Tangled Paths Read online

  Bri buried her head further into her pillow and stared up at the ceiling, fighting back tears. Just one nice thing, that’s all I want. “I’m very happy with my life, Mother. And I don’t need a guy around.” All they do is break your heart anyway. “And who cares about status?” She pulled her fluffy comforter up further, wishing she could end this call and go back to sleep.

  Her mother gasped audibly. “I do Brianna. If you can’t find someone with some sort of social standing for yourself, can’t you at least do it for me? I’ve sacrificed everything for you.”

  “What?” Bri shot up a little too fast, causing her head to spin. “You’ve sacrificed for me? What the hell have you ever given up for me, Mother?”

  Her mom snapped back, “Don’t you dare use that language or tone with me, young lady. I gave up my body, my future, and my dignity because of you and your brother. If it hadn’t been for the two of you, I could’ve left your father a long time ago and found another man in a more affluent family who didn’t question everything I did.”

  Forget staying comfortable in bed. The low morning light began to spill through her curtains as Bri bounded out from under the covers. Pacing back and forth on the cold wooden floor, she tried to calm herself down. “A more affluent family? We have plenty of money. What more do you want?”

  Her mother breathed out her snooty irritation. “You know, your father has me on a budget? A budget. Can you imagine? Another man would never have done that to me.”

  That’s weird. Daddy has plenty of money, why is he limiting her spending?

  “Bri, I can’t live like this much longer. I always hoped your brother would take care of me in my more mature age, but now that he’s gone and married that, that…”

  Bri stopped pacing, filled with fury. “Watch what you say, Mother. Leah and I are close, and you have no idea what you’re missing out on by writing her off.”

  “Great, she’s gotten to you, too.”

  I’m over this conversation. “That’s enough. I’m hanging up now.”

  “Wait! I need your help,” her mother blurted out.

  Placing her hand on her hipbone, Bri irritably shifted back and forth. “So your plan is to call me before the sun comes up, sling your insults, then ask for a favor?”

  Apparently I’m good enough to ask a favor from, but useless for everything else.

  Her mother huffed, “Brianna, stop being so dramatic. I just need a little loan. I promised the girls at the club that I’d buy a ticket to our next benefit dinner, and your father won’t budge on my allowance.”

  She raised her hand, then slapped her thigh. Scrunching her eyebrows, something hit her. “Wait, what happened to the money your aunt just left you?” You know, the aunt none of us knew existed?

  “There wasn’t much. It didn’t last long,” her mother grumbled.

  Ugh! “How much do you need?”

  “Ten thousand dollars,” she stated plainly.

  Bri’s mouth fell open. “For a dinner? What the hell are they serving? Almas Caviar?”

  Probably not. That disgusting stuff costs more than that.

  “It’s for charity,” she defended.

  Bri shook her head. She couldn’t believe the money wasted at these events. “Why don’t you be a true philanthropist, cut out the fancy party, and give all that money directly to the charity?”

  “That’s not how it works, and you know it.” Although her mother was asking for a favor, she just couldn’t seem to drop the arrogant way she went about doing it.

  Bri had calmed down enough to sit on the edge of her bed, pulling her legs underneath her. If she was going to stand on that cold floor, she needed to get some warm socks on. “What organization are you raising money for?”

  “We haven’t decided yet.”

  Of course. “So you’re planning an outrageously expensive dinner with a ridiculous ticket price, for a charity you haven’t decided to support yet, and you need to borrow money to do all of this? That makes no sense.” Surely, she was pissing her mom off, but she was tired and didn’t care.

  The line was silent for a moment. “Bri,” her mother said curtly. “Your grandfather left you plenty of money to share. Why are you giving me a hard time about this? Don’t you believe in helping those less fortunate?”

  Man, she isn’t going to stop. Bri bit back a groan. “First of all, yes, grandfather did leave me plenty of money, but I’m careful what I spend it on. If I blew money the way you apparently do, then I wouldn’t have anything left. As far as helping others out…” She paused, contemplating even sharing this part. Oh what the hell, her mother needed to know what a beautiful woman her daughter-in-law was. “I’ve been helping Leah out with her special needs dance class. I wouldn’t call it charity work, because I get more out of being with the kids than they get out of me being there.”

  “How can you help with a dance class? You have no rhythm,” her mom said dryly.

  Clenching her teeth, Bri gritted out, “It’s not about my ability, Mother. It’s about my willingness to help the kids. They actually appreciate a kind word and encouragement. There’s no judgment over my lack of skills.”

  Her mother sharply cut to the chase. “Are you going to give me the money or not?”

  Dammit, if I don’t, she’ll never let me live it down.

  “Fine. But just this once.” And I’m going to make sure daddy knows too. “I’ll transfer the money to your account on Monday.”

  Bri could hear the triumphant sneer in her mom’s tone. “That’s a good girl. Maybe I can count on you for something, after all. You really do need to find a good man to take care of us.”

  “Goodbye, Mother.” Bri ended the call, turned her phone off, then tossed it onto her bed.

  Great, now I’ll never get back to sleep. Coffee time.

  After using her en-suite bathroom, Bri slipped on a pair of oversized socks, cozy pajama pants, and a sweatshirt then put her long dark hair in a quick bun. Stepping out of her bedroom, she ran into a large male figure.

  Jumping back, she yelped, “Who the hell are you?”

  The stranger smirked, giving his cocky response, “I’ll be anyone you want me to be.”

  Discombobulated, Bri began to yell for him to get out when something clicked. “Wait. Don’t you work at El Ranchero?”

  “Yeah, so?” He narrowed his eyes.

  Excuse me, asshole. You’re standing in my hallway. “So what the hell are you doing in my apartment?” She mirrored his body language, moving her open palms to her waist.

  He held his hands up. “Relax, Dani brought me home last night.”

  Rolling her eyes, Bri pushed past him. “Great,” she muttered under her breath.

  Her roommate, Dani, who also happened to be Leah’s sister, had only brought a few guys home since they’d moved in together five months ago. This, however, was the first morning run in. “Where’s Dani?”

  Bartender asshat followed behind her. “Asleep. You got any coffee by any chance?”

  Dani’s guest, not mine, she reminded herself. I bet he didn’t even tell her he was leaving.

  “Nope.” She made her way to the deep purple, velvety sofa. Damn, now I have to wait until he leaves before I can make mine.

  “Okay, well I’m gonna take off then.”

  Raising an eyebrow, she sat down. You want a freaking trophy? She noticed he was wearing his work clothes but carried his shoes in one hand. Probably trying to tiptoe out so Dani didn’t hear him leave. What a prick.

  Sneering, he stood there a moment longer. “Unless of course you’re interested in me giving you a go around too.”

  She swallowed her disgust. This guy has got to go now. I need my coffee before I beat the shit out of him. “Goodbye,” she said disdainfully, and he closed the front door behind him.

  Because of this morning’s less than welcome wake up call, she was tired, cranky, and needed some caffeine. Not to mention the cramps starting up that would last at least a week before she actually started
her period.

  After making her cup of hot liquid happiness, she settled on the couch with her laptop. Lately, she’d been avoiding the internet, attempting to not look him up. She didn’t need to see all of the old images of him with other girls wrapped around him. That very thing was what catapulted her into her gloomy state the night before. And still, this morning she found herself typing his name in the search engine again.

  Josh Tucker—the guy who squashed my heart.

  It had been years since she saw him then she ran into him last fall at a private get together at Evanwood’s Vineyard. To think that he knew the owner, the very guy who’d become quite good friends with Stefen and Leah.

  She’d spotted Josh as they raced each other up the windy Highway 154, until the bastard found an open spot and sped by her. She did have the satisfaction of flipping him off as he zoomed past.

  Small victory, but with my life I’ll take them where I can get them.

  The shocking part of that day came when she finally gathered enough nerve to get out of the car to meet him face to face. He’d acted as though he had no freaking idea who she was. She’d never been more hurt and embarrassed in her life. Well, except for the night it all happened, of course.

  Bri thought she was over him and tried to move on. The problem was that she’d temporarily volunteered to help Leah with her floral business and found herself out at the vineyard quite often, working on the weddings that took place there. The same vineyard that just so happen to belong to Josh’s cousin and uncle of course. As a result, she’d seen Josh a few times since. She was not surprised that, he still pretended not to notice her.

  Asshole.

  After a few minutes of unhealthy cyber-stalking, she heard a noise off to the side. Looking up, she saw Dani walking out of the kitchen, with her long black hair sticking up in all directions as she held her own cup O’ joe.

  “You’re up early.” Dani plopped her curvy behind down in the corner of the couch, holding her mug with both hands and taking a long swig.

  Bri sighed. “Well, I got up to get my coffee, and I ran into your sleepover buddy.” Tilting her head to the side, Bri noticed a deep maroon mark on Dani’s collarbone. “Nice hickey.”

  Pulling her knees up to her chest, shame covered Dani’s make-up smeared, tan face as she blinked hard. “Yeah, sorry about that. It just kinda happened.”

  I’m being a bitch. I didn’t mean to embarrass her.

  Bri closed her laptop and placed it on top of the white vintage coffee table she’d bought while visiting a small shop in France the previous year. She turned her entire body to face Dani. “Listen, I’m not judging you, but I am going to ask that you please don’t bring some random guy here again. For both our protection. That jackwad made a pass at me. I was ready to run for my mace.” She furrowed her tired eyes, touching Dani’s knee where she noticed another purple mark. She had to fight the urge to point the bruise out to her best friend. “I’m really not judging you. I’ve had a one nighter myself, but it just isn’t safe.”

  Dani closed her eyes and lowered her head. “I know. I’m sorry.” She looked up, scrunching up the corner of her mouth. “I went to dinner with Leah last night, then right after, your brother came and swept her up because God forbid he let her out in public without his watchful eye for more than five seconds.” She exhaled loudly.

  Bri jerked her head back, widening her eyes. “That’s kinda harsh.” Maybe she wasn’t the only grouchy one this morning.

  Shaking her head, Dani huffed. “I know. I don’t mean that, but it made me so jealous. My little sister married the perfect guy. I wish I had someone who didn’t want to let me out of their sight.” She took another long sip of her coffee before placing it on the end table beside her.

  “Yeah, now you’re really pushing it. My brother is no saint.” Bri leaned her elbow against the soft material on the back of the couch, resting her head in her hand taking in her friend’s beautiful Hispanic features.

  Dani clicked her tongue, letting out a wistful sigh. “I know Stefen isn’t perfect, but he loves my sister and can’t stand to be without her. I want a guy like that.” Wiggling further into the couch, she continued, “Anyway, when they left, I stayed and had a drink, got to talking with the bartender and...” Her eyes naturally narrowed as her lips pouted. “It just happened. It wasn’t planned. But it won’t happen again. I’m over guys like that.” She reached for her coffee, took a drink, then put it back down. “I just have to remember how they treat me once all is said and done.”

  Bri tilted her head to the side looking at the large white baroque oval mirror above their gas fireplace. “Their loss, Dani. You’ll find the right one. Just not one that works at another of our favorite places, please.” She chuckled. “You know we can’t go back to El Ranchero now. I’ll have to kick that guy’s ass if we do.”

  Dani laughed along with her. “Not before I do.”

  “Forget him. We have to look out for each other though, deal?” Bri raised her eyebrows.

  “Deal.”

  They didn’t need men to be happy. Learned that lesson a long time ago.

  Working on his dirt bike in his five-car garage, Josh stood up and leaned back, stretching his sore muscles. Damn, I must've tweaked something when were out riding. Bending forward, he held onto the seat of his bike as he inspected the ground for oil leaks. This was one of his older dirt bikes, and he’d had a few problems with it the past couple of weeks.

  His younger brother, Bradley’s deep blue eyes peered over his own bike. “That was a pretty kick ass week. I can definitely do that again.” They’d just returned from Northern California, where they’d helped a couple of underprivileged kids at a motocross camp.

  “Yeah, me too. Those guys were really good.” Josh nodded.

  The teen camp his buddy, Tanner, ran was originally designed as a summer training ground for young motocross hopefuls. After some nudging on Josh’s part, it was expanded this year to include higher risk kids, the ones everyone thought would land in juvy at sixteen.

  He’d heard someone once say, “The stronger the breed, the more physical exertion they need.” So what if the guy was talking about dogs? Boys needed to be busy.

  Given Josh’s history, he knew this firsthand. He’d spent too many years in the public eye, getting in trouble for all the world to see. Had he gotten back into his riding and not into drinking and girls, he might have saved himself and his family from a lot of embarrassing headlines.

  Brad pulled him out of his thoughts. “Still going to the party next week?"

  Squatting in front of his own bike, Josh ran his dirty fingers through his sweaty brown hair. "Are you kidding? Dad would kick my ass if I missed this one."

  Closing one eye to keep the sweat from dripping in, Bradley left a trail of grease on his forehead as he wiped the perspiration away. “I know how Dad feels about you going, but how do you feel about it? It’s been a long time since you’ve been bombarded with that kind of attention. Think you can handle it?”

  The sound of the ratchet echoed in his large garage as Josh tightened a bolt. "I have to be okay at some point, right? Plus this one is a huge deal for you. Since Dad and Mom won’t be there to take pictures, I wanna watch you piss your pants in front of all those cameras."

  Cocking his eyebrow, Bradley pointed out, “Not likely. I think you’ll be the one pissing, brother.”

  Josh snickered. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

  He hadn’t been in front of those cameras in at least six years and wasn’t looking forward to this event. He still wanted to keep his private life just that, but it was time to get past his own shit and support his brother’s career, the way the rest of their friends and family had.

  Standing up, Brad pushed his bike onto its stand and began picking up tools from the ground. “Are Uncle Joel and Zachary gonna make it?”

  “Nah, Uncle Joel’s been fighting something. Probably just a cold, but Zachary doesn’t want to take him out at night.”
>
  Joel was their father’s older brother and Josh and Bradley’s favorite uncle. Josh owed him and his adopted son, Zachary, so much after they’d stepped in, intervening when his life spiraled out of control.

  It was pretty humiliating, to be honest. Josh didn’t even remember going to his uncle’s vineyard that night, plastered beyond belief. But when he finally roused from his drunken coma the following day, his parents, brother, uncle and cousin were all there to have a little chat with him.

  The next six months were spent in a rehab facility in the Santa Ynez Valley. Once he was released, he knew he had to stay close to family, but not where his parents and brother lived, in the heart of all things Hollywood. Instead, he’d bought the ranch down the road from his uncle and cousin.