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And now Braden was starting to wonder if she was the woman he needed forever. If she was, how the hell would he ever be able to build on anything when their initial meeting was all based on a lie? On him using her?
As Zara lay spent against him, Braden knew one thing for certain. He either needed to let her go once he searched her home, or he needed to come clean with how they’d met in the first place.
Either way was a risk. Would she understand? Would she see that he’d had no choice in the matter, but once he’d gotten to know her all bets were off?
She had to understand, because Braden refused to lose her. Having her walk away wasn’t an option.
* * *
Someone smacked her bare backside.
Zara jumped, twisting in the silky sheets and thick duvet. Sweeping the hair out of her eyes, she glared up to see Braden staring down at her, a wicked grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye.
But he was holding a cup of coffee. “That better be for me,” she grumbled, reaching for the mug. Jack clawed at the side of the bed until Braden lifted him up.
“Of course. I also managed breakfast.”
He reached to the nightstand and presented her with a plate. Zara eyed it before pulling the napkin from the top. A laugh escaped her.
“I know full well you do not stock s’mores Pop-Tarts in your house, considering you hadn’t had them before I introduced you to them.” She plucked one off the plate as she took a sip of the steaming hot coffee, black, just the way she liked it. “So how did you manage this?”
He cocked his head and raised his brows as if her question was absurd. Of course he had someone go out in this ridiculous weather just to get her a box of Pop-Tarts. The idea warmed her more than it should. It was a box of processed junk that cost a couple bucks, but he’d done so out of...what? Love? No, he didn’t love her, but he obviously cared for her.
“Hurry up and eat,” he told her. “I have another surprise for you.”
With the Pop-Tart between her teeth, she narrowed her eyes and bit off a hunk. Jack stretched out on Braden’s pillow next to Zara. “What?”
He stepped back from the bed, and she took in the sight of him wearing—a ski suit?
“I hope you brought warm clothes. If not, I’ll find something for you. Laney most likely has some clothes in her old room.”
“Where are we going?” she asked, a bit nervous at how energetic he was this morning. Apparently the two times he’d woken her in the middle of the night hadn’t worn him out.
“Just eat, put on warm clothes and I’ll go see what else I can find.” He leaned down, kissed her on the forehead and eased back just enough to look her in the eyes. “Trust me?”
Zara swallowed, nodded. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
Something flashed through his eyes, but just as quick as it appeared, the image was gone. Braden nodded down to her plate. “Eat up. You’re going to need your energy.”
“After last night, I’m exhausted.”
His mouth quirked up in a grin. “Compliments will get you everything.”
Zara rolled her eyes. “Easy there, tiger. Your ego is showing.”
“My ego is never hidden,” he countered as he walked to the door. “I’ll have a heavier coat and thick gloves for you downstairs. Meet me by the front door in twenty minutes.”
Zara gave him a mock salute, which earned her a chuckle as he walked out and closed the bedroom door behind him. She had no clue what he had planned, but obviously something outside. Was Braden an outdoorsy type? What did she truly know about the man she was falling for?
She broke off another piece of her pastry and smiled. She actually knew quite a bit. He was loyal and he was caring, though he’d never admit it. Family meant everything to him, and he wanted his own one day. He may have a reputation as a hard-ass, a man to be feared in the business world, but the Braden O’Shea she saw was loving.
Zara finished her breakfast and coffee, then set her dishes on the bedside table. She unplugged her phone from the charger and checked messages. Then she wished she hadn’t. Three texts from Shane asking if she was all right. The first one was a simple question, the second was more demanding and the third was flat-out demanding. Arrogant jerk. Without replying, she laid her phone back down and started getting ready for...whatever it was she was doing this morning. She had emails to get to, but for now she wanted to be with Braden because he’d gone to the trouble of surprising her, and he seemed excited. Zara didn’t know if she should be scared or worried.
