Something Better

Whatcha Gonna Do About It?

Brandon was waiting inside the entrance at Brandy's Bar and Grill. He was nervously tapping and clicking his fingers, while bouncing on his toes. He had called the restaurant as soon as he had finished texting Martha and asked if they could make some fresh tacos to go. He didn't usually use his fame to get things, but he wanted to impress Martha, so he had dropped his name into the phone conversation and they were happy to oblige a famous Vegas son.

The waitress came over with a large brown bag, warning him of the hot food inside. Brandon smiled and practically ran out of the door, after paying he bounded down to his parked truck. He grinned as he remembered giving Martha a ride home from Brandy's, after their lunch back in December. He couldn't believe he had held back from her for so long. His stomach was bouncing on a trampoline as he drove towards Henderson and Martha. He had no idea how he would be able to eat the gourmet tacos sitting beside him as he drove, filling up the truck with a delicious smell. His thumbs were drumming on the steering wheel, then his hands were slapping against his thighs, he knew he was nervous, more nervous than he had been about any girl. He thought about what it would be like to kiss her, and he smiled a little sideways smile, thinking that he would be kissing her soon enough. As he drove into their road and pulled in near Martha's house he spotted a fancy two seater sports car parked outside Martha's gate. He suddenly had a bad feeling as he approached her door. He thumped on the door as he heard raised voices coming from within the house. He felt that protective streak
come over him as he tried the door handle. Brandon began to panic as he heard Martha's voice in a shout. Suddenly the door flew open, almost unbalancing Brandon, and Mitchell marched out, his face purple.

"You are welcome to her," He snarled as he stomped past Brandon.

Brandon didn't have a chance to answer as Martha flew at Mitchell's back, her cheeks flushed and her eyes wild with rage.

"How dare you even look the road he is on!" Martha shouted after Mitchell as he slammed his car door shut and drove off with unnecessary speed.

Brandon was shell shocked at the scene he had witnessed. He wasn't sure what to make of it. Martha looked at Brandon standing in the doorway. Her eyes were pools of dark moss and her fury was palpable.

"Are you ok?" Brandon said, his voice catching a little.

"I am now he's gone!" She said her chest heaving with anger still.

"What happened?" Brandon asked, starting to worry that maybe there had been more to Martha and Mitchell than Charles had told him.

"Come in and I'll tell you," Martha said softening slightly as she looked at Brandon's confused face.

They walked into the kitchen in silence and Brandon sat his bag of food on the table. He looked at Martha and saw how upset she was and wished he had been there earlier to stand up for her.

"Do you still want me to be here?" Brandon asked nervously, hoping she wanted him to stay.

"Of course I do!" Martha said loudly, "I can't believe this, I can't believe him!" Martha looked at Brandon with eyes full of tears.

"Hey," He said softly as he pulled her in close to him, "Sh, calm down, it's over now," Brandon liked how Martha nestled her head into his shoulder. Brandon tried to soothe her as he gently stroked her hair just beside her ear. He started to relax as he felt her body rest against his. They stood like that in the kitchen for a while, letting their breathing slow, although Brandon's heart was still racing. Martha was the first to break away, walking over to the bag of food with raised eyebrows. Brandon laughed at her expression as he opened up the brown paper and made a show of pulling out all the delicious treats from inside.

"Ok, Miss Love, get some plates and I'll dish this out," Brandon said with a smile, "Then you have to dish the story of what just happened with that flashy lawyer, ok?"

"Ok, deal," Martha said with a grin, that encouraged Brandon's worried heart.

They sat side by side on the bench at Martha's kitchen table. They ate in silence at the beginning apart from Martha's loud ums and ahs at how good the food was.

"Ok, you animal, dish it!" Brandon said taking a bite of a taco shell.

"Ok, I was getting dressed and the door goes," Martha began, "I thought you were early, so I opened the door expecting you, but I find Mitchell, who was pissed off. He had heard that I had left the party with you. He said I had led him on! Led him on? Can you believe that?! Then he said he wouldn't go near mennow he knew what kind of girl I was!" Martha said, her anger starting to show again.

"Were you guys dating?" Brandon asked tentatively.

"No!" Martha almost interrupted, "We went for lunch, only once! You called right before it, remember?" Martha looked at Brandon with big eyes.

"Yeah, I remember," Brandon snorted, "I was gutted about it, I know I didn't have the right to be, after how I'd treated you, but I was upset none the less," Brandon felt himself flush as he confessed to Martha, "Did anything, you know, happen between you and Mitchell?" Brandon asked not really wanting to hear any details.

"No!" Martha said with exasperation,
"He did nothing but talk about himself, he kissed my cheek as he took a phone call from his work and left. And it was the same last night, he left the party after five minutes, because he had to go to work, but I wasn't even spending my birthday with him and that's why he's got a fuckin' cheek to turn up at my door, thinking I owe him something and telling me basically I'm a bit of whore!" Martha took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Brandon smiled affectionately at her and noticed how lovely her profile was, with long lashes against her cheeks.
He reached out and took her hand in his. Electricity began to spark at their contact, but Brandon wasn't afraid of it this time, it was all he wanted. Martha opens her eyes and found his, he held on to her gaze.

"Well by the look of things, you certainly let him know he was mistaken," Brandon smiled, "I thought I was going to have to hold you back."

"I don't think he understood anything I was saying, my accent goes a bit crazy when I'm angry," Martha giggled.

"Sorry, what was that?" Brandon said with a frown which quickly melted into a smile.

"Oh ha ha!" Martha smiled, "After me defending you and your honour!" Martha said with mock annoyance.

"I know, I'm sorry! I should have been the one to jump to your defence, but I was afraid maybe you and Mitchell were more serious than I had been told," Brandon said solemnly through downcast lashes.

Brandon looked up as Martha placed her other hand upon his, which was still happily joined to hers.

"How could you think that?" Martha said searching his face with her eyes, "You are the only thing I am serious about," Martha said softly.

Brandon moved his hand and lifted it up to tuck a stray but of hair behind Martha's ear. He felt his heart beat faster as she leaned into his touch. He held her face letting his thumb stroke her cheek bone. His eyes flicking from her eyes to her lips. He could feel himself being pulled into her beautiful eyes, her hand on his thigh as they moved closer. Brandon closed his eyes and gently held her head with his hand as their lips finally met. The first soft chaste caresses quickly developed into a passionate kiss, their lips moving together as Martha's hand was on his cheek and in his hair, while Brandon's hands moved around her waist and behind her head. Their breathing was becoming more erratic, building with desire as they both greedily took each other in, letting their tongues dart in and out, dancing together. Brandon's teeth grazed and pulled gently on Martha's bottom lip as they eventually parted. Brandon breathed heavily as he kissed Martha's forehead, not able to believe he had almost let her slip away. He caught his breath as he looked into her sparkling eyes. He smiled shyly at her, while Martha bit her bottom lip and giggled.

"I have imagined that so many times," Martha whispered.

"Me too," Brandon said as their lips found each other again.

They had waited for this for so long, now it was going to be difficult to stop. Brandon felt the final bricks in the wall between them were demolished with their kiss and they finished off their food with giggles and caresses and kisses.