Holding Out for a Hero (Baytown Heroes #9)

Chapter 17

17

Bess had planned on spending an evening at home, both excited about hiring Carol and nervous about Brad finding out. Even though he’d declared them friends after their last conversation, she had no idea what that meant. Would they just smile politely when they saw each other? Would they occasionally have amiable conversations when hanging out with a group of other friends? She assumed that being friends with him meant that they’d slow down on the anger that seemed to fly when they were together, but that was the extent of her concept of friendship with a man she knew intimately and had secretly never really gotten over.

But to see him standing at her door, confident while simultaneously seeming uncertain, gorgeous, with his piercing blue eyes pinned on her, she couldn’t help but think of the man she’d first met at the bar months ago.

Blowing out a long but silent breath, she walked into her apartment and called over her shoulder. “Do you want a beer? I’ve also got soda, orange juice, and water.”

“I wouldn’t mind a beer if that’s okay.”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I minded,” she said, bending to grab one from the refrigerator. When she straightened and turned, she found his gaze on her. “Were you staring at my ass?”

“No!” He blinked, then shook his head. “Maybe.” Then he grinned. “Okay, yes. But that’s not why I’m here.”

“Good, because I’m not in the habit of having my cozy evenings alone interrupted by someone who just wants to stare at my ass. Unless that someone was specifically invited for the purpose of staring at my ass, which in that case, it would be fine to commence staring. But since this is a surprise visit, my ass will have to stay out of the purpose you have yet to define.” She topped off her wineglass, trying and failing to ignore the deep chuckle rumbling from his chest.

“You’ve got a way with words, Bess,” he managed to say between chuckles. He inclined his head toward her chest and added, “And some fuckin’ perfect T-shirts.”

She glanced down to see which one she wore, and her lips curved. “I have a drawer full of them.”

“Hope to be able to appreciate them all.”

At that, she blinked. Those words sounded like being friends meant he would be around enough to enjoy all her baking quote T-shirts. Not knowing what to say, she headed toward the sofa, where they settled on each end, twisting to face each other more fully.

Her gaze roamed over his face, not thinking of the familial similarities between him and Carol, although his height must have come from his dad. Jerking her thoughts back to the unknown reason for his visit, she didn’t want to leave room for assumptions. They’d both done that before, and it didn’t go well. “I want you to know that when I hired Carol, I had no idea she was your sister. Not that it would’ve mattered because I hired her on her experience, education, passion, and mostly the fact that as I sat and talked with her, and who I now know was your mom, I really enjoyed being around them.” Once that little speech was said, she braced for whatever he might say.

He’d held her gaze as she spoke. It dawned on her that he truly paid attention and not just listened while already planning his response. That trait was not what she was used to in her previous experience with men she’d dated. Shaking her head slightly to jar out the thoughts of her disastrous dating history, she focused on the man still staring at her. Mouth now dry, her tongue darted out to moisten her bottom lip as she forced her body not to fidget while he nodded slowly.

“Were you thinking about hiring someone before you met her? Not that it matters,” he rushed to add. “I was just curious.”

She sucked in a deep breath, glad that he wasn’t immediately going off about his sister working for her. Letting the air out slowly, she nodded. “Business has been good, and we’re almost to the holiday season. People love their specialty coffees during Thanksgiving and Christmas. They also love stopping by for a treat after shopping, or they want to have things when family or friends come over. I had considered checking with our local community college to see if they had a recent grad they could recommend, but I hadn’t gotten around to it yet. I figured I might not find anyone to do the bookkeeping, so I was also going to look for someone with professional baking experience. I was already grumpy about that because it would take me out of the kitchen just to keep up with everything.”

“So Carol has what you’re looking for?”

“Absolutely! She’s like the perfect person to walk through my door! She knows the hours are part-time and said that’s okay.” She narrowed her eyes and tilted her head to the side as she watched him carefully. “Do you not think she can handle the work?” She couldn’t imagine that he didn’t see all the qualities that Carol offered, but she wondered if he wanted to keep his sister away from challenging herself.

“I know she can handle anything she puts her mind to. She’s amazing.”

Bess's shoulders relaxed, seeing Brad's apparent affection for his sister. They both sipped their drinks in companionable silence. She was willing to let him talk when he was ready.

“I just had dinner with my parents and Carol, and she told me she got a job.”

Bess snorted, glad her sip had already gone down. The last thing she wanted to do was snort wine out her nose in front of Brad, even if they had declared some kind of friendship truce. Nobody was a good enough friend to witness that. “Bet you were surprised it was with me. Didn’t you know she was looking?” She had no idea how close they were, nor his feelings about what his sister did or didn’t do.

“She had several jobs when they lived in Delaware. She even had an apartment close to our parents' house, which gave her more independence. Mom and Dad helped subsidize the cost, for which she was grateful because she wouldn’t have been able to afford it on her own while in school. But she wanted to prove that she could live independently. Of course, like everything Carol has ever set out to do, she handled it perfectly.”

Bess heard the obvious admiration for his sister and smiled. Then she remembered something he’d said before about having family obligations. She wanted to ask him more, but she preferred him to talk to her rather than just answer her questions. That way, she knew whatever he said was because he wanted the story told. So, for another long moment, they sat in silence, sipping their drinks.

“I should’ve come to you months ago,” he said, finally breaking the quiet of the evening.

She held his gaze, hoping he could sense her interest, but she was determined to let his need to speak to her guide the conversation. Nodding, she encouraged him to continue while she waited.

“It’s been hard with a sister like Carol. She’s so fuckin’ smart and doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. I’ve wanted to protect her since the moment my parents brought her home from the hospital. That intensified when they told me she would have some difficulties doing what other children did. I was five when she was born, too young to know anything was different. But by the time she struggled to sit, crawl, stand, and walk, I was old enough to understand what my parents had explained.” He shook his head slowly. “Her arms and legs would jerk, and learning to walk was very difficult. She also had trouble trying to speak. Of course, she had physical, occupational, and speech therapy, which made a huge difference. And we had exercises at home, and my parents let me help.” He shrugged and added, “To me, she was just my little sister, and I loved her.”

In the suspended silence of the room, the air stilled as though the earth had stopped spinning. Bess had heard how a heart could melt, but she’d never experienced that emotion until this moment. As her gaze remained on him, she no longer saw a man she’d once perceived as callous. She beheld a soul laid bare in that instant, exposing the raw and vulnerable. And she spied a glimpse of the little boy who’d fiercely loved his sister and would declare himself her protector. Her heart swelled with a newfound sense of empathy. Her expression must have betrayed how her heart was now filled with gooeyness, and he offered a rueful chuckle.

“Don’t misunderstand me,” he warned. “I wasn’t a perfect brother. Sometimes I wanted to play with my friends, but we had to take Carol to the doctor or a therapist appointment, and I pouted. There were times when she wanted to tag along with me and my friends, and I wouldn’t let her. Not because of the cerebral palsy but just because I wanted to hang with my friends.”

“Brad, you were just being a normal kid. If Carol had no medical condition, you would still have wanted your own time and friends.” She was filled with the desire to comfort yet held back from reaching over to touch him. Grasping her wineglass tighter, she held his gaze with interest.

“By the time I was a teenager, I was bigger and stronger. I made sure no one mistreated her, but honestly, she handled herself by then. She had friends, was popular, and was in various clubs and organizations. I was nervous about heading out to the military but hoped I had threatened anyone who might bother her in high school.” Again, he chuckled while shaking his head. “She was fine. In fact, she flourished.”

“And pursued her education.”

“She had no desire to go away to college, so the local community college was good. She thought about what jobs would best fit her personality and abilities and decided on business, focusing on bookkeeping. She loved it. And since she’d worked at a few food places in high school and college, working for you is perfect.”

Relief scored through Bess, and she smiled, not sure her melted heart had room for more gooeyness. “I’m glad. Really, truly glad. When I met Carol, I just saw a young woman with enthusiasm and determination who had the background I needed.”

He held her gaze for a long moment, and she’d never felt more scrutinized. Finally, he said, “You didn’t see a disability.”

His words were a statement, not a question, but she needed to reply nonetheless. “No. I didn't see a disability.”

He nodded, then blinked and looked away. The silence filled the room again, but this time, not with the uncomfortable itchiness of a wool sweater. As they sipped their drinks, Bess felt her body relax with the silky quiet that enveloped them.

He drained the last of his beer, and she wondered if he would leave. Instead, he placed the empty bottle on the coffee table and leaned forward, balancing his forearms on his knees with his chin dropped to his chest. She had no idea what he was thinking but didn’t hesitate to act. She immediately placed her glass down and scooted closer, placing her hand on his back and offering comfort since the vibes he emitted seemed troubled.

“What I really came here tonight to tell you, I haven’t said yet.”

Her hand faltered slightly, then slowly moved over his back. “Okay.”

“I fucked up.”

Now, her hand not only faltered but stopped moving entirely. She had no idea what he meant or where he was going with this. And the gooeyness in her heart started to feel more like a lump. “O…kay…”

He lifted his head and twisted to look at her. “Misunderstanding. Miscommunication. Misconception. I used those words when I told my dad tonight that I had met you but hadn’t remained friends with you.”

She jerked slightly at the idea that he’d discussed her with his dad, then realized it could just be because she would be Carol’s new boss. “Oh. That’s an interesting way to put it, but rather accurate. But if your dad was uncertain about Carol’s new boss, you could have told him that you knew me, and I wasn’t a serial killer who’d kidnap Carol and put her in the oven like the witch in Hanzel and Gretel.”

A chuckle slipped from his lips that Bess thought sounded beautiful, but she was still unsure of Brad’s intentions.

He continued to hold her gaze. “Yeah. When I got home and discovered your note telling me to kiss your cupcake ass…” He stopped and shrugged. “I got pissed. Figured you had some kind of hangup about me having to leave for work. I’ve had some women interested in the badge, but they weren’t keen on what the job actually entailed.”

He sighed, shaking his head. “I should have known better. We may have only had one night getting to know each other, but upon reflection, I overreacted to what I thought was your overreaction. But then, I got a call from my parents, and we were finalizing their plans to move here. And that brought Carol to mind. I haven’t had success in the past introducing her to a woman I was interested in. They were either patronizing or acted like she couldn’t understand or learn even when I explained her condition. Some were downright rude, or they simply ignored her.”

“And you assumed I would be the same.”

He sat up, and her hand fell off his back. She clasped her hands in her lap and waited.

“I decided to cut and run before even finding out, and that was wrong. I should have woken you up to tell you I had to leave. Miscommunication. As far as your note, I should have called to find out why you reacted that way. That would have at least cleared up the misunderstanding that you missed the first note and only saw the money and second note. I was interested in you, and it was my past history that led to the misconception that you would react negatively, or at least not positively, toward Carol.”

She felt the intensity of his penetrating stare when he shifted his body to draw closer. “I wasn’t faultless, Brad. The same misses were also on my part. It was stupid of me to have assumed the money on the nightstand was for… well, for services rendered.”

His shoulders shook as he hid his laughter. “Christ… services rendered.”

“Yes, well, I’m not sure my services would have brought much money on the… um… services… market.”

No longer hiding his laughter, his whole body shook. “Well, my memory is pretty damn good, and I’m trained to pay attention to details. Your services would have been worth a lot more than just paying for drinks, fries, and some wings.”

Her laughter bubbled up and out, and for a moment, they let the shared mirth flow over them. “Anyway, I would have never slept with you if I thought you were a jerk. Not that I haven’t slept with some guys who turned into jerks. But I try to learn from my mistakes.” She rolled her eyes in self-derision. “I could have tried to get ahold of you and clear the air right away. But then, that wouldn’t be the first time I let my temper fly.”

“After seeing you hit and then jump on that woman who held the gun in your shop, I’d say I’ve seen your temper fly before.”

“Yeah, I guess you have.” She sighed heavily. “But, Brad, what I really want to say is that I’m truly sorry we blew up before we had a chance to be friends.”

He twisted his body, shifting on the sofa to face her fully. Taking her hands in his, he gently maneuvered so that she was close but not uncomfortably so. “Are we?”

She rolled her lips inward as she held his gaze. “Are we… what?”

“Are we too late?”

“Brad, I don’t want any more misses. I really need you to vocalize exactly what you’re asking into a full thought.”

“Sorry. My mind is traveling faster than my mouth, but you’re right.” He sucked in a deep breath and then let it out slowly. “Are we too late to try again? Are we too late to be really good friends who hang out together? Are we too late to go out on a date to see if we might be more than good friends?”

“That’s a lot of questions,” she said, her lips curving.

“I don’t really need a lot of answers. Except to this one question—Bess Crowder, would you go on a date with me?”

She hesitated, uncertainty crowding out all other emotions. Breathing deeply, she ran her tongue over her dry lips. “I’m twenty-eight years old. Not ancient, by any means. But I was truthful when I said I’ve dated some jerks. I promised myself—no more. There’s no reason I can’t hold out for a hero. You and I had a hookup, and I’m not sure that equates to more.”

“You’ve got to know that I’m no hero.”

She shook her head, pressing her lips together. “I don’t mean a larger-than-life hero. I just mean, I’m holding out for someone who’ll be my hero.”

“Then give me a chance.”

“What if we blow up into a million angry pieces? We have relatives and common friends. What if we incinerate and put those relationships at risk?”

He was quiet as his gaze roamed over her face, then landed on her eyes, holding steady. “I really like that you care about all those people in our lives. But, no matter what, we won’t blow up into pieces. And if we vow to keep our communication open and honest, then we won’t incinerate. All I’m asking for is a date.”

Her heart had warmed earlier, but now she had to admit it soared a little bit with his asking her out. And maybe the fact that his voice wasn’t cocky but unsure with what she thought was a dab of hope made the invitation even more sincere.

She stood and walked to the kitchen counter. Opening a plastic container, she reached inside before turning to see him standing in the middle of her living room. His brows furrowed as he watched her.

Walking back to him, she nodded and smiled. “Yes, Brad Stowe. I will go on a date with you.” Lifting her hand, she held one of her Everything Cookies. “Your favorite, I believe?”

His smile widened, and she remembered the first time she saw it that night in the bar. Without thinking, she blurted, “You have the best smile.”

“I was thinking the same thing about you,” he said, reaching for the cookie.

They held each other’s gaze for a moment as he slowly chewed. When he finished, his smile was still on his face, and she asked, “So when will this date take place?”

“How about this weekend?”

She lifted a brow and cocked her head to the side. “So soon?”

“I don’t see any reason to wait. The way I figure it, Bess, I’ve wasted enough time as it is.”

Her smile softened, and she leaned forward to place her hand on his. “I’d say we both wasted enough time.”

“I’ll take you to dinner… not a dive bar. And in case you’re wondering, we’re not going to end up in bed at the end of the date. Not that I don’t want to. But that was then , and what we both wanted then. This is now .”

Her heart had returned to its gooey status, and she smiled. “Agreed. This is now.”

He stepped closer, and she remained in place, tilting her head back to continue holding his eyes. “Can I get your phone number?”

Grinning, she nodded. He pulled his phone out of his pocket, and she rattled off her number. A few seconds later, she heard her phone vibrating on the kitchen counter.

“So now you’ll have mine, too,” he said.

After walking him to the door, they stood for a moment, close together, their gazes locked. Her eyes were filled with him, searching his face, memorizing each detail.

“I’d like to kiss you good night.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “I’d like that, too.”

She lifted on her toes but barely needed to because he was already bending with his hands resting on her shoulders. She wondered if he’d pull her close, hold her tight to his chest, and kiss her like she’d remembered from the summer. But instead, his hands remained on her shoulders, and the kiss was soft and light. He moved his lips over hers, and their tongues had barely touched when he lifted away.

It was all she could do not to cry out that she wanted more, and as he blew out a long breath, she was sure he also wanted the same thing. But as he’d said… this is now.

“Make sure to lock up behind me, Bess.” He opened her door with that final gentle but firm order and stepped through. She closed the door and clicked the locks, and only then did she hear his footsteps go down the stairs. She raced through her small living room to the window that overlooked the front. Pulling back the curtain, she watched as he jogged to his SUV. As he opened the door, he turned and looked up, his smile still wide. She lifted her hand and waved, and he waved in return.

It was such a simple gesture, yet it warmed her. She watched until his taillights disappeared down the street, then closed her curtains.

Standing for a moment in the middle of her living room, she was unable to believe how her evening had changed in the past hour. Suddenly, she twirled with her arms in the air and jumped a silly dance at the idea of going on a date with him. She glanced at the clock and knew it was too late to call Belinda, and she had no one else to share the news with.

She turned out the lights and headed toward the bedroom. Climbing into bed, she felt her phone vibrate with an incoming message. Looking down, she grinned.

I can’t wait until Sat night.

Texting quickly, she hit send. Me either. You forgot to tell me what time you’re coming or do you want me to meet you somewhere?

Oh no, I’ll be there. This is a formal date. I’ll pick you up at your door. Is 6 o’clock OK?

Six o’clock is perfect. I’ll be ready.

Sleep tight

She had no idea what to type in return, so she simply sent an emoji of a sleepy face. For her, though, sleep didn’t come for hours as she lay in bed and thought about the upcoming date.

This was either a great idea or would blow up in her face. Please God, don’t let me screw this up!