in Nevada waiting for Dad. I’m really sorry about this.”
Mr. Miles spoke up. “Brandi, see if Tiffany or one of your other friends can go. If not, I’ll go with you.”
“Thanks, Dad, but I know you and Mom were planning on…”
“Don’t worry about that. Eric, you better get going.”
Eric kissed Brandi’s cheek then took off. She looked at the tickets with disgust. “I’ll call Tiffany and see if she can make it at the last minute.” She called Tiffany’s cell and waited for her to answer.
“Tiffany, I’ve got an emergency.”
“What?”
“Eric can’t make it to Breck’s. He has to sit with his grandmother. Can you go?”
“Thanks for saving this for the last minute, Brandi.”
“It wasn’t my fault. This just happened.”
“I have plans with Stuart around ten.”
“It ends at nine. Please go with me; save me from having to go with my dad.”
“Wanda or Brina can’t go?”
“I tried you first. Come on, Tiff, you’re my best friend.”
She waited as Tiffany hemmed and hawed, finally saying, “Okay, I’ll go, but we have to be back by ten because he’s giving me one of my gifts tonight. Know what I mean?”
“Knowing you, I do. Tell him to keep it on ice. Be there in a half-hour?”
“Okay, but how do I dress?”
“A nice dress or pants suit.”
“Cool, I’ll be ready. You owe me, Brandi; you owe me big time.”
Brandi was amazed when they walked into Breck’s. The place had been newly remodeled: all-wood floors, mahogany paneling, nice dinner tables with a rose on each table. The place had a Da Vinci appeal. “This place is gorgeous. I haven’t been in here in almost five years. I was here for a school luncheon in high school.”
Tiffany nodded in agreement. “Lots of things have changed. It was totally renovated about two years ago. Why not? The place makes money hand over foot. Tonight is the best night to be here, apparently.”
“The murder mystery?”
“Yes, but I think Eric bought these tickets tonight because its also the grand opening for the remodeling.”
They walked to their table, which was dead center; where they could see everything. Brandi handed Tiffany the menu. “With the price he paid for these tickets, we can order anything. I hear the lobster bisque is fantastic. I know how you like it. Maybe we can have that for the appetizer.”
As Tiffany looked though the menu, she noticed a woman across the isle walking to a table. It was Miss Shang. Tiffany looked again to see if what she saw was right. She touched Brandi’s arm. “Isn’t that Miss Shang?”
Brandi looked where Tiffany was pointing. “Yes, that’s her. Why is she here alone?”
“Maybe she isn’t alone. She could be waiting for her date.”
“Maybe. Let’s go over and say hello.”
“Can’t we order first? I’m starving.”
“The waiter won’t be over for a while.” Brandi laid her napkin down. “Tell you what. If I’m not back, which I should be, place my order.” Brandi briefly scanned the menu. “I’ll have the turtle soup appetizer with Italian crackers. For the entrée, I’ll have the baked Alaska whitefish with brown rice and a salad.”
Tiffany sneered at her. “Are you sure that covers it?”
“Oh, for dessert…
“Just cool it and hurry back.”
“Why not go with me?”
“Because she gave me a B- on a paper that should have been an A. Dr. Polaris would have given me that A.”
“Right. I guess your world is coming to an end.”
“Oh, buzz off. You want a Coke or something with it?”
“Sure.”
Brandi walked across the room and held her hand out to Monica. “Miss Shang. What a surprise seeing you here tonight.”
Monica stood. “Brandi. Good seeing you. Are you here for the grand opening?”
“That and the murder mystery.”
“It is supposed to be very good.”
Brandi looked around as if to find Monica’s date. “You aren’t here alone, are you?”
“No, my date is meeting me here.”
“Oh, yes. Aren’t you getting married soon?”
Monica swallowed hard and stumbled over her words. “We…we’re postponing it until the summer.”
“He will be here with you tonight, won’t he? It’s a very romantic-looking place. I was supposed to be here with Eric Fontaine, but he had to cancel at the last minute.” She pointed to Tiffany. “My best friend offered to go in his place. You remember Tiffany Jackson, don’t you?”
“Sure. She’s a smart young lady.”
“Yes, with a very smart mouth. I love her to death, though. Anyway, that’s why I’m here.”
“I’m not here with my fiancée, Brandi. Timothy Polaris is meeting me here.” Monica knew those words would hit Brandi like a ton of bricks. She had known about the brief romance, since Tim had spoken of it to her after he left Madison. A curt smile appeared. “He’s such a wonderful man, and he was so excited about coming here tonight. He should be here soon.”
Brandi had to remember she was an adult and not a baby, though she wanted to throw a tantrum in the middle of the floor. She also stumbled for words. “Really? Timothy Polaris? I wasn’t aware that he liked murder mysteries.”
“He loves them.”
He apparently loves other things. Brandi was beginning to let her emotions run away with her. There had to be an explanation as to why he wasn’t returning her calls and why he was attending this affair with Monica. Her eyes briefly glanced around the room, panic-stricken. Her heart was suddenly racing, hands nervous, words barely able to pass through her now dry mouth. Yes, blowing Tim off on Christmas Eve had been a big mistake, and she knew she had blown everything out of proportion, as usual. It took her good friend to help her see reason, but it had been too late. Tears slowly welled in the corner of her eyes, though she tried to hide it. A strained smile came across her face. “Well, Miss Shang. I hope you enjoy the evening. I should go back to Tiffany.”
“When Tim comes, why don’t you stop by and say hello to him.”
“I might.”
Monica saw the look on Brandi’s face, and had wanted to smile, but she decided not to rub more salt into the wound. “Are you okay, Brandi?”
“Sure. Just a little tired. Good to see you again.”
“Likewise.”
Brandi hurried back to her table and took her purse. “Tiffany, lets get out of here.”
“Out of here? Why? We just got here, and didn’t Eric pay a small mint for these tickets?”
“I don’t care about the tickets, Tiff.”
Tiffany stood, seeing the hurt look on Brandi’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“Can we just go?”
“What did Miss Shang say to you?”
Brandi faced her friend, tears suddenly streaming down her face. “She said Tim was her date tonight. He will be here with her, and he hasn’t even called me. Maybe I really did ruin everything. I just wish I were dead.” Brandi walked from the table, and Tiffany quickly followed behind her.
Inside Tiffany’s car, she listened as Brandi practically sobbed on her shoulder. “Do you want to go back home?”
“That’s the last place I want to be.”
“I can break my date tonight and we can buy some burgers, sit back and watch monsters hack up stupid bitches.”
That made her smile. “Sounds tempting, but Stuart wants you to meet his family tonight.”
“I can meet them another time. You need to be with someone other than your parents.”
“I…I know, but I want you to have fun tonight. You already took too much of your time to come with me tonight.”
“Brandi, I think it’s more to it than that. I think he’s friends with her.”
“She is awfully pretty and smart.”
“So are you. He doesn’t want Monica Shang, trust me.”
“Why are you so sure of that?”
“I see how he looks at you. He doesn’t want anyone but you.”
“Then where is he—other than at Breck’s Dinner Theater with Monica?”
“Come on. Let’s get those DVDs and some burgers and hang out tonight. You can call him later and see what’s going on.”
“If he answers.”
“I think he will.”
CHAPTER 17
New Year’s Eve night was killing him. Brandi called again during the day and the night before. It took all of his willpower to not call her. But after her last call, his defenses began to break down. Her sweet, sexy voice was stirring his emotions. He loved her so very much, and the idea of not being with her was maddening, especially on this particular night—the night for lovers.