Page 29 of Brazen
She put her makeup away. "So do you have an exit plan?”
My eyes widened. “Like when we publicly break up?”
She took my arm and shook her head. “I meant when the financial stuff bores you and you realize it’s not who you are.”
Fair point. My heart thundered from her touch. “I’m hoping I can be like Gerard. He owned his own company, but once he made a billion, he sold it and retired, proving his worth.”
She lifted her chin. “Then start your own company.”
I was so close. She was so beautiful. I wanted to break my word and kiss her, but I stepped back and smiled. I was a man of my word, even if it killed me. “Those are the wrong shoes. These are boat shoes.”
I went to the shoes and handed her yellow-and-white rubber-bottom sandals. She sat on the bed to change.
I walked away because I would join her on the bed and forget myself.
When she stood, she said, “Okay, well, let’s get back then.”
“Let’s.” I offered my arm. She took it, and we headed out. The farther away from the bed, the better.
Chapter Fourteen
Charlie
* * *
Hope went right inside with the women, and letting her hand go was hard. However, the sun was beating on my head as I headed to the hot-tub area of the small party yacht we’d taken out as a group.
I plopped in a lounge chair and faced away from the sun. I had no idea why everyone believed I’d fallen in love this fast, but I wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. I just needed a minute.
Then my brother with his dark hair and perfect smile that he never showed off came beside me. “Where’s the ring on your fiancée’s finger?”
My heart thundered. Kir was always the serious one who never got me. I smiled at him. “We ordered it. She had her friends help, so it’s been approved, and when we get back, I hope it’s sized.”
He sat back. “How did you do it?”
My mind raced. “Do what?”
He folded his hands in front of him. “Find a girl that seems perfect for you so fast.”
Goosebumps grew on my arm. Perfect was overkill. I tensed. “I wasn’t looking. She was on my last flight.”
He nodded. “So you haven’t had a chance yet to get that scared, and you’re not just doing this to prove something to yourself?”
I tilted my head. We’d had our differences all our lives, but Kir always told me the truth. He was basically a good guy who spent too much time with books. “What do you mean?”
“We’ve been rooming together for years as kids, Charlie. The only woman you’ve ever let near your heart was Maman, because you’ve hated the idea of settling down or stopping to enjoy smelling the roses when there is something new to see.”
That was probably true. I raced away from commitment with the speed of light. I shrugged. “Well, once I had perfection raising me, it was hard to find someone like her.”
“She always had a soft spot for you. I never could make her laugh, not that I tried.”
I would like to see that. Realizing he believed me, I sat back. Everything was on plan. “Look, Kir, just lighten up, okay.”
Near the door to the top, Hope stood waiting for me, and Kir nodded at me. “I don’t know how to do that, but go. You’ll be missed, though I hope you’re not lying to yourself and hurting Hope because she seems to really be into you.””
I stood, then Kir jumped up and walked past her, leaving us alone as Hope joined me. She turned around and waited until the electric door had closed fully. “Everything okay with you?”
My parents were in the command center with the captain. I opened my arms. “Just hug me.”
