“Megan made me make her an admin on my social media accounts and she’s going in and either deleting, blocking or reporting the comments that are too aggressive.” She played with one end of her braid before meeting my gaze again. “It was better that way. I much prefer to not read that crap.”
“I prefer you don’t either.” I studied the light dusting of freckles on her nose and the mole just above her right eye that I’d missed. “What else did you do?”
“Facetimed Mr. Alexandre with the dogs. It’s becoming a weird favorite thing? I’m thinking about offering a service like that at Blue Bell Boarding. Make it an upcharge. There are definitely people in the world who would pay for it.”
“Yeah.” I chuckled. “I’ve seen grown-ass humans share ice-cream cones with their pets.”
“I sense judgment in your tone. Watch, you’ll have a dog one day and spoil it rotten.” She scrunched her nose when she smiled and I liked how it made her face look.Joyful.
“My job requires me to be gone for long amounts of time.”
“Well, thank god you know someone who will watch your dog for you!” she teased, looking quite content with herself. “I’ll even give you a discount.”
“You’re so thoughtful.” I stuck my tongue out, getting even more of a giggle out of her.
“How can I not, though? Your job did help me get more attention and funds donated.”
She couldn’t realize what the weight of her words did to my insides. She meant well, but the conversation with Charles came to the front of my mind and I took a few steps back from her. “Is the bread done yet?”
“Oh no. I did it again.” She slid off the counter, put that bright green oven mitt on and rested it on her hip. “You look sad.”
“I’m…” I wanted to change the subject, flirt, comment on her gorgeous pout. But I didn’t. The words bubbled up, thankful to escape, and I unloaded on her. “My agent is pissing me off. He thinks I’m not doing enough to try and salvage my reputation. I’m not going out. I have never done nor will I ever do drugs. I certainly didn’t try to bribe a fucking officer. I just… I keep hoping that the truth will come out. It might be naïve, but I’m having a hell of a time understanding why it’s not.”
“What does he want you to do?” She kept her back to me as she bent low to pull the bread out. It smelled phenomenal.
“Volunteer at hospitals, do-gooder shit and post online about it. I donate money to low-income sports complexes to cover the costs of young athletes, but I’m never going to post it online. How I choose to donate time or money should be on my terms, not in an effort to help people believe me.” I tilted my head side to side, cracking my neck twice. It felt a little better.
“Does your case go to court or anything like that?”
“The goal is for it all to be settled out of the spotlight. Last I heard, one of the key witnesses is changing their story.” I ran my hands through my hair, watching Sarah cut the bread into two decent sized pieces. She placed them on small red plates and jutted her chin toward the couch. I followed and collapsed into the cushions. “It was a false sense of hope.”
“Eat. Sweets solve almost any issue.” She handed me the plate and watched as I brought a corner of the piece to my mouth. She nodded and took a bite herself.
“Good, right?”
“Blue Bell, you are kinda hot when you’re smug.”
She pursed her lips and took another bite, but a slow blush crept up her neck. “I’m really sorry you’re going through all of this, Brigham. It sucks. If I can help you, please let me know. I haven’t a clue how, but I’m willing.”
Use her image.Charles’ voice was unwelcome and I blinked the thought away. “Want to know what helps me?”
“Yes, please.” She scooted closer.
I set her plate onto the coffee table and pulled her into my lap. “This.”
Then I kissed the hell out of her.
Chapter Thirteen
Sarah
My body reacted without my mind’s permission. I moaned into Brigham’s mouth as he kissed me, hard. Everything before this kiss had been sweet and tender, but this was different.Possessive. Demanding. And hot.
“I want to see all of you. Naked,” he demanded, ripping his mouth off me and gripping the end of my pajama shirt. “Can I?”
“Yes.”
The hesitation in his eyes before I responded pleased me. He might have been aggressive, but I knew he wouldn’t do anything I wasn’t ready for. The scary thought was that there was little I didn’t want to experience with him. He almost growled when he removed my shirt, undid my bra and slid my shorts off my legs. “Fuck, your bare skin is turning me on. This is a problem.”
