The Bachelor Contract(53)

“Bastard,” Brock grunted.

“Bye.”

Brant thought he was doing her a favor, but what did he expect her to do? Sit with Nadine and the other two women whose voices she still hadn’t heard yet, and, what? Gossip? Talk about shopping? Pretend that this week wasn’t going to end in a few days? That as nice as they were, she didn’t belong in their world anymore?

In Brant’s world?

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became—yes, maybe irrationally so, but still! That was her job! And her job was all she had, especially since he’d made it clear that there was no future between them, that this was just them healing, trying to move past everything. He had no right to just run around and make demands. Besides, what if Nadine didn’t think Nikki could do her job? What if she fired her? What if she got replaced? Okay, now she was really making leaps with her assumptions, but after such an emotional and confusing morning, she was having a hard time being rational.

A knock sounded at the door. “Clothes are here.”

She quickly jumped to her feet, then immediately felt stupid. How was she going to navigate the room? She didn’t even know how many people were in it with her. Watching her.

Warm hands, Brant’s hands, met hers, as he gently walked her down a hall and placed a garment bag in her hands. He opened a door. He walked in with her.

“I can change by myself,” she said in a terse voice.

“I’m here to supervise.” He sounded bored. “That’s all.”

She was too tired to argue. And she was confused. One minute he wanted to be friends, the next he was supervising her undressing? Really?

“Fine.” She found the zipper to the bag and pulled it down. “Then at least turn around…friend.” She heard his sharp intake of breath, ignored it, and felt around for the clothes. “A dress?” She rolled her eyes. “You had the staff bring me a dress?”

“It was either a nice wrap dress from the gift shop or an I HEART AZUL T-shirt with board shorts.”

She quickly pulled the soft cotton dress from the bag and felt around for any clue on how to put it on.

“Pull the sash.” Brant’s voice interrupted her search. “Put your arms through the holes—”

“I know how to put on a dress, Brant. Trust me, I’ve been doing this by myself for years.” She was lashing out. Again.

And suddenly she wanted to go back to the bathroom. Or even better, back to the angry Brant who yelled and threatened. Because at least that she knew how to deal with; it was a mess, but this? This she didn’t understand how to navigate without getting hurt.

After five minutes of struggling, she finally got the dress on and they walked back down the hall.

“You look beautiful!” Nadine clapped her hands, and suddenly she was being suffocated with a hug and a cloud of sweet-smelling perfume. “Doesn’t she look beautiful, Brant?”

“She always does.” His words came out gravelly, tense.

“And those curves.” Nadine pulled away. “Such gorgeous curves. And those plump lips, don’t they look plump, Brant?”

Brant said nothing.

Nikki kept her head high.

Why would he? They were friends.

“I think you look beautiful.” Bentley’s silky voice said from her right. Was Brock still there? Charles? Sometimes she just wished people would announce themselves so she’d know.

“We should get going.” Brant’s hand touched her elbow, and then he was tugging her away, his fingertips barely grazing her arm, like he was afraid to touch her.

She said a quick good-bye to everyone. He released his hold on her elbow and pressed the small of her back, urging her forward. The minute she was in the elevator his hand dropped.

The silence was awkward. Tense. Painful. Tears stung the backs of her eyes.

“You do look beautiful,” he whispered as the elevator descended. “Any man would be lucky to have you.”

Any man. Not him.

Somehow she found her voice. “Thank you.”

And suddenly the elevator was too small. The memories too big. She felt like she was suffocating.

When the elevator doors opened she lunged into the lobby in an effort to escape—everything.

But especially him.





Chapter Twenty-Three





Nik—” Brant chased after her. The last thing he wanted was for her to hurt herself again.

Or end up with her naked in the shower when he was trying like hell to keep his distance. It was difficult enough with the way the dress hugged her curves.

Nadine had taken one look at him, smirked, and decided to give him a rundown of exactly what she saw him appreciating. By the time she was done, he was as hard as nails and ready to lose his mind, just praying for the elevator to keep going so he wouldn’t be trapped in a small space with Nikki. Instead it stopped, they both got in, and he was suffering in silence, trying to decide between slamming her against the nearest wall or punching through it with his face.