Unbreak Her Heart: A Billionaire BWWM Love Story Read Online Free Page B

attention. “Man, you’ve got to watch yourself. It’s one thing to see her at the coffee shop, but meeting her again? It seems like a bad idea to me.”
    Brad did his best to wrap up the call without sounding like he was blowing off the advice of a good friend. He sat in the chair. This was his favorite room in his magnificent house. After his parents were killed in a plane crash, the vast family fortune went to him, including the family home. This had been his father’s room and it was filled with fond memories. Thanks to the crispness of the autumn air, the windows were open on this day and a slight breeze eased over his forehead. He closed his eyes and laid his head back on the chair. He thought again of the sweet interlude with Aliyah that very morning and of the warning from Art.
    His eyes turned to the framed picture on the table at his side. He ran his fingers over the glass and looked at the eyes of the beautiful, young woman smiling at him from the photograph. The look of aching love was etched into his face as if the deepness of this love had been carving this very look for years. His look of longing was profound. Once again he considered Art’s warning, but he quickly shook it off and reminded himself that it was just a brief meeting to see a play and maybe a bite to eat afterwards. He would follow through with his plans to see Aliyah.
    Brad stood up abruptly and left his study. His housekeeper, Mary, was busying herself sorting mail. Brad went to her and gave her an unexpected hug. “Oh, goodness!” Mary’s plump chest heaved a bit and she laughed breathlessly. “What was that for, my boy?”
    “I just needed to hug my Mary.” Brad’s boyish grin reminded her of the days when he would run through the house, tracking in mud and bringing in all kinds of awful prizes like worms and rocks and frogs.
    She knew that losing his parents had been difficult for Brad, even if he was an adult. Not only was he, as an only child, without a nuclear family but he was suddenly saddled with the entire responsibility of running the family business and the estate. She was proud that he had risen to the challenge. She had loved this boy since his head first rested on her shoulder as a baby, and now she had protective feelings about this young man who had been through so much pain.
    “You’ve always got your Mary to hug, my boy. Do you know what we’re having for dinner tonight?” She hoped to brighten his mood with thoughts of a good dinner.
    “I can smell it already!” He drew in his breath and then looked down fondly at his stout little housekeeper. “If the cook is making it, she used your recipe. I would know the scent of your pot roast anywhere!” He kissed her cheek and headed to his room to allow his face to fall into confusion without being analyzed by Mary or anyone else on the household staff.
    Since Brad’s parents had passed away, she had run his home as if it were her own. In all practicality, it was. She knew that they were like family and she would have a job there for life. Brad had even assured her of a place to stay in her elderly years and let her know that her financial needs would be met for the rest of her life.
    Mary would have taken care of him without all of these assurances, but it rested her heart to know that she had a home and could settle in contentedly. She looked forward to the day when Brad would start smiling more like he used to do. At least his heart had healed enough to start hanging out with his friends again. The men had known each other since they were boys, playing in the pool at the country club. She was relieved when Brad’s closest friends, Rob and Max, started coming around again. She always made sure that there were refreshments by the pool and that the pool house was clean and inviting so that the boys could take advantage of the summer days. She would grin to herself if she walked by the billiard room and hear them laughing at a lucky shot or making fun of each