Page 8 of Brax

“That boy is really struggling,” said Irene.

“He is. But he’ll get right soon enough. I just hope it’s not too late,” said Ruby.

“Me too, Ruby. Me too.”

CHAPTER FOUR

“I really wish you wouldn’t do this, Stephanie,” said Doug. “Give it some time. Just ignore him and things will turn around. I promise you. That man is crazy about you but he has to work through some things and come in his own time. Do your work, be with your friends, your family, but just ignore him and give him some space.”

“It’s awfully hard to ignore someone when they’re the only thing you see every time you open your eyes. I see him everywhere. I smell his cologne. I hear his voice. It’s annoying as shit,” she muttered.

“I know it is, honey, but don’t do this. You’re doing amazing work here at G.R.I.P. We need you, and more importantly, we want you here. I want you here. I adore you like you’re my own daughter.”

“Oh, Doug,” she said, hugging the older man. “You know that I love you all, and I want to stay. I’m just not sure I can do it. I have an interview in the city, and I don’t want to ghost them. I’m going to take an overnight bag and spend a few days in town just to clear my head. I’ll go hear what they have to offer, and then I’ll come back and talk to you.”

“Honey, let me send someone with you in case it’s something odd.”

“Doug, it’s Joab Aerospace. Everyone knows that they’re reputable and a great company.”

“Fine. Fine, but you call us if anything goes wrong.”

She kissed Doug’s cheek and then left on the boat to head to her own cottage to change. She was happy when she didn’t see Brax. She had no desire to explain anything to him, nor did she feel as though she needed to.

By the time she was ready to head out, she was dressed in a beautiful suit with an above-the-knee dark green skirt, ivory silk blouse, and matching jacket. The heels gave her an additional much-needed three inches.

Checking herself one last time in the mirror, she smiled at the blue eyes smiling back at her.

“I wonder if they’re my real color or did they belong to her,” she whispered.

Shaking it off, she headed to the SUV that was one of several on the property that anyone could use. Stepping out onto the porch, she looked both ways to be sure Brax was nowhere to be found.

Truthfully, she was a little disappointed that he wasn’t there. Katelyn, however, was. She came running toward her.

“Don’t do this, Steph. Please. We want you here. I want you here. We all belong here, together and that means you.”

“I know, Katelyn. I want to be here, but I can’t keep doing this with him. He has a problem with who I am, and I can’t change who I am.”

“Honey, I don’t think it’s you,” she said, nibbling on her lower lip. She’d promised that she wouldn’t say anything, but she didn’t want to lose her friend.

“I have to go. I have an interview,” she said. “Don’t tell him, okay?”

“Okay.”

Brax knew that Stephanie was thinking about interviewing off the property. He’d been told that she had an interview later that day, so getting back to Belle Fleur was high on his priority list.

Headed home on the jet, the others stared at him.

“What are you going to do about her?” asked Pax.

“I don’t know.”

“You love her, Brax. I know that you do,” said Saint. “This shouldn’t be that hard.”

“I’m not good enough for her. You guys know that. I’m not good enough for her and I can’t give her, or any woman what they probably really want. I won’t do that to her.”

“Brother, you’re more than good enough for her. Just give her a chance. Tell her the truth, and she’ll listen. Don’t you think she carries her own insecurities about things? This won’t matter to her,” said Saint.

“I kissed her. It was a mistake because I’ll never experience anything like it again,” he said with a sad tone. He felt someone slap the back of his head, and it jerked forward. “Hey! That hurt.”

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