Chapter 10 

-Welcome to My Home 

Braylin opens his front door and steps back waiting for Kara to enter.  She looks down the long foyer bathed in a soft glow of light.  She walks  in, he follows with her luggage setting it down just inside the door next to a hallway table.  Kara keeps walking into the living room.   

There's contemporary and abstract art full of vibrant color hanging on the walls.   A long midnight blue sofa and two complimentary grey textured chairs placed around a huge glass and metal coffee table fill the space.  She assumes the place is professionally decorated.  It looks so elegant.    

A wall of windows covers one side of the room, next to it is an elaborate stairway with contemporary railing.  The view from the windows catches her attention, she walks over to it.  “This is unbelievable.”  She mumbles to herself with a frown thinking back to the conversation they had in the car on the way over here. 

The entire time he talked and she listened.  He told her he liked his life the way it is, her coming to stay with him won’t change it.    He seemed perturbed that he was being forced into making this deal with her.  She wanted to scream at him her side of this argument, she wanted to remind him that he came after her.  

She wondered if he realized how much personal information he was telling her.  She learned what type of businesses were going into the conglomerate of buildings they are building next to her restaurant.  He told her of all the problems they are having with getting it done.  They are putting a lot of their own money into this venture unable to get the number of investors they need.   

People that trusted his father haven't extended their trust to them. This project has been in the works for nine years.  His father had just received final approval to build it when he died. 

Raymond Hurst’s reputation and connections in the building and development world were impeccable.  His sons and nephews have to prove themselves. Their are many business rivals that want them to fail. She could hear the frustration in his voice as he continued. He told her their rivals have tied them up in court for years with frivolous lawsuits over personal issues, the land, permits anything they could think of to derail the project after Mr. Hurst died.  No one thought the younger Hurst would attempt to build something so big after his death.  They have either won or had several lawsuits thrown out.  They thought they were back on track to build until they realized they didn't own Kara's land.

She can see that he desperately wants this to be a success.  She is the only impediment left to having it.  Now it’s clear she understands she will be staying at his home only as an assurance no one else can get to her.  She wonders if they drew straws to see which one of them would be stuck with her.   He said it shouldn’t take but a couple of months to work everything out. They spent the rest of the drive in silence.  She looked out the window  wondering what she was getting herself into. 

Kara expected to see the typical bachelor pad filled with black leather couches and an eighty inch TV.  Instead the couches are midnight blue made of the finest fabric money can buy.  The eighty inch TV is probably around here somewhere she's sure. 

While she has been checking out her surroundings, Braylin has taken her luggage up the stairs, he’s come back down and is now watching her from in front of the stairs. 

“I’ll show you where your bedroom is when you’re ready.”    He comments casually trying not to let it show her opinion of his home matters to him. 

She nods her head, eager to get these uncomfortable formalities over with.   He walks toward her standing next to her at the windows staring out it. 

“I‘ll introduce you to my chef, Anzio and Millie in the morning.  Millie takes care of everything around here."  

“Thank you, this view is beautiful.”  They stand side by side.  She relaxes her shoulders feeling more at ease. 

“There’s another view in your bedroom.   Come on.”  He turns around walking to the stairway, she follows him.  The stairway is beautiful but it also has just as many stairs as she had in her house.   Before her foot hits the bottom stair he lifts her up in his arms.  

“I can walk up the stairs, you don’t have to carry me.”  She tells him but her arms automatically slide up his chest to his shoulders.  She wraps them loosely around his neck. 

“I don’t do things I don’t want to do.”  He waits before going up the stairs expecting a flip or negative comment from her.  She turns into his shoulder burying her face from him trying to hide her bruised face.  He ignores it, taking his time carrying her up the stairs.   

He sets her down gently at the top of the stairs.  "The first door on your left is your room."

“Ah….where’s yours?”  She coyly ask. 

He points down the hall.  “All the way at the end.”  .

“What’s that on the other side?”  She asks about the right side of his upstairs. 

“A guest room, my exercise room and office.  Take a look at your room, I’ll show you the rest after.”  He stays behind as she walks down the hallway. 

She slowly opens the door and her mouth drops open.  Her room is decorated in shades of grey and silver with yellow accents. The walls are painted a harbor grey the king-sized high-back tufted headboard is in a lighter shade of grey.  The linen on the bed is full of textured patterns in shades of grey and white with yellow pillows.  It all looks so serene.  

The view astounds her it's just as beautiful as he said it would be.  A long pearl grey color chaise sets in front of the window.  Kara’s eyes continue their search around the room to the double doors at the far end.  It’s the bathroom lined in marble.  It has a large soaking tub made for two in one corner.  A separate walk in shower with two shower heads is on the opposite corner. She’s never had anything like this.  Every detail looks like it was put here especially for her. 

She’s anxious to see his kitchen.  She's sure it will be just as amazing.  Coming out of her room she looks down the hallway he’s not there.   Going back down the stairs she can hear him yelling at someone on the phone.  He's in the dining room, there’s a frown marring his handsome face.  He’s pulling impatiently at his tie trying to take it off.   Kara walks over to him while he waits for whoever it is he’s speaking with to come back to the phone. 

Standing in front of him she moves his hands out of the way.  His gaze of surprise stays on her as she patiently unties his tie sliding it from around his neck.  She looks up into his eyes as she slips his jacket off, her hands  caress his chest and shoulders.  She unbuttons the buttons on his matching vest. He leans in letting his chin rest against her forehead.  He slides out of the vest, she takes it from him folds it in half laying it across a dining room chair.  She unbuttons the top four buttons of his shirt so that he’s comfortable then turns to walk away leaving him to finish his call in private. 

He catches her hand before she moves away raising it to his lips.   She must look surprised because he takes his finger to tap her chin to close her mouth.  Thank you he mouths winking at her.   His attention is now on whoever he’s talking to on the phone.  

Kara looks at her hand where he kissed it like it’s foreign to her while walking into the kitchen.  She starts to giggle when she reaches the large marble island in the center of the room.  His kitchen is large, has a contemporary decor and looks brand new.  She runs her hand across the stainless steel appliances, she looks in the large refrigerator opening and closing the cabinets to see what’s in them.  Finding the pantry she’s looking at what’s on each shelve when Braylin walks into the kitchen with his phone in his hand. 

“Hey, I’m sorry.  I wanted to show you everything but its business, one of my people left some blueprints for one of our buildings on a plane to Dubai we’re trying to track them down.  I’ve got to make some calls.  Why don’t you order us something for dinner there’s some menus in the island drawer?”  He remarks. 

“It’s okay.  I can explore on my own.  Do you mind if I fix us something instead of ordering out?”  She comes out of the pantry. 

“Kara, there’s not much here."  He replies. 

“There’s enough, if we can eat chicken.”  She tells him. 

“I don’t think this is a good idea.  Your wrist is still bandaged and I don’t want to tire you out.”  He’s skeptical in spite of her pleading. 

“Oh come on, take your calls here at the counter.  I’ll be careful cooking.  My wrist doesn’t hurt.   You can watch me, if I need you to help me cut something or open something up you’ll be right here with me.”  She’s excited about cooking in his kitchen, he doesn’t understand it but he’s willing to do it.  

“Okay, I’m waiting for them to call me back.  What do you need to pull out I don’t want you lifting anything you shouldn’t.”  She giggles with excitement forgetting her plan to stay away from him she flies into his arms hugging him around the waist it takes him by surprise.  

She tells him what utensils to pull out for her, he carries everything she needs to cook with to the counter.  She starts to slice a lemon, he takes it from her, rolls up his sleeves and slices whatever she needs.  His phone rings, he tells her to answer it while he washes his hands. 

As he handles his business call she makes chicken picata.  She pulls a jar of capers from the pantry.  He gets up from his seat taking the jar out of her hand he opens it while still talking on the phone. There’s some asparagus in his fridge that looks fresh.  She pulls it out rinses it then lays it on the cutting board getting a knife.  He gets up from his seat at the island counter taking the knife out of her hand then looks at her for direction in where to cut the stems off.  She puts it in the oven to roast in some garlic butter.

He watches her cook she’s in her own world singing while she works.  She seems alright so he settles into his call.  They hear the doorbell ring Kara motions to Braylin that she will answer it if he wants.  He nods his head.  When she gets to the door she looks through the peephole. 

She doesn’t recognize the woman at the door then she sees a man.  It’s his brother Cameron that must be his wife.  She opens the door they both look at her then at each other and smile. 

“Kara?”  Cameron says when she steps back to let them in. 

“Hi Cameron.” She holds out her hand but he pulls her to him kissing her on the cheek.  She hasn’t officially met him yet, but his warmth comes through in this introduction. 

“Kara this is my wife, Michelle.”  He introduces the tall blue eyed gorgeous raven haired woman next to him. 

“Hi, I’m glad to finally meet you.  I thought you were still in the hospital.” 

“They let me out for good behavior but I’m giving Braylin fits of anxiety.  He won’t let me do much.”  She complains just before hearing a grunt close behind her. 

“He’s behind me isn’t he?”  She screws up her face crossing her eyes making Cameron and Michelle both laugh at her. 

“Don’t believe her, she’s a pain in the ass.”  Braylin slides his arm around her waist hugging her to him.  She rolls her eyes nudging him in the ribs while leaning back against him.  

Cameron and Michelle are watching the body language between them.  It doesn’t seem like they are having any problems getting along.  

“Hello to you to Braylin.”  Michelle says noticing the sparkle in his eyes when he looks at Kara.  Braylin steps away from Kara to hug Michelle and kiss her on the cheek. 

“Hey, I didn’t mean for you to stop by when I called Cam, I was just letting you know the blueprints were missing."  Braylin tells his brother.  

“You seemed distracted when you called.  I wasn’t sure what was going on.  Now I understand.  What’s that wonderful smell?”  Cameron starts walking toward the kitchen. 

“Chicken Picata?  You two want to stay for dinner, Braylin’s cooking and I’m helping.”  Kara smirks at Braylin and he glares at her. 

“Of course we do I’m starving.”  Is Cameron’s honest reply until his wife pinches him on the arm? 

“What…..she asked and I’m hungry.  We were on our way to get something to eat.  We just stopped by to see if Bray wanted to go with us.”  Cameron tells Kara. 

“It’s alright, there’s plenty isn’t there Braylin?”  Kara turns to him to acknowledge. 

“I don’t know if there is, you haven’t seen Cameron eat.”  Braylin responds. 

“I’m offended but I’m still staying.  What can I do to help?”  Cameron volunteers taking off his jacket he shoves it against Braylin’s chest for him to take it.  His wife looks at him shocked. 

“You’ve got to give me the secret to what you are doing to them.  I’ve never seen them so domesticated.”  Michelle takes off her own coat. 

“Dinner’s almost ready, I just need to make the risotto.  I need some cheese sliced.”   Kara announces. 

“I’ll do it.  You two go look for blueprints or whatever it is that’s missing.  We’ll call you when it’s ready.”  Michelle pushes the brothers out of the kitchen. 

The brothers go upstairs to Braylin’s room.  Braylin takes a quick shower and changes into some jeans and a t-shirt while Cameron makes a phone call.  In the kitchen, Michelle is getting to know the woman that has captured her brother in law’s attention. 

“Is it true that you refused to sell your building to them?”  She wants to know. 

“Yes, it’s true.  Aaron approached me first but I turned him down.  I thought Braylin was sent in as a backup but he swears he wasn’t, he was just returning my engagement ring and I didn’t know who he was at the time.”  Kara tells her. 

“Wait, what engagement ring.  I haven’t heard anything about an engagement ring?”  Michelle looks confused. 

Kara tells her the whole story of how she and Braylin met and a little about her assault.  When she’s done Michelle has chopped up more cheese than is needed for the risotto.  Kara puts what they don’t need away in ziploc bags in the fridge. 

“So the kiss in the magazine wasn’t planned.”  Michelle ask with a smile on her face. 

“No, at the time I thought it was real.  I don’t know what happened.  One minute he was walking me to the door telling me to make sure I lock it when he leaves the next minute I was in his arms and we were….”  Kara admits. 

“I know, it’s those damn dimples and eyes of his.  Their like kryptonite on a woman’s ovaries.  He didn’t look like he was faking that kiss either.  You seem to have the upper hand so why agree to all of this?”  Michelle ask. 

“Sure, I have it until they figure out a way around it or wait me out.  I don’t have the money to fight them off.  I own my building but I don’t have the money to keep it operational.  My father’s illness caused us to lose a lot of business.  By the time I took it over I had too much to deal with to get the place back to the way it was.  My house is going into foreclosure and I don’t have the money to pull it out.  All they have to do is wait for me to go under and I’ll have no choice, they can take everything away from me unless I take one of the other deals I’ve been offered.”  She explains. 

“Ah….the picture is becoming clearer now, so the plan is for one of them to stay close.  Why Braylin, I thought you met Aaron first he looks closer to your age.” 

“I don’t think I’m Aaron or Braylin’s type, not that it matters I don’t know how old either of them is and I’m not looking for a boyfriend.”   Kara removes the asparagus from the oven.

“Are you kidding me?  Sure you’re a little banged up now, but with that face and body you’re a stunner.  Aaron’s twenty-seven and Braylin’s the surprise baby at thirty.  Cameron told me his parents were on the verge of getting a divorce when his mother followed his father to London on a business trip.  They apparently worked things out.  She came home to New York pregnant with baby boy number two.  Cam is four years older than Braylin.” 

“Oh, I didn’t know there was that much of a spread between them.  They seem really close.”  Kara responds. 

“They are.  I think it has something to do with their grandmother.  They grew up with it pounded into them that they had to take care of each other.  Lester’s their cousin but he’s just like a brother to them.  He and Cam are the same age but you would think he’s older the way he watches over them.  They spent all their summers with his family during school breaks.” 

“Is Lester married?”  Kara ask as she puts the cheese in the risotto, Michelle becomes very quiet prompting Kara to stop what she’s doing to look at her.  

How old are you?”  Michelle asks her. 

“Twenty-six.”  Kara responds. 

“You’re lying, you look twenty.  I was expecting you to say twenty-one or twenty-two.” 

“Nope and you didn’t answer my question.”  Kara reminds her. 

“Kara, your living with Braylin.  You two seem like you're connecting.”  Michelle seems hesitant about saying to much.

“I was just wondering about Lester.  I like him he’s really….yeah.  Never mind.”  Kara takes the risotto off the stove.

“Can you tell the guys dinner is ready?”  She ask Michelle to do.

Michelle pats her hand.  “It’s alright, I know what you mean about Lester.  When I first met Cam I thought the others were pretty intense.  They’re all too good looking for their own good but there’s something about Lester that draws you in.  He’s divorced.  His wife had an affair with one of their project managers.   Lester wasn’t so forgiving and neither were his cousins.  They fired the guy and he went to work for another family run company.  These two families hate each other.  The Monroe’s have done some pretty underhanded things to the guys since their father died.  It’s cost Hurst some lucrative deals.  They were already rivals before Mr. Hurst passed away.   Ahom….. I think I’ve talked too much.”   Michelle gets up from her seat to leave the kitchen. 

“Michelle, wait.  The Monroe’s.  There company name is Monroe Industries isn’t it?”  Kara is hoping she says no but doubts it.

“Of course that’s it, why?”  She frowns. 

“They sent me an offer.  I was in talks with them before I got the offer from Hurst.  They want to meet with me again next week.  I forgot I agreed to the meeting with all that’s been going on.  Kara remembers. 

“Braylin doesn’t know?”  Michelle questions. 

“No, I haven't said anything to him yet.”  Kara replies. 

“I think you better tell him before that meeting.  You don’t want to get caught up in whatever’s going on between these two families.  It isn’t just a business rivalry Kara.  They hate each other.”   

Kara seems preoccupied throughout dinner thinking about what Michelle told her.  Braylin thinks she’s worn herself out and he’s not happy about it.   Cameron has a second helping of the Chicken Picata.  He wants the recipe so that their cook can make it.  

Cameron and Michelle get ready to leave shortly after dinner not wanting to stay too late.  Kara hugs them goodbye.  She and Michelle share a secret look.   Braylin finds Kara in the kitchen when he returns from walking his brother and sister in law out.  Kara can’t bring herself to say anything to Braylin about the Monroe offer.  It’s her first night, she doesn’t want to argue with him and she’s sure it will result in one. 

“Let me do that.”  He says she sits back on a counter