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Jenny blushed. “Maybe.”

“This is my cue to exit,” Bonnie said. She leaned over and kissed Jenny’s cheek.

When she turned, she saw Brax staring down at her, his expression, intent.

“That’s a pretty big step, Ms. Rivers. You believing in yourself that much.”

Jenny nodded.

“You know, I had a lot of things planned for this evening. Us all dressed up nice, a band, there’s dancing, we’re in front of our friends. Seemed to me like a perfect setup.”

“What are you talking about?” He was so confusing.

Brax plucked her champagne glass out of her hand and put it on one of the round tables and put his arm around her. “How about we go home and celebrate Jada and Gideon’s nuptials alone? I can put on some music, and we can dance.”

She saw the banked heat in his eyes, and her core clenched.

She nodded.

He took her hand and guided her outside to his truck. He lifted her into the passenger seat. On the way home her hands twisted in her lap. Tonight was her big night. She’d been planning for two weeks. She could do this.

Brax looked over at her.

“You holding up okay?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I?”

“They’re probably going to reach a settlement next week on your suit against New Era Cyber Tech. I noticed you were kind of twisted up lately.”

“No, it wasn’t that.”

“Then you admit it’s something.”

“We’re almost home, can we wait until then?” Jenny asked.

Brax held out his hand, and she grabbed it like a lifeline.

Brax felt like he could finally breathe now that Jenny was clutching his hand. He’d wanted her to go to counseling so she could feel better about herself. So she could work out her childhood demons and the kidnappings, but lately he’d worried that maybe she’d decided to kick him to the curb. Having her hold onto him like this eased an ache deep inside him.

“Stay there,” he said when he pulled into his driveway. “I don’t want you to mess up your dress or twist an ankle as you try to get out of the truck.”

“Okay.”

Brax came to the passenger seat and lifted her out, and they went into the house.

“Do you want a drink?” he asked.

“No, I want a clear head. Can you come sit down on the couch with me?”

Now he was worried again. But he nodded and did as she asked. When he sat down, and she stood in front of him, he drew in a deep breath and waited. He didn’t have to wait long. She started to draw up the hem of her long bridesmaid dress until it came up to her thighs.

Fuck, she’s wearing thigh high stockings.

“What are you doing?” he croaked out the question.

“Wait and see.”

With a dainty wiggle, she lowered herself so that her knees bracketed his legs, and she was sitting on his lap, eye to eye. “I needed to get your full attention,” she whispered.