8. When Good Guys Screw Up
When Good Guys Screw Up
Braden
Braden: Can we please talk? I hate that I upset you.
T hirty seconds later…
Mina: Don’t worry about it. I’m going to bed. Goodnight.
What Mina doesn’t realize is that I spent the whole of last night worrying about it.
I know I’m not an asshole for telling her no, so why do I feel like one?
She’s right. Her being a virgin, or basically one, freaked me out. Some guys might have jumped at the chance, but then again, some guys behave like dogs when a piece of ass is up for the taking.
I’m not one of those guys. I respect the hell out of Mina—too much for her to be another notch on my bedpost.
She deserves a night to remember, not another regret to add to her collection.
Looking back, I recall the comments she made about the topic, but I assumed she was playing the part of the innocent maiden. Trust me, she wouldn’t be the first woman to do it.
But she’s wrong about one thing. I want her desperately.
Her lack of experience isn’t a turnoff, although I will have to rethink my long-term game plan.
If anything, I’m far more protective of her than I was, even though I doubt she’s going to engage in much beyond pleasantries for the next few days.
She’s hurt and I’m the reason.
Now, I have to make it right. Somehow.
First stop though is caffeine.
I slept less than five minutes last night, so my ass is dragging today, but I’m stalling because I’m not sure which is worse—the silent treatment from Mina or going downstairs to discover she left in the middle of the night for parts unknown.
Here’s hoping I haven’t screwed up our friendship, or relationship, or whatever the fuck we’re doing right now.
A weight lifts off my chest when I enter the kitchen and see Mina pacing the far end of the room, her phone clutched in her fingers.
She’s not happy, as evidenced by the frown lines marring her beautiful face, but I don’t think it has anything to do with me. At least, not at present.
“I don’t think that’s a possibility,” she grumbles into the receiver. “I understand it’s important to you, but Braden runs a business. Yes, a very successful business, Aunt Bitsy. He works on weekends. That’s when most people want to get inked.”
I lean against the counter, curious about what her aunt is saying about me. If Mina’s pacing is anything to go on, it’s nothing positive.
Mina huffs out a sigh, her long legs cutting strides across the floor.
“I’ll ask him, but it’s such short notice I doubt he’ll attend.
Yes, you’ve mentioned that Vanessa’s fiancé will be there, but Wall Street is closed on the weekends.
Braden doesn’t have that luxury. You might have to deal with just me, okay? Bye.”
She tosses her phone onto the counter, catching sight of me as I pour a cup of coffee.
“Everything okay?” Sure, it’s a dumb question and I already know the answer, but I’m taking baby steps this morning.
Mina waves off my question with a roll of her eyes. “Just perfect.”
“With that level of enthusiasm, I almost believe you. What’s up? What does your aunt need?”
She sinks into a kitchen chair, burying her head in her hands. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Not happening. So, you can tell me, or I can keep asking until I wear you down. Your choice.” I smile for her benefit, but considering she’s still got her face against the table, it has zero effect. “Come on, Mina. What’s up?”
Huffing out a sigh, Mina leans back against the chair, her gaze on the ceiling. “There’s some big wedding expo happening at Aurum Ridge and she wants us to attend.”
“Okay,” I reply, taking a sip of my brew. “That seems doable.”
Apparently, Mina is not a fan of my answer, as she leaps to her feet and resumes her pacing.
“But it’s not. The expo is this weekend.
I explained Black Lotus is packed on the weekends, but Aunt Bitsy doesn’t care.
Per her, if we were really dedicated to our marriage, we would jump at the chance to attend.
It’s all bullshit, of course, but so is our engagement, so I guess it tracks. That’s my morning. How is yours?”
“Better than yours. Look”—I reach out and grab her wrist before she paces a hole in the floor—“this is my weekend to handle walk-ins. I’ll have a chat with Ash, but I’m pretty sure I can swing it. ”
Mina focuses on my hand, still encircling her wrist. Guess we’re not making eye contact this morning. Wonderful.
“You’re not skipping out on work, especially not for this. We should call off this whole stupid charade now.”
There’s my out. But there’s no way I’m bailing on Mina now. She’s hurt and angry, but she also needs me.
Truth is, I need her, too, even if that idea makes me surprisingly uncomfortable.
“Why? Did your aunt change the parameters of her deal?”
“No.”
“Would you rather have someone else take my spot? Fair warning, that might send up a red flag to your aunt. New week, new fiancé.”
Not even a hint of a smile at my poor attempt at humor.
“Can I have my hand back?”
“Will you sit down and hash this out?”
Mina nods, her eyes glued to the floor. As soon as I release her wrist, she sinks into the chair across from me. “Look, I realize how silly I was that day at One More Page. I never should have kissed you or dragged you into my mess. I’m sorry for all of it.”
“First, stop apologizing. You haven’t done a damn thing wrong. I know what that studio means to you, and after watching you dance, I know you’re the only woman for the job.”
She drags a hand through her mussed hair. “Trust me, that wasn’t dancing.”
“It was to me, and it was beautiful. Look, your aunt’s deal is ridiculous, but if that’s how she’s going to play it, then we play along.
Worst-case scenario, I’ll drive up a bit later on Saturday, but she’s not getting rid of me that easily.
And then we’ll spend that expo convincing her we are the happiest, most in-love couple in the world. ”
“You must be a better actor than me.” Mina grabs her coffee mug and carries it to the sink.
She’s holding it together, but the look on her face is killing me. It’s like she’s given up, and I know my actions last night played a large part in that.
So, if acting the part of the devoted fiancé for a few days is what Bitsy requires, it’s game on.
Besides, it gives me time with Mina, where she has to speak to me. Maybe I can convince her I’m not a bad guy.
Maybe pigs will fly out of my ass, too, but I’m willing to give it a go.
“Smile, Mina. It’s all going to work out. I promise.”
Finally, she meets my gaze, her blue eyes cold and lifeless. “That’s the trouble. In my life… it never has.”
Brothers always know when something is off.
I’m not in my office for two minutes when Ash walks in and closes the door. “Are you okay?”
I run a hand across my jaw, uncertain how much I want to disclose. Look, Ash can keep his mouth shut, but the more time goes on, the less convinced I am that I made the right choice by pushing Mina away yesterday.
What if I fucked up a really good thing?
Twenty-four hours ago, we were kissing in her new in-home dance studio. I was king of the world.
Today, she won’t even look at me.
I sigh and scrub my face with my hands. “Look, I know it’s last minute, but I need this weekend off.”
Ash leans against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. “Is everything okay? ”
“Mina’s aunt invited us to some wedding expo at Aurum Ridge this weekend. She argued I had to work but her aunt seems to believe if I’m serious about being a good husband, that I’ll find a way. Mina told me not to bother, but I know what this dance studio means to her.”
“Her aunt is a piece of work.” Ash considers my offer for a moment before nodding. “Hey, if you want to spend a weekend browsing wedding vendors, who am I to stop you?”
“Thanks, man. I owe you one. Surprised that Ori doesn’t want to go. Isn’t this something brides go rabid over?”
“Nah, she’s pretty low-key about the whole wedding thing. Then again, she’s wrapped up in the new house and the baby right now.”
I bite back a smile. Hard to believe my brother—once the biggest player in Sparkwood—was tamed by the tiniest woman in town. And when that man fell, he fell hard.
I’m realizing what that feels like, except my weakness is a blonde ballerina… whose advances I turned down last night.
Ash settles into a chair and fixes me with his gaze. “What else is going on?”
See? Told you he’d know immediately.
I kick my booted legs up on the corner of the desk and heave out a sigh. “Something happened between Mina and me last night.”
A grin lights up Ash’s face. “About damn time. I’ve been telling you to pursue her for months.”
“We didn’t sleep together. We were going to, but then Mina told me… she’s inexperienced.”
“So? Never stopped you before.”
I don’t want to broadcast Mina’s sex life—or lack thereof—to the entire town, but I need my brother’s advice.
Even if I’m going to hate it.
I drum my thumbs against the desk. “She’s basically a virgin. ”
Ash’s jaw slackens at my disclosure. “She is not.”
“She is. We were fooling around, and she told me she was afraid she wouldn’t be any good since she’d only had sex one other time.”
“Wow. I guess her whole innocent act isn’t an act, after all. Did you show her the ropes? God knows you’ve slept with enough women?—”
This is not making me feel better.
“I told her we needed to stop.”
The look that crosses my brother’s face solidifies what I’ve feared since last night—that I did, in fact, make the wrong decision.
“How did Mina take it when you told her?”
I throw up my hands as the disgust coils low in my gut. “How do you think? I told her it should be special, right? Because she’s special. But she wasn’t hearing it. Even told me we should call off the whole fake engagement thing—said she realized it was a dumb idea.”
“What do you think about this dumb idea?”
“I want to help her. Mina has so much at stake, and she deserves this studio.”
“But is it only because of the studio, or is there something more to your situation?”
I don’t answer. I don’t have to. My brother is my best friend, and he knows me better than anyone.
Ash pounds out a quick rhythm on the desktop before standing. “That’s what I thought. So, your mission is twofold this weekend. Charm the shit out of pretentious Aunt Bitsy and then charm the pants off Miss Mina.”
“Sure. Because that will be so fucking easy,” I mutter.
“You’re a good guy, Braden. Everyone knows it, including Mina. Maybe this whole virginity thing screwed you sideways, but just go with it, because you two make sense together, even if you don’t see it yet. ”
Ash strolls out of the office, satisfied he’s offered his daily dose of brotherly advice.
He’s wrong about one thing, though.
I know how good Mina and I could be together.
Now I just have to convince her of that.