21. The Muffin Proposal
The Muffin Proposal
Mina
“ P ick up. Pick up. Pick up,” I mutter into my phone as I pace beside my car.
Finally, Ori answers. “What’s new, drama queen?”
I guffaw, uncertain whether to laugh or cry at this point. “Well, let’s see. My aunt told me that running the studio was contingent on me shacking up with my ex, Leo.”
“Shit,” Ori breathes.
“Oh, it gets better. I admitted the engagement was fake, staged for her benefit. She told me she knew all along.”
“And she let you play it out anyway? That’s diabolical.”
“That’s Bitsy.” I snuffle, running my hand under my nose. “The worst part is she knew and still treated Braden terribly—like she did it for kicks.”
“The rich truly are a different breed.” Ori sighs into the phone. “What did you tell her?”
“That I’m in love with Braden, that he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and that she could take her studio and shove it up her ass.”
“You did not say that.”
“Not exactly, but something similar.” I grip the phone tighter. “Please tell me where he is. He’s not answering his phone, and I need him to know how I feel. That I want him and only him?—”
My voice catches, breath hitching as I press my hand to my chest, willing myself to stay grounded.
“Breathe, Mina. He’s at The Tap, that bar on the edge of town.”
“Thank you.”
“Damn, girl. You grew yourself a pair, huh?” Ori giggles, and I imagine my friend rolling her eyes, thrilled I finally woke up to what matters.
I chuckle, the first real laugh all evening. “It took me twenty-five years, but it felt so good, I might have to use them more often.”
“Now that I like to hear. A woman always needs to stand up for herself and her man. Go get him, Mina.”
Stares trail me as I enter The Tap.
Hey, I get it. Everyone here is dressed in jeans and boots, while I’m rocking a cocktail dress and stilettos.
I do not blend, but that doesn’t matter.
I have one mission. Find my man. And pray I don’t have to kill anyone who touches him.
Perhaps I have no right, but I’m in a fighting mood—and if that includes a brawl in the parking lot, so be it.
I’ll picture my aunt’s face on every one of them, and that bitch won’t stand a chance.
Yes, it’s bravado, but a girl needs all her armor in place for this mission.
“Hey, darling,” a man murmurs from the bar, but I wave him off as I strut past .
Sir, return to your drink. I am not here for you.
My eyes dart around the darkened interior, desperately searching for Braden.
Then I find him, hanging out with a half-dozen people near a pool table. Braden sits on a leather couch, beer in hand, talking to Zane. But that’s not what upsets me.
It’s the striking brunette sitting next to him. She’s way too close for my liking—and seems to inch closer by the second.
If she touches him, I’m breaking her fingers
Who could blame her? Braden Hammond is gorgeous, funny, charismatic, and kind. He’s everything a woman could want—a walking green flag of a man—who also looks incredibly delicious naked.
I get why she wants him, but that man belongs to me.
At least, I hope he still does.
The edges of my facade crack beneath my fear, but I suck in a breath and march toward them.
Go big or go home, right?
I stop directly in front of Braden and shoot the buxom brunette a pointed stare. “Excuse me. You’re in my seat.”
Braden’s eyes widen. “Mina, what are you doing here?”
I grab his beer and take a swig, placing the bottle on the nearby table. Then I hike up my skirt and straddle his lap, earning several shocked gasps and snickers from his friends.
Let them look. I have important business to address.
I rest my hands on Braden’s shoulders, fix him with my gaze, and say the only thing I know is true. “I’m here for you.”
But instead of embracing me, he sits rigid, his face a sea of uncertainty. “What about dinner? Your aunt? Leo?”
“You should have been there. You told me to seize what I want, right?”
“Yeah…”
I swallow, forcing my nerves to settle. “I want you.”
“Mina, I don’t think?—”
I cover his mouth with my hand. “Just be quiet for a second, okay? You were right. Bitsy wanted to set me up with Leo. She knew our engagement was fake, and she had some choice words for you.”
“Shock of the century,” Braden mutters, rolling his eyes.
“So, I told her you are the greatest man I’ve ever known and that I’m hopelessly, totally in love with you. All I want is a life with you. Just you. Will you give me another chance?”
Do you know how long a second is when you’re awaiting the answer to your life’s happiness?
An eternity. That’s how long it feels.
And Braden isn’t quiet for one second. He’s silent for several, each one stretching out like a lifetime.
He runs a hand along his bearded jaw. “I never wanted it to come to this.”
“I know.” Grasping his hands, I press tiny kisses to his fingers. “Look, I don’t deserve you, Braden, but I’d really like a chance to show you I will.”
Braden extricates his fingers from my grip, and I realize I may have damaged us too badly for him to consider me as an option.
But I won’t go down without a fight.
I chew my lower lip and let the tears slip down my cheeks. “I’m in love with you, and if you still want this, I’m all in.”
“Mina—”
I’m losing him. I feel it. The tears come faster now, spurred by that knowledge.
“I’ll make you muffins every day.”
Okay, it’s a Hail Mary pass. Even someone with limited knowledge of love knows that fact.
Braden’s face splits into a smile at my random segue into negotiations. “Every day?”
I swipe my cheeks and nod. “Every damn day.”
“Any kind I want? Even those fancy pecan ones?”
“Even those. Especially those.”
He chuckles. “You hate making those. ”
“I don’t hate doing anything for you. All I want is to make you happy, because you’ve made me happier than I ever believed I could be.”
Braden exhales hard, like the air’s been punched out of him. Then he grabs my face, his touch firm but trembling. His eyes search mine—wild, uncertain—and then something breaks. The fear, the doubt… gone. In its place is something raw. Something real.
Then he kisses me.
Not some soft, searching kiss.
This is desperation and possession, all rolled into one.
Braden threads his fingers into my fancy updo as he sits straighter, pulling me against him. I moan into his mouth, sinking my nails into his shoulders.
His mouth crashes onto mine with a hunger that steals the breath from my lungs.
There’s no finesse, no hesitation—just teeth, tongue, and a raw, desperate need.
I gasp, and he swallows the sound, groaning into my mouth like he’s been starving for this—for me.
His beard scrapes my skin as he deepens the kiss, his hands holding me fast.
As if I’d ever want to leave.
I claw at his shirt, tempted to rip it from his body so I can feel every inch of him.
I gasp, and he swallows it, dragging one hand down my side to grip my hip and grind me against his erection.
Another moan tears free as I move against him, my body coiled tight, desperate for more.
“Christ, who needs porn when we have the two of you?” As always, Zane, and his perfect timing, breaks into the moment.
We untangle, and Braden laughs, giving Zane the finger. “No one said you had to watch.”
“Hard not to when you’re doing it on the sofa. Get a room, you two.” With a final chuckle, Zane returns to his game, and I return my full attention to Braden.
A wry grin creases Braden’s cheeks as he smooths my hair. “Sorry. Wrecked that a bit.”
“Who cares?” I pull the clip from my hair and shake out the strands. “See? All better.”
A mischievous glint lights in his eyes. “You love me, huh?”
I return the smile before stealing another kiss from his lips—still warm, still perfect. “So very much. Are you okay with that fact?”
He tilts his head, pretending to think it over, but I catch happiness poking through his tough-guy exterior. “I think so. Yeah, I am.”
He doesn’t return the sentiment, but I understand he might not have the same level of feeling I do. At least, not yet. Plus, I hurt him tonight, so I’m the one with something to prove.
And I have just the plan to do it. He’s spent enough time in my family’s world. Now, I want to spend time in his.
I motion over my shoulder. “Want to play pool?”
He snorts and rests his hands behind his head. “Not at all.”
“Darts?”
“Keep trying.”
“Want to go home and have wild, crazy sex all night?”
He bites back another grin but, to my shock, shakes his head. “No.”
Well, shit.
“What do you want to do?”
Please don’t tell me to leave.
Braden pats my thighs. “Hop up.”
I do as he asks, smoothing my skirt and clutching my bag to my stomach.
Braden stands and fishes a twenty out of his pocket, throwing it on the table. “Hey Zane, we’re out of here. ”
Zane lifts his beer in a mock salute. “Where are you two headed?”
Braden grabs his helmet and drapes an arm around my shoulder. “My girl and I are going to spend some time together.”
“Have fun. Use protection.”
I roll my eyes. Typical Zane.
We walk outside to my car, but I pause by the door. “So, what exactly are we doing when we get home?”
He pushes me against the car, his hands banding around my waist. “You’ll have to wait and see, won’t you?”
I have a pretty good idea of his plan, but it doesn’t matter if he wants me to make those pesky pecan praline muffins when we get back to the farm.
All that matters is that we’re together.
With him, I’m not just home—I’m whole. Finally.
The only bad part about living way across town?
I’ve got twenty minutes to spiral about whether Braden’s going to change his mind before we get there.
Granted, he hasn’t pulled a U-turn to escape my clutches yet, so all signs point to yes, but… I know I messed up.
And it’s going to take more than a fervent kiss in the middle of the bar to make things right.
He needs to know I won’t walk away again. That I’m choosing him, and that I won’t waver in that decision.
Braden has been my rock since day one. Now it’s my time to be his.