Chapter 11 #2
Wouldn’t hurt to notify Celeste and Natalie too. There was nothing they could do about it, but he assumed they would be coming by tomorrow ahead of the dance class event. He wanted them to be prepared first of all, and ahead of any rumors that might surface.
With that done, he brewed a pot of coffee. No way was he leaving Roni alone with Bobby.
“All right,” she was saying. “Take a seat. You’ve waited long enough.”
Brayden moved closer, curious now.
“His arm is bleeding,” she answered Brayden’s unspoken question. To Bobby, she added, “Your shirt is trashed.”
“Whatever. There’s more where it came from.”
With a shrug, Roni cut away the shirt and dropped it into the trash can. “Were y’all storing knives in the office?” she asked.
“Funny.” He cleared his throat. “It was a piece of the roof.”
“Ah.” Roni was focused on cleaning the long wound that ran from the man’s upper arm down to his forearm. “Better your arm than your face.”
“And better the shirt than the arm itself,” he added. “Look at us agreeing.” Bobby’s smile was rusty, but Brayden saw the sincerity in the man’s gaze. “Does it need stitches?”
“I don’t think so, but y’all owe me a new first aid kit.” She patched up his arm, covering that bandage with plastic wrap so he could take a shower, then dealt with the smaller abrasions on his shoulder, neck, and eyebrow. “All set.”
“I’ll make sure you get it,” Bobby said.
Roni straightened. “Pardon?”
“The new first aid kit.” He planted his hands on his knees. “Laundry soap too, for that matter. Look, I’m sorry. For the harassment and… And all of it. At the end of the day, I’m an employee. I’m here to do a job. When I follow orders and the job gets done on time, I get a bonus.
“We’ve been told y’all were digging in, fighting a purchase that’s been a done deal.” He cleared his throat, pushed to his feet. “Squatters, basically.”
Brayden joined Roni, shoulder to shoulder, though he didn’t take her hand yet. “You had to know that’s not true.”
“Did I?” He shook his head. “It’s pretty common. Land leases, ownership and such are above my paygrade. I come to work on time and do as I’m told.”
“Starting obnoxiously early, for example.” Roni folded her arms. Bobby dipped his chin in the affirmative. “And pulling the ECMs too?”
“They told us you did that.” Bobby grimaced.
“I wondered how you pulled it off, what with the nighttime security guard on site.” He didn’t seem to know what to do with his hands.
He shoved them into his pockets. “But a crate was delivered a few hours ago with new ECMs for us to install and get back to work first thing tomorrow. They were in the office.”
“Is that normal?” Brayden asked. “The ECMs showing up so quickly, I mean.”
“No.” Bobby shook his head. “That kinda thing should’ve shut us down for a couple of weeks. We were all expecting to be reassigned or something. Look, I’m really sorry.”
“Apology accepted.” Roni gave him a smile, though it wasn’t her best and brightest. Brayden wanted those all to himself anyway. “Go get warm,” she said. “Have your pick of rooms up there. I’ll let you know when your clothes are out of the dryer.”
With just the two of them in the kitchen, the storm bullied its way to the front of his mind. Rain pounded, lightning flashed and crackled in an ongoing tantrum. Thanks to the generator, the exterior lights gave off enough glow to show the trees swaying in the heavy gusts.
“Cleanup will be a bear,” Roni muttered as she gathered up the discarded clothing and remnants of her first aid efforts.
When she’d washed her hands, he pulled her into a big hug. “You’re amazing.” He tucked her head under his chin, wanting to shelter her from the big bad world. Wanting to keep her close, all his, safe and content forever.
Her arms came around him, her palms warm on his back. “We need to let Brian take a shower. Then maybe we can all get some rest.” But she made no effort to move. “Do you think any of them will make a formal statement about the ECM attempted frame job?”
She’d barely whispered the words, but he heard them easily enough. “Maybe. I’ll write it all up for Gamble and Swann once we’re in the suite. Alone.”
Her cheek rubbed against his chest. “Okay.” She sighed, still not moving. “You smell amazing.”
“Lightning and sweat does it for you?” he teased. “I’ll make a note.”
She giggled, gave him a squeeze, and then tipped her head up.
When her gaze locked with his, he saw her heart in her eyes.
Love and desire mingled with the familiar comfort of acceptance and friendship he’d treasured from day one.
The powerful combination was as effective as a kick in the back and threatened to take him out at the knees.
“Brian first,” she whispered. “Then maybe…”
He waited, his entire body primed for whatever she was about to suggest.
“We could, um, shower together?”
His body was all-in for that. “To conserve the hot water?”
“Obviously.” She nibbled on her lip. “And because you smell amazing all on your own.”
“Whatever you want, I’m yours.” He nuzzled her cheek, worked his way to her mouth and kissed her with all the enthusiasm he had for her suggestion. Lifting his head, he asked, “You’re not worried about our guests acting out while we’re otherwise distracted?”
“No. Should I be?”
He would always be wary and skeptical enough for both of them. Seeing too much of the world had taught him not to trust easily. And Roni wasn’t someone he would ever put at risk. Still, the three men had been respectful and grateful tonight. He didn’t really expect trouble.
His lips brushed her cheek. “Probably not.” He’d keep the door locked and the phone within reach anyway. He grabbed her hand and tugged her out of the kitchen, in a hurry to be alone with her as more than her best friend.
If this was their night, he’d seize it. And if it wasn’t, he’d deal with it. She’d shown him she wasn’t afraid of his feelings and now she was willing to change the dynamic.
To be more than friends. To cross that line into intimacy.
Lovers.
He’d only been waiting forever, what was another hour? Another day? That look she’d given him offered undeniable hope for a future he’d only dared to imagine. A future that was finally within his reach.