“Even Paige?”
“You’d already warned me about her.” He chuckled a bit in his throat. “I was prepared to get some real attitude from that one but…” he shook his head, giving Allie a knowing look that put her at ease before he even finished. “I guess you could say I relate to her. I had a similar attitude back in the day. My mom would tell you I was a pain in the butt during my teen years. And I didn’t mean to be. I was just going through things. I was unhappy about the whole adoption thing. Angry with my parents though I had no reason to be. I don’t know, I just had issues to work out, and sadly my folks took the brunt of it for a while.”
Allie wouldn’t have pictured Braden giving his parents a hard time. Not at all. But what he’d said reminded her that Terrance had mentioned it once – the fact that Braden was struggling, not knowing who his real parents were. He’d been on a quest to find them at one point. It made her wonder. “Did you ever find your real parents?” The words slipped off her tongue before she had a chance to consider them.
One corner of his lips quirked up. “No,” he said. “I never did find my biological mother or father. But I came to grips with it. I realized that my parents – the ones who raised me – were the ones that mattered. I’m just glad I figured that out before they passed.”
“I bet they were glad too,” Allie said, resting her shoulder against the couch as she pondered. “Being a parent is a gift. It is. But it’s tough too. Some days it feels like that’s all you are. Like any identity you had before parenthood was shed the moment you became a parent. I swear sometimes I wonder if I still resemble the person I was, or if I’m a different woman entirely.”
He eased into a crooked smile. “You’re in there somewhere.” He rubbed his hands gently over hers. “You’ve just been going through a lot, is all. But uh…the closer you and I get, the more pieces of you I see. Pieces I remember from when we were young.”
She smiled at him in return, knowing just what he meant. She let out a single laugh. “You know, it’s funny, I’ve noticed the same thing.”
He lifted a dark brow. “Oh, yeah?”
She nodded. “Like the Starbursts. You’re still downing those like they’re going out of style. Any candy for that matter. And you always had this way – you’d look at me with your head lowered and give me that exact smile. Usually when you were teasing me about something.”
“Yeah.” He ran the tip of his finger over her hand, tracing a tiny vein on its path toward her knuckle. “I’ve always liked teasing you.” His gaze seemed to move as hers did, away from their hands until their eyes met. A pool of something hot and sweet danced around her heart. She could hardly believe he was real. Braden Fox was there, in her home. On her couch. So handsome, warm, and so very close. Nearly a week had passed since he’d kissed her in his backyard after the picnic, and he hadn’t kissed her again since. Not on the lips anyway. For whatever reason, Braden seemed to reject the gesture as a goodbye sentiment. He would however, always pull her in and kiss her cheek. Tenderly. Gently, before saying goodbye. He’d let his large, masculine hand linger over the small of her back as he did, a move that always sent goosebumps racing along her arms. The smell of his cologne, mingled with fresh hints of pine, lingering far after they’d part.
She could smell it now too. The mere scent of him making her long for his lips on hers. Braden’s palm slid further up the back of her hand until he encircled her wrist.
He leaned in closer.
Allie gulped. Her gaze landing solidly on his wonderfully sculpted lips. Just as her eyes began to close, a blast of music sounded from behind the wall. He paused there, and then backed up. Allie forced her lids to flicker open.
“Are the girls still up?” Braden asked, tilting his head toward the wall.
She wanted to throw her arms around his neck and tell him it didn’t matter. “Yeah. I figured they might be. I’ll just tell her to use headphones.” Allie shifted to move off the couch but Braden stopped her.
“No. I don’t mind,” he said. “She’s got good taste in music, actually.”
Allie nodded. “That’s what Terrance used to say.” She regretted it the minute she’d said it. Who cared about Terrance at a moment like this? Or, a moment like the one they were having a minute ago, before Paige blasted her music.
Braden’s thumb traced down the back of her hand. “Does Paige have a notebook of her art?”
Allie nodded. “I buy her one every year for her birthday. She usually fills them up faster than she gets them. Starts doodling on lined paper, cardboard sometimes, whatever she can get her hands on. This year I bought her a new one early.”
He tilted his head, his expression thoughtful. “Hmm.”
“What?” Allie asked.
“Just sounded like she was bothered that you don’t display her art.”
“It’s hardly something I could put up in the house,” she said with a laugh. “Really. Just… here. I’ll show you what I mean.” Her eyes ran the length of the bookshelf. The wicker basket on the bottom shelf held Paige’s art supplies. Metal tins holding specialty pencils sat on top, stretchy erasers pressed against them. Allie shuffled the items as she pulled out the hefty, spiral sketchpad. “This is her latest stuff,” she said, nudging up beside him on the couch. She flipped over the cover to reveal the first sketch: a zombie dressed in a suit and tie – a deep gash causing its flesh to hang off half of his face. The next page had a similar drawing, a zombie holding his own eyeball. With an outstretched arm, he was using it to look at himself in his distorted state. Braden laughed out loud.
“Clever,” Braden said. “I like this one.”
She glanced over, surprised as he pulled the book onto his lap, flipped the next page himself. More of the same.
“She’s got a real thing for dead people,” Allie explained. “Zombies, that is. I guess there’s a difference.”
Braden shot her a pointed look. “A big difference, actually.”
Allie shrugged, feeling outnumbered though Paige wasn’t even in the room.
The next drawing portrayed another zombie creature. A girl this time; she was lying stomach-first on a skateboard, a schoolgirl’s plaid skirt blowing in the breeze.
“Whoa, I didn’t even see that at first,” Braden said, running a finger along the bottom of the page. “Her tongue is the skateboard.”
And so it was. Allie hadn’t noticed that either. But it was plain to see. “That’s… pretty cool,” she admitted. “I never noticed that.” A small ache formed in her gut. Perhaps she’d been missing a lot of details like those. Maybe that’s what bothered Paige so much when she’d show Allie her stuff. Sadly all of Paige’s zombie pictures had started to look the same to Allie. Often times Paige didn’t bother showing her at all.
“You know, I think it’d mean a lot to her if you just hung some of this stuff up. Copied it, even, if you want to leave the originals in here.”
The heat in her tummy changed. Turned into a tangled lump of defenses. Allie tried to stifle them as she rose from the couch and crossed the room. “I’ve displayed a bunch of her stuff throughout the house.” She pulled a small tile from the bookshelf and held it up for him. “Paige is the one who painted this,” she announced.
Braden made a scoffing sound. “When she was what, five?”
Allie glanced down at the flower. A messy green stem with a small bud. She checked the date. “Six.” She was losing steam. “And there’s a painted pot in the windowsill she gave to me for Mother’s Day. I’ve never taken it down.”
Braden nodded, but remained silent as Allie searched for something more to say. “I guess I just thought she was going through a phase and that soon she’d start drawing different things. Living things, maybe.”
“She will,” Braden assured. “And that’ll be a real shame when it happens.”
Allie winced.
“Especially if you never appreciated what she’s doing now.” He shifted in his seat, propped his elbows on his knees and looked at her. �
��Paige has real talent. And what’s more is she’s got a sense of humor too. One that practically jumps off the page. You don’t want her to start drawing flowers and sunsets, Allie. Anyone can do that. You want her to do things that she’s interested in. Things that show personality as well as talent. That’s the mark of a true artist.”
It took Allie a moment to dissect the strange surge of emotion pulsing through her frame. There Braden sat, defending her daughter’s art while scolding Allie in the process. He actually liked what Paige had drawn. Was helping Allie to see the value in it too. Her heart began to soften and swell. “You really like it?”
He nodded. “Of course I do. Paige could do print art, comic books, videogame design, you name it. She just needs a little encouragement.”
Allie nodded, strolled back to where she’d been sitting, and drew her eyes back to him. “You’re right. She probably does need that,” she agreed. “I’ll frame some.”
Braden gave her a satisfied grin. “Good. If you’d like, I can help you sketch out a custom piece for her. Something that could stand in the corner there and display several sketches at once.”
“Really?” She liked that idea. Loved it, actually. “That is brilliant,” she said. “Yes! I … please. Paige would love that. I would love that.” She laughed at the way she was stumbling over her words.
Braden chuckled too. “Then let’s get to work.”
Allie dashed to the office to grab some scratch paper and a clipboard. And for the next solid hour, the two worked on different designs. Each with Paige in mind. By the time they were through, the stand they’d settled on was sure to be a masterpiece.
“I can’t wait to see that in real life now. Standing right in this room,” she said. “And it’s perfect because Paige’s birthday’s coming up.”
“May, right?” Braden confirmed.
Allie nodded. “Right.”
Braden came to a stand and stretched his arms over his head. “We’ll have ‘er done by then. Easy.” He yawned, and Allie couldn’t fathom how he could be sleepy at a time like this. She felt more alive than she had in years. Creating something new and wonderful. The direction she was headed with Paige was something to celebrate all itself. Allie could hardly wait to show Paige the appreciation her art deserved.
Even as Braden took hold of her hand, led her in a slow trail toward the door, new ideas were coming to mind. Inspiration on her jewelry. Whimsical pieces that looked dreamy and magical all at once. Thinner lines with swirls and loops. And hearts too. Allie hadn’t fashioned a whole lot of hearts in her line, but suddenly a list of designs were coming to her.
“Well,” she said, at the doorway. “Thank you so very much for tonight.”
“Thank me?” he said with a grin. “You’re the one who made dinner, which was delicious, by the way. Have I mentioned that?”
Allie giggled. “A couple of times.”
“Haven’t had lasagna in years.”
“I’m glad you liked it,” she said, glancing down at the floor before looking back to him. “Hey, thanks for what you’re doing for Paige. And for me. I really appreciate it.” She didn’t go into all the ways he’d inspired her where Paige, parenting, and her own art was concerned. But someday she would.
Braden stepped closer, and just as Allie was about to loop her arms around his neck for their now standard, goodbye hug, she changed her mind. Instead, she placed her hands on either side of his face. If Braden didn’t like giving goodbye kisses that was just fine. But she did.
Quickly, before his attractive face could unnerve her, Allie pressed up on her toes, let her eyes close, and pressed a soft, gentle kiss to his lips. Mmm. “Goodnight,” she whispered, before pulling away. But Braden grabbed her arm, stopping her from moving any further. Their eyes locked as Braden’s hand slid over her hip. He took a step forward, forcing her to step back as he moved. With the slightest hint of a grin on his face, he repeated the action until she was flush against the wall.
“Goodnight,” he mumbled, and brought his lips to hers. His kiss was slightly longer than hers had been. And somehow, a lot more tasty. When he pulled away, Allie nearly felt as if she would pass out. She hadn’t been ready for it to end. In fact, she was just getting started.
“That was cheating,” Allie managed in a whisper.
Braden quirked a brow, but the slight lift at the corner of his lips said he knew just what she meant. “Kissing goodbye always is,” he said. “I’d much rather kiss you hello.”
That didn’t sound like a bad idea. “Okay.” Allie slid from between Braden and the wall, made her way to the door, and pulled the thing open. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” That’s right. What she’d said was a challenge. He wanted to kiss her hello, did he? There was plenty of opportunity for that.
Braden gave her a nod, but to Allie, it looked more like a promise. “Tomorrow.”
After closing the door behind him, she let out a high-pitched squeal. She felt like a teenager again – a stomach full of flutters, anticipation rising in her chest, and a smile that just wouldn’t quit. She sped toward the open front room and leapt into the air like a ballerina. She couldn’t remember feeling so good. She spun in place with a definitely-silly-looking grin on her face and sighed. Paige’s music hadn’t stopped, she realized, an idea coming to mind. If the girls were still up, perhaps they could have a movie night, like old times. Sure it was a school night, but that was okay.
In seconds flat she was standing in the hallway, tapping on their closed doors in turn. “Yeah?” she heard Paige say.
“What is it, Mom?” Jillian asked next.
“Mandatory movie party is happening right now,” Allie announced.
“Huh?” Paige’s music shut off. Her door flung open.
Jillian’s was next. “Mandatory what?”
“Movie party,” Allie said.
Paige tilted her head. “I don’t know, Mom, it’s getting late.”
“Did you miss the part where I said it was mandatory?” Allie gave her a big grin. “And we’re having microwave mug cakes, so you better hurry.”
Jillian and Paige turned to look at one another before tearing down the hall. “I’m first,” Jillian hollered, but Paige had gotten a head start.
“Not if you get there last,” she warned.
The sound of their laughter spread down the hall as they sped out of sight. Allie gathered pillows and blankets before heading into the front room. She hadn’t done a movie night with the girls since the divorce. She’d almost forgotten all about the fun times and late nights they’d had over the years.
And as she joined Jillian and Paige in the brightly lit kitchen, close to midnight on a school night, Allie’s smile only grew. Turns out, finding her old self again wasn’t so hard after all.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The shop felt different today. Not entirely – Braden’s surroundings were the same, his tools lined up along the wall, his latest project standing nearby. The scent of wood in the air was close enough as well. But there was an odd ticking sound lingering in the distance, a lurching click made only by the clock in his bedroom. That, along with the dim, rather gray lighting, told Braden this was only a dream. Still, he was in the woodshop on a weekday morning, waiting for Allie’s arrival; may as well sink into the illusion and see what it would bring.
He eyed the skylight overhead, wondering how close to nine o’clock it was. Why was it he couldn’t make Allie enter the scene now? It was his dream, after all. Why did he have to wait for time to drag on as it normally did?
With an irritated huff, Braden got to work. He felt oddly anxious today, thoughts of Allie seeming to own every move he made. He sanded the project before him with long, thorough strokes, waiting to hear the sound of her voice as she entered. See her face as she rounded the corner into his shop.
The rustle of sandpaper against the coarse grains of wood kept him from hearing her car. But the sound of the door was unmistakable; Allie usually closed it with a gentle push before call
ing his name over the dividing wall.
But not today. The door had barely creaked open before it slammed shut with a bang.
“Hello?” The voice was a familiar one, but it did not belong to Allie. The low voice with its tight tenor and irritated edge belonged to an old friend. One Braden would not be happy to see.
“Terrance?” The name nearly fell off his tongue.
“Bet you thought you were rid of me,” Terrance said, barreling around the corner. His eyes narrowed in on him as he sauntered into the woodshop. “Thought you could just weasel in and have her all to yourself didn’t you? Like you always wanted.”
Braden dropped the sandpaper, kicked it with his boot as he strode toward him in return. “You’re right, buddy. I did always want Allie. But I stayed back. Let you have her all to yourself, though I could have taken her from you in a heartbeat. And that’s just what I should have done.”
“That’s what you think. But she’s always wanted me. And guess what… she still does.”
Suddenly Allie entered the picture. “Sorry, Braden,” she said, moving toward Terrance in a slow strut. A pair of bright red stilettos matched the tiny, lingerie-looking dress she wore. She dragged a hand over Terrance’s chest, began fiddling with the buttons on his shirt. “Terrance is right. You never really made it clear that you wanted me. Even now I can barely tell with the way you kiss me one day but not the next. Or the next. Or the next.” She stopped there, ran her tongue along Terrance’s ear. “Terrance on the other hand…”
The sentence faded as a giant bed appeared in the shop. Yards of crimson fabric covered the canopy from bottom to top. Sheer draperies hung from the surrounding frame, while silky sheets, pillows, and blankets covered the surface. All of it matching Allie’s skimpy dress and four-inch heels.
Terrance lifted Allie off the ground and carried her toward the red mass, the sound of her high-pitched laughter filling the shop. “Like I said. I’m the one she wants.” He dropped her to the bed, began climbing on top of her before it all disappeared.
Rough Edges: Allie's Story, A Companion to the Sweet Montana Bride Series (Second Chances Book 1) Page 11