A Tropical Rendezvous: A BWWM Interracial Bad Boy Billionaire Multicultural Romance (African American Romance) by Ella Celestine Page B

and I don’t know why. At first, I was pissed, and then I wasn’t. I was just so busy life kind of got away from me.”
    Basically, you forgot about me. That was no better than being a pariah. This was worse than he thought it would be.
    “It’s alright, Stone. You don’t owe me an explanation.” Apparently, he’d been wrong all these months, thinking they had something to talk about and work out.
    “I do, dammit. You’re my best friend, Maddox, my brother!” His voice was strained, full of emotion.
    He wanted to believe it, but six months proved otherwise. This was the first time he’d heard his brother’s voice or saw him in half a year. They’d never been apart that long, and never out of communication. Until now.
    “I get it. You may never forgive me, and I’ll have to find a way to live with that. But I’m not here to screw up your wedding, alright?” God, he couldn’t stand here another moment and pretend everything was fine and normal. “I’ll be in and out.”
    “You’re leaving?” The surprise in Stone’s eyes had just a hint of pain.
    “Going back home .” It was immature, but he was tired of standing here pretending.
    “When?”
    “When the wedding is over.”
    “Why?”
    He shrugged, but then his blood boiled, and he couldn’t help himself any longer. “Seriously? Because Angie called and asked me to show up and walk her down the aisle. She called me because it mattered to her. So I’m here. For the wedding. Like she asked.” He ran a shaky hand through his hair. “I need some air,” he mumbled and stalked off.
    ~
    Briana witnessed the exchange between Maddox and his brother. It was tense and strained, and heartbreaking. He wanted so badly to be forgiven and accepted again by his family, but he was too proud to say so. Stone tried, but he had no idea the kind of hurt his brother was suffering in silence. Maddox stomped away, leaving Stone looking after him with his heart in his eyes.
    She went to him. “That could have gone better.” At his glare, she held her hands up. “I’m not here to judge or to fight.”
    “Then why are you here?”
    She sighed and looked up into blue eyes that were almost familiar. They were so similar yet so different. “Because I care about Maddox and he won’t say this to you. He’s hurting. He knows he was wrong about Angie, and he feels terrible, but he feels worse that she’s the only one who called and offered her forgiveness.”
    Stone looked gut-punched. “He told you about it?”
    “We’re friends.” With benefits, but that was none of his business. “He feels hurt and betrayed, and he doesn’t know how to let you back in, Stone. Don’t give up on him, please. He gave me a chance when I really needed one, and he wants you back in his life. Give him a chance.”
    She gave him a small smile and followed Maddox out of the mall. When she reached the parking lot, she saw him leaning against the car, looking like her every fantasy come to life.
    “Were you meddling?”
    She smiled up at him. “I was, but I wasn’t too nosey or too invasive.” She went on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his mouth. “What do you say we skip the fancy restaurant I know you had planned and grab Chinese? I saw a place on the way here.”
    Maddox laughed and helped her into the car. “Best idea you’ve had all day.”
    “Really?” she asked with a saucy laugh, grabbing his wrist and drawing his hand up her leg. “Because I was sure you’d think this was a pretty great idea.”
    He groaned when he got to the bare flesh of her core. “You dirty girl, I like it.” One finger slipped inside, making her gasp and hang on to his shoulders which blocked any outsider's view of her. “So wet for me already.”
    “Always,” she moaned. It was true. If Maddox was around, her panties were damp, and her body was tuned into the same frequency as his.
    In and out his finger moved until she quivered, and he stopped.
    “Food,” he answered when she gave him