Stupid Girl(43)

Over the next hour I cleaned the remaining auditorium seats, my thoughts unavoidably drifting to Brax. I pondered the rumors. And I also reflected on the time we’d already spent together. I felt conflicted. One second fearful and nervous that the rumors were true. That I’d let my heart get tangled up in a mess like Brax Jenkins. The next second I felt butterflies, anticipating our dinner date. Thinking about he’d shown up in the parking lot before work, just to talk to me. It made my head spin, and my insides stung just thinking about it. A little immature sounding, I knew that—but since I was the only one I’d confessed it to, I guess it was ok. He was so … enigmatic. I knew next to nothing about him, yet a pull, an electrical draw existed between us. At least, on my end. Yes, there was his unique physical appearance. Not just his strong, sexy athletic build, cut from stone jaw and clear blue eyes. And not just the scars and ink. Something else drew me to him. Something deeper. It mesmerized me and frightened me all at once. Neither of those reactions would I ever let him see.

I was on my hands and knees, almost finished scrubbing the last few seats when a voice startled me.

“So being friends with a geek gets me first class into the planetarium, huh?”

I jumped, squealed, and hit my head on the metal arm rest.

“Whoa, Sunshine,” Brax laughed from across the room. “Easily spooked, yeah?”

I rose to my feet, saw him moving up the center aisle, and my body immediately reacted; my heart started pounding a little harder. Brax no longer wore his uniform; in its place was a pair of faded ripped jeans, a white tee shirt, and boots. No doubt about it now. Brax unhinged me. But I was pretty good at hiding some things. I hid my reaction and grinned. “Gosh, I guess they just let any ole riffraff into the observatory these days.”

Those muscular thighs and easy bowed swagger moved Brax closer, and he stopped in the aisle beside me. With his arms folded over his chest, he inspected me. “That TA tried to be a dick about it, but I convinced him to let me back here.”

I eyed him. “You didn’t punch him out, did you?” I really only half-teased.

A look of amused exasperation settled on Brax’s features, and in the low light of the auditorium, he looked even sexier than he did in full blown light. Which was a pretty incredible feat. “No, Gracie, I didn’t punch him out.” His lips twitched. “This time.”

I shook my head and dropped to my knees to clean the last seat. “Good. I need this job, Boston.”

Brax laughed, crouched beside me and ducked his head, bringing us to eye level. His elbows rested against his knees, and I shifted my gaze to the tattoos on his forearms. “I wouldn’t jeopardize your job, Gracie,” he said. “Unless someone pissed me off and did something to you I didn’t like.”

I raised my eyes to meet his, and through the strange light the color of blue shone sincerity. He meant what he said.

I dropped my supplies into the bucket and leaned back on my heels. “Why is that?” I asked with a little discomfort. “Exactly.”

Brax stared first between his feet, then slowly lifted his head. His gaze pierced mine; he didn’t blink, only searched. A muscle flinched in his jaw. “Hell if I know.”

I wanted to fall right over onto my backside. I felt that weak. The way he stared at me, talked to me—I swear I almost believed it. Almost believed every single word he said, without question. But deep inside, I knew better. It just couldn’t be real.

How could it be?

“So what’d you want to show me?” he asked.

I calmed myself with an inconspicuous breath, rose, and grabbed my supplies. “Follow me.” He did—and right behind me, until we reached the auditorium entrance doors. I paused and looked at him over my shoulder. “Want an inside celestial view first?”

In the low lights, a curious, dark gaze filled Brax’s eyes. He leaned closer. “I’ll take anything you’re offering, Sunshine.”

“Good Lord, Brax. Stay here,” I said, setting my supplies down. I hit the lights and crossed the auditorium to the main planetarium switchboard. Steven had shown me how to operate it. “Ready?” I asked into the pitch darkness.

“Always.”

“Dork.” I smiled and shook my head, then threw the switch. Within the simulated night sky, each planet, situated in the correct coordinates and hanging from the ceiling, illuminated. Stars blinked.

“Damn, Gracie,” he said slowly. By his tone I could tell he was genuinely impressed. I’d been, too, when Steven had shown me earlier. The auditorium had turned into a replicated pitch-dark starry sky, complete with illuminated and finely detailed planets. Suddenly and quiet as a stealth soldier, he was beside me. His hand found its way to my lower back, his breath on my neck, and my eyes drifted to his profile. With his head lifted, he stared at the stars and planets overhead. His fingers felt heavy against me, and I fought the urge to lean into him. “Christ, it looks so real. Is that the Milky Way?” he asked.