Page 16 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

Of course they wouldn’t come themselves, because they were too busy, but they’d send the man who was more like their child than Cora was. The son they’d never had. Those words were said so often, Cora just wish they’d adopt him and stop screwing with the preposterous idea of marriage to form the “perfect union.”

And if she were honest with herself, a little bit of that truth stung. She didn’t like being second to a man who could’ve been cut from the same cloth as her parents. He was everything Cora wasn’t, and Victor and Barbara Buchanan never let her forget it. Granted, they weren’t blatant, but their veiled put-downs and not-so-subtle hints that she was flawed always sliced her deeper than she’d ever admit aloud. There was only so much a woman could handle before she had to take charge of her life and stop letting everyone else control it.

“Hey,” Braxton murmured, his fingertips lightly brushing her shoulder to get her attention. “Everything okay?”

Pasting what she hoped was a convincing smile on her face, Cora nodded. “Sorry. My mind drifted. Go ahead. Heidi and I will follow.”

She knew he hesitated since he didn’t move right at first, but finally his foot slid against the wood and he moved down the hall. She was getting the first-floor layout pretty well; now she needed to keep Heidi going over the floor plan so she’d remember how to get to certain places.

“Are you getting the grand tour?” Sophie asked.

Cora came to a stop when Heidi did. “I am. This place is amazing. I cannot believe how perfect it is for a resort and spa. Women will absolutely love it.”

“That’s what we’re counting on,” Sophie stated with a smile in her tone. “I want you to meet my fiancé and one of Braxton’s brothers, Zach.”

Cora didn’t know which way to angle her body until Braxton whispered, “Left.”

Thankful for the tip and stunned at the fact he was already in tune with her, Cora extended her hand. “I’m so excited to meet you,” she told him as he gripped her hand and shook. “Braxton has shown me around and my room is more than sizable. I can’t wait until you guys open.”

He released her hand and she heard someone shift in their place. Heidi remained diligent at Cora’s side and Cora tried not to fidget. She’d grown used to being in a room with near strangers, given her upbringing and her parents’ various parties. Cora had learned to smile, be polite, and keep her mouth shut at times. Something about this meeting put her a little more on edge than usual. She wanted to make the best impression and she wanted to fit in. Besides, all of those other meetings in her life had been when she’d been able to see who was looking at her. Now when people analyzed her, she had no idea . . . and she didn’t like that empty, uncomforta

ble feeling.

Story of her life as of late. Trying to fit in.

“Sophie told me you came from another spa in Atlanta,” Zach stated. “She also said you left behind quite a clientele.”

Cora nodded in agreement. “I did. I loved the salon I was at, but I was ready to get out of the city. Haven is a great little town that I visited years ago and fell in love. When I wanted a change, I knew exactly where I wanted to be.”

Silence settled into the room and Cora wasn’t sure what else she could say. Thankfully, Braxton chimed in before she had to revert to the dreaded small talk.

“You’d be amazed at what all she can do with her other senses,” he told them. “She’s more in tune with everything around her than most people.”

While she appreciated his chivalry in coming to her defense, she wanted to do this on her own. No, she needed to do this on her own.

“You learn to work with what you have,” she explained. “Besides, I knew if I wanted to be independent, I needed to learn how to do everything all over again. I refuse to be defined by the fact I’m blind.”

“And that’s why you’ll be such a great asset,” Sophie chimed in. “You’re determined. You fit right in with this bunch.”

Cora breathed a sigh of relief. She wanted to fit in, damn it. She hated that she allowed herself to feel so left out, but she couldn’t ignore the truth. She hadn’t fit with her family before her accident and after . . . she might as well have been invisible. She’d been nothing but a burden to them for the past three years. Ignoring her and pretending everything was fine wasn’t going to make her sight reappear. They figured if they just found someone to “take care of her” that everything would be perfect in their flawless world. She hated to be a disappointment to them, but she refused to stick around any longer and live a sheltered life.

“Brax, did you get a list of what all we needed to order for her room?” Zach asked.

Those familiar nerves balled up in her stomach. Yeah, they were supposed to discuss that, but the whole boss/employee chat got put on hold when Braxton had kissed the hell out of her. Okay, fine. She’d kissed the hell out of him right back. Who could blame a girl? That man had more charm and sexiness in just his voice than Eric had had in the past several years she’d known him . . . and one year was a pseudo engagement. Though she knew in her heart that was a pity ploy cooked up by her parents, who insisted she needed a keeper and someone to help her run the company.

Why did she let that hurt so much? Why did she give them the power to control how she felt?

Oh, yeah. Because she wanted that sense of belonging and she’d assumed family was a good place to find that. She’d been wrong.

Cora didn’t want to think of Eric or how perfect he was for her parents but not for her. Whatever mess she’d left behind she’d deal with later. Right now, she wanted to be Cora the masseuse, not Cora the millionaire daughter to the world’s largest chocolate importer.

Besides, she and Eric didn’t have chemistry. They got along well enough in the boardroom, but to take it to the bedroom until death do them part was not a good decision. She didn’t want to be married to her job and that’s exactly what would’ve happened had she married Eric per her parents’ orders.

There wasn’t an ounce of chemistry with Eric like she had with Braxton. Now, that man . . .

“We got distracted by the tour,” Cora finally admitted, hoping her entire face wasn’t showing that she was lying. “This house is amazing and Braxton was showing me the tunnels and explaining the history.”

“I’ll make sure we get a detailed list by tomorrow,” Braxton promised.

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