Page 23 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

He stepped over the threshold and looked at the house differently than he had the first time he’d been there. This time he saw how a person without sight would live. Before he’d been too busy wondering why the hell he’d landed here for a massage and he hadn’t taken in much of her surroundings. Last time he’d walked in, he’d zeroed in on that Prada bag hanging by the door, but now he knew Cora wasn’t that snob he’d been expecting. Damn it. He hated when people stereotyped, but he hadn’t been able to help it. He was still jaded, but spending time with Cora was making him a better man. He actually wanted to figure her out because her layers were so complex and fascinating. Now all he had to do was convince her to let him in.

Braxton moved on in and took his time surveying the surroundings. The living area was sparse with just a leather sectional sofa taking up the majority of two exterior walls. No coffee table, no pictures on the walls. The fireplace had a short vase full of colorful potpourri on the mantel and nothing else. Granted, the room was small and she’d just moved in, but there wasn’t much by way of furniture or decorations. She also didn’t have a television, but there was a small desk with a computer in the opposite corner.

No Christmas tree, no stocking, no wreath on the door. Nothing about this house said holidays. He hated that tug on his heart. He didn’t want to be tugged emotional

ly in her direction, not when the physical pull was more than enough to deal with. But still, he didn’t like the fact she was in a new town alone only weeks before Christmas. Who purposely leaves her family during the holidays and why was he letting himself care so damn much?

“You know, I really can handle all of this on my own.” Cora crossed to her sofa and took a seat, sliding out of her sandals and pulling her feet beneath her. “I’m new to living alone without my sight, but I think I’ve got the hang of it. You’re worrying for no reason.”

“I’m not worried at all. I have nowhere else to be.” He moved farther into the room to sit at the opposite end of the sofa. “How do you use your computer?”

“I have a voice recognition program. I speak my commands and most of the time it listens to me.” She laughed and shrugged. “I’ve had a few hiccups, but overall it’s great. The key was finding the one that worked best for me.”

He didn’t know why he was still amazed, but everything about her was so damn motivating. She acted as if there were no stumbling blocks in her life. If she wanted something, she’d find a way to get it. Simple as that. If she had insecurities, she kept them hidden. She’d lost her sight three years ago, which just went to prove how adaptable and determined she was.

“Why don’t we go ahead and get things ordered. I can use my card while I’m here and you won’t have to worry about anything.”

Jaw set, she stared in his direction. “You know one reason I moved? Because my family constantly believed I couldn’t do things on my own. That I would fail or get hurt. I know it’s a natural reaction for you to want to help, but I’m not your responsibility.”

Braxton settled into the opposite end of the sofa, resting his elbows on his knees as he stared over at her. Yes, he wanted to help everyone around him. His default was set to assisting others in making their lives happier and calm. His messed-up childhood had reprogrammed him and set him on a different path and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to change who he was. That terrified little boy still lived inside him and Braxton could only shut him up by helping.

And this woman didn’t want any hand extended to her. Too damn bad.

“I never thought of you as my responsibility,” he corrected. “I think of you as a friend and an employee and a woman I’m attracted to more than I have a right to be. I’d offer to help whether you were blind or not. And I know it’s not really me you’re angry with.”

She waved a hand in the air before placing it back on Heidi’s head. “I don’t know who I’m angry with,” she admitted. “Myself, my family. This situation. Part of me wonders what the hell I’m doing, but the other part is so determined to do this on my own. I refuse to fail. I refuse to go back home and give them the satisfaction of knowing they were right.”

Red flags waved furiously in his mind. He figured she’d let out more than she intended, but he wasn’t going to question her further. Clearly, she wanted to stand on her own two feet. She was young, craving independence, and he couldn’t fault her for needing to prove that she could overcome the doubts and negativity placed in her life.

“Then consider me here as your employer and let’s get this stuff ordered.”

Cora laughed and shook her head. “You’re aggressive.”

“Only when I want something.”

The smile froze on her face, her eyes widened, and that swift intake of breath told him she completely understood what he was saying. She may try to ignore this attraction, but he wasn’t that good at hiding his feelings.

“Let’s focus on work instead of your wants,” she countered, swinging her legs back to the floor. “Why don’t I pull up my account and we can look at what all I’ll need.”

“Fine by me.”

She made her way cautiously over to the other side of the room and settled into the desk chair. Even though she didn’t go far, Heidi followed close by and steered her away from the edge of the desk. Cora’s fingertips slid over the desktop until she found the power button and turned on the computer. In no time, she’d verbally pulled up her account and was already loading up her cart. Clearly, she’d done all of this before.

Braxton moved in behind her and stared over her shoulder. “Holy shit. Are those massage chairs always that much?”

Laughing, Cora glanced over her shoulder in his vicinity. “They are, but don’t worry. I already have two different styles.”

“We can get new,” he corrected once he caught his breath again. “It’s not a big deal. I’m just . . . speechless. This isn’t something I’ve ever shopped for.”

“I would hope not.”

Cora proceeded to school him on the style of massage chair she’d recommend and the brand of oils and lotions she used. The sanitizer was already in her own personal stash. Towels, robes, pillows, and table coverings were next.

“We’ll need robes for the clients,” she explained. “Maybe something with the resort name on it. An emblem of sorts.”

Mentally he agreed with everything she was saying, even nodding as she was speaking, though she couldn’t see him. He continued to stare at the screen, surprised how fast the bill was racking up, but they’d budgeted more than enough for this portion of the resort. Everything was costly and he hoped like hell they all weren’t putting their savings, their retirement, their entire lives on the line only to lose it all.

Fulfilling Chelsea’s dream was worth the risk. And that right there was the main reason he didn’t want to fail. The money was just paper, but honoring his late sister was everything.

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