Ask Me Why(29)

My shoes skid on the carpet as I dip around the corner. Kathy is flagging me down, but I don’t pause.

“Mister Stone? Sir?” Kathy’s footsteps follow me toward the elevators. “Darcy Gorden is on hold. She says it’s urgent.”

“I’ll call her back later.”

I hear Kathy gasp but don’t bother turning to catch the shock that’s certainly splashing her features.

“But she sounds upset,” she pushes.

“Don’t care. I’m not her therapist.” An idea strikes me. “Transfer her to Jordan Hughes.”

Kathy’s hot pursuit stops. “From mergers and acquisitions?”

“Yep, he’s her man. Tell him I sent her.” I smile, the expression feeling almost comical.

“Where are you going?”

The metal doors slide open in front of me. “To get some taffy.”





Brance



Push



The stop light flashes green, and I gun the engine. I grip the steering wheel in a tight fist, cranking hard to the left. Maple Street has never been such a welcome sight. I slam on the brakes, squealing tires announcing my hasty arrival. The mapped route was expected to take twenty-five minutes. I made it in under fifteen. The lead in my foot gets a gold star.

I leave the air conditioner blasting. Without the arctic air pelting my face, I’d likely go up in flames. The damn summer heat is getting to me. I can barely breathe without igniting a fire in my lungs. And my tie is too fucking tight. I loosen the knot, undoing the top button on the collar.

What the fuck am I doing?

Lingering in my car, flipping shit, is far beneath me. This chick has me riled up and I haven’t seen her yet. But the upper hand will be mine, as always. I’ll get answers and expel this weakness. I’ll just stoke Braelyn’s temper and solve this shit. In and out. That’s it.

I turn off the ignition and step out onto the sidewalk. No one else is parked in front of her store. That’ll give us privacy. Burnt rubber stings my nostrils, but all I smell is sweet relief. There’s no escaping this.

My stomach is ravenous, but I don’t spare the restaurant a glance. They don’t serve what I’m after. A switch flips, and I’m on autopilot. My sole target is Thicket and who’s waiting within. That glowing lollipop is mocking me, beckoning me inside with each perfectly timed blink. It might as well be a red flag taunting a bull. I hear that loud and shrill.

I yank open the door with zero finesse. The frame clangs against the jamb but I hardly hear it over that damn chime.

Ready or not, Braelyn. I’ve arrived.

We’ve never touched, but my skin hums the instant I step into her sanctuary. Freshly spun sugar clings to the air. I breathe in deep, my blood buzzing.

Braelyn is crouching in front of a display case when I stalk in. I’m hyper aware of my surroundings, a predator on the hunt. The fabric of her baggy shorts is stretchy, giving me a nice view. I had a hunch she’s been hiding curves. My body is strung taut, ready to snap at any moment. Braelyn is soft, too sweet. I’m going to ruin her. Too bad I can’t find it in me to care.

She pivots toward me without rising, a warm smile curving her mouth. I catch the instant she realizes who’s stomped into her space. Those green eyes go wide, that smooth jaw slackening. The surprise melts off her face quick enough.

She springs to her feet. “Brance.”

My grin is anything but friendly. “Braelyn.”

“What’re you doing here?”

“Just browsing. Is that a problem?” I toss out the dare, raising the stakes with a quirk to my brow.

“It’s one o’clock in the afternoon. Shouldn’t you be at work?”

I glance at the window, rays of midday sun filtering in. “I’m taking a long lunch.”

“Yet you’re here.”

“A slight detour.”

“One that didn’t include picking up Ollie?”

I frown, the thought not occurring to me until this moment. My son will forgive me. Hopefully. “I didn’t plan this out. It was a last-minute decision.” Lapse in judgement is more like it.

“He’s going to be disappointed to find out you stopped by without him.”

I wave off her words. “Who says he’ll find out?”

Depending on how this turns out, Braelyn might prefer to keep my visit a secret.

She purses those Cupid-bow lips. “Is there something I can help you find?”

I steeple my fingers in front of me, keeping the endless stream of possibilities from spilling out. Braelyn stares at me, waiting for whatever bullshit I decide to spew. But I like to keep her guessing.

Any good sense remaining fizzles as heat coils in my lower body. I shuffle backward until my fingers brush the door’s cool glass. I’m about to make a big statement, but pause before pulling the trigger.

A significantly delayed thought occurs to me. I take stock of our positions. Braelyn’s stance is defensive. I’m much larger than her. I won’t deny being an asshole, but I’m not interested in having this woman fear me. I’m crowding the doorway, blocking her exit. My presence might be considered intimidating. That seed of concern plants itself in my brain and sprouts roots.

“Is it okay that I’m here?”