“Guess we need to get you changed out of that sexy dress.” His husky intonation sent blood rushing to her face.
“That’s my plan. I’ll help you find the others and then head upstairs and hit the sack. I’ll be in my warm PJs in ten minutes.”
“I’d rather have you with me. I’ve been missing your voice in my head.”
“Branson, I think it’s time we faced reality. You told me you’re dependent on me, but that needs to change. Once you’re married, Carina won’t want me around. She can’t stand me.”
His laughter startled her. “I don’t care if she hates you. She has no say about my employees.”
“So this is some sort of power play between the two of you?” Fury bubbled to the surface. “What am I? Some sort of pawn in your game? Stuck in the middle?”
“No. That’s not it at all.” He pushed his fingers through his hair, mussing it up in that charming way that tugged at her heart strings. He probably does it on purpose, to torture me.
“I can’t take it anymore, Mr. Knight. I’m sorry. I love my job, but I think I need to quit.” She had no idea how she could afford to take care of Ellie if she quit her job, but she couldn’t worry about that right now. She had to escape, or she would go insane. What good was a crazy mother to Ellie?
“Hold on.” Branson lifted an open hand and tilted his head to the side as if he were listening to their surroundings. “Let’s go upstairs to your room where we’ll have some privacy. You can change clothes, and I’ll… I’ll explain some things.”
Steph blew a stray strand of hair out of her face. “This better be good.”
Chapter 14
The elevator ride was silent, but for the mechanical noises. Though they were the only two occupants, Bran didn’t want to begin his explanation, only to be interrupted if someone joined them on another floor. Besides, it gave him time to consider his approach.
No telling what Stephanie was thinking. She probably wished she’d never met him. What a mess he’d made of things. He’d planned to bring Carina in as a wife in name only, a business deal with mutual benefits. He’d thought she wouldn’t want to interact much, perhaps spending most of her time in Europe. She’d caught him off guard with her efforts to rush the marriage. And he hadn’t anticipated her ability to hurt Stephanie. In fact, his main purpose in the marriage had been for Stephanie and Ellie’s benefit, though he didn’t want to reveal that to her. Now she was threatening to quit her job, and he wasn’t sure he could live without her. He was certain he didn’t want to.
When they reached Stephanie’s door, she stuffed a pair of shoes into his chest. “Here. Hold these, please.” After a bit of rustling noise and some frustrated mumbling, she added a purse. “This, too. I can’t do anything with these stupid crutches.”
“How did you carry all this stuff with your crutches? Why didn’t you let me help you?”
“Didn’t figure you’d want people to see you carrying high heels and a purse.”
“Really? Did you forget I’m blind?”
“I had no idea,” she said, with heated sarcasm.
The hinge creaked, and Bran heard the rhythmic clack of her crutches passing through the doorway. He followed her inside, still holding her things.
“I mean, I don’t care if people stare. I’m already walking around with a cane and these scary eyes. Didn’t you notice I haven’t been wearing my sunglasses?”
“Cut it out, Branson. Why do you put yourself down?”
He shrugged. She probably thought, when he mentioned the chilling effect of his prosthetic eyes, he was fishing for affirmation. In fact, he admired Steph, who acted unperturbed by his appearance, as his Phantom Enterprise partners had since the day they met at camp. He didn’t want or need false flattery.
“That wasn’t my intent. I was simply offering to carry your purse or heels or ribbon or bows. I don’t care what people think. I’m not even embarrassed to be seen holding feminine hygiene products.”
“I’ll keep that in mind if I ever buy one so large that it’s beyond my power to lift by myself.” The purse was jerked from his grasp, followed shortly by both shoes. He followed the sound of the clicking crutches.
“You can’t come in he
re,” she said, in a squeaky voice. “I’m changing clothes.”
“So? It’s not like I can see anything. I can explain things while you’re getting dressed.”
She mumbled something he didn’t understand.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. Just... I can’t…” The crutches clacked closer. “Turn around.”