Hearts at Play(16)

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.”





Chapter Thirteen


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.





Chapter Fourteen


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.”