Too Much To Dream

Chapter Five

"When your dad came into the place I worked, I'd only been working there about 2 months. The people there really great....very nice and helpful. Except for one girl. Her name was Julie." Brandy's eyes took on an almost unholy glow as she spoke about the woman. "She must've had the hots for our boss, Chris. Personally I found him to be just a little too touchy, feely , if you know what I mean." Matt reached over and took her hand.
"You want me to go beat him up?" Brandy laughed and squeezed his hand, quietly thanking him for caring.
"Naw. He's not worth it. Anyway, the day your dad came into the pharmacy, Chris had been hitting on me since early that morning. I kept turning him down nicely, not wanting to hurt his feelings. He thought he could get somewhere by force." She stopped and shuddered at the memory. "He backed me into one of the closets and tried to kiss me. That's when Julie wa in in and 'caught us'. Chris started backing off and yelling for me to get off of him. I ran out of the room and told him I was turning his ass in for sexual harassment." Matt smiled at that. He knew Brandy would find someway to let the jerk have it! She shifted to sit on his lap, making in increasingly difficult for his raging erection to find any room in his pants. "That's when your dad came in and you know what happened from there." Matt nodded.
"Yeah, but are you saying he fired you because you were gonna turn him in?" She smiled grimly.
"No, he used the excuse that I had asked for too much time off to take care of your dad. He called me into his office the day after you and Jeff got home. He was in there, along with a member of the board and informed me that 'Due to continuous absences without excuses', I was being terminated." She absentmindedly ran Matt's ponytail through her fingers. "Of course he didn't tell the board members that Julie had threatened to rat him out if he didn't fire me. And he waited until the board member left before calling me every name in the book." Matt reached up to trace the contours of her face with his fingertips.
"You don't believe anything he said, do you?" Brandy shook her head.
"Nope. I don't know what it is...but after everything that happened with Paul, now I just refuse to be ran over by anyone. Especially a man." Matt laughed and pulled her down for a brief kiss.
"So what did you say to him?" Brandy shrugged and eased off Matt's lap. Standing and stretching, she said, "What could I say? I told him he was an asshole and that I wouldn't piss down his throat if his guts were on fire...unless I could piss gasoline." She turned, startled by the booming laughter that came from Matt. She smiled, thinking how beautiful he was when he laughed. His whole face lit up and his dimples peeked through. Grabbing his hands, she yanked him off the couch.
"C'mon. I need some fresh air. Let's go to the park." She went to the hall closet, digging around for a jacket. Matt followed close behind her, sliding his arms around her waist. He nuzzled her neck,sending shivers up her spine.
"Have I told you how incredible I think you are?" Matt asked, placing light kisses along her throat. She leaned her head father to the side, allowing him greater access.
"Hhhhmmm. I don't think so. Care to tell me now?" He turned her in his arms and brought her up against his aching body.
"I'd rather show you..." Matt's lips captured hers in a soul searing kiss. Lights exploded behind her closed eyes and she felt herself begin to sink slowly into him. By the time Matt pulled away, her hands were shaking and her knees were weak. She opened her eyes slowly to see Matt staring down at her, an odd expression on his face.
"Wow. I'm that incredible, huh?" The strange look in Matt's eyes faded at hearing her words and a smile once again graced his lips. Sliding her black leather jacket onto her arms, he gently pushed Brandy toward the door.
"Oh, that's not even half of it. I think you're much more incredible than that." He raised their clasped hands to his mouth to brush a gentle kiss across her knuckles. "And when the time is right, I'll show you." Brandy smiled as they got into Matt's camaro, heading to the park. She was lucky to have found someone like Matt. Very lucky.

"C'mon, dad! We're gonna be late!" Matt shouted from the front door where he was waiting for his father and his younger brother. It had been 3 weeks since Mr. Hardy was released from the hospital and Brandy had gotten him tickets to a bluegrass festival as a "Glad to have you Better" present. Now, realizing what he was in for, Matt knew why Jeff was reluctant to go. Neither one of them had ever really liked bluegrass...that was more of their dad's thing. Now they had to accompany him to this festival and be bored to tears. Well, I won't be bored, Matt thought. At least I'll have Brandy with me.
Brandy and Matt had been next to inseparable since Matt discovered the truth behind her past. She had explained to him, Jeff and Mr. H. why she'd panicked and triggered an asthma attack the first night she was at their home. "You see," Brandy started "Paul had his hair dyed the same way Shannon had his done...I'd always thought it was sort of an odd combination. And seeing it again after so long..."
Matt looked at his watch again., Brandy would be there any min-- A knock sounded from the front door and Matt grinned, whirling around to open it. He took in her outfit for the day : low-riding, hip-hugging jeans and a bright red shirt, cut so that it had only one sleeve. He noticed that she'd left her hair loose, like he liked it. Grinning like a maniac, he dragged her into his arms, planting a kiss firmly on her lips. "Hey baby."
Brandy's eyes drank him in. Even though she'd just seen him two days ago at the gym, she was still amazed at how gorgeous he was. The long-sleeved, black button-up shirt had been left open at the collar and had been tucked into a pair of jeans that hugged all the right places. Sliding her hands up his chest, to play with the V1 pendant that hung at his throat, she reached up to give him a lingering kiss. Her tongue slipped across his lips asking for entrance. He complied, allowing her to deepen the kiss.
"Are you two gonna come up for air or what?"
They pulled apart to see a grinning Jeff standing at the foot of the stairs. Brandy stuck her tongue out at him as Matt frowned. "Go away." Jeff walked over and grabbed Brandy in a fierce hug. Ever since he'd found out about her former husband, he'd been very protective of her. Especially after he figured out his brother was in love with the woman. That thought in itself was enough to boggle the mind. Pulling away, but leaving one arm around Brandy, Jeff turned to his older brother.
"We are. Brandy's leaving you for me and we're going to Vegas." Brandy burst out laughing at the look on Matt's face. Sliding out from under Jeff's arm, she wrapped her arms around Matt's waist and looked up into his chocolate brown eyes.
"What do you think about that?"she asked coyly. Matt looked down into her glowing face and suddenly it hit him like a bolt of lightning --- he \i really\i0 like this woman. Really. Liked. Her. He smiled and planted a firm kiss on her upturned lips. Keeping Brandy in the circle of his arms, Matt turned to his younger brother.
"You'll have to fight me for her." Jeff snickered.
"I could take you any day."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Hell, yeah!"
All at once the boys were wrestling around on the floor, getting in knocks where they could and just goofing off. Brandy looked up to see Mr. Hardy staring down at his sons with something akin to disgust on his face. "How many times do I have to tell you two, no bloodshed in the house?" The boys got up, dusting themselves off. Matt walked over to Brandy a kissed her lightly on the forehead.
"Jeff thought he could steal Brandy away from me." he told his father. Mr. Hardy grinned and looked at his youngest son.
"You \i do \i0 realize that there's no chance in hell of that happening, right?" The other three laughed as Jeff pouted.
"Het cot could happen!" Shaking her head at Jeff's antics, Brandy took in Mr. Hardy's appearnce: his cheeks were back to a healthy, ruddy glow and he was gaining weight back. She smiled and went over to give him a hug.
"You look great, Mr. H.! Are you ready for the festival?" The older gentleman smiled, noting how much more at ease she seemed now, tshe she had just a few short weeks ago. He patted her shoulder, gesturing towards the door.
"Sure am! Let's get going!" Jeff rolled his eyes at his father's enthusiasm. Following them out the door, he got directly behind Brandy. Looking up, he gasped.
"What the hell?!?"
Everyone turned to look at Jeff, but his gaze was fixed on a place on Brandy's shoulder. Turning her around, so that her back was to his fathnd hnd his brother, Jeff pointed. On her right shoulderblade was a tattoo of a treble clef, a rose climbing through the center of it. Matt snickered.
"Big deal! You've got lots of tattoos, Jeff." Jeff shook his head a frown marring his features. He ran a fingertip gingerly over the rose, noting the raised skin.
"Not like this."
Brandy stood silent through the exchange. Turning, she pasted a fake smile on her face. "What are you talking about, Jeff?" He continued to lightly rub the delicate tattoo.
"What is it?" Matt pushed his little brother's hand aside and felt for himself. He frowned and gently turned her around. Sliding a hand down her cheek, he said, "Did HE do that, Brandy?" Sighing and turning to the door, Brandy said, "Yeah. It was about a year ago. He thought it'd be pretty funny to see if a cigarette would burn through my shirt." One hand on the doorknob, she turned to face the Hardy's in time to see Matt's face flush with anger.
"What was his fuckin' problem? My God! A cigarette?!"
"Yeah, well, I'm just glad it wasn't a cigar." Brandy said dryly. "Can we just drop it? This is your dad's day and there's no sense in someone getting mad over something that happened a long time ago. It's in the past---let's leave it there, okay?" Matt reluctantly nodded his head.
"Well, I'm really looking forward to this festival!" Mr. Hardy started in, trying to lighten the mood. "It feels like I haven't been outside in a year!" Jeff, grinned at his father.
"Well, we weren't gonna tell you, but.....you HAVE been in the house for a year. We gave you some RVW potion so that you'd stay out of our hair for a while." Brandy frowned at that.
"RVW?" Jeff laughed.
"Yep. 'Rip Van Winkle' !"


The fairgrounds where the festival was held seemed packed that day. As soon as they arrived, they made their way to the grandstands where the music would be played. Matt waited until his brother and father were seated, then announced that he was going to get some drinks.
"I'll give you a hand, Matt." Brandy said. He smiled down at her, amazed at how much she had changed his life in such a short period of time. Taking her hand, they made their way through the crowds of people to one of the refreshment stands that had been set up.
"I need 2 waters, a coke and a lemonade", Matt said, knowing Brandy's love of the sour drink. She grinned and winked at him, squeezing his hand. Matt paid the lady behind the counter and they started back toward the grandstands. They passed a booth and Brandy stopped short, and gasped with delight.
"Oh, look Matt! Aren't they pretty?" She pointed at the delicate "lady's" knives that sa the the table. An older gentleman sat at a desk, working on another knife and there was another section to the side where there were swords. Matt looked at Brandy in surprise. Most women would've stopped at a jewelry booth. He thought with a grin. He watched as she talked with the old man and admired his work. Matt wandered around until he found what he was looking for. A baby blue knife, the casing made from dyed oyster shells. He gingeerly picked it up, flipping the blade up and locking it into place. The blade itself was stainless stell, though not the brushed kind. This blade shone like a new quarter and rippled like waves in the water and stood about 4 inches tall. Turning to the older lady working behind the counter, he laid the knife down and pulled out his wallet.
"I'm buying this for the lady over there, " he whispered conspiritoraly to her. "Could you maybe not wrap it up so I can stick it in my pocket?" The woman smiled, remembering when she and her husband had first met and he'd done the same thing.
"Sure thing, dear." Matt smiled, flashing his dim.
.
"Thank you."
The woman quickly rang up his purchase and just as Matt was slipping it into his pocket, Brandy turned from her place talking to the old man. Tilting her head and looking at him quizically, she motioned him forward.
"Come on, babe. Your dad and Jeff are probably wondering where we ran off to." Matt nodded, winking one last time at the lady behind the counter and followed Brandy back to the grandstands.
"Looks like things are getting ready to start."she said as they hurried to find their seats. They sat down just as the first band came out. Much to Matt's surprise, he was enjoying himself. He looked over at Brandy and wondered how much of it had to do with her. She'd been having a blast, clapping and singing along with some of the songs. She turned to smile at him and his breath caught in his throat. She was so beautiful. He leaned forward and placed the sweetest kiss of his life on her lips. When he pulled away, Brandy looked up at him, eyes unknowingly filled with love. Just then they heard her name being announced.
"And the lucky winner is....Brandy McGowan!" Brandy looked on in confusion as she was told to come down to the stage. She shrugged and grinned at the guys laughter. Making her way on stage, she looked at the announcer.
"What did I win?" She asked grinning up at Matt in the stands.
"Why, a chance to sing onstage with us!" She turned and looked at the band setting up, smiling at the banjos and accoustic guitars she had grown up with.
"Sounds great! What shall I sing?"
"Whatever you like, ma'am." said an older gentleman holding a guitar. She lookedintointo the stands once again and saw Matt. He smiled, blowing her a kiss and a wink. She knew exactly what she wanted to sing, then, knowing it was the only way she'd be able to let Matt know how much he meant to her. She whispered her choice to the old man, who in turn, told the rest of the band. Brandy looked into the bleachers, holding Matt's gaze as she started the song.

It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart

Without saying a word, you can light up the dark

Try as I may, I could never explain

What I hear when you don't say a thing.

The smile on your face let's me know that you need me.

There's a truth in your eyes, saying you'll never leave me

The touch of your hand sayu'llu'll catch me whenever I fall

You say it best, when you say nothing at all.

Matt couldn't help the tears that welled up behind his eyes. As he stared down at this beautiful woman who had changed his life in such a short period of time, it hit him....he was in love with her.