Scarred Beauty(3)
Brad owned the only available mirror, and Noelle hated staring at it.
“I’ve got a lunch date tomorrow. Are you going to be okay by yourself?” he asked.
Rolling her eyes, she nodded at her best friend. “I can look after myself. I did a great job before you came into my life.”
He kissed her on the head. “But I’m the best thing that’s ever happened to you. You should call your family.”
“Why would I want to do that? I’m better off on my own.”
“You think you’re better on your own curled up in an apartment all day?”
“I get by. Besides, who is the date with?” she asked changing the subject.
“My brother. I’ve not seen him in years, and I contacted him and asked for a date to talk to him.”
She had heard him talk about his older half-brother. There was conflict between Brad’s mother and the older brother’s mom or something.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.” He kissed her on the head and left her room. Noelle played with a curl of her ultra violet hair. The colour had been a radical change. She knew it was a mistake, but she wouldn’t change it. Unconsciously she began to finger the line of her scar. The car accident that had created the resulting damage was still a blur. Her father hated himself, and because she blamed him, too, Noelle stayed well away from home. She hadn’t visited once in the two years since she left.
Sighing, she lay across her bed, grabbed her book and began to read. Romances were her guilty pleasure. There was no book that she’d read where the main heroine didn’t get her man. Whether she might be on the fuller side or have something wrong with her, the men all fell in love, eventually.
She fell asleep during the early hours of the morning with her romance book clutched between her fingers.
Chapter Two
Isaac sat waiting in his favourite Italian restaurant for his half-brother to show. He sipped the strong blend of coffee they were famous for and perused the menu. Meeting his brother after so long apart would certainly provide some source of entertainment. None of the dishes appealed on the menu appealed to him. Frowning, he placed the menu down on the work top as he looked around at the people inside the small building.
He recognised few. The flirtatious gazes from women he was accustomed to. He couldn’t believe how much he’d changed in the last few years. So many women would welcome him into their bed, but none of them would see past his glamorous lifestyle.
The moment Bradley Welch walked through the door, Isaac recognised him immediately. He’d been the oldest son of the next generation of Welches. Twenty years separated them in age. Staring at the man coming towards him, Isaac felt great respect for him. The challenge of contacting an older brother must have required great courage, especially since Isaac had publicly disowned his father’s new family many years ago.
Bradley stood at the table.
“Are you going to sit, Bradley?” Isaac asked.
“My name is Brad, and I was making sure I’d be able to sit down.”
Isaac nodded his head and watched as the younger man sat down. Isaac signalled the waiter over to take their orders. When they’d ordered a light lunch the two men observed each other, neither speaking a word.
The waiter came and served them coffee, and placed their lunch in front of them.
“Thank you for seeing me,” Brad said, the words breaking the ice.
“I was intrigued by your message. I wondered what you could possibly want to see me about.”
“Steps.”
Isaac glanced over at him as Brad stopped the waiter from pouring wine into his glass. The restaurant always served the finest wine with every meal.
“Why don’t you have some wine? I promise you it is quality.”
“I don’t think serving wine to a recovering alcoholic is considered a great step on the road of recovery.”
Silence met Brad’s admission. Isaac felt like an idiot. When he’d disowned his father and family, thinking about them had never entered his head.
“How long have you been free of alcohol?” Isaac asked.
“Three years from alcohol and gambling. Two years free from drugs.”
“How old are you?”
“I’m twenty-three.”
“But I thought you were twenty,” Isaac said.
“No. Mum and dad had me while he was still married to your mum. You left as they were moving me into the house.”
The silence well and truly broken, Isaac stared down at his salad. The thought of eating it repulsed him.
“I’m sorry to hear about your problems.” For too long he’d dealt in the business world where his emotions were not needed. Speaking with his brother was awakening something within him, making talking very difficult.