I dart a glance at the floor but then force myself to meet his eyes once more, squaring my shoulders as I do.
He tips his chin, cracks the tiniest hint of a grin, and my heart skips its next beat entirely.Whoa.
“Pardon.” That simple word, as raspy as the sandpaper scruff along his jaw, sounds archaic.
Suddenly, I feel as if I’ve stepped onto the scene of an old Western film—Braxton is the dark, dangerous drifter in town, and I’m the gal at the local saloon who caught his eye.
He clears his throat and eyes the exit, which is behind me.
Oh! It’sbehind me, which means I’m blocking the door.
I make up for that with an overcompensating sweep to one side. I mean for it to be as seamless as it is quick, but the sole of my shoe catches.
I fling my arms out to either side and swing them backward with a yelp. With miraculous effort, I manage to shift my foot into just the right place and catch my balance at last.Whew, I’m still upright. Hallelujah!
I straighten my posture then and nod stupidly. As embarrassing as that was, I’m just glad I caught my footing before I fell on my butt in front of this guy.
My face burning with humiliation, I glance at the offending spot on the floor. My eyes bulge as it hits me—that must be the plank Braxton was talking about.
I lift my gaze and glare at him. “Bye,” I croon, sounding exactly like some mean girl from a chick flick because I don’t want to be in his unnerving presence for even one second more. He offended me by offending Jeb Nobly because Braxton Wheaton is a rude and offensive man.
He shuffles closer to the door, twists the knob, and glances at the spot on the floor. “You might want to look into getting that fixed.” He grins ruefully. “Someone couldget hurt.” With that, he steps outside. “Good day,” he says as the door swings shut.
I fold my arms and summon my most seething glare at the closed door. “Good day? Not with you in it,” I grumble.
Yet suddenly, the door swings back open. I’m taken so off guard that another yelp pulls at my throat.
Braxton sticks his head inside.
“What do you want?” I snap, my fists landing on my hips.
“Just ah…” He pauses there, letting me drown in my agitation without so much as a life vest. “I wanted you to know that if I don’t hear from you by this time tomorrow, I’ll assume it’s a no and move down the list. I put you in front of my other jobs as a favor to Beau and Kirsten, but you can’t stay there forever.”
He closes the door without another word.
“You can’t stay there forever,” I mimic again, not caring if he hears this time. In fact, let’s see if he can hear this. “Jerk!” I tug my phone from my pocket and pull up the text thread with Kirsten.
Maggie:Hate to break it, but I will not be using Braxton for the refurb.
I’m about to hit send, but I can’t get myself to do it. I really, really,reallydon’t want to miss out on something amazing, and I have a feeling that the virtual tour is going to blow me away.
I backspace and try again:
Maggie:Hate to break it to you, but I probably won’t go with Braxton for the refurb.
There, much better. Without effort, I envision the way he stepped close to me, smelling all good and manly. I hear hisraspy voice again. ‘Pardon.’Sparks of heat stir low in my tummy—a warning that I could easily fall subject to such charm.
To make sure I don’t, I add one more line to the text:
As far as going on a date with the guy—it’s a solid no. Thanks anyway.
5
Braxton
“Trust me when I tell you…” I lower my chin and look at each of my brothers pointedly one by one. “I may have ruffled her pretty feathers, but she willdefinitelycall.”
Our food came moments ago, but it turns out Beau has a greater appetite for the details of my meeting with Maggie than he does for the combo plate he ordered.
