Chapter 8
Brand watched disbelief fill her face. Followed by a brief spark of something else that he couldn’t quite work out.
Anger?
Why would that make her angry, though?
Maybe because you’re coming across as arrogant.
It was difficult not to come across like that because he was arrogant.
“You don’t want me.”
Hmm. He hadn’t been expecting her to say that. He’d kind of been anticipating that she’d tell him off for being a dick and to get out.
“I want you.”
“Why? Because I disappeared on you when you told me to ‘stay put’?”
“Uh, no. I wanted you before that.”
“You’ve never shown one hint that you wanted me. Let’s face it. You liked chasing me because I was a challenge. Well, I’m not a challenge anymore. You caught me. Now, you can go.”
There was a slightly bitter note in her voice that he really didn’t like.
“You don’t have a good opinion of me,” he stated.
The sigh she let out ended with a wheeze. What was wrong with her? He’d thought she had a cold, but she looked and sounded terrible. Plus, she had a bandage on the front of her hand. Had she had an IV in? What medication was she on?
Fuck. He hated not knowing what was going on.
“You think I only want you because you’re a challenge?” he asked. “Well, you’re right. But here is the thing, the challenge isn’t capturing you, it isn’t even convincing you to be with me. The challenge will be looking after you.”
For the rest of our lives.
But he didn’t say that part. She already had a freaked-out look on her face.
“I don’t understand what’s happening here, Brand.”
“Yeah, you do. You’re just scared. That’s all right. You’ll soon come to trust me.”
“It feels like you’re on a high-speed train, while I’m stumbling along with one shoe on, my pants slipping off, and my shirt buttoned wrong.”
“Am I supposed to understand that?” He’d never allow her to get into that sort of state.
“I’m not feeling well.” Her hand rubbed her temple. “I know you’re upset with me. I messed up that last concert. Then I disappeared when you probably wanted me to hang around so you can yell at me. I just… I needed a break. My best friend thinks?—”
“What does your best friend think?” he asked as gently as he could.
Her gaze moved away, shame filling her face. “I don’t really want to tell you.”
He wanted to press her. But his poor girl wasn’t well. And he was meant to be convincing her that he was here to look after her.
“Jolie, will you look at me, please?”
Shock filled her face as she turned to stare at him. “You said please.”
“I say please.”
She frowned. “When? When have you ever said please?”
He huffed out a breath. “We’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you. And your health. I’m going to take care of you, all right? I’ll carry you back to our room and stay with you.”
“What if you get sick, though?”
That was her worry? She was concerned about him? Damn. So sweet. “I’m not going to get sick.”
“Germs don’t know that you’re the great Brand Starr. They don’t discriminate.”
“I rarely get sick. I’ll be fine.”
“I…” She shook her head, then winced.
“Stop doing that,” he demanded.
“What?”
“Making your headache worse. Screw what that nurse said. You need more painkillers. I’m getting her back in here.” He stood, but stilled as she took hold of his hand.
She had initiated touch. Was this the first time? Maybe.
“You really like me?” There was a lost, vulnerable note in her voice. For some reason, it seemed that she just couldn’t wrap her head around him wanting her.
And he didn’t think it was because she was ill and having trouble focusing.
Or that it was even fully about him. He might have a slight reputation. Probably didn’t help that he’d never been in a long-term relationship.
No, he thought her disbelief mostly stemmed from her view of herself.
Something he would need to work on. She didn’t see how gorgeous she was.
How sweet and kind.
He wanted all that sweetness to be his.
“I more than like you. I’m fast becoming obsessed with you. Do you think I’d chase after someone I didn’t fully want?”
Wonder filled her face. “I don’t think you’d do anything you didn’t want to do.”
“So, you’ll let me take care of you?”
“I’m not sure it’s the best way to start a relationship,” she muttered.
He grinned.
“Why does that make you smile?” she asked suspiciously.
“You said the R word.” Leaning down, he brushed his lips over her forehead.
“You shouldn’t come that close to me,” she muttered. “I probably stink. And I’m sick. This really is a bad idea.”
“Sometimes the best things in life start out as a bad idea.”