Heather

Today, I’ve been able to distract myself, with preparing for Nellie’s arrival tomorrow. There’s still so much we need to get done. She’ll be staying with Mom and Dad for a bit. We all want to help her settle in.

I left the guesthouse as neat as it was, when I first moved in, but Mom has been talking about freshening it up for Nellie. I think that means making the place more girly, which means shopping and decorating for the next two days.

“We need to talk,” Braxton demands, walking into the break room.

“Not at work. Nope, I’m not doing this here,” I huff, with my back still to him.

“Good then we agree on something,” he bites out.

“What?” I clinch the sides of the counter, lifting my shoulders and dipping my head in frustration.

“Listen, Nellie’s coming in. I heard your dad telling mine about some shit she’s been through. Can we call a truce for now?” He sighs.

I turn to him and narrow my eyes. He has a point. Nellie has been through hell. The tension that’s been in the office could be a problem. I chew on my lip, reaching to tug my ear. Brax’s eyes zone in on the ear tug, causing him to lift a brow.

“Fine,” I relent. “She’ll be working here too. So, I guess a truce is a good idea. I need to focus on training her, not your crap.”

“My crap,” he hisses, closing the space between us. “Seriously?”

“Who is she, Brax?” I nearly yell.

“Keep your voice down,” he growls. “There are clients in the conference room.”

“You know what? Whatever,” I throw my hands up. “I’ll stay out of your business, you stay out of mine.”

“You are my business,” he snarls. “You think seeing someone else changes how I feel about you. You’re the—”

“Everything okay in here,” Dad says, looking between the two of us.

“Yeah, it’s fine. Some people just like throwing tantrums like babies,” I taunt, before storming out.

* * *

Braxton

I’ll give her one thing, my approach to this situation was childish. I see that now. Oh well, too late to be crying over spilled water. It’s time I man up about all of this.

I’m all man. I’ve been all man for a very long time and it’s time Heather acknowledge that. I step from the bathroom, muttering to myself. I don’t even know why I came out tonight. My mood is foul as fuck.

Heather hasn’t shown her face at the bar yet tonight. Add in, Bean being here with that pussy ass boyfriend of hers, I’m ready to beat the shit out of someone. I don’t like that dude. He’s had Bean in a corner away from me and my brothers, since they arrived. I know she came out to hang with us.

I’m sure my brothers are probably wondering where I’ve taken off to. I needed to step outside just to get some fresh air and calm the fuck down. Once I was calm enough, I stepped back inside and had to piss. I don’t know how long I’ve been gone, but I know it’s been a while.

I get to the table my brothers are sitting at and get ready to retake my seat. My head turns to see what Noah is so focused on. I pause the moment I see Heather and Lucy sitting with Bean instead of pussy ass boyfriend.

“I’ll show her a baby throwing a fucking tantrum,” I grumble under my breath.

I start for their table, my eyes locked on my target. I’m a baby, but she’s pulling this bullshit with Lucy. Yeah, I got her baby alright.

Time to turn shit up.

* * *

Braxton

I feel bad enough as it is. According to Lucy, Billy saw the entire thing with Brax and left. When Lucy called Billy, she hurled nothing but accusations at her.

Billy believes our relationship is a sham to force her hand, which it is. However, the plan was for her not to figure that out. I feel so guilty.

All I can think about is how much Lucy has truly done for me. Sitting with me, when I had the flu, last year. House sitting for me, the few times dad needed me to run some surveillance with him out of State. Not to mention, putting her life on hold for me for almost two years.

For all I know, she and Billy probably could have made up a long time ago. Yeah, I feel like shit. Her lecture didn’t help one bit. I feel lower than low about it.

I promised to fix it. All I have to do is stay away from Brax, until Lucy and I convince Billy we’re a real thing. I look around the bar, relieved when I don’t see Billy here tonight. Lucy did however, take multiple pics to post on social media, before we left my place.

I was a bit uncomfortable with the ones of us kissing, but I made a promise. I always keep my promises. I also make good on my debts and I owe Lucy.

“Hello, Mrs. Black,” Brax, places his hand on my back, dragging his fingertips across it, as he leans to whisper in my ear.

I shiver from his touch, chiding my traitor body. It’s been so long, since he’s touch me in that type of way. I feel like it registers everywhere.

Mrs. Black, I snort in my head.

I look up at him and scowl. He gives me that sexy grin of his. Grr! He drives me insane. I look away from him. I will not get involved with him tonight.

“What, you’re not going to talk to me?” he leans into my other ear.

I turn to see the annoyed look on Lucy’s face, a sigh leaving my lips. “Where’s your girlfriend, Brax? Go find her and get out of my face,” I grumble.

“Grow up, Heather. You know I only want you,” he croons. He’s so close, as he allow his lips to graze my ear.

I give him a sly smirk, knowing I’m about to piss him off. “I’m not the tantrum thrower you overgrown baby,” I sass.

Brax grins right back at me, leaning into my ear, not saying a word at first. Just letting his breath fan over my skin. My nipples tighten. I clinch my fists.

“I wasn’t a baby, when I had you soaked and wet, calling my name was I?” My breath hitches. “No, I wasn’t, I was all man. Your man, as I slid in and out of that tight warm pussy.”

I slap the shit out of him. Not because I’m pissed at his words, but because they turn me on so much. Brax just hovers over me, smiling down at me.

“I’m gone,” Bean grumbles, reminding me that others are at the table with us.

“No, don’t go. Please don’t leave me with these two,” Lucy pleas, as Bean gathers her things.

I’m instantly irritated with Lucy. I promised her I’d fix things for her. She could cut me some damn slack already. I apologized. I’ve been apologizing all night.

I want to slap her too. Yet, I haven’t taken my eyes off of Braxton. I glare at him when he leans to plant a kiss to the top of Lucy’s head. He looks back at me with heat in his eyes. I want to slap him again,

Smug bastard.

He leans back into my ear. “Who’s it going to be, Precious? Me or your pretend girlfriend? Does she make you feel like I do? I bet I eat pussy better than she does. I like to think of myself as a connoisseur of sorts. I remember how good your pussy tastes on my lips,” he purrs, his voice dropping low and sexy.

He pulls away from my ear, with a sexy grin on his lips. Asshole. My panties flood with my juices. My cheeks flush. I can feel myself panting.

“Ugh, Grr…I just can’t with you,” I hiss, jumping up and taking off before anyone else at the table has time to take in my reaction.

I feel Brax heavy on my heels, as I storm off. I just want him to leave me alone, I need to catch my breath. Truth is, I’ve been thinking a lot about my night with Braxton lately. Well, especially after last week, when he appeared with that girl.

I can’t help wondering how many times he’s done everything he did to me to her. The thought has been festering. It’s what’s been driving my rage. I don’t want him to ever touch anyone the way he once touched me.

But you have no rights to him.

I feel his fingers wrap my elbow, turning me in my tracks. I look up at him, totally pissed off. Snatching my arm away, I fold my arms over my chest.

“Don’t touch me,” I hiss.

He steps all the way into my space. “Is that what you really want?” he purrs, looking into my eyes.

“Don’t you have a girlfriend now?” I snap back at him.

“Are you jealous, Heather?”

Again with that grin. I think about plucking him in his full lips. I ball my fists, dropping them to my sides, before I actually do it.

“Jealous of what? Some bimbo you’ve been dating? I don’t care what you do. I have adult shit to handle in my life,” I toss at him, feeling satisfied with the dig.

“Again with the baby shit, huh? We both know how adult I am,” he grunts back.

“What do you want, Braxton?” I sigh, biting back my anger.

“Break that shit off with Lucy. Games over,” he hisses back.

“Break that shit off with what’s her name,” pours from my mouth bitterly.

“Done.”

I rock back on my heels, not expecting his words to come so quickly or easily. He stands waiting for my response. My gut twists. I just made that promise to Lucy tonight. I can’t go back on it.

“I can’t. It’s not that easy, B,” I whisper.

“Why the fuck not? Do you actually have feelings for her?”

I can see the rage in his eyes. He’s so close to losing his temper. I reach for his arm and shake my head.

“It’s not like that. It’s complicated,” I plea with my eyes, as I look up at him.

“Explain it,” he says, but frowns. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out his phone. “Fuck!”

“What?”

He fires off a text, before looking up at me. “We’re not done. I’m over this shit, Baby. When I get back, we’re having a long ass talk. I don’t care if we never have sex, but we’re done playing like we don’t have feelings for each other,” he grumbles.

He leans in to kiss my forehead. “I have to go. Dad has something he needs me on,” his words are full of regret.

I nod. “Be safe.”

“What’s my name,” he says with a wink. Leaning into my ear, he whispers. “I don’t share. Keep her lips and hands off of my girl.”