handling problems. Once she’d learned she had whatever she needed at her disposal, it hadn’t taken long for her to get the possession transported to the airstrip where the jet was waiting to retrieve him and deliver him back to Sapphire Island. He wouldn’t arrive for another hour, just after midnight, and I figured Braelyn would be up waiting for him to get here.
She had honestly surprised me with her concern. Not because she was concerned. That was a given. Braelyn was a woman with a huge heart.
No, my surprise came from how she was handling it. As though she understood the possession was still a possession. Not necessarily from our viewpoint, but from his. She was treating him as though this was what he needed, to be returned to where he’d started so he could be placed again. Which was exactly how anyone at Owned, Incorporated would’ve handled it.
In fact, I’d already seen a proposal come through from her, one that outlined what steps should be taken to ensure possessions were returned here if and when something happened to their Owner, or their Owner could no longer care for them. Admittedly, that was a step we’d missed, and it bothered me that no one had thought about it before.
“I didn’t realize you were still here.”
I looked up from my desk, noticed Braelyn standing in the doorway, watching me.
I smiled. “Reviewing your proposal.”
“Is there a problem with it?”
“Not that I can tell,” I admitted, relaxing back in my chair. “I’ve got some things to add, but I like what you have.”
She remained in the doorway, looking scrumptious, wearing a whisper-thin white tank top over a black bikini top and a pair of frayed-edge jean shorts, some of the most recent pieces I’d had delivered. It didn’t surprise me that she’d gotten comfortable. We’d had dinner, and she’d disappeared for a little while before coming back down to the office. She was the reason I was still here, figuring I would wait to see if she needed anything when the possession arrived.
“What about you?” I asked. “Why’re you here?”
“Just keeping track of Jones. I want to make sure he arrives safely.” She smiled, as though anticipating my next comment. “Don’t worry. I won’t coddle him. I’ve already notified Gideon, told him I wanted Jones picked up and delivered to a private room. At least for the night. Give him a chance to sleep, which I wonder if he’s even done since his Owner passed.”
It was possible he hadn’t. I had reviewed the file on Jones after it was brought to my attention. Gwyneth Mills had established a close relationship with her possession. They had boundaries, but they were more lax than most. Jones would’ve cared deeply for her.
Braelyn’s amber eyes swept the room. “Where’s Taurus? I thought he’d be standing sentry, waiting for a task.”
“Sent him up to the house. Told him I’d call him if I needed him. Why? Would you prefer I bring him down here to join us?”
Her cheeks took on that rosy hue as she shook her head.
I’d noticed Taurus keeping a closer eye on Braelyn over the past week. He wasn’t overstepping his boundaries, which was a surprise, but he was updating details of her whereabouts, proving he cared what she was doing and that she didn’t need anything. I’d noticed the same from Ari and Sim, both possessions taking a keen interest in my girl. I was glad to see it, honestly.
And I knew she was getting to know them, talking to them, going up to visit the fourth floor, to hang out. Once I’d even found her playing video games with Ari. They were bonding in a way I’d never bonded with them, and I found I approved.
“Why’re you looking at me like that?” Braelyn asked, her voice slightly hoarser than before.
“Like what?”
“Like I’m dessert and you’re hungry.”
I grinned, letting my gaze rake over her lithe body. “Now that you mention it…”
“I should let you get back to work,” she said quickly as she turned to leave.
“Stop.”
She paused in the doorway but didn’t look back. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
I got to my feet, heading toward her, unable to resist the temptation she presented.
“I think you came here for another reason,” I said as I came to a stop behind her, pressing my chest to her back. “Is that the case?”
Her response was a barely audible, “Maybe.”
“Because you know I can’t resist you?” I teased.
She inhaled sharply when I curled my hand around