The agent wasn’t prepared for Braylee’s thorough response. “We’ll have to look into it just the same.”
“Yes, of course. However, Manchetti Enterprises has provided you with years of research. If you need any more information, please send your requests directly to my office.”
Shortly after, the meeting was over. Everyone seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when the agents left the room and praised Braylee for her fourth quarter save. Once they were alone Alexandro wouldn’t allow Braylee to put up her wall. Remembering Lisa’s words, he pulled her into his arms. “You were incredible today.”
There wasn’t much resistance. If Braylee were honest, praise from him meant more than she cared to admit. “And, you wanted me to stay home.”
“I was wrong, and I’m sorry.” He waited to see if she would accept his apology.
Braylee needed the strength of his arms wrapped around her and wanted to bask in that for a while. She didn’t want to think about the storms swirling all around them. Instead, she touched her lips to his in a gentle but soul-stirring kiss.
Chapter 12
For the last several hours, actually from the moment Braylee and Alex boarded the private plane, Alex’s cell phone had been glued to his ear. He couldn’t seem to sit still for even a minute and had been pacing from one end of the plane to the other.
Braylee sat curled up in a chair with only her laptop for company; checking e-mails and watching him. This was going to be a long flight made even longer if Alex continued to be wound up so tight. Yes, they were living in a nightmare, but they had to figure a way out of this mess without completely losing it. She looked up over the top of her computer to catch another glimpse of him. His back was to her, and he was rubbing his neck seemingly in utter frustration. Braylee refocused her attention back to drafting her e-mail. She needed to send one last message to her staff with instructions for the next couple of weeks. After that, she would be unavailable except for emergencies. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been away from her office, and it was sad that it took Nate and this situation to force her to take time off.
After Braylee finished with her email, she took another quick glance at Alex. This time, he was running his hands through that thick mass of black hair. Rolling her shoulders back in an attempt to loosen her stiff muscles, she realized she was going to have to do something or Alex was going to erupt like a volcano. Braylee turned off her computer and put it away. He was still pacing back and forth like a caged animal. By the grim expression on his face, whoever he was talking to apparently wasn’t giving him the answers he’d hoped for. Braylee couldn’t be a hundred percent sure because she could only make out bits and pieces of his conversations. It was as if he was intentionally shutting her out of the call. When had he decided that she was some kind of shrinking violet? It was beyond her. She was going to have to put a stop to it. There was no need for him to try and keep whatever he was talking about a secret. Hadn’t they had enough of that already? Yes, she was somewhat hypocritical considering she hadn’t told him about the pregnancy, but she planned on it. However, that discussion would have to wait. Now just wasn’t the time. Right now, she needed to get Alex to relax. Otherwise, he was going to pop a blood vessel.
Braylee nodded to their private attendant. She came over right away. “Yes, Ms. Hinsdale. May I get something for you?”
“Yes. Can you and security give Alex and me about an hour of privacy?”
She nodded. “Sure. We can make ourselves scarce.”
“Oh, can you also bring us a nice bottle of chilled wine. No, I’m sorry, bring him a cold beer and me a cup of hot herbal tea if you have it when you come back? That would be great and thank you so much.”
“Of course.” The attendant smiled, walked over to the head security person and whispered in his ear. A moment later, the attendant and four burly men got up and moved to a separate part of the plane to give Braylee and Alex the privacy she sought.
Once they were alone, she got out of her chair. A barefoot Braylee seemed to glide over to where Alex was standing. He’d turned his back on her again. That didn’t stop Braylee from wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging his back to her front. She breathed him in deeply as she held him close. It was intoxicating; all male and uniquely Alex. Frowning, he half turned with furrowed brows and lips pressed too tightly together. Undeterred, Braylee whispered, “Can you call whoever that is back?”
After a brief moment of hesitation, he nodded. Alex checked his watch then spoke into the phone. “Let me call you back in about twenty minutes.”
She stared into his eyes as she thought to herself, what I have planned is going to take a lot longer than twenty minutes.
As
