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“Stay.”
She stopped with a boot halfway on and looked at him. “Why?”
“Because I like your company.” He gave her a wry smile. “And it’s sleeting. You can’t be walking back to town in that.”
Laurel went to the window. “It’s really coming down. I didn’t intend to impose on you again. I was just going to spread a little Christmas cheer and be on my way.”
She had taken the time and energy to do something nice for him. It had been a long time since anyone had tried, or he had let them. His parents had tried. Members of the town had asked as well, but he had refused them. Somehow, this one small woman had managed to get through his defenses. Brandon pushed her away as well, but she’d pushed back.
“Will your cousin be worried?”
“I told her this morning not to expect me until she saw me.”
“Then it’s settled. You can stay here again tonight.” For some reason that put a genuine smile on his face.
ChapterEight
Laurel wasn’tsure she should be staying again, but she had no choice. Plus she wanted to. She liked Brandon. The more she was around him the greater her crush. But the man had deep-seated problems. The loss of his fingers dominated his life.
She huffed. Wasn’t she one to talk. After all, she had no job. No prospects. She had been used by a man who had promised her a future. She should have known better.
“What was that sound for?”
“I was just thinking how gullible I am.”
“How’s that?” His face had turn to one of concern.
“I believed in someone’s promise. Again.”
His eyes narrowed. “You don’t believe in promises?”
“I certainly do not.” She dropped her boot on the floor.
“Who hasn’t kept their promise to you?”
Did she really want to go into this? “My father when he promised he would come back. I haven’t seen him in twenty-two years. My high school boyfriend who said he would stand by me when I got pregnant. He was gone before I lost the baby. My co-worker and jerk of a boyfriend who’d promised we’d bring in the client together. I hate promises. No one keeps them.”
“I do. I don’t make them if I can’t keep them. If I make a promise, I’ll do everything I can to make it true.”
She smirked. “Isn’t that what everyone does when they make a promise?”
“I don’t know. Some people just say what others want to hear.” He gave her a pointed look.
Did Brandon think she had been building him up without any truth behind her words? “I mean what I say. Especially about your work.”
“I have no intention of returning to the art world. If I do anything it’ll be for me or family and friends.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I think we’d make a great team.”
“I wish I could help you but it’s not going to happen. I’ve been thinking, I can talk to a few of my art buddies, like Ross Biggs. I know he’s looking. I can send him your way.”
“Ross Biggs! That would be great. He’d certainly help me get another job. I wish you’d contact him.” Biggs might even be her ticket to starting her own agency.
“I’ll do it.” Brandon nodded.
“That’s a promise?”
His look met hers. “A promise.”
