Page 42 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

“That’s still too high,” he told Brock. “Let it down one link and then let’s see.”

Just as he settled the swing back into the hook, he heard familiar laughter that punched him straight in the gut. He hadn’t seen or heard from Cora in four days—not since their escapade in the pond. He’d wanted to call her, to swing by and talk to her. He’d ached to just see her face, hear her voice. He’d been preoccupied with a former student who had texted him over a class he’d been having issues with. Braxton had tutored him a few hours and finally found out the issues at home were the root of the problem.

Braxton offered his advice, but whether the kid, who was legally an adult, wanted to take it was up to him. Braxton would check in later in the week to see how the kid was doing. But for now, he had a woman tying him up in knots.

He hadn’t felt this way about anyone . . . ever. The full-on attack of unexpected emotions since Cora had stepped into his life was something he had no clue how to handle. So far he was doing a stellar job of screwing everything up.

Today she wore another of those little sundresses, this time with a cardigan and flats. Auburn hair tumbled down her back. There was so much he wanted to ask her, so much he wanted to learn about her life. She’d been so determined to be alone and do everything for herself, but how did she get groceries? How did she do her laundry? He had the most random questions that she’d find ridiculous, but the longer she was around, the more he wanted to know every single detail.

“Can you stare at that lady later?” Brock asked. “We’re working here.”

“That lady is our new masseuse and I wasn’t admiring her.”

He wasn’t. He’d been fantasizing. There was a vast difference, but he still didn’t want to be called on it by a teenager.

“Is that her dog?” Brock asked.

“Her Seeing Eye dog.”

Braxton glanced down at the swing once more, pleased now with how it hung. Hopefully, it would last for years and years and he wouldn’t have to do this again.

“She’s blind?” Brock asked, not bothering to hide the shock in his tone.

“Yes and don’t make a big deal about it.” Defending her came natural, he didn’t even have to think about it anymore. “She’s amazing at what she does.”

Braxton hoped Brock grasped the fact that you could do anything in life you wanted if the determination and will to work was there. Obstacles were a fact, but how you dealt with them showed

true spirit and drive. It also set you apart from the rest and Cora was definitely in a class all her own.

Braxton started to step from the ladder when his foot caught. Before he knew it, the ladder tipped. As if in slow motion, his world turned and he and the ladder went crashing off the porch. The second he landed in the yard, pain radiated down his back and his left shoulder. Letting out a string of curses, Braxton rolled over and tried to get some air back into his lungs. Damn fall knocked the wind out of him and served up a heavy dose of humiliation.

“Are you okay?” Brock was crouched at his side, his brows drawn down in worry. “Don’t move.”

“I can move,” Braxton gasped out in short breaths as he started to sit up. The pain intensified, but he pushed up onto his right elbow because he refused to stay down and appear even weaker. “Don’t look so scared. I’m fine.”

“Braxton,” Sophie yelled as she tried to run, but her limp prevented her from picking up too much momentum. “Don’t move. That was a hard fall.”

“Are you all right?” Cora asked as she and Heidi neared.

Great. Just what he wanted—an audience to complete his shame. Clearly, a guy couldn’t fantasize without making a fool of himself.

“I stepped wrong on the ladder,” he defended, ignoring the pain as much as he could. “Not a big deal. Just let me get up and moving and I’ll be fine.”

Cora’s face scared him more than anything. She couldn’t see what happened, could only hear what the others were saying. Her skin had paled, her violet eyes were wide with fear. The only look he ever wanted to put on her face was happiness.

As soon as he got to his feet, which took a bit longer than he thought because his damn back muscles controlled way too much of his body at the moment and everything was hurting, Braxton brushed Cora’s arm with his fingertips.

“I’m up and fine.” He flat-out lied and hoped the pain in his voice wasn’t coming through his tone. Reassuring her was his top priority right now. When he was home alone he could let the pain win, but not now, not when Cora was visibly shaken.

“You’re a liar.”

Brock laughed, but when Braxton shot him a look, he stopped. “This wasn’t my first fall. I grew up with Ed Monroe. Construction was ingrained in us and falls and random injuries were all part of the game. I’m sore, but I’m fine.”

“Leave the mess here,” Sophie told him. “Zach and Brock will clean everything up.”

Braxton shot Brock a smile. “Looks like you have to do more than you intended after all, hotshot.”

Brock rolled his eyes, but the smile negated the teen’s actions. “Whatever, old man. Go put some ice on those joints or you’ll be crying in the morning.”

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