Page 7 of Sincerely, Mr. Braden

He pockets his phone and looks around, those piercing blue eyes landing on me. I freeze like a deer in headlights. Please don’t let me look like a deer in headlights.

A warm smile curves his lips, and his gaze sweeps down the length of me. If my heart hasn’t already forgotten how to beat, it surely will now as I remember I’m wearing nothing but my bikini, and my traitorous nipples rise to greet him. Embarrassment burns my cheeks, despite the glow of appreciation on his face.

“Hi,” he says as if I belong there. His voice is impossibly deeper and richer than it sounds in interviews, and his eyes hold a mesmerizing glimmer of warmth and an unfair amount of seductive mystery. “I’m Seth. Is Taylor around?”

I think fast, the words tumbling out before I can second-guess them. “Taylor couldn’t make it. He wasn’t feeling well. I’m his sister, Eleanor.” What the hell am I saying?

His brows lift in mild surprise, but his expression turns into one of piqued interest. “That’s too bad. I was hoping I’d finally get to meet my buddy and share a few beers.”

Buddy? That’s what I am to him? A buddy in his inbox? That makes sense, since he thinks Taylor is a man, but wow does it make me feel funny for fantasizing about him.

“I hope it’s okay that he let me come,” I manage with a smile. “I assumed he’d mentioned it. He said you were going to be traveling, but I can leave—”

“No. It’s absolutely fine. I didn’t know Taylor had a sister, but I’m glad you’re here. My afternoon meetings got cut short, so I grabbed a flight. I probably should have texted to give him a heads-up or knocked before barging in. Sorry about that. It all happened pretty fast.” He closes the distance between us and offers his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Eleanor.”

“You, too,” I say, as his hand engulfs mine in warmth, and he holds it a beat longer than necessary, causing my nerves to flame.

He glances around before his gaze returns to mine, careful, measured. “Are you here alone, or did you bring your husband or boyfriend?”

The question is harmless, and he didn’t ask like a man on the prowl, but that doesn’t stop my pulse from tangling with my nerves. I remind myself that this is his house, and he has a right to know who is here.

“It’s just me. Single as can be.” Single as can be? Ugh. Shoot me now.

He laughs. “Me too. Don’t worry. I won’t be in your way. I’ll grab a room at the resort for the weekend.”

I should tell him I planned to leave, pack my stuff, and head home, but when I open my mouth, “Don’t be silly. This is your house, and it’s big enough for both of us” comes out. I have no idea who I am right now, taking risks and living a lie, but it’s kind of freeing not to be careful, over-worrier Taylor.

“Great.” He flashes the easy smile that now feels dangerously disarming. “In that case, do you have dinner plans?”

“Not really.”

“Then let me take you out,” he says earnestly. “We can get to know each other, and you can tell me all of Taylor’s secrets.”

That’s not going to happen, but even with my nerves pinging like bees stuck in a jar, I’m enjoying pretending to be a woman not overburdened with worry too much to pull back. “Dinner sounds great, but the only way you’re getting Taylor’s secrets is if you tell me yours.”

He grins. “Now I see the family resemblance.”

“What do you mean?” I ask nervously, worried I somehow showed my hand.

“Just that your brother challenges me, too.”

Relief washes over me, but then I wonder if I’ve ever emailed or texted anything too pushy. “Bossiness runs in our family. Does that bother you? Because I can tell Taylor to back off.”

“No. T’s great. My brothers and sister give me hell all the time. I’m used to it.” He rakes a hand through his hair and says, “Well, I guess I’ll get settled in and cleaned up for dinner.”

“Yeah, me too.”

“Take your time.” He heads for his bag. “No rush on my end. I’ve got some work to take care of before we leave, anyway.”

As he heads down the hall toward the master bedroom, I cringe inwardly, remembering that I sprayed his cologne on my wrist, and hope he didn’t smell it on me. When I hear his bedroom door close, the air rushes from my lungs like I’ve been holding my breath, and I feel like I have.

I definitely should have stayed home. Being trapped in paradise with Seth Braden is an unfair temptation. One that apparently has the power to chip away at the armor I’ve worn since I was left at the altar.

Temptation that hot should be illegal.

Chapter Four

Seth