I would swear I feel him shaking with nerves saying this to me, but it may be the cool wind. Giving him a tight smile, I say, “Braden, you told me you want the truth so here it is. I want this so bad. I want to know what it’s like to be in a real relationship. Be with a guy that truly wants to be with me, laugh, and actually mean it. I want to make you happy, but I’m scared.”
He rubs his hands up and down my back and kisses me quickly. “I’m scared too, but if you are willing, we can be scared together.”
If I’m jumping in, I’m doing it with both feet. I want this with him, so fucking bad. With my mind made up I smile at him.
“I’m more than willing.”
After a few hours, I had to leave since I am working tonight. London has been so generous not only letting me live in her house but giving me this job. Most days I work during the day, but since I am the new girl, when coverage is needed, I’m not given much of a choice. It’s money though and I’m earning it respectfully.
I didn’t want to leave Braden’s, but since I have this smile hasn’t left my face. I’m sure people are looking at me like I’m crazy and truthfully, I don’t care. I’m happy, for the first time in my life things are falling into place for me. I’ve got a decent job, started modeling, live in a beautiful home, all because of Blake. Adding Braden to it all makes it, dare I say, perfect.
“McKinley, your order is up. You better go grab it before London has your ass tomorrow,” one of the girls I work with says, pulling me out of my happy thoughts. I get the food for my table and rush to serve them.
I can’t wait to get home and take a hot shower. My feet are killing me from being on them all night. I check my phone and see I only have a half-hour to go. I also notice I have a text message from Braden.
Braden: Hope your night at work is good.
Me: We’ve been busy, so it’s going fast.
He gets back to me immediately and I feel like a damn teenager.
Braden: When do you get off?
Me: A half-hour.
“McKinley!” Shit.
I shove my phone in my pocket and push off the wall I was leaning against when Mr. Smithson yells for me.
“Hey Mr. S, what’s up?” He doesn’t seem amused with my playful attitude, so I quickly drop my smile.
“You aren’t being paid to be on your phone. You get paid to be a waitress. That means that after you serve them, you check on them. When that is done there is plenty of back-end work that needs to be done. If you have time to stand around, you aren’t doing your job.”
I feel like an idiot. Of course, I know I shouldn’t be on my phone.
“You’re right. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”
He doesn’t say anything else just gives me a quick nod and heads back to his office. I check on my remaining tables and clock out not a minute late.
When I pull into my driveway, I don’t even want to walk to the door, my feet hurt so bad. I need to invest in better shoes, these are awful. Getting out of the car I lock it and walk to the door, nearly tripping over something there.
I look down and see flowers. Braden comes right to my mind as I pick up the vase and smell the heavenly scent. I quickly unlock the door and make my way to the kitchen to get a better look.
I suck in a deep breath when I see how beautiful they are. It’s a mix of all different flowers, colors, and scents. Leaning in to inhale again. I see a note and pull it out.
McKinley,
Just wanted you to know I’m thinking of you.
Braden
Without even thinking I grab my phone and press call. “I’m hoping this is because the flowers were received.”
I giggle and drop my purse on the counter before I grab a bottle of water out of the fridge. “Yes, it is. Thank you so much, they are beautiful.”
I take the vase of flowers and my water to the living room. Centering them on the coffee table I sit down and stare at how gorgeous they are.
“You’re welcome. I was hoping the florist listened to me and left them for you.”
His deep voice is doing things to me and I wish instantly that he was here.
“I’ve never gotten flowers before,” I whisper, hoping he doesn’t start to find me pathetic.
“You’re kidding me? You really did date some assholes. How could none of them ever give you flowers?” he asks, sounding more upset for me than anything else.
I giggle and say, “Because I’ve only dated assholes.”
“Thankfully you found me when you did,” he says jokingly, but he’s right. I needed all of this to happen, meeting all these amazing people, to restore my faith in humanity.
After a few minutes, we hang up and I take a much-needed shower before climbing into my bed. I fall asleep thinking about how drastically my life has changed over the last few weeks and I smile. Coming here was a risk I was willing to take to get the things I deserved, and damn was I right in my decision.
Chapter 10
Braden
It’s been two weeks since McKinley and I have been together, and it’s been the best two weeks of my life. The only thing that could possibly make it better is having my girls here, but until that happens, I am making the best out of life.
Being with McKinley makes me realize how lonely I was. I’m not like Jax, Blake, and
