Page 21 of Finding Redemption

With a curse, Paxton stepped forward, but I was quick to back away.If he touched me, I knew I would embarrass myself and start sobbing.Or knee him in the balls.I wasn’t entirely sure which, but either way, neither outcome would be in Paxton’s favor.

“Brooke, I swear to you, I had nothing to do with you losing your jobs,” he choked out.“I don’t know what happened, but please believe me when I say I would never do anything to hurt you.”

Snorting my disbelief, I dashed away my tears.“Sorry, not sorry, but I don’t believe you.It’s awfully convenient that you offer me a job, I don’t accept it, and then the ones I have that pay my bills, keep me off the streets, and put food in my belly suddenly disappear.All gone in a single afternoon.Not even the lingering smell of smoke to alert anyone that my life just went up in flames.Just, poof.”

He groaned, rubbing a hand over his stubbled jaw as he watched me with hooded eyes.“I’m not saying this isn’t suspicious.And yes, I would suspect me too.But I swear on my daughter’s life, it wasn’t me.”

I heard genuine distress in his voice that told me loud and clear he meant what he said.I believed him, but it was more than that.Iwantedto believe him.Some of my steam evaporated.Blowing out a heavy breath, I wrapped my arms around my middle.“It doesn’t matter.I shouldn’t have even come here.Sorry to have bothered you.It won’t happen again.”

Paxton wrapped his fingers around my wrist before I had fully turned away.“Don’t go,” he rasped.“I hate that you’re scared right now.I promise I’ll find out what happened because I can’t stand the thought of you hurting.But no matter the reasons, I’m just glad you’re here now.”

He rubbed his thumb over my wrist, and there was no way he missed how my pulse kicked up at the caress of his rough skin on mine.With a gentle tug, he turned me.As if I were under a compulsion, I looked up without meaning to, my breath catching when I saw the flames banked in his mossy eyes.Watching the gold swirl in their depths enthralled me.

“Stay,” he implored quietly, causing a fresh wave of tears to burn my eyes.He had me twisted up inside.I hated it.Hated it.But a part of me craved…more.“Even if it’s just until you find another job.Stay.Please.”

My body gave in before my mind could fully catch up.Paxton must have sensed how close I was, how much I needed to let go, because he pulled me against him.Releasing my wrist, he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into him at the same time I felt his lips brush over the top of my head.

“Come inside,” he urged, his voice barely above a whisper.“Let me take care of you.”

I buried my face in his chest, inhaling that wonderful cedar and citrus scent that was all his.It felt too good to be held by him to even try to protest.I wasn’t a liar, and even if I did play at being a princess on the weekends, I refused to pretend with Paxton.But I should at least be a little smart.“If I’m going to work for you,temporarily, then you shouldn’t be taking care of me.That seems unethical.A huge HR nightmare.”

“Shh,” he growled, his hand contracting on my hip for a fraction of a second.“Give me two full minutes before you start running that smart mouth again.”

Pressing my lips together, I closed my eyes and took another deep breath.Between his delicious scent, the heat of his body soaking into mine, and the sound of his heart beating erratically in my ear, my senses were overwhelmed.

I gave him his two minutes.

Maybe I was giving them to myself as well.

“Promise me again that it wasn’t you who got me fired, and I’ll believe you,” I murmured when the time was up.Lifting my head, I looked at him with pleading eyes.“Tell me it wasn’t you, Paxton.I really want to believe you.”

With his thumb under my chin, his gaze didn’t falter from mine.“It wasn’t me, but I will find out who did.I won’t let anyone hurt you and get away with it, kitten.”

For once, I didn’t shudder at a cute nickname directed at me.It was crazy, but I believed him.Not an hour before, I’d suspected him of destroying my world.But deep down, I’d known he wouldn’t do that to me.Which was insanity.I knew better than to trust anyone.

Yet I couldn’t stop myself from putting faith in Paxton.

I was tired of being alone.Of not having someone in my corner.It was a relief to know he was there.That he cared.

ChapterThirteen

Paxton

My driver stoppedoutside of Sariah’s apartment, and I bit back a groan.It was a nice neighborhood.Low crime.Sariah had wanted something cheap, thinking she didn’t deserve anything.I’d wanted her to be safe, protected, because I thought she deserved the fucking world.

This place hadn’t been the cheapest, but it had a lower crime rate than the more expensive apartments I’d considered.Bigger and flashier attracted the wrong kind of attention.

Sariah had taken Bella with her for the evening, something I’d been even more thankful for when Brooke had shown up earlier.Now, however, I wasn’t looking forward to the conversation we were about to have.

After the party Saturday, Sariah had been the one to suggest Brooke step in as Bella’s nanny, but suddenly, I had no idea what her motives were for that or where she was mentally.I had too many unanswered questions after Brooke’s crazy afternoon not to wonder if Sariah had had something to do with it.

I’d left Brooke at the house to get settled in with the promise of grabbing a few of her things when I picked Bella up.Convincing her to take the job had been surprisingly easy, but according to her, it was just a temporary position.My stubborn kitten was adamant that she would find a new job.Thankfully, I’d had enough forethought to have my attorney draw up a contract for a trial period.

Three months.That was how long I had to sort everything out.It was better than nothing, but I still felt the pressure of the clock ticking down.I wanted to grab Bella and get back to the house so I didn’t waste another minute of precious time with Brooke.But first, I needed to sort out Sariah.

Leaving my driver, who was also a member of my security team, I took the elevator up and knocked.As the door swung inward, the sound of music was masked only by Bella’s giggles.Sariah stood with her hair pulled back, a carefree grin on her face.

“Just in time.”She waved me in.“We’re getting Brooke’s stuff packed up so she doesn’t have to worry about it.”

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