How to Resist Prince Charming(75)

“Well I did,” she cut in. “You’re not the number one man in my life anymore, Dad. You need to accept that and him before we ever talk again. Now please leave. And don’t come back. I’ll call Mom if I’m ready to talk to you again.”





CHAPTER 27




As Lenna pounded on Braxton’s front door, she realized she should’ve planned this better. She was still dressed in her moping clothes, flannel pants and an old high school t-shirt. Her hair was a disaster, and after the two-week crying spree she’d just survived, she hadn’t bothered to put on makeup in days.

Frankly, she’d never looked worse.

But when she saw how certain her father had been when he’d said Braxton loved her, she could only think about how fast she could make it to the quiet brownstone condo that housed the love of her life.

So, here she was.

Before she had time to pat her hair into place, his door opened. And there he was. Barefoot and wearing an old pair of jeans with a worn t-shirt, he hadn’t shaved in a while. His eyes were bloodshot. Deep grooves of exhaustion around his face told her he hadn’t been sleeping well.

But to Lenna, he’d never looked better.

His eyes lit when they saw her, a brief spark of surprise and excitement. But just as quickly, they frosted into guarded distrust. Crossing his arms over his chest, he braced his feet apart, physically baring her way. “What do you want?”

Lenna licked the seams of her dry mouth and was surprised to see his eyes track the movement.

It made her want to press her dehydrated lips against his and moisten them that way. Swallowing, she remembered how he could make her body sing with one kiss.

Needing that again and everything else that came with it, she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin. “I’d like to come in and talk.”

He shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. You can say whatever you want out there.”

Lenna closed her eyes and sighed wearily. “Braxton...please let me in.”

“Sorry,” he sneered, “but it’s already too crowded in here, what with my harem of women I have keeping me company.”

Grinding her teeth, Lenna moved forward.

Braxton didn’t bother to step out-of-the-way. She had to turn sideways to squeeze by him; even then, her breasts brushed his arm. He sucked in a breath at the contact and jerked backward.

She stopped, her spine still pressed against the inner wall of his foyer as he kicked the door shut. The glower he sent was like a punch to the gut.

Realizing her plea for forgiveness had to be a lot better than what she’d planned, Lenna’s eyes filled with hopeless tears. She didn’t want to lose Braxton. The last two weeks without him had been hell.

He noticed the trickle down her cheek and paused. Then he jerked his head to the side.

“Well?” he demanded, his voice raspy and hoarse.

“I’m sorry,” she said. Pathetic attempt, yeah, but it was all she could think to say. “God, Braxton, I’m so sorry. Dad finally told me everything. He admitted to lying about you having other women. He told me why he was suspended. He even apologized for breaking us up.”

Braxton jiggled his knee anxiously as he stuffed his hands into his back pockets and gave a derisive snort. “It’s about time he confessed.”

Lenna’s shoulders slumped. “Braxton.”

“Don’t,” he growled. “Jesus, you can’t just come crawling back—God, will you stop crying? I can’t handle seeing you cry.”

She sniffed and wiped at her tears. “I’m sorry, but I had to come. You know I had to try to get you back.”

“It’s too late,” he ground out and turned his face toward the wall this time. She wasn’t sure whether he was trying to hide the agony creased into his features or keep from seeing hers. The muscles strained in his neck as he clenched his teeth.

Betting everything, Lenna took a cautious step forward. “I don’t agree,” she murmured and stroked his back.

At the light touch, he leapt desperately away. He spun to nail her with a sharp frown. “You didn’t believe me.”

“I’m sorry,” she said and reached for him again. “I’ve missed you so much.”

He evaded her hands. “Don’t touch me.”

She pulled her fingers to her chest and sucked in a loud sob that made him wince. “I want to be with you, Braxton.”

He snorted, but it wasn’t as effective this time, especially when his eyes misted and his chin quivered. But he sounded plenty condescending when he scathed, “Yeah, until Tom throws a fit and you once again choose him over me.”

Lenna scowled. “That’s not fair. Don’t say that. My life doesn’t revolve around him. I don’t—”

“Are you kidding me?” His eyes snapped fire. “The entire foundation of our relationship was centered around him. We had to be hush-hush because of him. If I wanted to be with you, I had to keep us quiet.”

Her mouth fell open. Shaking her head, she said, “But you didn’t want him to know either. You wanted to keep it quiet too...Didn’t you?”

He sent her a bleak look. “You don’t know how many times I could’ve blurted everything to him. I was so ready for him to learn the truth, it wasn’t even funny. I wanted to move past the secrets and the lies. But I kept my mouth shut...for you.”