Page 46 of Caught Up In You (The Monroes 2)

With his hand resting on Heidi’s back, Braxton waited while she pulled out various bottles. He watched her face as her hands roamed over each product. Those delicate fingers that had the power to make a man groan, that had made him a believer in the power of a simple touch. She must’ve found the one she was looking for because she flipped the lid and applied a generous amount to her palm. After setting the bottle aside, she rubbed her hands together before applying them to the center of his back.

“Tell me if I rub too hard.”

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nbsp; Braxton seriously had to bite his tongue to keep a “that’s what she said” from slipping out. Actually, once she started smoothing her hands in firm, fluid strokes, he couldn’t form a coherent thought. Everywhere she touched seemed to instantly relax and Braxton found himself closing his eyes and letting her do her magic.

This woman was going to be a major asset at the resort. Hell, he may book appointments for himself. Exam weeks at the college were hell and he could use some downtime after semesters ended.

“Are you feeling any better?” she asked as she continued to move her hands masterfully over his back and shoulders.

“Yeah.”

His voice sounded like he’d eaten sandpaper, but how the hell could a man get all rubbed down like this and not get turned on?

She used a different product, this time it felt like oil. He didn’t ask what it was, he didn’t need to know. Cora was here because she cared, she was here because she wanted to help, and she was here, in his home, completely outside her comfort zone.

“Thank you for coming by,” he told her.

The breath of her soft laugh tickled his damp skin. “That was hard for you to say, wasn’t it?”

“Not to you,” he admitted, realizing just how true the statement was. “There was no way I was going for an X-ray, but I never thought of having you come and work your magic.”

“Most people don’t think of a masseuse for healing, but muscles can often be cured if they’re pampered the right way. I wasn’t going to just let you lie here in misery.”

Braxton opened his eyes and stared at her. She had no idea how beautiful she looked with a lock of hair over one eye, her lip pulled between her top two teeth as she concentrated on soothing him.

“Is that what you’re doing? Pampering me?”

A smile flirted around her mouth. “I’m trying.”

“You’re stunning.”

The whispered words left his lips before he could even think through his thoughts. Her hands stilled on his back.

“I don’t say that to make you uncomfortable,” he went on, purposely keeping his tone soft. “Surely you’re used to men complimenting you.”

She picked back up her even motions. “I’ve been complimented, yes, but the words sound different coming from you.”

He didn’t comment. What could be said? She was stunning, she was breathtaking, and he wanted so much from her it scared the hell out of him. Mostly he was terrified because he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was he wanted from her. Well, other than the obvious because he was a guy. But there was so much more and he was going to have to come to grips with that fact sooner rather than later or he’d drive himself insane.

“I was engaged.” Her hands moved up to his shoulders. “Well, I was almost engaged. In the eyes of my parents and Eric, I was taken.”

Finally she was opening up. Relief slid through Braxton, but he wasn’t sure if he should comment or let the silence calm her enough to keep going.

“I’m just not ready to settle down,” she went on. “And I definitely don’t want someone my parents think is perfect simply for the fact he’s the son they never had and he can take care of me.”

Braxton laughed. “I’ve known you a week. Want me to call and tell them you can take care of yourself?”

She stared at him for a moment before her smile spread across her face. “Thank you. You get it. I was the perfect daughter for so long, then with the accident and ultimately losing my sight, they only see me as handicapped now. It’s a struggle because I’m still me. I’m still the same person I was when I could see, only now I’m hurt. I hate hurting and I hate that I’ve let myself feel this way.”

Braxton jerked sideways, cringing at the sudden movement that caused her hand to fall away. He wanted to fix these emotions, now. Every bit of hurt she had, every single insecurity, he wanted to wipe them out and wrap her in a shield of protection.

“Handicapped? Do you see yourself that way?”

She perched her hands on the edge of the cushion, right next to his side. “I don’t know,” she told him, her tone a bit defeated. “It’s just . . . never mind. No reason to dredge this topic up. It is what it is. I’ve learned people will think and say what they want. Not all of it is kind, but I can’t control that. It’s been nearly three years, but it still seems like yesterday and I wonder if I’ll ever stop adjusting to this new life.”

She had so many doubts, so many insecurities that she tried to keep hidden. And from the veiled conversations about her parents, he knew she had little to no support from them. Braxton wanted five minutes with her parents. He wanted to tell them what an amazing daughter they had, how loyal and loving and perfect she was regardless of her vision.

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