Breaking Braydon (13 page)

We slipped into the warm, cozy Lincoln Town Car. Braydon scooted next to me. “Cold?” he asked.

“Just a little.” I rubbed my hands on his coat. “Do you mind?”

He chuckled. “No, rub away.”

The rubbing had the desired effect. I was curious if he was feeling the same electric

attraction.

“On second thought, you’d better stop.” He was breathing heavily. He checked on

Henry to make sure his eyes were on the road then leaned into me, stopping right before his lips touched mine. My lips were tingling. What was he waiting for? His warm breath tickled my lips, resulting in a full body shiver. If he didn’t kiss me in about two seconds, I was going to grab him.

The car came to a stop. That was fast. Braydon must live close to the Paramount. I looked up, and my breath stopped for a second. It was a hotel. Braydon brought me to a hotel. Why wasn’t I prepared for this? I knew this was possible, but I wasn’t prepared for the disappointment that filled my hopeful heart. Of course, he wouldn’t bring me to his condo, or wherever he lived. The hotel was probably his bachelor hang out.
You are not one of his six-hour girls
. Colin’s words came back to haunt me. He was right. I wasn’t. Sadness descended over me like fog on a Seattle morning – thick and heavy.  Right now, though, it was snowing. My eyes lifted up, looking through the window as the large snowflakes whirled to the ground. That’s how I felt – whirling out of control. I wanted to get out of the car. Right now.

Braydon stiffened next to me. He noticed where we’d stopped. “Henry.”

“Yes sir.”

“Why did we stop here?” His tone was controlled, but I knew he was angry by his clipped words.

“Oh, uh, I just assumed…”

“Do I pay you to assume?” Now it was obvious. Braydon was angry. He practically yelled at his driver.

“No, no, sir. I thought, since it was snowing, you’d want to go to the closest hotel for safety. It looks like we’re in for a significant snowfall,” he stuttered out.

Good save, Henry, but I wasn’t buying it. Braydon wasn’t either. He leaned over and whispered, “I promise, I was never going to take you here.”

“Yes, I know that now. I thought I was okay with everything until the reality of the hotel hit me. I’m so sorry, Braydon. I don’t think I can do this. I want to, but I’m just not experienced enough for this kind of thing.” I felt horrible. He must think the worst of me.

He reached over and held my hand. “Look at me, Jain.” I didn’t want to, but he put his hand gently on my chin and tilted my head up so I could meet his eyes. “I want to take you to my home. I’m not going to lie. I want you. Badly. But I don’t want to rush this. We’ll wait until you’re ready. I can wait.”

“Okay.” Why did I keep saying okay?

He leaned into me and brushed his full lips against mine. One. Two. Three times. That did things to me, good things. I leaned in. I wanted more.

He chuckled. “Slow. Remember?”

“You’re not going to torture me, now, are you?” I asked.

“Maybe a little.” His mouth pulled up in a grin.

“Hey, Henry, let’s go before we get snowed in here,” he shouted to the front seat.

“Your condo sir?” Henry asked.

Braydon let out a sigh. “No, Henry. My house in Carnation.”

Carnation? Were we going to Carnation? That’s out of the city, at least a forty-five minute drive on a good day.

Henry was visibly surprised. He straightened and turned around to study Braydon. I thought he was trying to decipher if he was joking.

“It might get a little dicey with the snowfall, and I doubt I’ll be able to transport Miss Jain back into town until it clears up.”

“That’s okay,” Braydon answered.

What? Was I staying? That would mean…I wouldn’t be a six-hour woman. The thrill started in my toes and worked its way throughout my entire body. Even though it was still a little chilly in the car, I felt flushed.

“Sorry, Jain. Is that all right with you?”

Hell yes!

“Okay.” Now I was concerned about myself. I knew I had a good vocabulary. ‘Okay’ wasn’t the only response I knew. What was wrong with my brain?

He chuckled. “Okay. Good.” He reached over and linked our hands together for the long drive to his house.

TWENTY-THREE

Braydon

My heart was doing crazy, weird things. First, it was beating rapid fire. Then, the beats were skipping, jumping all over the place. I had Jain’s hand in mine, and I was taking her home – to my house. I’d never brought a woman, any woman, to my home before. I wasn’t going to sleep with her tonight, I already knew that. Still, I was excited beyond comprehension to have her with me. If the snow got deep enough, maybe I’d have her for days.
What’s happening to me?
I didn’t know, and I was shocked to discover I didn’t care.

“Mr. Decker?” Henry’s voice shook me out of my introspection.

“Yes, Henry?” I noticed the car had slowed, and we seemed to be stopping. We had at least two very long blocks to go.

“I think we’ll need to stop here. There’s a tree down up ahead.”

Sure enough, one of the old cedars that lined the road had come down. I glanced down at Jain’s shoes.

“I’ll carry you,” I offered.

She shook her head. “That won’t be necessary, but thanks. I can manage.”

“Miss Independent? You’ll be begging me after ten feet with those shoes.”

Henry pulled the car over to the side of the road. I took Jain’s hand and helped her out. Six inches of snow had piled up in the hour it took to get here. This would be a very long and cold two blocks.

Jain’s eyes grew large as the cold from the snow enveloped her daintily clad feet. I quirked an eyebrow. She quirked both eyebrows back at me. Stubborn.

“Just let me know when you want to cry uncle,” I teased.

“I’m good,” she responded.

As she started walking, she looked like one of those Clydesdale horses from the beer commercials. I tried to contain my laughter. I didn’t want to make her angry. About one block in, I heard a loud groan.

“I can’t feel my feet. Uncle!”

Now I could let my laughter go.

“Don’t laugh! You have no idea what these torture contraptions are like. Some guy by the name of Jimmy made them. He must hate women.” She huffed.

Of course, that statement made me laugh harder. She was probably the only woman on the planet who didn’t know Jimmy Choo.

“I’m sure he loves women. He wants their feet to be beautiful,” I assured her.

“Someone needs to talk to him about practicality. Can you pick me up? I’m dying here.”

I turned my back to her. “Jump on.”

She hiked up her dress a little and hopped on so quickly, I almost lost my balance. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I grabbed her legs and helped her place them around my stomach for support. “Hang on. Here we go.”

She tightened her grip, breathing into my ear. “Oh, this is nice.” She sighed.

It was nice. I loved the feeling of her wrapped around my body. We were no more than ten feet when I felt her nibble on my ear.

“Are you trying to torture me now?” I questioned.

She giggled and replied, “What? Who me? I’m just trying to make sure your ears stay warm.”

She proceeded to kiss my neck softly. Every inch of me became aware of her. Her legs around my waist. Her arms around my neck. Her body pressed close. Her warm breath on my neck. I couldn’t breathe properly. I couldn’t think – or balance. My foot caught on something hard, and we went down into a pile of snow.

“Are you all right?” Feelings of concern tore through me until I heard her muffled laughter.

“I wanted to distract you, but I didn’t think it would knock you off your feet!” She was lying on the snow, peals of laughter echoing through the cold, snowy night.

I pinned both her arms on the ground next to her. “You will now be punished.”

She stilled, licked her lips and waited. “Okay,” she answered, which made me laugh again. I loved it when she said that.

I slowly lowered my lips close to hers, drawing out the anticipation. I stopped when they were just a fraction above. Her breathing increased, and the pulse at her neck hammered away. Good. She had the same effect on me.

Henry cleared his throat. “Um, Mr. Decker, are you all right? Did you take a spill?”

Damn. “Yes we did. But we’re okay.” I jumped up and grabbed Jain’s hand.

“That’s good. I locked up the car and retrieved all the emergency supplies. It should be secure until the weather clears.”

“Thanks, Henry. You can stay in the apartment above the garage, as usual.”

“Thank you, sir. I appreciate it. I always love staying over.” Henry would frequently stay in the apartment overnight during the work week. It was easier than trying to commute to his home fifty miles away.

Ten minutes later, a little colder and a lot wetter, we arrived at my house. I fumbled for my keys with stiff fingers. I heard a whoosh come from Jain, and then, “This is your house?”

“Yes. That’s why we’re here.” I laughed.

“I just didn’t…I didn’t expect something like this.”

I surveyed my log home and imagined seeing it for the first time. “What did you expect?”

“Contemporary, I think.”

“Well, you have the opposite here.”

“You don’t say?” she quipped.

“Has anyone told you that you’re both stubborn and sarcastic?” I asked.

She replied, “Yes to both,” and walked past me into my house.

I followed and watched as she stopped in the middle of the large open room. The entire bottom floor was a great room with a spacious kitchen, large dining room, and a living area with a massive river rock fireplace.

She turned in a circle, eyes huge. “This is magnificent. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

A sense of pride filled me upon hearing her words. I’d spent years picking out every detail, large to small. From what type of logs were used to the hardware on the kitchen cabinets.

“Look at these windows. They must be thirty feet tall! Who cleans them?”

“I have a service that comes every couple months. Come on, let me take your coat.”

She shrugged it off, ignoring me, and continued to walk around taking everything in. She made her way into the kitchen and ran her hand over the counter.

“Granite. I love the design. Did you choose it?”

“Yes. I found it at a store in Granite Falls, appropriately enough.”

She nodded and continued her inspection. “Do you mind?” She pointed at my refrigerator.

“Sure. Are you hungry?”

“No. Not at all, but I’ve always wanted a Sub-Zero.” She opened the door. “This thing is huge! Wow. It looks like we won’t starve if we’re snowed in for a while.”

Thankfully, my cook came in yesterday, and the refrigerator had enough food to last for at least a week.

“Yeah, Marla, my cook, usually overstocks. We should be okay.”

Just as the words left my mouth, the lights dimmed then went out.

TWENTY-FOUR

Jain

Everything went completely black. “Braydon?” I whispered.

“Yeah. Don’t move. I have a flashlight in the cupboard.” I heard some fumbling around then a beam of light flashed around the room, landing on me.

“Don’t worry, I have a generator. Henry is probably already on it.”

Sure enough, the lights came back on, only dimmer.

“See?” He turned off his flashlight and returned it to the cupboard.

Thank goodness. I didn’t want my tour of Braydon’s home interrupted. I continued to scan the enormous space. He could probably hold a party of three hundred in here comfortably. I took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of the room. It reminded me of my childhood when I would change the cedar chips in my gerbil cage. I smiled.

The walls were made of handcrafted logs with exposed caulking showing between them. I was glad he didn’t go for drywall. It made the room feel cozy and rustic, but it was also modern in all the right ways. The upscale kitchen boasted sleek, stainless steel appliances and there was designer furniture scattered throughout the room. I wanted to dive into the large, overstuffed couch perched in front of the most beautiful stone fireplace I’d ever seen. French doors at the back of the house opened up onto a large deck, which was now covered in fluffy, white snow. I was on sensory overload.

“I couldn’t imagine a more beautiful home. I love it.”

He drew me to him, his arms wrapped around, holding me. “I’m glad.” He pulled back a moment and examined me. “Your lips are purple, and you’re trembling. I’m so sorry. You must be freezing.”

I was so preoccupied, I hadn’t noticed. My dress was wet and cold from our fall earlier, and my feet still felt like Popsicles. He ran his hands up and down my arms, trying to warm me.

“I have some extra clothes you can wear. Follow me.” Taking me by the hand, he led me past the kitchen, down a long hallway. “This is the guest wing.”

We entered a large suite with a huge fireplace and four poster bed. The carpet was plush, and there was a glass chandelier that cast warm lighting around the room. He walked to an armoire and pulled open drawers searching for something.

“Aha. Here they are. I keep some of my spare clothes in this room.” He pulled out a Seahawks t-shirt and sweats. Pausing, he grabbed a pair of boxers.

“So, that answers that question.” I laughed.

“I have some briefs upstairs. Would you like those instead?” He smirked.

“No, no. These will be just fine.” I took the pile of clothes, suddenly feeling shy.

“The bathroom is right through those doors.” He motioned to a set of double doors across the room. “It should be stocked with everything you need. A nice, long bath should warm you up.” He paused. “I’m going to check on Henry. I hope you’ll be comfortable in this room. I’ll see you in the morning?”

Really?

“I want to do this right, Jain.” He apparently read my expression.

I nodded. I was not going to say okay again.

He slipped out, and I was left standing, holding his boxers – and other clothes. I decided to take his advice and headed for the bathroom. I opened one of the two doors and entered heaven. Luxurious and breathtaking were the first words that came to mind. The bathroom was spectacular with white marble everywhere, crystal chandeliers, frosted glass doors, a huge jetted bathtub, and an LCD television built into the mirror. Another fireplace sat next to the tub.