Brandon (Anderson Billionaires #3) - Melody Anne Page 0,18

behavior when it came to him. And she knew for a fact he hadn’t been on his.

He’d seen her with no makeup, seen her with flour all over her clothes and her hair a mess. He’d seen her practically at her worst, and yet he still pursued her. Everything she’d thought she knew about the magic of the beginnings of relationships was crashing around her. This wasn’t good for her mental health.

That thought sent a pang through her that she was anything but happy about. She wasn’t going to continue to barrage herself with these secret fantasies. She’d slept with the man . . . once. It was done and over with, and the sooner he accepted that, the better off all parties concerned would be.

Not paying attention to where she was going and staring up at the giant walls of his home that looked as if they could do with a good washing, Chloe’s heel hit a crack in the sidewalk, sending her sprawling forward. She fell ungracefully, managing to take the brunt of the hit with her hands, which immediately began to ache. At least it took her mind off her ridiculous thoughts.

More embarrassed than in pain, she jumped back to her feet, tucked her shaking hands into her pockets, and looked around. It didn’t appear as if anyone had witnessed her embarrassing fall, so at least she had that to be grateful for.

But on top of her anxiousness about coming to see Brandon, now her hands hurt, and she was beginning to feel the tinge of a headache coming on. She had about twenty minutes to get some medicine in her system before the ache became an unbearable splitting pain that took her vision away and made her want to throw up.

Since she’d be in and out of there in less than ten minutes, she could get through this just fine. The eight steps up to the rickety front porch were both treacherous and terrifying. Not because she was worried about falling through, which she was, but because she was that much closer to Brandon.

Lifting her hand to knock on the intimidating door, she didn’t have the opportunity to touch the wood grain before it was being pulled back. And then he was there—standing two short feet in front of her.

Chloe looked up higher than she’d been expecting. Even with her taller heels, she felt inferior. It was a feeling she didn’t appreciate. She also wasn’t used to it. She was used to respect from all those around her. She’d earned that in her pursuit of perfection. There were many, many reasons she avoided this man.

“Chloe.”

Frozen. Chloe was frozen to the spot, needing to retreat but unable to move so much as a pinkie, let alone get her legs to work. The deep drawl of his voice sent memories rushing through her of him saying her name as she’d looked deep into his eyes, of how he’d made her cry out multiple times. She couldn’t even wish it hadn’t happened, because it had been the best night of her life.

She’d thought she was a strong woman, but she realized she was at this man’s mercy. It wasn’t a feeling she relished. Had her parents taught her nothing? They’d be disappointed in her if they could see how weak this one man made her feel.

“Why are you hunting me down, Brandon?” she finally asked when she was sure her voice would work correctly. She might as well get to the point. She’d eaten up about two of the ten minutes she had until she needed to run away before her headache became unbearable. One word, and she was a mess. This meeting wasn’t going as planned, not one little bit.

“How are you?” he asked, ignoring her question.

“I’ve been just fine,” she told him. At the moment she wasn’t, but that didn’t matter. She’d be normal again as soon as she got him to leave her be—and she got some pills in her system to counter the headache. “Or I would be fine if you’d leave me alone. Seriously, you have to accept it was a one-night stand and it’s over. I don’t want it to be awkward when we’re in a room together.” If only she really felt this way. If only she didn’t want him so much.

He smiled, then turned his head to the side. “Did you know that you’re the first woman I’ve ever met who actually stops me cold at the sight of you? Yes,