Stars Over Castle Hill (On Dublin Street 6.6)

I didn’t know how to respond and so I stood there looking up at him with my lips parted for words that wouldn’t come.

Luckily I was saved by the sound of his phone ringing. He took it out and gave me an apologetic look. “It’s Kiersten. I’d better answer.”

“Go ahead,” I said, perturbed by the spike of jealousy I felt at the thought of this woman who had a child with Braden. No matter what, she was always going to be a part of his life.

“Kiersten,” Braden answered. My jealousy was somewhat mollified by his flat tone and blank expression, an expression that softened abruptly. “Abby, darlin’. What is it?”

I was transfixed by the look on his face. Hearing his daughter’s voice had transformed him. It was becoming clear that Braden was a very expressive person. I’d been treated to his intensity when he was hot for me. I’d even been treated to a soft amusement that felt like affection, which was nice.

But the look on his face now.

It was deep love.

And for some reason it caused this split inside my chest, this awful, aching emptiness that I couldn’t put a name to.

It took me a moment to realize Braden’s expression had changed again. There was a storm brewing in his pale gaze. “Right … no, darlin’, don’t worry. I’ll be right there … Aye. See you soon … Love you, too, angel.” He hung up and glared at me.

I knew the glare wasn’t for me, though.

“Fucking Kiersten.” He ran a hand through his hair, exasperated.

I was almost afraid to ask. “What is it?”

“Abby says Kiersten has started packing suitcases for them.”

Dread filled me. “Are they going somewhere?”

“No.” He cursed, anger blazing from his eyes. “It’s a ploy. It’s a fucking ploy to get me over there. She knew Abby would call me.”

“What does she want?”

“The usual.” He stepped toward me, his anger changing to regret. “I’m sorry. I have to go.”

I wondered what “the usual” meant but I didn’t pry. “Hey, don’t worry about it. Abby comes first. I get that. That’s how it should be.” I grinned up at him so he’d know I meant it. “I’d think you were an asshole if you didn’t go.”

He gave me a small smile and then bent his head toward mine.

My breath caught as I waited, wondering what kind of kiss he’d give me this time.

A simple brush of his lips against mine.

Except no touch from Braden was simple.

A groan of frustration escaped me before I could stop it.

Braden slid his hand around the nape of my neck in answer. Our noses were almost touching as he looked deep into my eyes with that cocky, smoldering heat I didn’t think I’d ever get used to. “Heads-up. I’m not planning on fucking you anytime soon.”

My lips parted in shock at his candor, and I scrambled to cover the fact that he had me off balance. “Not that it would be up to you whether we have sex, but can I ask why not?”

He chuckled at my uppity tone. “Because … if we fuck now before we’ve gotten to know each other better, you might think all I want from you is casual sex. You need to know I’ve set my sights on more than that from you. So as much as I want you—and babe, you have no idea how much I want you—we’re going to take this slow. Or as slow as possible. Do you understand what I’m saying, Jocelyn?”

My breath was stuck somewhere in my body, and I could feel an unwelcome prickle across my skin.

I understood what he was saying.

And it terrified me.

Yet … the thought of this being the last time I saw him terrified me more. To my own shock, I whispered, “I understand.”

His eyes darkened with heat and he kissed me again. This time his tongue touched mine for a second. “I have to go. I’ll call you.”

“You do that.” I stepped out of his hold, sensing I needed to be the one to break contact.

Braden looked a little winded and I wondered what was going on in his head.

But I didn’t ask. “I hope everything goes okay with Abby.”

That seemed to shake him out of his thoughts and grim determination replaced them. “I’ll call you,” he repeated.

As I watched him walk away, I became aware of something.

I lifted my hand and stared at it. Because it was trembling.

I clenched it into a fist, my own grim determination moving through me.

It was time to stop being so damned scared.

And I had hope that for Braden, I might win the fight with my fears.

***

Trusting people didn’t come easily to me but there was something about Braden and his no-bullshit attitude that pulled me in. For that reason, it didn’t surprise me when he called me that evening to arrange another date. I’d asked him how things with Abby and Kiersten had gone but he said he’d tell me all about it on our date. And to my mingled pleasure and fear (a combination of feelings I was growing used to since meeting Mr. Carmichael), he didn’t want to wait to see me.

“I’m taking tomorrow off work and I want to spend the day with you. Are you free?”

I was in the middle of a book deadline. “Yeah, I’m free.”

So that was how I found myself outside Starbucks on George Street the next morning, waiting on Braden. I looked up from my phone and caught sight of him striding toward me. My belly flipped with excitement.

I wanted to spend time with him.

I wanted to spend a lot of time with him.

And I couldn’t remember the last time I’d craved someone’s company this much.

Fear shivered through me, a feeling that was obliterated as soon as he reached me and bent his head to press a soft kiss to my mouth. Then he took my hand and smiled as he led me up the steps to the coffee shop. “How are you?”

Ready to explode with sexual frustration if you don’t put your hands on more exciting parts of me soon. “Good. You?”

“I’m good now.” He gave me a cocky grin and tightened his hold on my hand as we stepped into the busy shop.

“So, what are the plans for today?” I stared up at his profile as he searched the menu.

I liked his face.

In fact, I liked his face more than I liked any other face.

Feeling my gaze, he looked down at me, that soft amusement glittering his eyes again. “Coffee, and then I thought we could wander around.”

“Wander around?”

He nodded. “And talk. Get to know each other better.”

“Oh, I see.” I smirked at him. “This is so we can get to the sex faster, right?”

Braden threw his head back in laughter and I was so busy staring at him, enjoying the sight, I didn’t realize he’d drawn attention from the other customers until—

“Braden?”

Both our heads snapped around to the newcomer, and I had to peer past Braden to see whom the voice belonged to. As soon as I did, I wished I hadn’t.

A tall blond was staring at Braden in a way I recognized.

Longing.

Pure longing.

My gaze drifted over her, taking in her long, long pretty legs, her narrow hips, and elegant waist. Her long blond hair floated around her shoulders in perfect tousled waves framing a beautiful face. Not pretty, not even striking, out-and-out, turning-heads-everywhere beautiful.

“Fiona.” For some reason Braden’s grip on my hand tightened when he said her name. I sensed his discomfort and found myself leaning into him in support.

Fiona’s green eyes flew to my face and then back to his quickly. It was as if I didn’t exist. She stepped toward him. “How are you?”

“I’m good. You?” His tone was polite.

“Fine. It’s been a while.”

“It has.”

“Nonfat iced vanill

a latte!” the kid behind the counter called.

“That’s me.” Fiona sighed regretfully. “It was so good to see you.”

There was an awkward moment where she waited for Braden to say the same. Instead he said, “All the best.”

Ugh.

I almost felt sorry for her.

She flushed, nodded tightly, and turned to grab her drink. She didn’t look back at us as she hurried out of the shop.

“Ex-girlfriend?” I queried.

His grip on my hand loosened a little. “Sort of.”

“Sort of?”

“Let’s get our coffee first.”

Braden grinned when I ordered an Americano to go.

“What?”

“Nothing.”