Page 45 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

Before he could get off the couch, his doorbell chimed again. Good grief, it would be this time tomorrow before he could make it to the door. With one hand on his lower back, he slowly made his way across the wood floors toward the door. No doubt he looked like an old man, but he also felt that way right now.

Thankfully, his front door was in the living room, so he didn’t have far to go, but damn if each step didn’t make those back muscles groan in protest.

Braxton flicked the lock and pulled the door open.

“Cora.” Shock registered hard and fast, until he looked down to the curb to see Sophie waving from the car . . . a car that was now pulling away. “What are you doing here?” he asked, turning his attention back to his unexpected guest.

“I came to help. I know you haven’t been seen, but you’re still laid up here, so you’re definitely hurting more than you let on.” She had her defiant chin tipped up, a hold on Heidi’s collar, and a large bag on her shoulder. “Um . . . can I come in?”

Braxton took a step back. “Sorry. Yes, come in.”

Nothing like making her doubt herself when she’d surprised him on his doorstep. He’d never wanted a woman in his home more than now. He hadn’t even considered having Cora in his house, but he liked the thought that she’d decided to come without calling. Maybe impromptu visits weren’t such a bad thing after all . . . depending on the visitor.

“Wait. Let me take this bag and then help you in. There’s a slight step up over the threshold here.”

He removed the bag from her shoulder and set it just inside the door. Whatever she had in that tote was heavy, he hadn’t expected that, nor had his back been prepared for the added weight.

“Okay.” Braxton reached for her free hand. “Just a few inches up.”

Gripping Heidi’s collar, Cora stepped inside and immediately let go of his hand. “I’ve got it. Just tell me where the sofa is.”

“You’re already in the living room. The sofa is to your left.” He carefully made his way back, turned off the heating pad, and moved it to the end table. “You’re about six feet away and there’s a small table beside the couch, but Heidi is between you and it, so you have a clear shot.”

Cora laughed. “I appreciate that, but I want you on the couch. On your stomach, to be precise.”

“Well if you want me in a horizontal position, all you had to do was ask,” he joked, more from shock than anything. What was she up to? “Though I have to admit, I’m not exactly my full potential right now.”

“Cute,” she muttered. “Now, get into position and tell me where you put my bag.”

“Right beside the door.” He crossed to reach for it, but before he could bend too much, he cringed and cursed himself for his actions.

“I don’t need you to get it.” Cora held her hands up toward him as if to try to stop him from moving farther. “I asked you to get on the couch on your stomach. Stubborn man. This is precisely why I had Sophie drive me over. I knew you’d never let anyone help and I wasn’t going to call to ask.”

As he struggled to get onto his stomach on the sofa, he listened to her scold him and he still had no idea what she was doing other than steamrolling him with the help of his brother’s fiancée.

Which meant Zach knew that Cora was here. Great. This would not bring about a good conversation later. Not that he couldn’t handle his brother; Braxton just preferred not to where Cora was concerned. He wanted to keep Cora to himself. Selfish, yes. Did he care? No.

“I’m going to need you to take your shirt off,” she told him as she slowly made her way over with her bag.

“I’m not wearing one.”

“Perfect.” She stopped just beside the sofa and sat her bag down. “Is there anything in front of the couch? A table or ottoman?”

“Nothing.”

Heidi took a seat next to the couch, her head nudging Braxton’s hand. He smoothed his hand over her soft fur and rubbed on her ears as Cora sank down onto her knees and started feeling around inside her bag.

“Do you need something to sit on?” he asked.

“I’m fine and you’re not getting up,” she replied easily. “We’ll make this work. I just need you to not be so stubborn for a few minutes and let me help your back.”

“You had Sophie bring you so you could give me a massage?” he asked. “Honey, as much as I love your hands on me, you didn’t need to go to so much trouble.”

He’d let the endearment slip out on purpose. Anything to knock her off balance, to keep her guessing and wondering what he intended to do next. Braxton wanted to be on her mind, he wanted her to be in constant thought about him. No, that wasn’t ego talking. With another woman maybe it would’ve been, but with Cora, there was something so much stronger going on here. He still wasn’t sure if he wanted to get clarity on the situation or sit back and enjoy the ride.

“Don’t call me ‘honey’ and I’m not here for the enjoyment of touching you,” she sniffed. Oh, yeah, there was that underlying prim and proper upbringing he’d grown accustomed to. “I’m here to help those poor muscles you abused yesterday. I’m trying to keep you from getting worse because then you will have to go to the urgent care even if I have to drive you.”

Braxton sighed. “Listen, I know this freaked you out because of your history, but nothing is wrong. I hurt like hell, and I only took today off to rest. But I’m not turning down a free rubdown.”

---