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Michael
L iv thought of everything when she set up the auction. With the botanical gardens as the backdrop, there are flowers everywhere. Tents and servers everywhere. Everyone is happy and talking and spending money on items they probably already own or can get for cheaper. But that’s the point.
And even with all that, I can hardly look at anything or anyone besides Brianna. She dazzles, with her flowery dress and heels that show off her long legs. Her hair hangs in curls over her shoulders, brushing her shoulder blades every time she moves. Tickling my cheeks when I lean in to tell her something about the auction or who someone is.
It kills me each time I do that because she smells like heaven. I hadn’t been lying when I said I wanted to stay home instead of coming to the party. Brianna had surprised me with her vulnerability yesterday, the contract this morning, and the gift. I hadn’t realized that in addition to working on her career last week, she’d been working on herself.
All of it—but especially her selflessness—makes me want to start over. To do this right, despite the risks. Because it’s Brianna.
But now we’re stuck at the party. I want to be here for Liv, but damn, Brianna is making that difficult. Every time she laughs or touches my arm, every time she leans up to whisper something in my ear, it turns me on.
“Let’s see what’s being auctioned off,” she says, tugging my arm to the table.
I oblige because I have to make at least a couple bids for the cause. But mostly I just watch Brianna while she browses, making comments about items she’d be interested in.
“A weekend getaway in Aspen,” she says, pointing. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”
I pick up the pen and sign my name on the line.
“Michael,” Brianna says, cheeks red. “I wasn’t suggesting that you—I mean, you don’t have to—”
“I have to sign up for something. Might as well be something you’re interested in.”
“No.” She glances around and lowers her voice. “I didn’t mean you were doing it for me or anything. Just—”
“It is for you.” I bid a ridiculously high amount, making her eyes widen. “And if we don’t win it, we’ll go anyway.”
Before she can protest, I kiss her on the lips. She responds immediately, mouth softening as I press my tongue against the opening.
Hell. We’re going to have to leave early. There’s just no other way around this.
“Look at the lovebirds,” Liv says.
I pull back reluctantly to glare at her. I want time with Brianna and this whole party is making that difficult.
She just smiles at me, and then turns her attention to Brianna, whom she clearly adores. “Your package already has half a dozen bids.”
Brianna’s eyes widen. “It’s does? Really?”
I squeeze my arm around her waist. “What package is this?”
“She’s offering a web design package, which includes all sorts of social media goodies and marketing strategies and—basically you’re engaged to a genius,” Liv says. “I’ve seen her work—and I’m going to have her make me a website, too.”
I smile at Brianna, amused to see her cheeks burning red at the attention my sister is showing her. “You’re offering your services and I didn’t even know?”
She laughs. “You make that sound dirty.”
Liv rolls her eyes and says, “Get a room,” before wandering off.
“How come you didn’t tell me about this?” I ask, then shake my head before she can answer. “Never mind. We’re starting over, right?”
“Yes.”
“Show me.”
She pulls me to the end of the table, where I see her name on a marker just like the other items up for bid. There’s a detailed description of what she’s offering as well as a portfolio of her work.
“You did all this?” I ask, paging through the pamphlet.
“Designed the sites, you mean?”
“I imagine you put together the pamphlet as well. It looks like your work.”
She smiles at me. “How can you tell?”
“It’s creative—no innovative. Classy. Simple where it needs to be simple. Elegant, but fun.” I lift my eyes to meet hers. I’m not just talking about her work. “Kind of like you.”
“You definitely know how to flatter a woman.”
I pull her into my arms. “Not just any woman. My fiancée.”
The words are out of my mouth before I realize what I’m saying. There’s a lot about Brianna I like—a lot I admire. And yet I still feel like we hardly know each other. That’s something I need to remedy.
“Let’s get a drink,” I suggest, hoping I didn’t make the moment awkward. “And see if we won a weekend getaway to Aspen.”
We talk with Liv and her husband, and my parents stop by for long enough to be charmed by Brianna all over again. It’s not a ruse anymore. We’re not engaged, but other than that, I’m interested in Brianna. For the long term.
We win the weekend getaway, which makes all sorts of plans form in my head. But first, I want to get Brianna home. I want her and I alone without distractions.
Once we say goodbye to what feels like every single person at the auction, I lead her outside to our car, keeping her hand secure in mine.
When I reach the door, someone steps in front of her, separating us.
I don’t miss the quiet gasp from her lips, or the surprise—then hurt—in her eyes. “Chet.”
I’m at Brianna’s side in an instant, my arm around her shoulders. Chet’s gaze travels over my grip, my face, before his eyes harden. Then he looks at Brianna again. “Can we talk?”
“That’s not a good idea,” Brianna says.
Chet frowns. “Just a few minutes. I know things ended badly between us, but I want a chance to explain.”
“She said no,” I answer for her. “Come on, Brianna.”
“Would you just give us a minute?” Chet asks, glaring at me. “She can make her own decisions.”
Brianna shakes her head. “We’re finished, Chet. Please—”
“Five fucking minutes, okay? I need to explain.”
“You need to go now.”
Brianna turns to me, trying to get around Chet, but he moves in front of her again and reaches out to grab her arm. “Five minutes.”
I grip Chet’s jacket and shove him back. “Get out of here. And don’t you ever touch her again.”
Chet regains his footing and comes at me at the same time Brianna steps in front of me, trying to diffuse the situation.
“Stop. Chet—please. You need to leave—”
“Damn it, Brianna,” I mutter, trying to get her to move. She stepped right in front of a man who clearly isn’t thinking rationally.
“Stop. Both of you.” She glances up at me. “Get in the car.”
“Not until he’s gone.”
Chet grinds his teeth. “Meet me later—at the pizza place we used to go to. I’ll explain everything.”
To my surprise, Brianna nods. “Fine. I’ll meet you at five if you just go now.”
Chet looks precariously close to flipping me off. But he shoves his hands in his pockets and walks off with a huff.
“What the hell?” I ask Brianna.
“Get in the car,” she says firmly before reaching for the handle.
I beat her to it, and then crawl in after her, my mind reeling. She’s actually going to meet with that asshole?
“Brianna,” I start.
She shakes her head. “Not here, please. We had a good time, didn't we?”
“We did, but—”
“Michael.”
I stop arguing a minute to look at her face. Her eyes are filled with tears, threatening to spill at any moment, and her cheeks are pale.
“Damn it.” I pull her into my lap as the car drives from the curb. “Are you okay?”
“I need to deal with this.”
I cup her cheeks in my palms and tilt her head up so she’ll meet my eyes. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t want to fight about this with you. Not after today. Not after we just started over.”
“I’m not trying to fight. I’m trying to take care of this for you. You don’t have to see Chet again. And if he ever bothers you—”
“Wait. Hold on.” She takes a deep breath and seems to steady herself. Her hands come up and she pulls mine from her cheeks. “I want to talk to Chet.”
My eyes narrow. “You do?”
“I want to be done with this for good.”
My teeth clench. “Chet’s not the kind of guy who can be reasoned with.”
She kisses me, brushing her lips against mine so I lose focus. Her hands run down my shoulders and then back up my chest. “I want to be with you…I just…”
I can’t think with her hands all over me, her mouth on mine. I catch her wrists. “Brianna. Talk to me.”
“I’m in this with you. I am. But I need to make it clear to Chet where I’m at now,” she says, voice getting stronger with each word.
“You’re with me,” I murmur.
She nods. “And Chet needs to know that. I’ll talk with him tonight, and then that’s it. He’ll be out of our lives and we can move on.”
For her sake, I keep my face neutral. She does need to know that I doubt Chet will be out of our lives. Or that he’s already made more trouble than she knows about. He hadn’t just talked to the reporter—he’d talked to many reporters. He’s trying to break up me and Brianna. He’s fucking with her life more than she knows, and this—tonight—is just another way to get back into her life.
“I don’t like you going there with him alone. I’ll send two men with you, and—”
“Will you come?” she asks.
I stop, surprised. She wants me there? This is a gesture of trust and of unity I didn’t expect. She wasn’t lying when he said we’re in this together.
“Of course,” I say. “I’ll do whatever you need me to do.”
She leans in to kiss me again. “Thank you.”