Page 29 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

“Soph is pretty awesome,” he agreed. “She’d do anything for you.”

They drove a bit in silence and Cora found herself remembering what this area looked like. Was it still covered with mossy trees? Were all the old, charming homes adorned with lights and garland? Maybe a Christmas tree in the living room window? When she’d get away to Savannah before she’d lost her sight, she would fantasize about living outside the city and in a beautiful town where ladies wore hats on Sunday and had tea on Saturday. Haven was the perfect Southern town. Small, beautiful, so much to offer tourists who wanted that relaxing vibe and charm.

Sometimes she’d just get away and drive, trying to figure out where she wanted to be in life. So many women would have loved to have been in her shoes. A guy who wanted to marry her, though they weren’t in love, they were compatible in the workplace. She had all the money she could ever want, homes in Hawaii and Italy, and more chocolate than any woman could ever eat in a lifetime.

Yet it had all been given to her by her parents. Handed to her without any work on her part and she’d felt so completely empty. While some would think she sounded ungrateful, that wasn’t it at all. That lifestyle of the fast-paced grind with overloaded schedules, boring meetings, multiple deadlines, fake smiles . . . none of that worked for her and she wanted to make her life her own.

Cora knew her parents loved her in their own way, but they truly had no idea how to express emotions. They’d both been born into money, not that money was a bad thing, but her mother and father were shipped off to boarding schools and rarely spent time with their own parents. Cora had heard enough stories to know that her mom and dad had mirrored upbringings and perhaps that’s why they fit together so well. She just wished they would’ve tried a little harder with her. Surely they realized what they’d missed out on and that a child needed love and attention, not money and objects.

“What are you thinking?” Braxton asked.

She didn’t want to get into the whole ordeal spinning around in her mind. “It’s been three years since I drove a car.” She laughed, trying to play off how ridiculous that must sound to him. “I think of the silliest things sometimes. I mean, you want to go somewhere, you hop in your car and go. I miss that sense of being able to go anywhere at any time.”

Braxton reached over and squeezed her hand. “You’re getting your freedom back,” he told her. “You’ve moved out on your own, you’re going to start working, and you’re doing a damn fine job of being independent. Let’s focus on all of that and the fact we’re about to have an amazing picnic.”

Braxton let go of her hand and guided the car around a sharp turn. Cora held on to the door and waited for him to tell her where they were. She had a pretty good idea where he’d taken her, but she didn’t want to ruin his fun. “Are we here?”

“We are.”

Braxton brought the car to a stop and Cora waited for him to come around. This was one area where she was definitely independent, but she had to admit, she liked having him get her door and escort her. Hey, she was a lady and appreciated a man who treated her as such because he actually cared, not because he thought she was incapable.

As soon as she stepped out, she inhaled the sweet, familiar fragrance of the olive plant. With one hand holding on to Heidi, Cora extended her other one. “Let me take a bag or something.”

“I’ve got it all. Will Heidi follow me?”

“Just keep talking to me an

d she will know we’re together,” Cora commented.

“I wanted to bring you back to the resort,” he told her as they began walking.

Her sense of direction was impeccable and they were heading away from the front of the house. What did he have planned?

“Since everyone is gone, I thought we could sit by the pond and eat our dinner. That way we can talk, relax, and do absolutely nothing at all. Once Bella Vous opens, this opportunity will be gone.”

The fact he’d put so much thought into this truly amazed her. She was used to the fast-paced lifestyle of the city and forced luncheons with rubbery food posing as a delicacy. Pizza, beer, a good friend, and a breeze by the pond sounded absolutely heavenly. She’d wanted a new, laid-back life and she was well on her way to getting it. This was just another layer in building her confidence. Less to worry about meant she could learn to truly be herself. Adding in some Braxton time on the side was a definite perk she hadn’t expected.

“Here we are,” he told her. “Let me spread this blanket out.”

“You carried our food, drinks, and a blanket?”

Braxton laughed and said nothing because clearly he had done just that. Still, she wished he would’ve let her help him when she’d offered.

She waited while he situated everything. The breeze kicked up, sending her hair spiraling around her shoulders and tickling her exposed skin. Even the air smelled better here. There was something about being out in the open, not surrounded by buildings and cars and people. Everything about Haven was refreshing and exactly what she needed.

As for Braxton. Well, she could admit to herself she needed him, but on what level she still wasn’t quite sure. She wasn’t naïve and she couldn’t ignore this pull toward him, but she needed to go slow. As much as she’d love to just let her emotions guide her, she couldn’t risk this new start by getting involved with a guy who was technically her boss. Her sexy, caring, intriguing boss.

“I’m going to take your hand,” he warned her. “I didn’t want you to jump.”

Cora had to bite her lip as her eyes started to burn. Why was he so perfect? Why did she have to find him now when she didn’t want anyone, when she wanted to break free and live her life without commitment to anyone? And why did he have to be her boss?

She knew he was a ladies’ man. She didn’t need to be told. He was sexy, kind, and there wasn’t a woman who wouldn’t take notice. She had no clue what he looked like, but she knew he had a killer body.

Braxton’s rough palm slid against hers as he led her down onto the blanket. Thankfully, her old dress hit right at her knees so she wasn’t showing too much . . . she hoped.

Heidi settled in beside Cora, the dog’s fur tickling Cora’s thigh. The breeze continued to toss her hair around her shoulders. Cora grabbed the thick strands and pulled them over one shoulder as she lifted her face to the warm winter air. She slid her feet from her shoes and stretched her legs out in front of her on the thick blanket. With her hands braced behind her, Cora relaxed and enjoyed the fact she had nothing at all to do right now. She didn’t have to dress up, have someone come in and do her makeup so she could be presentable for a business gathering, she didn’t have to pretend to be interested in importing talk, and she didn’t have to play the role of a doting fiancée simply to appease the public.

Right now she was Cora Buchanan, masseuse. Not Corinne Buchanan, potential CEO of Buchanan Chocolates.

---