Nonstop (Open Skies #3) - Becca Jameson Page 0,26
he was certain whatever her burden was, she hadn’t worked through it. She hadn’t had counseling or at least not good counseling.
She sighed, no longer arguing with him but not believing him either.
“Have you talked to your therapist about this?”
“Not the current one.”
“But you’ve had someone in the past?”
“Sure. For all the good it did.” Her voice was low, angry, filled with sorrow and disappointment.
At least some sort of counseling had happened at the time. Not every therapist was suited for every person. It would seem Bex hadn’t gotten the help she needed.
“Do you like your current counselor?”
She shrugged. “She’s fine. I just don’t want to discuss the past.”
He considered pointing out that she would never be able to move forward until she worked out what happened to her in the past, but he’d pushed her enough for today. “For now, can you just agree to stay with me? I don’t want you to cut me off. Keep seeing me. Baby steps. One day at a time.” The longer she spent time with him, the less likely she would be to dump him. He hoped she would become more comfortable with him every day until she let her walls down.
“I’ll try. I have a big problem I need to face, Bracken.” She met his gaze.
Beyond the obvious? “What’s that, baby?”
“I’m not going to be able to return to my job.”
He nodded. “Okay. That’s still three weeks away. Let’s worry about that another day. Today, our goal will be to get you fed and find a way to ensure you start sleeping.”
“I’m certain I can manage the first. The second is not going to happen.”
“You slept fine with me. Maybe we can try that again.” He could hope. It would be fucking hard on him to start sleeping with her and keep his hands to himself, but he would do it. He had to.
“Maybe…” She bit into her lip again, and he leaned forward and kissed her. Just a peck. Nothing that would make her retreat.
She whimpered as he pulled back though, and his cock didn’t like it one bit.
Chapter 11
Bex was nervous about returning to Bracken’s house. It seemed like a really bad idea. After all, the last time she’d been there, she’d made a complete fool of herself.
Except Bracken didn’t seem to think so at all. In fact, he was being unbelievably kind about the entire incident. Was she blowing it out of proportion?
No. Of course not. He didn’t know the entire saga. Maybe he could brush it off as no big deal, but the problem was she didn’t want to discuss it. Ever. How long was he going to permit her to keep secrets?
They’d picked up Chinese, and Bracken grabbed plates and opened all the containers while she watched.
“Sit.” He pointed toward the table. “You have to be starving.”
He had to be also. After all, though she doubted he’d slept all day just because she had, he hadn’t eaten either. He definitely hadn’t left her. Not for a moment.
“Thank you,” she murmured as she picked up a plate.
He grabbed the other plate.
She reached out for his hand and squeezed it, looking up at him until he met her gaze. “For everything. Thank you.”
He wrapped his arm around her and hauled her to his side, kissing the top of her head. “You’re welcome.” After another quick squeeze, he released her.
They ate without much discussion. Bex was grateful to have left her condo with him. It kept her from having to explain herself to Shayla who surely had about a thousand questions. Instead, the two of them had slipped out the door without saying much. Bex had even brought a bag.
She smiled as she recalled him suggesting that she bring a few things. Maybe some things she could keep at his place. Just in case. Things like comfortable clothes she could lounge in after they went out sometimes. Makeup remover. A second bottle of her favorite shampoo.
“What is making you smile?” he asked.
She nodded at the bag they’d dropped in the kitchen. “Am I going to get my own drawer or something?” she joked.
He returned the smile. “Do you want a drawer? If it makes you feel pressured, then you can leave your things in the bag.”
She considered his suggestion. Did she feel pressured? No. Not at all. Not really. She had a mind of her own. If she didn’t want to stay here, she wouldn’t. She felt nervous, but that wasn’t the same as feeling pressured.
Bracken never pressured her.