The Second Time Around by Angie Daniels Page B

gold-digger just like her mother had been. There were times when he had considered the possibility, but he just couldn’t allow himself to believe that of her.
    â€œIt doesn’t mean anything except that I realize that after all these years I still haven’t gotten over her.”
    â€œAre you serious?” she asked with the tightening of her lips. “The gold-digger left you the night before your wedding. I had to stand up in front of that church and tell everyone the wedding was off. Do you know how humiliating that was for me?”
    And what about me? It was always about his mother.
    â€œWhat could there possibly still be there?” she asked tentatively.
    He wasn’t sure yet, but it was definitely something that wasn’t just going away.
    â€œI think starting anything with her would be a big mistake. Claudia’s said her daughter Brooke has been asking about you.”
    Brooke Washington was perfectly painted and groomed, and expensive and spoiled just like her mother. Past the sexual gratification there was no satisfying her. He leaned back in the chair and gave his mother a long, hard look. All his mother ever cared about was securing a daughter-in-law of the same financial class. It didn’t matter if she had no brain. The last thing he needed in his life. He scowled inwardly. His mother had been setting him up with women for years even while he was engaged to Brenna. Anika Arnold. She was definitely a piece of work. She had been stalking him for months and then the night before his wedding day, she had appeared at his apartment in nothing but a long trench coat that she had graciously dropped in a heap at the door. The bubbleheaded girl had nothing but dollar signs in her eyes. No way. He wanted a woman who loved him for the man he was, not for all the diamonds he could afford to buy. One thing about Brenna, she never wanted anything from him. She loved him for him not what he could give her. At least that was what he had thought before she had taken the money and vanished.
    â€œI hate to see you get caught in her web again. Don’t forget about the money she took.”
    How could he forget when his mother made it a habit to remind him. “I’m a big boy, Mother. I think I can handle myself around Brenna.”
    â€œWhy is she here?”
    â€œMs. Nellie sprained her ankle.”
    â€œOh.” He noticed the moment of concern before she hid it behind a look of discontent. While teenagers his mother and Ms. Nellie had been good friends before his mother met his father and deemed herself too good. Sometimes his mother’s behavior really bothered him.
    â€œShe’s not staying, is she?”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œGood.” Noticing the look on his face she quickly tried to explain. “I know you think I never liked that girl and I don’t have anything personally against her except that I don’t think she is good enough for you. Jabarie, honey, you could do so much better.”
    Suddenly in need of another cup of coffee, he rose with his mug in his hand. “Well, I don’t think we have to worry about that. She doesn’t want to have anything to do with me.”

    Brenna arrived at the store and had another long day and was glad she had convinced her aunt to hire more help. The students dropped in that morning and she hired them both to work during the busiest time of the day. By the close of business she was tired. It had been so busy she didn’t realize until she was closing out the register and dropping the money into a floor safe that she hadn’t heard from Jabarie all day.
    Thinking about last night, the loneliness of the last five years welled up inside of her, and at that moment she knew that she had made a mistake coming back. The emotional wounds had reopened. She wasn’t angry with him, she was mad at herself. Now it was bleeding again and that was the last thing she wanted to happen. She needed to get rid of