said, “this has been a nice trip down memory lane, but if you don’t mind I’ve got to get back to work. Come on out when you’re ready.” He turned away from her in one quick jerk and walked out of the kitchen, one long stride after the next.
If Braden had a knack for anything it was messing things up. He shook his head, wishing he could take back the conversation and start over. They’d been connecting, after all. But he didn’t go back. Instead, Braden did something he’d done too many times before – walk away, leaving the woman he cared for behind.
~+~
Allie could hardly believe Braden Fox had said what he had. He had come out and said that he’d been interested in her. He’d said it. And Allie couldn’t stop the thrill that came over her at the thought. And for what? It wasn’t as if it mattered so much now. Obviously he didn’t feel that way anymore. In fact, she was starting to believe Braden secretly hated her. That he’d only hired her on as some cruel prank.
She turned her attention to the frozen bag on her foot, barely seeing it through the emotions clouding her sight. Once she climbed down from the dining room table, Allie brought a shaky hand to her mouth. I wanted more than that and you know it, she thought, reciting his words in her head.
In a daze, she gripped the sock and shoe Braden had removed, clenched onto the frozen bag of chocolate chips, and hobbled down the narrow hallway that led to the shop. The door swung open, and the shoe slipped from her hand. The chocolate chips did too, landing on the floor with a thud. Inwardly, while bending down to pick up her things, Allie chanted the words do not look over at Braden in her head. As if she could stop herself. It was like her eyes had minds of their own, stubbornly darting to the precise place he stood.
Braden met her gaze, stared at her with a puzzled expression, and then turned his attention back to his work. With a slight grunt, Allie hunched down further to secure the items, cursing under her breath when her hair slid off her back and over her face. Why – in this moment – she had to lose all sense of grace was beyond her, but one thing was sure: She would not look over at Braden again. Maybe ever.
Once seated at the desk, Allie dropped her shoe to the floor, tugged on her sock, and set the bag over her toes once more. She sighed as his words came back to her. Don’t pretend you didn’t know; I made it clear. And heaven knew he had. Oh, had he ever. She thought back on the moment they’d shared back at Tom Landerson’s party during senior year. A moment so heated she hadn’t forgotten it after all this time. Without further invitation, her mind revisited that evening.
Terrance had wronged her that night. Made out with Sara Thompson in the closet for seven whole minutes while everyone chanted and cheered. Everyone but her. Repulsed by the grunts and groans sounding from the small space, Allie had stormed off down the hall, determined to leave the party if it meant walking home in the dark by herself. Of course, Terrance later denied doing anything with Sara, not that she believed him. Whatever went on between them was a secret Terrance planned to keep. But there was a reason Allie had been more forgiving than she should have been; she had a secret of her own.
Allie pictured the narrow hallway at Tom’s place, the dim light coming from one of the rooms. The strange crack along the old wall as she passed. And the strong hand that had reached for her – Braden’s. He’d spared no time for words. Only warmed her with a look so severe she had no doubt what he’d come for. In seconds he’d pulled her into a dark room, pressed her into an even darker corner, and linked his hand through hers. They stood like that, his fingers caressing hers until he brought her hand to his lips.
He kissed the center of her palm. “Terrance doesn’t deserve you,” he whispered against her skin. His statement warmed and thrilled her all
If Braden had a knack for anything it was messing things up. He shook his head, wishing he could take back the conversation and start over. They’d been connecting, after all. But he didn’t go back. Instead, Braden did something he’d done too many times before – walk away, leaving the woman he cared for behind.
~+~
Allie could hardly believe Braden Fox had said what he had. He had come out and said that he’d been interested in her. He’d said it. And Allie couldn’t stop the thrill that came over her at the thought. And for what? It wasn’t as if it mattered so much now. Obviously he didn’t feel that way anymore. In fact, she was starting to believe Braden secretly hated her. That he’d only hired her on as some cruel prank.
She turned her attention to the frozen bag on her foot, barely seeing it through the emotions clouding her sight. Once she climbed down from the dining room table, Allie brought a shaky hand to her mouth. I wanted more than that and you know it, she thought, reciting his words in her head.
In a daze, she gripped the sock and shoe Braden had removed, clenched onto the frozen bag of chocolate chips, and hobbled down the narrow hallway that led to the shop. The door swung open, and the shoe slipped from her hand. The chocolate chips did too, landing on the floor with a thud. Inwardly, while bending down to pick up her things, Allie chanted the words do not look over at Braden in her head. As if she could stop herself. It was like her eyes had minds of their own, stubbornly darting to the precise place he stood.
Braden met her gaze, stared at her with a puzzled expression, and then turned his attention back to his work. With a slight grunt, Allie hunched down further to secure the items, cursing under her breath when her hair slid off her back and over her face. Why – in this moment – she had to lose all sense of grace was beyond her, but one thing was sure: She would not look over at Braden again. Maybe ever.
Once seated at the desk, Allie dropped her shoe to the floor, tugged on her sock, and set the bag over her toes once more. She sighed as his words came back to her. Don’t pretend you didn’t know; I made it clear. And heaven knew he had. Oh, had he ever. She thought back on the moment they’d shared back at Tom Landerson’s party during senior year. A moment so heated she hadn’t forgotten it after all this time. Without further invitation, her mind revisited that evening.
Terrance had wronged her that night. Made out with Sara Thompson in the closet for seven whole minutes while everyone chanted and cheered. Everyone but her. Repulsed by the grunts and groans sounding from the small space, Allie had stormed off down the hall, determined to leave the party if it meant walking home in the dark by herself. Of course, Terrance later denied doing anything with Sara, not that she believed him. Whatever went on between them was a secret Terrance planned to keep. But there was a reason Allie had been more forgiving than she should have been; she had a secret of her own.
Allie pictured the narrow hallway at Tom’s place, the dim light coming from one of the rooms. The strange crack along the old wall as she passed. And the strong hand that had reached for her – Braden’s. He’d spared no time for words. Only warmed her with a look so severe she had no doubt what he’d come for. In seconds he’d pulled her into a dark room, pressed her into an even darker corner, and linked his hand through hers. They stood like that, his fingers caressing hers until he brought her hand to his lips.
He kissed the center of her palm. “Terrance doesn’t deserve you,” he whispered against her skin. His statement warmed and thrilled her all
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