Hearts at Play (Love in Bloom: The Bradens, Book 6) Contemporary Romance (8 page)

“YOUR CAR WILL be ready by two, but I don’t want you to feel trapped with me, so I can take you to pick it up or I can pick you up after my appointment and we can shop for Layla’s gift together.” Hugh leaned casually on the console as he drove toward town.

Brianna’s mind told her to shop by herself and spend less time with Hugh, but her heart—and her body—refused to listen. The words fell out of her mouth without hesitation. “Let’s go together, if you really don’t mind.” She’d thought her little shower release would help her stop thinking about Hugh in that way, but all it did was make her want him more. She’d even taken extra time with her makeup, and after seeing him smile at her boots the night before, she’d purposely worn them again, this time with black jeans and a flowing white blouse that was just see-through enough that it showed a hint of her laciest bra. Sitting in the confined car only increased her desires toward him. His cologne filled the air, and each time he shifted gears, his triceps jumped. She had the urge to run her finger along the defined edge of the muscle, where it curved toward the back of his arm.

“Bree?”

Shit
. She didn’t realize he was even talking.
Get a grip!
“Sorry, yeah?”

“You said you were helping your friend today. We’re coming up on Main Street. Where to?”

She’d been so lost in him that she’d totally forgotten about directions. “Up here on the right.” She pointed to the end of the block.

“Wait. CD Studios?” Hugh laughed. “No way.”

“No way what?”

“That’s where my appointment is. I had a photo shoot with CD Thursday for my sponsors, and we’re wrapping up the last of them this morning.”

No freaking way
. “You’re taking pictures here? Today?”
How am I going to manage this?

“Yeah. This is great. We can spend more time together. What do you do for CD?” He opened his eyes expectantly, and then his goddamn dimples appeared again.

Why do you have to be so good-looking?
Brianna tucked her hair behind her ear. “I…uh…I help Claude…CD. I do the lights, help make sure the models clothes and props are set right, you know, that kind of stuff.”

He pulled into a parking space. “That’s great. It’ll make the shoot even more fun. I really don’t like getting my picture taken, but now I’ll have you to smile at.”

Or I’ll die of embarrassment from not being able to focus
. “Yeah, great.”

Hugh came around and opened her door. He pressed a kiss to her lips. Brianna’s hands found his waist as he deepened the kiss, and when he pulled away, she felt light-headed again.

“Hugh.” She cleared her throat.

“Yeah?” He opened the trunk and grabbed his driving suit, helmet, and gloves.

“You can’t kiss me like that.”
Shit shit shit.

His smile faded. “I’m sorry. I just assumed…”

“No, it’s not that. I like when you kiss me, but I can’t concentrate in there if we’re…”
Shit. I sound like an idiot. No woman on earth would tell you not to kiss her
.

“I’d never kiss you like that at your workplace. We’re on a side street. No one can see you.”

Now she felt like a fool as heat rushed up her cheeks. “I know. Never mind. I just get flustered.” She started for the building, and Hugh reached for her hand.

“Brianna, am I pushing myself on you?”

His eyes were serious, laden with concern. She couldn’t play a game of push-pull with herself anymore. It wasn’t fair to either of them. She was used to being completely in control of hers and Layla’s lives. Organizing them, maintaining their crazy and tight schedules. And now she felt it slipping away, as if a door had opened and she wasn’t sure if she should slam it to contain their orderly lives or leave it ajar and allow the chaos of the rest of the world to seep in and see what happened. Hell. This was such a mess. She could no better let the chaos in than she could lie to Hugh—or to anyone else for that matter.

“Hugh, I really like you, and I know you said we could take things day by day, but in my head I’m wrestling with everything. You travel all the time; you’ve got a dangerous and sexy job that makes women want you. I’m a boring, busy mom with no interest in competing with anyone, and what I want more than anything is stability for my daughter.” She looked down, feeling her chest tighten at the thought of turning him away—again.

He moved in close and lifted her chin so she was looking up at him. She loved—and hated—that he didn’t let her hide from the things that she found uncomfortable.

“Has it occurred to you that I might not like those women wanting me? Or that I might be scared about dating a woman with a child?”

“That’s what I mean. I’ve got major baggage. I understand. It’s better that we end things now rather than later.” She suppressed the lump in her throat that urged tears to her eyes.
Damn it. I’ve only known you two days
.

“That’s not what I mean. Bree. I’m scared, too, but let’s not run from something that might be everything we both ever wanted. Taking it slow will allow us to see if it’s worth pursuing. I won’t entrench myself in Layla’s life. I promise you that. You lead this relationship and I’ll follow. I know how much you need to protect her, and I respect that.”

Brianna felt her heart soften.

Hugh continued. “I won’t push myself on you, either. If you really don’t want to date me, then I’ll go on my way. Not that I’d want to. I want you to be happy. But if any part of you wants to…” He took her hand in his and looked into her eyes.

Brianna’s knees weakened.

“The ball is in your court, Bree. Let’s do our photo shoot, and afterward, you tell me if you want me to take you to get your car or if you want to go shopping together. No pressure.” He kissed the back of her hand and then gently released it.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

“Don’t answer now, Bree. Take the next few hours to think about what you want. I’m not going anywhere, and even though I’m scared, I want to spend time with you. You tripped something in me. Ever since I saw you sleeping in my bed, I had the feeling that I wanted to protect you and Layla.” He ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “And, yes, I realize that’s crazy. Believe me. I’ve never felt this way before.”

BRIANNA FLEW THROUGH her morning routine helping Claude and trying not to think about what Hugh said, even though he was standing right there before her in his goddamn racing suit that hugged every inch of his hot body and made him look even more masculine. No wonder women loved him—between competing in one of the most dangerous and manly sports and looking like
that
, it was a no-brainer.

She adjusted lights and handed Claude lenses. Now that she’d had a minute to breathe, she was watching Claude direct Hugh into another disturbingly alluring stance. How was she supposed to concentrate with
that
going on right in front of her?

“Bree Bree, can you get those wrinkles out of his chest please?” Claude was in heaven, torturing Brianna with more costume work than ever. She had no idea if he could sense what was between them or if he just wanted them to be together. Either way, the mischievous glint in his eye was unmistakable.

Hugh stood in his racing suit with his helmet under his arm, eyeing Brianna. For the fifth time that hour, she smoothed the wrinkles from his suit. At least this time it was from his chest. The first few times it was his thighs, his groin, his waist. Claude was enjoying every second of torturing her. She ran her hands over his chest and down his sides. Hugh got that hungry look in his eyes again, and Brianna felt her heartbeat speed up. Then the muscles in her neck tensed. She knew Claude caught every glimpse and every heavy breath as he stood at the other end of the room snapping pictures. She spun around and scowled as he clicked off another shot.

“What?” Claude said. “We need shots for the studio.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Let’s take a few more before we wrap.” Claude waved his hand at Hugh and began clicking away.

She hadn’t been able to think through what Hugh had said outside because every time she looked at him she heard his voice saying all the right things. Hugh glanced her way and his words came back to her again.
I’m not going anywhere. I know I want to protect you and Layla.
He hadn’t even met Layla yet. How could he want to protect her?

“Okay, I think we’re all set. You can get changed, Mr. Braden.” Claude stared at Hugh’s ass with an appreciative grin as he walked toward the dressing room.

“That’s kind of rude, you know,” Brianna teased.

“Is that jealousy I hear?”

She gasped. “What? No.”
Yes
.

“Based on the sparks that were flying between you two, I’d say I did the right thing bringing you in today.” He pushed his glasses up onto the bridge of his nose and set his camera down on the supply table.

“Claude, you didn’t?”

“Oh, yes, I did. I told you I had someone here Thursday who I thought you should meet. And now you have.” He winked as he changed the lens on the camera.

Brianna shook her head. “Why does everyone think I need a man in my life? Layla and I are doing just fine by ourselves.”

Claude put his hand on her shoulder. In his jeans and sweater, he looked like he was twentysomething instead of fortysomething. “Honey, that’s exactly why. Just fine is not the same as happy. You’re twenty-eight years old. You’re beautiful, funny, sweet, not to mention a pain in the butt sometimes, but that’s to be expected with any single mother.” He pretended to claw at her like a cat.

She rolled her eyes. “I am happy. Layla and I are both happy.”

Claude put his hands up. “Okay, okay. But I’m telling you, a little love in your life might just do wonders for both you and Layla. Life is about more than making it through each day, and I think Mr. Braden might be just the thing you need. Did you see how he looked at you?”

Unfortunately, yes. That’s why I can’t think straight
. He picked up another camera. “Speak of the devil,” he said much too loudly. He shook Hugh’s hand. “I’ll be in touch with your office in the next day or two. Bree, I’ll be up in my studio. Can you lock up, please?”

Hugh came to her side carrying all his stuff under his arm. “How are you holding up?”

“Fine.” Her stomach twisted and her pulse raced. She grabbed a large shopping bag from beneath the table. “Here. We can put your stuff in here.” She folded his suit and placed it in the bag, then set his helmet and gloves on top before she went to work putting away the lenses and moving the lights to the back of the studio. Hugh walked along beside her.

“You sure? I tried not to look at you, but, Bree, it wasn’t that easy.” He helped her move the equipment.

She loved having him help her, not that she needed help with the equipment, much less anything else in life. She could manage just fine. She grabbed her purse.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Ready to go?” she asked.

He held the door open for her, and as she walked past him, he touched her lower back, sending a shiver through her. He was so damn nice and so damn considerate that he made her crazy—and Jesus, even if it was a good crazy, it made her all sorts of confused.

“Have you thought about things?” he asked.

“You’re kidding, right? Do you know what it’s like to see you in that racing outfit? You know what they say about guys in uniforms, right? And then everything you said pummels my mind and confuses me.”
God, I sound like a bitch
. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but yes, I want to go shopping with you. I can’t allow you to meet Layla, and this whole thing scares the shit out of me, but…” She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked at the car, then drew her eyes back to Hugh. “But I like you. And if I’m making a mistake, at least Layla won’t know about it.”

Hugh reached for her, then quickly dropped his hands, glancing back at the building. “Sorry. I forgot.”

Brianna wished she’d never told him not to kiss her in front of her work.

“I have a feeling this is anything but a mistake,” he said with a serious tone.

That’s kind of what I’m afraid of
.

HUGH HELD THE door open as Brianna walked into the mall. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been to a shopping mall. He bought most of his family’s gifts online, and the few things he purchased in person were bought from specialty stores.

“So, where are we headed?” Hugh wanted to put his arm around Brianna, but she’d been so pensive earlier that he worried about pushing himself on her.

“Penny’s. Did your friend say how much I owe for the work on my car?”

He noticed the way she avoided his eyes. He’d spoken to Art, and her car had needed a new starter. A few hundred bucks’ worth of work. He knew from what Brianna had said that she couldn’t afford to pay for it, and a few hundred bucks was a spit in the wind for him. What would it hurt if he took care of it for her?

“Yeah, it just needed to be jumped after all. So there’s no charge.”

“Are you kidding me? So we could have just jumped it?” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. And here you’ve been stuck with me.”

That’s it
. Hugh wasn’t going to restrain himself any longer. He reached for her hand, and after a moment of rigidity, her hand relaxed against his. “I’m not stuck with you, Bree, and it’s my fault. I should have thought of the battery, but I was so wrapped up in you that my brain wasn’t working right.”

“Well, I feel bad. Shouldn’t I pay for the tow truck or something?”

“He owns the equipment, and he’s a friend. I do things for him all the time. There’s no charge.” He looked up at the JC Penney sign. “Shall we?”

They headed inside the store and up the escalator to the children’s section. “I want to get her a winter coat.”

He followed her to the children’s outdoor clothing section and watched her leaf through the coats, biting his tongue about his feelings on buying a little girl a coat for her birthday. She was turning six. Wouldn’t she prefer a game or something more fun? He had no experience at parenting, but he respected Brianna’s financial position, and he assumed that she was buying Layla something she needed instead of a frivolous gift.

“What do you think?” She held up a pretty little pink coat with fuzzy pockets and a fuzzy hood.

“I think it’s adorable. When’s her birthday?”

“That was easy,” she said. “Next Thursday.”

Hugh made a mental note of the date. “Let’s look around. We can get a coffee or a soda in the mall.” He wasn’t into shopping, but he’d do whatever it took to keep their time together from ending.

“Sure.” She looked at her watch. “How far away is my car?”

“It’s at my place. They dropped it off about half an hour ago.”

Her jaw dropped open. “They dropped my car off at your house? That’s a really good friend.”

“It’s my pit crew chief, Art. He’s a nice guy.”
Except when he tries to set me up on blind dates
.

“Now I feel bad. You asked your employee to do it? He probably felt obligated.” She rolled her eyes as she paid for the jacket.

Hugh laughed. “It’s not like that at all. I’ve never asked Art to fix anyone’s car besides my own, and only the cars I race. He’s a friend, Bree. I’d do the same for him if he needed it.” Art hadn’t given him an ounce of grief about fixing her car, and he knew Art had a litany of questions he’d been holding back, but that was how their relationship worked. Respect above all else, and after the mistake Art had made with the blind date, he owed Hugh a favor.

They made their way back downstairs and into the mall. Hugh noticed two teenage boys following them, and he tightened his grip on Brianna’s hand. He’d counted himself lucky not to be recognized the last time they were out together. It appeared his luck had ended. When they slowed to look in the window of the Gap, one of the boys tapped him on the shoulder.

“Um, excuse me, but aren’t you Hugh Braden?” The lanky teen looked at his heavyset friend, then back at Hugh with a nervous smile.

“Yeah. Want an autograph?” The quicker he got it over with, the less chance he had of others taking the opportunity to gather around. He faced the window of the store as the boys looked at each other. “Either of you have a pen?”

They shook their heads.

“I do.” Brianna snagged a pen and notebook from her purse and handed it to Hugh.

“Are you here for a race?” the taller of the two boys asked.

“Just practicing and relaxing. Hey, I’ll let you watch me practice if you don’t draw any attention to us. Deal?” He handed them each an autograph.

“Cool. Yeah. You’re awesome,” the heavyset boy said.

“Call this guy. He’ll hook you up.” Hugh wrote down his public relations rep’s name and number and handed it to them.

“Thanks, man. We really appreciate it.”

Hugh watched them walk away and breathed a sigh of relief when no one else stopped for an autograph. Without his jacket on, he rarely got stopped in public.

“Wow. That was kinda cool,” Brianna said.

Hugh rolled his eyes. “I guess.” He pulled her close. “But I’m a little spoiled. I don’t want to share my time with you.” He felt a pang of guilt, thinking about Layla. “I mean, with strangers,” he added.

“I know what you meant.” Brianna stopped at Gap Kids to look at a dress in the window. “Does that happen a lot?”

“Thankfully no. Not unless I’m at a race or wearing my racing jacket.” Her eyes were serious, and he felt her dwelling on the autograph. “Let’s go in,” Hugh suggested.

“No. I can’t go in there. They’re a little expensive for me, and I can’t walk out without a whole new wardrobe for her. It’s a seriously dangerous store for me.” She took a step away from the window.

He grabbed her hand. “Am I allowed to just buy her a pair of sparkly shoes? I noticed that she had a few pairs lined up by the door in your apartment, and look.” He pointed to row of sequined ballet flats in various colors. “You can tell her they’re from you, or from a friend.”

“I can’t let you do that. You haven’t even met her yet.” Brianna shook her head.

“It’s not like I’d be buying her a car. It’s a pair of shoes. We can even get her pink to go with her new coat.” Hugh hadn’t expected to be excited about buying any kid a present, but now that he’d spotted those little sequined shoes that were so similar to the ones Layla had at the apartment, and he saw the idea dancing in Brianna’s eyes, he really wanted to buy them for her.

“She would love them.” She put her hand on the window and looked at the shoes.

Hugh took her hand. “That decides it, then.” He pulled her into the store and picked up a pair of the pink flats, turning them over in his hands. “What size does she wear?”

“Two.”

“They make shoes in a two?” Hugh laughed. “That seems impossible.”

“Everything seems impossible until you have a baby.” She looked through the boxes and found the right size.

Hugh went to a display of dresses. “Does she like dresses?”

“She’s a girl. Of course she likes dresses.”

“I noticed in the pictures she was wearing mostly leggings and long shirts,” Hugh said.

Brianna narrowed her eyes.

“What?”

“You noticed that?” she asked.

“Of course. We were going shopping for her, so I had to see what she liked. I also noticed that she’d made a few clay pots and stuff that you had on the bookshelves. Would she like arts and crafts? There must be a craft store in the mall.”

“You’re so thoughtful, Hugh. I can’t believe you noticed all of that in the short time we were at my apartment.” Brianna crossed her arms.

“I knew we were going shopping for her.” He shrugged. “What size is she?”

Hugh caught a glimpse of a young family by a display of sweaters. The little girl appeared to be around the same age as Layla. She picked up a sweater and rubbed it against her cheek, turning the sweetest blue eyes up to her father, who swooped her into his arms and kissed her cheek. His wife placed her hand on his back. Hugh felt a tug in his heart and knew that sharing Brianna with Layla could never be an issue. Treat’s voice sifted through his mind.
Family knows no boundaries
. He’d heard it a million times from his father and from Treat, and it had never quite hit him the same way it did now, as he glanced at Brianna and thought of her and Layla.

“Seven,” Brianna said. “She likes arts and crafts, but she’s really into drama and plays right now.”

He looked through the dresses for the right size.

“Wait, no. I just got carried away with the idea. We said a pair of shoes, not a dress, too, Hugh. That’s way too much.” She reached for the dress.

Hugh lifted it out of her reach with a laugh, Brianna’s reaction was so different from that of the money-grubbing women he used to date that he found himself wanting to buy things for Layla and for her.

She shook her head. “You can’t buy me, you know.”

Hugh put the dress back on the rack. “You don’t really believe that’s what I'm doing, do you?”

“Not really, but guys don’t just buy stuff for women’s kids unless they want something in return.”

He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close. “Brianna Heart, you have a very poor image of men in your head.” He leaned back and looked down at her. “I’m going to do everything I can to change that.”