Saving Stella (4 page)

“She seriously pulled the gun on
you. I’m actually feeling pretty proud right now. My baby sister’s got balls! I
told you she had spunk.”

“Yea well, my balls nearly
retracted back into my body when she pulled that thing.”

Sloan thought it was hilarious,
she was laughing so hard she nearly fell out of the booth. Just then Sally came
sauntering back over to our table. She clearly hadn’t given up on gettin a
piece of me tonight.

“Here you go Brayden, you sure
there’s nothing else I can get you?”

She was pushing her tits in my
face again. It was actually annoying me. But before I could answer Sloan did
for me. She cleared her throat to get Sally’s attention.

“He’s no longer going to be
banging your cheap ass Sally. Go find another root rat, this one’s reformed.”

Sally jaw dropped at the same time
as mine, she spun on her heel before she even got Sloan’s drink order and took
off. I was still wondering what had just happened.

“You can close your mouth now
Bray. She shouldn’t be harassing us at least for the rest of tonight. But I
think I have to go get my own drink from the bar now.”

“I am not a root rat!”

She was laughing again. I must be
on fire with the funnies tonight, I didn’t think so but Sloan obviously did.

“Not a root rat, yea right. What
would you call it then?”

“I simply have a big appetite.
Well, I did, seems I’m only thinking about one piece of ass these days.”

“Good, that’s what I like to
hear. So what’s your plan big man?”

“That’s my problem, I have no
idea where to go from here. I’ve never had to pursue a chic; they’ve always
come to me willingly. I’ve never had to work for it. I’m totally out of my
element.”

“Good to hear your not to full of
yourself.
Try thinking outside the box.
Even if you
were used to ‘working’ for it, it would be different with Stella. She’s damaged
goods. Whatever you decide to do next, don’t make it too grand a gesture.
You’ll scare her off.”

“Some help you are. I thought you
would at least have some ideas for me.”

“Nope, it’s all on you Bray. You
want her, you gota figure out how to get her. I figure you’ve already realised
she’s worth the effort. Now I’m going to go get myself a beer since you pissed
off Sally.”

With that she wandered off to the
bar leaving me with my thoughts. We spent the next few hours chillin out,
listening to the band and knocking back a few beers. Before the night was
through, I was pretty sure I had a plan.

Monday couldn’t come fast enough.
The weekend dragged. Every day that I didn’t see Stella felt like forever. But
Monday was finally here, time to put my plan into action. I dressed in a pair
of khaki slacks and button up white shirt with the sleeves rolled up, smart but
casual. It was go time.

Stella

Monday was
here,
sadly it was my favourite day of the week. It was the beginning of five days
where I wouldn’t be completely alone. I had my numbers to get lost in, and
Bianca’s eccentric behaviour to keep me occupied.

When I got to the office that
morning Bianca was sitting at her desk with the strangest look on her face. I
couldn’t place it. But there were many things about Bianca I didn’t understand,
including some of her facial expressions.

I said my good mornings, made
myself a coffee and went into my office.

That’s when I saw it, a white
envelope on my desk with a yellow lily placed next to it.

I lifted it up and turned it over;
there was no writing on either side. But if I had to guess I would say it was
from Brayden given Bianca’s strange behaviour and the yellow lily. I slid my
finger under the flap to open it. Inside was a plain white card with what I
assumed was Brayden’s hand writing.

               
Stella,

     
I haven’t stopped thinking
about you since we met... I have made arrangements for us to have lunch
together in your office today. I’ll see you at one.

                                                                                               
Brayden
x

Butterflies were going crazy in
my stomach. My mind had been consumed by thoughts of Brayden since I had met
him also. But I didn’t know if I was ready for all this. Could I let go of my
fear? I honestly didn’t know. I had held on to it so tightly for so long I
don’t think I know how to let go.

I sat at my desk trying to decide
if I could go through with seeing him today.
So much for
getting lost in my numbers.
I wanted to be brave, I wanted to find
myself again. The only person who could make that happen was me. So I would do
this, I would take this step.

My mind felt clear now that I had
made a decision. I pulled up the account I was currently working on my
computer. Numbers would sooth me and calm my nerves until lunch time arrived
and Brayden with it.

My numbers did their job
distracting me, before I knew it there was a firm knock at my door and Brayden
stepped in carrying a paper bag of food. Whatever it was smelt wonderful. My
stomach growled, oh God how embarrassing!

The smile that broke out across
his handsome face made my embarrassment that much worse.

“Good afternoon Stella, how are
you today?”

“Fine thank you, and yourself?”

“Better now.”

I wondered what he meant by that
but he didn’t say anything else. Just took a seat in the lounge area in my
large office and started removing packages from the paper bag placing them on
the coffee table in front of the couch. He glanced my way and I realised I was
staring. My cheeks flared red. I hung my head in an attempt to hide my
continued embarrassment.

“Don’t hide from me Stella. I
think it’s cute the way that blush creeps up your neck and fills your cheeks.”

“Thank you, but that’s not
helping me feel better.”

“Come, sit with me.”

I made my way over to him
cautiously. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me, and even if he was inclined to do so,
Bianca was just a wall away. I sat at the opposite end of the couch to him. Not
ready to be too close just yet.

“I won’t bite, not yet anyway.”

A grin lifted one side of his
mouth showing a dimple. I really didn’t think he could help himself. Charisma
and charm just oozed from his pours.

“All the same, I’m fine over here
for now thank you.”

“Okay, suit yourself. Right, I
didn’t know what you liked, so I got a few different choices. I thought we
could share if that’s okay. I don’t have cooties so I figured it would be
alright.
Unless you have cooties?
I didn’t consider
that. Do you? Have
cooties that is
?”

He was watching me with one
eyebrow raised waiting for me to answer him. I tilted my head to the side out
of habit. He wasn’t serious was he? As I watched him, he watched me, apparently
still waiting on my answer.

“No I don’t have… cooties and I’m
okay with sharing.”

“Good, now that’s out of the way
what would you like to start with? I picked up a few different sandwiches from
the little deli down the street, a fruit salad, a Greek salad, a marinated
chicken salad and chocolate dipped strawberries for dessert.
Figured
I couldn’t go wrong with those.”

He was looking at me expectantly,
waiting for me to say something. I didn’t know what to say. Nobody had ever
brought me lunch, so I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t all this.

“Umm thank you. I don’t quite
know what to say. It all sounds great. What are you going to start with?”

“You’re welcome. I know you’re
not ready to come out with me, but I really wanted to see you again. I hope all
this is okay?”

“It’s more than okay. Really,
it’s the perfect next step. I’m glad you’re here.”

“That’s a relief to hear you say.
I didn’t want to scare you again. I’m trying really hard not to be too intense.
But I can’t help it, it’s my nature. I’ve always said whatever was on my mind,
done whatever I wanted. I’m making an effort to reign myself in a bit here.”

That was sweet. I knew I would be
hard work, and I was excessively pleased that he was making all this effort to
go at my pace.

“I really appreciate it. But I
still want you to be yourself around me. I’m trying not to be so jumpy all the
time. It will be a hard habit for me to break. But if it makes you feel better,
I promise not to pull my gun on you again.”

“Actually that does make me feel
better. Why do you have a gun anyway? You look to proper to be packin.”

Brayden

Shit, I’d don’t it again, said
the wrong thing. Stella had turned white as a ghost when I asked her why she
had a gun. I had to fix it fast before I ruined the whole date.

“Don’t worry about it Stella.
Pretend I never asked. You don’t need to tell me anything. We can talk about
something else. Like this food. It smells amazing right?”

She seemed to be lost in her
thoughts. I went to reach out to touch her but remembered the last time I did
that. I know she had just promised not to pull her gun on me again but I didn’t
want to make her feel like she wanted to either. I settled for saying her name
gently hoping to pull her out of her head.

“Stella… Stella? You’re okay.
Stella, baby, you in there?”

Slowly she came back to me, she
shook her head causing her hair to fall over her shoulders. God I wanted to
touch her.

“I’m sorry Stella. Let’s just eat
hey, forget about my question.”

“No, don’t be sorry. Sometimes I
get lost in my head. I’m sorry. It was a perfectly reasonable question. I have
it because it makes me feel safer, like I would have some control if something
were to happen.”

“I guess that makes sense. Let’s
change the subject yea, to something a little lighter. Like food, I’m starving.
And judging by the sounds your tummy was making when I walked in, I’d say you
are too.”

She was blushing again. That
blush did something to my insides.

“Okay, food sounds good.”

I picked up a sandwich and Stella
picked up one of the salads. We settled into a comfortable silence as we ate. I
had moved closer to her when she had her little freak out, I was still sitting
quite close, and she didn’t seem to mind. At least she was starting to feel
more comfortable around me.

After a few minutes we started making
small talk and the next hour flew by. I wished I had more time with her. I
tidied up the left overs into the bag I had brought them in, but left the
remaining chocolate covered strawberries for Stella.

“Thank you for seeing me today. I
really enjoyed our time together. I hope we can do it again soon.”

She reached out to shake my hand,
instead I held her hand gently and brought it to my lips, placing a soft kiss
on the top before releasing it and walking out the door.

I didn’t bother looking back at doe
eyes as I left. I quickly exited the reception area once out of sight I made a
fist and punched the air.

“Nailed it!”

It was childish but I felt
awesome, the afternoon had gone great, I felt great. I was about to make my way
to the elevator when I paused, I could feel her eyes on me, Shit.

I turned my head back in the
direction of Stella’s office and sure enough, there she was, watching me. What
else could I do but grin at her?

“So, it would be wishful thinking
on my part that you didn’t just see that little victory display wouldn’t it?”

She tilted her head to the side.
She had to stop doing that or I was going to throw caution out the window and
just kiss her.

“Is that what that was?”

“Well yea… what else would you
call it?”

“I don’t know, but it was, amusing.”

“Well then, at least my
embarrassment wasn’t for nothing.
Anything to make my lady
smile.”

“Your lady?”

“Yes, my lady. I’ll have you know
right here, right now Stella, I’m not going anywhere. I know what I want and it’s
you. I’ll go as slow as you want baby, but you’re as good as mine.”

“Oh.”

“Yea, oh.
Now, what can I do for you? Or did you just come out here to watch my ass as I
walked away?”

That shocked her I think, her
mouth popped open and she started fidgeting.

“I ah, I well, umm, I, you make me
very nervous Brayden. I’m falling all over my words, it’s very unlike me and I
don’t think I like it.”

I took the few steps it took to
get to her nice and slowly so as not to startle her. I stopped right in front
of her, as close as I could without actually touching her.

“But you like me, right?”

“Yes.”

It was only a whisper but I heard
it. I wanted to fist pump the air again, but controlled myself.

“Why did you come out here
Stella?”

“To ask if you would come again,
maybe on Friday? I’ll provide lunch since you did today.”

“I’ll see you on Friday Stella.”

Before I could screw things up by
kissing her senseless out here in the hall way I spun on my heel and got in the
elevator. Wednesday couldn’t come soon enough.

Stella

The rest of the week passes painfully
slow, all I had thought about was what
should I
do for
lunch on Friday. It was pointless trying to focus on my work, my mind just kept
wandering back to Brayden and our upcoming lunch date. I guess that’s what it
was since I was now apparently ‘his lady’. Admittedly, I liked the sound of
that.

It was now Friday and I still had
no idea what I was doing about lunch. It was time to call in the big guns. I
called Bianca into my office. This would be right up her ally, I just had to
make sure she didn’t go overboard.