Billionaire Alpha 1(24)

"Ouch, dammit." He turned and smiled, shutting the door and walking toward her.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to surprise you." Bethany shrugged, leaning into   the hug he offered. Why couldn't Damon be like Matt? Why couldn't there   be no Damon at all?

"No apologies. Let's go. I'm taking you out. Shopping, dinner and coffee. Sound good?"

Bethany pulled out of his grasp and shook her head.

"I guess, but I'm telling you that I'm not the best company tonight." She glanced around. "Where is my mother?"

"She said to tell you that she would see you later tonight. Something   about her and her best friend going out to look for outfits for the   wedding."

"Outfits for the wedding?" Bethany turned and followed Matt's lead as   they walked through the expansive house and out into the warm summer   night.

"It's a destination wedding, remember? So I guess flip flops and togas?   Who knows? You're the girl. You tell me." He pushed his shoulder into   her before she moved around the car to get in. Matt's small Toyota   Corolla gave off the image that he was a regular guy with a regular   life. Exactly the way she knew he wanted it.

She got in the car and pulled on her seatbelt. He slipped in and turned   the car on, revving the air conditioner up to high before pulling out   into the quiet street of the neighborhood.

"I'm almost worried about making time for the wedding with school   starting the week after we get back, and my responsibilities at the   firm." Bethany looked out her window, her teeth pressing down on her   bottom lip.

"The wedding is going to be a great time, and one you seem to need. Talk   to me about what's going on with you today. You don't seem like the   type to hide away in your bed and let anything get you down. What   happened?"

She turned her head toward him, reaching out to turn the radio on for background music.

"I punched that redheaded girl at the office in the face. I'm sure I   broke her nose and probably lost my job. I'm surprised Damon hasn't   called and chewed me out. Actually, I'm not surprised. He left town   without saying anything. Nothing at all. Nada." She crossed her arms   over her chest, leaning her head back and closing her eyes as a shaky   sigh left her.

"Okay, one thing at a time. Did it feel good to pop the skanky bitch in the face?"

Bethany snorted and glanced at Matt, his smile bright and full of nefarious intent.

"Yes, but that's beside the point. I'm not a college kid who can act   like the world won't punish me for fucking up. I needed this job and   disappointing your dad..." Matt cut her off.         

     



 

"Our dad. He's going to be your dad soon too. He's not going to be upset   if the girl deserved it, Beth. He's very fair. He will just clean it  up  and warn you to make sure you think before you act."

"I shouldn't have done it. She just pushed the right buttons." Bethany   opened her eyes and tugged on her seatbelt. The strap dug into her   shoulder perfectly, the skin still tender from Damon's assault.

"Which buttons?"

Bethany shrugged, not wanting to bring up her sordid history in front of   Matt just yet. She turned up the radio and shook her head.

"I really don't want to talk about this if that's all right."

He reached over and squeezed her hand. "Of course. When you're ready. I'm always ready to listen."

"I appreciate it." She paused. "Why would Damon leave without saying anything?"

"Why would he say something? He didn't tell me he was going out of town   until this morning when he left. Are sister's different? More sensitive  I  guess, huh?"

They pulled into a long strip center, a brightly colored Mexican   restaurant sitting in the corner. Matt pointed to it and smiled.

"Best Mexican food in town."

"Girls are more sensitive, but Damon is my boss too, not just my   brother." She reached for the handle, getting out and wishing she were   still face down in her sheets. Being with Matt was a horrible idea. She   wanted to hear from Damon, wanted to know that last night meant   something to him, and instead she was going to have to work all night to   placate Matthew.

"Are you and Damon working on a project together?"

"Yes." Bethany moved back as Matt opened the door, the sound of Hispanic   music almost overwhelming. They found their seats and she ordered a   margarita with an extra shot of tequila.

Matt ordered a beer and sat back, his gaze heavy on her.

"What are you not telling me?"

She picked up her menu and scanned the items on the combo page, picking   out something quickly, not really caring much for food. She looked over   to Matt and tried to shift the conversation.

"I'll explain more later, but first, you tell me something."

"Okay, what?"

"Why is Damon with a hundred different women? I've seen him at work with probably five blonds in the last week."

"I'll answer, but then I get to ask a question in return."

"Fine."

They ordered and gave their menus to the server as Matt picked up the   beer that sat before him. "He's a whore because he hates the idea of   loving someone. He figures if there are lots of women then he'll be too   busy juggling them to love any of them."

"That's horrible. Why would you want to stop yourself from loving someone?"

"Protection, I guess." Matt shrugged. "The ones that get too close and   are worth his time are usually put off by the fact that he is a whore,   so he doesn't worry much about them. Love won't come find him. He's made   sure of it."

"And you have no idea why he does this?"

"It's my turn to ask a question first."

"Fine. Ask away." She picked up her drink, the frosty mug cold to the   touch. Dumping the extra shot of tequila in the glass, Bethany stirred   it once and took a long drink.

"Why do you care about Damon leaving without saying he was? Why do you care if he dates or fucks ten girls?"

"Because he's soon to be my brother."

"Bullshit. Come clean and trust me. You're about to be my sister and I've always wanted one. Talk to me."

She set her drink down and let out a long breath, sitting back in her   chair. She should tell him, but he would judge her. How could he not?

"I'm attracted to him." She shrugged again, reaching for a chip and   shoving it into her mouth in hopes of the conversation being stalled.

"Just attraction, nothing else?"

"That's more than one question. Why does he push women away? Was he hurt in the past? Old wounds causing him to lash out?"

"Yes, he was crushed in the past. He's not going to let anyone in that   doesn't fit perfectly into his definition of what his woman should be.   Even then, the girl who captures him will have to push and push past his   defenses. I almost pity her."

"Who hurt him?"

Sadness brushed across Matt's features as he picked up a handful of   chips, starting to pop one in his mouth. He paused and turned his gaze   on her, his handsome face seeming to feel the effects of Damon's pain.         

     



 

"Our mother."





Chapter 19





"What about your mother?" Bethany leaned back in her chair as the server   deposited her enchiladas in front of her, the smell overwhelming.

"Damon caught her cheating on our dad several times before she got sick.   He wanted to tell dad, but mom would beg him, plead with him, not to."   Matt shrugged, sadness creeping across his handsome features. "He went   to tell him one night, finally. That was the night that dad broke the   news that mom was dying. I think Damon felt trapped. He hated her by  the  time she died."

Bethany lifted her napkin to her eyes, tears spilling onto her cheeks.

"He hated her because of the cheating?"

"Because he had suffered for several years holding her secrets so that dad didn't have his heart torn from his chest."

"And then it happened anyway because of her getting sick?"

"Exactly." Matt reached for a chip, his eyes diverted from her. "I   didn't know any of this until after mom died. Damon kept all of it to   himself."

"How did he keep catching your mom? Were they just close?"

"When we were younger they were real close. The first time he caught her   we were in high school and he just happened to stop by the house with   his girlfriend at the time." Matt picked up his fork and nodded to her.   "Eat. We can still talk and chew."

She smiled in response to his goofy grin, the conversation painful and yet no tension sat between them.

"And after that he just stopped by trying to catch her?"

"Exactly. She promised to never do it again, but he wasn't convinced. He   almost failed his junior year of high school from missing too many of   his classes. He was obsessed with making sure she kept to her word. It   consumed him for a while."