Caught Up In You

by Jules Bennett

  Reluctantly accepting Braxton’s help, Cora stepped from the car, but immediately backed away from his touch once she was on solid ground. He would learn soon enough she hated being treated like she couldn’t take care of herself. Being dependent on someone at this point would be working backward. She’d been trying for nearly three years to stand on her own two feet.

  When she’d first been diagnosed and knew what the future held, Cora feared she’d forget what she looked like. Silly as that may seem, she would stand in front of a mirror, memorizing her features. Suddenly all that stuff that she hated about herself didn’t matter. The brows she wished were more arched, the chin she’d always thought too round, the nose with the slight tilt on the end . . . she soaked it all in because she hadn’t known when she’d wake up and not be able to look at her own reflection.

  Binge-watching her favorite shows and rereading her favorite books had also become a priority. She’d logged in so many hours, laughing, crying, running through a gamut of emotions because her entire life had taken on a whole new outlook. She’d tried to cram in as much of her life as possible.

  Taking walks, enjoying the sights of the city, even though she’d never loved living in the city. Suddenly when you know something will be taken away, your entire opinion changes. She’d driven out to the country a couple times just to look at the bright blue sky with no skyscrapers blocking her view. Butterflies became more stunning, the lush plants seemed more vibrant. Everything she could soak in, she did. Until the day she couldn’t take in any more.

  The darkest day of her life was her rock bottom. Nothing could put her back down there again. She refused to be that vulnerable and crushed.

  Immediately Heidi was at Cora’s side and Cora reached for the stiff collar. “You can lead the way. Heidi will follow.”

  “Actually, I have a surprise inside. I hope it’s okay with you.”

  Cora pursed her lips. “A surprise? I’m intrigued.”

  Braxton’s shoes scuffed against the concrete, so she knew he’d turned to walk away even before the gentle tug from Heidi leading the way. Cora wasn’t sure what she expected in terms of this unexpected surprise, but the fragrant scent of apricots hit her and she stopped, immediately forgetting all about anything beyond right now.

  “Do you have fragrant olive planted out here?”

  “We do. How did you know?”

  Cora closed her eyes and took a deep breath in, wanting to take a moment and enjoy the beauty she knew was around her. The sun shone down on her face, warming her, her hair slid around her shoulders as the soft breeze sent her long strands dancing and that fragrant plant just made this first experience even more perfect.

  “I love that plant. I’ve always wanted one, but living in the city doesn’t make much space for thriving plants.” Cora started forward again, gently nudging Heidi that she was ready. “There’s nothing like the sweet scent of apricots. Your guests will love that too.”

  “We’re going to put lilac bushes around back near the patio,” he told her. “Watch your step here.”

  Heidi hesitated, angling her body just in front of Cora’s, letting Cora know there was an obstacle. Raising her foot gently, she started up the step and Heidi carefully guided her up the three steps to the porch.

  By the time Cora reached the front door, she hesitated when she heard the distinct sound of hinges squeaking. “You have a nice, wide wooden porch and you’ve put porch swings on each end. I can hear them swaying in the breeze. I love this place already.”

  She inhaled the various mixture of floral aromas, listened to the swings, and couldn’t help but feel a sense of belonging. Had this happened before? Had she ever craved for more of the moment? She’d been thrust into meetings, deadlines, marketing, and so many other business-related things since the day she’d been born. She’d been forced to grow into the person her parents desperately needed her to be. She never would be that girl—what a disappointment for them.

  Heidi remained at her side and Braxton hadn’t moved or said a word. She’d lost herself in her own thoughts and hadn’t taken into consideration he may be waiting on her.

  “Sorry.” She released a deep breath and offered a smile. “I didn’t mean to hold you up. My mind traveled. Bad habit.”

  “You’re fine,” he retorted. “I’m just . . . you’re so in tune with everything around you.”

  Cora shrugged. “I have to be. I can’t see, so my other senses pick up on every single thing.”

  “You told me that yesterday, but I didn’t realize how sharp your other senses were.”

  “Pretty sharp. Why don’t we go inside and I’ll see what else I can impress you with.” Not that she wanted to show off, that certainly wasn’t her intent, but she couldn’t stop herself from wanting to prove to Braxton just how capable she was.

  The soft click of the front door had Heidi easing forward and Cora excited with anticipation. Right inside these doors could be her new life, her new career with a local business that had a fresh, new idea. What better avenue to start the next chapter than with a place that was also looking to prove itself to the community and surrounding cities?

  The Monroe guys and Sophie all had so much invested, financially and personally, in this resort. Cora couldn’t imagine how anxious they were because she was a bundle of nerves herself.

  She was interested in meeting the other brothers collaborating on this women’s-only resort. The Monroe clan was bringing a piece of the European life to Haven, Georgia, with Bella Vous and Cora couldn’t wait to be part of this experience. And word would get out that this resort was run by three guys and women would flock to see what all the hype was about.

  Braxton was such an easygoing guy. Fun to talk with and he didn’t treat her like she was an invalid. He did treat her with care and there was a vast difference. Would the other guys be as understanding about her lack of sight? Would that bother them? She wasn’t naïve or stupid. She knew her blindness was considered a disability to others, but all she needed was one great chance to prove herself and she’d show them just what an asset she could be. Sophie and Braxton were giving her that chance.

  He’d said to trust him, but she didn’t take that action quite so easily. Trust was earned and sometimes even then it wasn’t foolproof. First thing she’d wanted to do was get settled into Haven and she’d gotten a good start with her new house. Once her job was in place, she could start thinking about growing more roots, making friends, and having a social life.

  And then she would think about the position in her family’s company. She couldn’t just walk away from it, but she needed a break until she knew if she wanted to sell her shares or . . . well, the other option made her cringe. CEO or CFO or any other title that came with running a multimillion-dollar company just didn’t appeal to her.

  Cora stepped into the house, the cool air hitting her as she came in from the hot Georgia sun. Heidi kept moving forward at a slow pace because she too was taking in her new surroundings.

  “Stand right there and I’ll give you the layout,” Braxton told her. “The entryway is open and the stairs to the second floor are straight ahead about eight feet. They’re wide and curve up toward the left. Sophie has plans to put the biggest Christmas tree she can find in this spot.”

  Cora could practically see in her mind this beautiful, historic home all decked out in garland, wreaths, pinecones, and live trees. The true spirit of the South at Christmastime would shine through and make every guest feel the warmth of the season.

  “To the left of the base of the steps is the hall leading to the kitchen and dining area, plus a half bath and dressing area. It’s actually across from a large room, which I think we will use for your space. Any questions so far?”

  “Sounds great.”

  “You guys can follow me.”

  When Heidi maneuvered in front of Cora, Cora turned to her left.

  “Does she always do that?” Braxton asked.

  “Do what?”

  “Get in fr
ont of you like that?”

  “Oh, yes. That’s how I know when to turn,” she explained. “She keeps me from running face-first into walls.”

  “You’re quite a team.” The smile in Braxton’s tone had her smiling as well.

  “She’s my best friend.” There was no other explanation. Eric never understood the bond between Cora and Heidi. There was a level of trust there that Cora knew she’d never have with anyone else. But being with Heidi hadn’t always been easy. They had to get to know each other and Cora had to get used to actually putting all her faith into Heidi . . . that was the hardest obstacle to overcome. Now Cora couldn’t imagine her life without Heidi. No walking stick could give her the sense of security that Heidi did.

  As Braxton led her into another room, the smell of fresh paint and a hint of sawdust hit her. Heidi led her around and Cora noted quickly how spacious the room was and that it was absolutely empty.

  “We haven’t bought any equipment yet,” he explained from behind her. “We wanted to wait until we hired someone and could get what they specified. We did just finish painting and getting the crown moldings back up to keep that Southern charm this house already had. Even though we’re throwing in some of the Paris themes, we wanted to keep this old house as close to the original state as we could. There’s too much history here to ignore.”

  “I’m really impressed with how much you all have done and how much you’ve thought things through. You’ve catered nicely to the feminine clientele.”

  Braxton laughed, his shoes echoing in the room as he walked across the wood floor. “Don’t be too impressed. Chelsea had nearly everything mapped out. Apparently, she’d been planning this for some time. But what she didn’t have notes on, the guys and I asked Sophie. There’s no way we could come up with half this stuff.”

  Cora smiled as she turned toward his voice. “That’s a smart move. In terms of equipment I will need, I actually have several things already at my house. I was keeping them there for now, but I’m more than happy to move them here. With having a real job, I won’t need them taking up my spare bedroom anymore.”

  “Let me take you to the surprise and then we can talk more,” he suggested. “Follow me.”

  Follow me. He said the simple words, knowing Heidi would follow and Cora would be right there with her. She couldn’t get over how he treated her, how he saw her need for independence and kept her wishes by letting her do things on her own. She wanted to hope this new start for her would be just what she needed. Yes, she was still young. Yes, she had a handicap according to society, but she was a regular person and she wanted to live as such with a few modifications.

  By the time Heidi came to a stop, Cora could tell they were still on the left side of the house. “Are we in the kitchen or dining room?” she asked.

  “The kitchen. I have a bowl of water, some food, and a pad for Heidi to lie on. Will she let me give you the tour and stay here?”

  Shocked at the abrupt request, Cora gripped the collar tighter. “Um . . . you set up a space for my dog?”

  “Well, yeah.” Braxton’s tone almost sounded as if her question was absurd. “I wanted to be the one to show you, to guide you, but if you’re not comfortable with that, Heidi can stay. I just thought we’d give her a break and I could be your guide.”

  Cora bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. Eric had always wanted to be the one to do everything for Cora, as if her depending on him gave his overinflated ego another boost. He never liked Heidi in his car, his house, his life, basically. Her parents had never been keen on the idea of a “smelly, furry animal” in the office building. If Heidi was going to be a problem here, maybe this wasn’t the place for Cora, either.

  “It’s fine if you want her to come with us,” Braxton stated, breaking into her thoughts. “I just figured I’d do something for her. We can wait until she’s done with the snack if you want her with us.”

  Wait. He was doing all of this . . . for Heidi? A surge of emotions swept over her. In the past three years, the only person who had done anything at all for this loyal dog was Cora.

  “No.” Cora held up her free hand. “We don’t have to wait on her. I’m just speechless. I had someone in my life who wasn’t so keen on the fact I came as a package deal.”

  “Then that person is a fool.” His feet shifted across the floor, growing louder as he neared. “Your call.”

  She had complete and utter control, something she’d craved but hadn’t had before. “Heidi will probably be happier here with snacks and a bed. Or she may follow me and not give us a choice,” she laughed.

  Braxton’s hand slid over hers on the collar. “I’ve got her,” he said softly. “She’s already spotted the organic snacks I bought her.”

  Organic snacks. Did the man think of everything or was all of this perfection just an act?

  Cora nodded and eased her grip. “Go ahead, Heidi. Nap time.”

  Her dog liked to rest while Cora would listen to her audiobooks or do work on the computer, so she definitely knew the command “nap time.”

  Now standing alone, Cora wondered how she’d let this virtual stranger talk her into this. Was it the way he’d been concerned with Heidi’s needs? Was it the smooth way he talked to her?

  Before she could fully think of what an impact this man had on her, his rough hand slid against hers.

  “Is this okay?”

  Chapter Three

  Hell no, this wasn’t okay. Braxton didn’t need her to answer, he knew everything about this moment was not okay. He was pushing boundaries he shouldn’t be and all for the simple fact Cora intrigued him like no one else had.

  “This is fine,” she replied, giving him that high-voltage smile he’d come to associate with every thought of her. He shouldn’t be having any thoughts of her, and he especially shouldn’t be thinking of her enough to be able to make inferences about her smiles or other actions.

  Damn it. Why was he letting her tie him up in knots? He did not authorize any of these mental shenanigans. Yet he refused to let anyone else help Cora, because he was more than capable. Besides, she’d had her hands all over him. Surely, they’d reached some weird relationship level that gave him full access to any crazy emotions.

  Clearly, he was out of his element. He had no clue how to feel, how to act. He’d never been this way around women. Normally, they were the ones getting all worked up. Braxton didn’t do “worked up”—he did sex. Nothing more.

  Braxton glanced back to see Heidi curled up on the pad he’d bought yesterday evening when he’d had this insane idea to be the one to guide Cora. How ridiculous he’d been jealous of a dog, but well . . . he was. Not that he didn’t fully understand why she needed the Seeing Eye dog, but because he wanted to be the one to introduce this new world to her. He was selfish when it came to his desires and he most definitely desired Cora Buchanan.

  Braxton’s hands were rougher than usual since he’d been working on this house all summer, quite a contrast to her smooth, silky skin. The difference between them constantly showed its ugly face. He knew she came from money, could tell by the way she handled herself, the extra-polished look with her clothes, the defiant tilt of her chin and squared shoulders and the designer bag he’d seen—which he confidently assumed was just one of many.

  In his defense, Cora wasn’t one hundred percent like Anna. Cora didn’t appear to be high maintenance, she was more low-key and she was actually yearning for a change and a laid-back lifestyle. She wanted away from the city life and all the hustle it had to offer. She seemed determined to make it on her own without help from anyone, especially and including her family.

  Anna on the other hand had longed for bigger, better, and obviously someone with a more prestigious job than a college professor with a fallback career of construction. In hindsight, Braxton could admit that Anna didn’t deserve him.

  Holding on to Cora stirred things within him he’d sworn could never be stirred again.

  Yeah, this was a bad idea. He needed to
focus on giving her the tour, not on how amazing her skin felt against his. He was holding her damn hand, not lying naked with her.

  “You’re tensing up on me,” she commented as he led her down the hall toward the foyer. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m good. Just thinking maybe this wasn’t smart. I don’t want you to trip or get hurt.”

  She gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I don’t think you’d hurt me on purpose and it’s not like I haven’t tripped before.”

  He didn’t like the thought of her vulnerable and hurt, didn’t want to think of her struggling in any way. “We’ll walk slowly and we don’t have to go upstairs if you don’t want to. It’s all guest bedrooms and a library. The salon, dining room, patio, and sitting room are all down here. We also have a small area where we’ve designated a wine-and-cheese room for the guests each night. It’s off of the dining room.”

  “Sounds like you guys have thought of everything.”

  Because he felt like a junior-high geek the way he was awkwardly holding her hand, Braxton slid her hand around his arm. There. Escorting her didn’t seem to feel as ridiculous, but now she was closer and he could feel just how petite she was. And with each shift of their bodies, his arm slid against the side of her breast.

  Man, he needed to get a grip. He’d not been this mentally worked up over a woman since he’d started dating Anna, and he’d sworn the moment she cheated on him only weeks before their wedding that he would never, ever let any woman have that kind of power over him again.

  He’d been completely blindsided by her betrayal. Never once did he believe she’d be that cold and heartless. Braxton had been so trusting, caught up in love—or what he thought love was. Love wasn’t one-sided and Anna had definitely not been in love with him.

  The piercing pains he’d had at the time had vanished. He’d gone numb, but ached to feel again. He didn’t want her to have such power over him that he stopped living. So he turned the total opposite direction and lived life to the fullest.

  Hence the outgoing lifestyle he’d adopted since. He was perfectly fine with how his life was going, thank you very much. One date with one woman, then on to the next. Hell, they didn’t even have to go out on an actual date, but it was a onetime event. He didn’t do seconds and he didn’t do sleepovers. And any type of promise was a major no-no because he wasn’t about to give any woman false hope . . . not when all his hope had shattered right along with his heart.