Now, it was up to him. He needed to decide how he wanted his life to play out. He could either live it as he’d been and continue to ignore his feelings. Or he could accept what should have always been and give into his and treat her as his wife in every sense of the word. But, was it too late? Had she already closed her heart off to him? She’d openly rejoiced in his successes and cried with his failures, but she’d never shown that her heartfelt anything more for him. Not since that day when he’d shut her out.
Now, as he walked toward the hospital, today would be the day he started working on winning her back. He couldn’t allow another day to go by without her knowing how he really felt about her. And he was going to show her what a real marriage to him would be like. She was going to be his partner in all things moving forward; he just hoped.
Chapter 26
Braxton’s operation to win Paisley over started off as a bust. She had been in full recovery mode at home during the last six weeks. Because of the surgery, she had been forbidden from lifting anything heavy once she’d returned home which meant she couldn’t lift Emmy from her crib when she cried.
It had taken a toll on Paisley emotionally, no matter how hard Braxton tried to facilitate the bond by placing Emmersyn in Paisley's lap. Paisley was falling further and further into a depressive state. She wanted to be the one who cared for their precious little girl and having Braxton be there all the time left her feeling empty and worthless.
The first few days after Paisley had arrived home had been a struggle for her. She couldn’t bathe herself, and she absolutely hadn’t wanted Braxton to assist in any way. He had offered to give her a wet towel bath, and she’d shuddered.
As the weeks went by, Paisley became less and less of her bubbly self and more a shell of a human being. At night, Braxton swore he could hear her sobbing behind closed doors as he passed by her room. His heart ached knowing that there was nothing he could do. He tried. He’d make her dinner so she didn’t have to worry about it. When she returned to work after being home for a month, he’d brought her lunch to her office each day. Hell, he’d even brought home flowers and gifts, hoping to break the funk she was in.
It was time he intervened—no more tiptoeing on eggshells. Tonight, he was going to venture down the road of tough love and force her to be the person she was prior to the surgery.
Paisley had been working late one night when a slight tap on her doorframe drew her attention. She had worn her glasses today instead of her contacts. Removing her glasses, she gently rubbed her eyes before she raised her head to see who was standing at her door.
Her heart fluttered at the sight of Braxton there in a black T-shirt and a pair of faded denim jeans—that hugged his thighs and gripped the globes of his ass. He wore his baseball cap backward, just as he always did on Tuesday evenings after softball practice. She hadn’t realized that the sun had set hours ago. In fact, Emmersyn was so quiet that she had almost forgotten that she was playing in the space that had been built for her.
“You look tired,” Braxton said as he stepped away from the door, strolling toward his daughter. Paisley watched as he lowered himself onto the floor next to Emmy. His long legs stretched out in front of him as he relaxed onto his elbows. Emmy’s tiny body began rocking back and forth.
She’d been trying to crawl for weeks now, but she just couldn’t master it. Instead, she’d rock back and forth, scooting her way along the floor. When she reached her father, she placed half her body on him and began to coo.
Braxton loved the connection he and Emmy shared—the tender moments that he ensured were burned into his memory, as he knew one day she wouldn’t be daddy’s little caterpillar anymore.
Braxton reached for Emmy and tugged her against his chest as he lay on the floor. Lifting Emmy into the air, his arms swayed side to side and he made a flying noise as he pretended she was a plane.
“Come on, caterpillar. Let’s go see Mommy.”
Braxton stood with Emmersyn in his arms and sauntered toward Paisley. He watched her eyes follow him, and with each step, her gaze became more intense. For a brief moment, he thought he saw desire in them, but if he did, Paisley quickly schooled her expression as it wasn’t there the second he looked again.
Paisley pushed herself away from her desk, making room for Emmy when Braxton lowered her into her arms. Paisley kissed the top of Emmy’s head, then lifted her into the air so she could smell her daughter's tiny butt. Paisley’s nose quickly scrunched at the smell and Braxton watched as a shudder passed over Paisley's body.
“You brought her here just so I’d have to change her, didn’t you?” Paisley was sure that was the reason, but she still inquired.
Braxton didn’t say a word; he just raised his hands to his chest and opened his mouth as though he were surprised.
“Don’t feign innocence with me,” she snarled back at Braxton. “I know you hate changing diapers. You did this on purpose.”
Braxton surprised Paisley when he lowered his head and placed a tender kiss on her lips. Not her cheek as he usually did—this time he went all in and locked lips with her. It was soft, tender, and only lasted
