Betrayal by Naomi Chase Page A

“What part of ‘no’ did you not understand? I’m not going anywhere with you! I was in the middle of having lunch when you interrupted, so if you don’t mind—”
    â€œI do mind,” Brandon snarled, slamming the car door and stalking back toward her. “I mind very much.”
    Tamia stood her ground as he advanced on her, bringing their faces so close together that their breath mingled and their body heat electrified the air between them.
    Tamia swallowed tightly. “You’re causing a scene, Brandon.”
    His eyes flashed. “You think I give a fuck?”
    â€œYou should. Everyone inside this building knows who you are. You have an image to uphold, a name to protect.”
    â€œFuck all that,” Brandon growled.
    Tamia smiled bitterly. “We both know you don’t have that luxury.”
    He clenched his jaw, his pupils nearly black as he stared into her eyes.
    She stared back, heart hammering violently. “Let me go, Brandon,” she whispered.
    â€œI can’t do that.”
    â€œYou have to.”
    He closed his eyes and swallowed hard, nostrils flaring. “I want you to stay the hell away from Dominic.”
    â€œThat’s not your call to make anymore.”
    â€œDamn it, Tamia—”
    â€œMr. Chambers?”
    â€œ What? ” Brandon snapped, turning to glare at the parking attendant, who’d left his station and walked over to them.
    The man gulped nervously. “Sorry to interrupt, sir, but we need to clear the driveway. If you’d like to have your car reparked—”
    â€œNo,” Brandon bit off tersely. “I’m leaving.”
    As the relieved man backed away, Brandon gave Tamia a dark look that clearly said: This ain’t over.
    Her heart thudding, she watched as he spun on his heel and stalked over to his car at the curb. After shooting her one last glare, he ducked behind the wheel, slammed the door, and roared off.
    Inhaling a shaky breath, Tamia made her way back inside the restaurant on legs that felt like melted rubber.
    Dominic stood as she returned to the table and sat down.
    â€œAre you okay?” he asked her.
    Tamia nodded, taking a long sip of wine to calm her rattled nerves.
    Dominic shook his head at her. “Your boy’s losing it.”
    Tamia said nothing.
    â€œDidn’t I tell you he’d go crazy when he saw us together?” Dominic’s eyes gleamed with amused satisfaction. “You might get him back even sooner than we thought.”
    Tamia calmly picked up her fork and cut into her mahi mahi. “Tell me more about the couple with the bed-and-breakfast. The Ehrlichs, right?”
    Heeding her unspoken request to change the subject, Dominic began discussing her potential client. But as his deep voice droned on and on, all Tamia could think about was the dangerous look in Brandon’s eyes before he’d left her.
    She knew she hadn’t seen the last of him.
    And for the first time since their breakup, she didn’t know whether that was good or bad.

Chapter 12
    Tamia
    The confrontation with Brandon haunted Tamia for the rest of the day.
    As she showered and shampooed her hair that evening, she mentally replayed what had happened at the restaurant.
    What gave Brandon Chambers the fucking right to be angry? He was the one who’d wasted no time hooking up with Cynthia after he and Tamia broke up. He was the one who’d been playing house with her while Tamia was behind bars, wondering if she’d ever taste freedom again. He was the one who’d been careless enough to get Cynthia pregnant. And he was the one who’d agreed to marry her!
    Yet he had the nerve to be outraged when he saw her and Dominic together?
    He had the audacity to tell her who to stay away from?
    The more Tamia reflected on Brandon’s behavior, the madder she became.
    Lifting her face to the hot spray of water, she vigorously scrubbed her scalp. After rinsing