Chapter 24

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Chapter 24

-Win, Place or Show II 

They all take off running.  The last event takes up half of the field.  There are two rows of giant human hamster balls.  Only thirteen couples are left in the competition.  After the wall climb some dropped out while others dropped out because one or both couples are claustrophobic. 

“I don’t want to do this Cameron.”  Michelle is already dizzy thinking about it. 

“It’s alright baby, we just need to walk in it to the end.”  He hugs her as they make their approach to the giant balls. 

“Can two people get into these?”  Kara ask. She didn’t know they were this big. 

“We’ll find out.”  Braylin climbs in one to look around it.  Surprisingly they are cool inside.  He comes back out.  They watch while the rest of their teammates climb into theirs testing it out.  The Monroe team and Mathew’s team are getting into theirs testing them out. 

“You alright?”  Braylin ask her they are standing on the starting line waiting for the event to start.  He touches her arm when she doesn’t answer. 

“Mm hmm, yeah.  You?”  She shyly ask. 

“Yeah, let’s just get through this.”  He caresses the small of her back she shrinks away from him. 

“You don’t want me to touch you?”  He removes his hand. 

“Are you still angry?”  Kara turns toward him to look into his eyes. 

He reaches out grabbing both of her arms gently he tugs her resistant body toward him wrapping her in a bear hug.  She refuses to look at him, he tugs on her ponytail making her look up at him.  “I was never mad at you Kara.  I’m sorry about what happened between us on Saturday.  I had no idea Mellie Monroe was your mother, it’s a shock. 

Kara never expected an apology.  All she can do is nod her head.  A moderator comes to check on them. Cameron and Michelle run back to the starting line followed by Amanda and Kevin.  Each couple gets into place.  Kara looks around the field, she just happens to catch Elise staring at her from one end and Lauren glaring at her from the other.  

The starter sounds they run to their hamster balls.  Braylin helps Kara climb inside the giant ball.  She doesn’t like it.  It feels like the walls are closing in around her she grabs ahold of his damp shirt. 

“Are you claustrophobic?”  He holds her by the arms. 

“I am now.”  She won’t let go of his shirt. 

“Kara we have to roll around in this thing.  We won’t do it if you don’t want to.”  He tells her. 

Taking a deep breath she thinks about her mother sitting in the stands waiting for her to fail. 

“Let’s do this.”  She lets him go.  He frowns seeing the different emotions that line her face.  He wants to know what made her change her mind but realizes it will have to wait. 

One of the balls bumps into them.  Braylin looks around him and the other balls are moving.  They try to match their paces moving the ball forward.  They keep getting hit knocking them around.  They can hear the echo inside the ball of the crowds yelling.  A ball is rolling fast at them, Braylin suspects it’s another attempted sabotage, he can’t see the person inside the ball clearly.   He grabs Kara around the waist startling her.  He dives with her in his arms to the side they hit the ground rolling huddled together inside the ball. 

Kara feels like she’s inside a drying machine.  She’s wrapped around Braylin’s body, she can feel his breath on her.  The force of their rolling bodies is making the ball move faster.  She decides to just hold on to him.  They cross the finish line, several people are gathered around them to stop the ball from moving.   

“Are you alright.”  Braylin ask her, he’s lying on top of her he starts to lift himself up.  She stops him pulling him back down to remain on top of her. 

“No, not yet.”  She says her arms are wrapped tightly around his shoulders she turns his head so that it's facing her.  

He holds back not sure of her intentions.  “Kara.”  He whispers to her pulling away. 

She won’t let go, she hugs him to her.  “I’m sorry.”  She whispers in his ear.  The tremor in her voice and the feel of her tense body brings him to his senses.  

He relaxes into her almost crushing her he holds her so tight.  “I’m sorry too sweetheart.”  He tells her, his lips press against her neck he kisses her there, on her chin, her cheek, her nose finally he taste her lips.  She opens her mouth eagerly greeting his tongue with her own.  The urgency in their kiss is being felt by each of them.  

Braylin opens his eyes when he hears the voices around them.  He can see one of the moderator’s watching them.  He swings his hand at him motioning for him to go away.  He wants her in his arms, he wants this to last for as long as it does. He groans when Kara presses her mound against him, he’s already aroused by her.  He tries not to get to excited knowing they can’t take this moment where he wants it to lead.  

“Baby, I think we came in second or third.”   He nuzzles her nose ready to kiss her again. 

“Really, let me up.”  She’s excited.  He reluctantly gets off of her helping her up.  The moderator has moved on to check on another couple. 

“I see how this works, you’re more excited about winning this thing than kissing me.”  He pouts. 

She rolls her eyes at him.  This is the Braylin she now admits to herself she adores. 

“I’ll make a deal with you.  If we placed third, three kisses, if we are second place you get two.”  She offers.   

“Do I get to pick what I want if we won?” He challenges as he helps her out of the hamster ball. She isn’t focused on her surroundings she is trying to exit the giant ball without falling. 

“Sure, yeah Braylin just get me out of this thing.  You can have anything you want if we win.”  She’s happy to leave the ball never wanting to be in one again. 

As her feet touch the surface to cheers she sees Cameron running toward her bursting with excitement.  He sweeps her up in his arms.  Michelle grabs her to hug her.  Then Kevin gives her a quick wet kiss on the lips.  Braylin grabs him pushing his mouth away from Kara.  It makes everyone laugh at them. 

Kara is startled, she doesn’t know what’s happening.  People are surrounding them congratulating them.  A strange woman approaches her clipping a small metal piece on her t-shirt.  She was so sure they came in second or third but they didn’t see any other balls around them when they crossed the finish line.  She tries to look around for the other teams but there are too many people around her.  She hears “You won, you won.”  She can’t believe it. 

Braylin seems awful happy as he stares at her.  He has a huge grin on his face while receiving several pats on the back.  He doesn’t seem to care that he won.  He points to her then himself while rubbing his hands together he winks at her. 

Kara gulps, Oh no, what has she agreed to.  She tries to remember she was too hasty to get out of that thing. 

Grabbing her hand he pulls her toward him.  “Don’t forget what you promised me.”  He whispers in her ear.   Sliding his arm around her waist he pinches her butt while kissing her temple over her scar.  She taps him on his chest shocked at his friskiness in public.  “Ack…..Braylin, stop that people are watching us.”  She squeals her voice reverberates around them on a microphone.  Her other arm is around his waist gripping his t-shirt.  She buries her face in his chest filled with embarrassment hearing her own voice echo like a shy school girl around the field.  The crowds of viewers ooh and ah, some laugh and point at them.  There are several camera flashes in her face, she hears people shouting and the commotion around her is so loud it hurts her ears.  

She doesn’t like the impression this gives people that they are a couple when she knows in her heart they are not.  Their relationship is a sham.  She will return to her world of chaos and messy disorder in the restaurant.  She will move out of his beautiful home and return to her much needed fixer upper. 

She will wait to hear what the Hurst family have to offer before she sell's them her land.  Her attorney and Mica have been texting her all weekend with notices of other offers that are coming in.    

Looking around her she will miss some things about all of this.  She’s become fond of the Hurst family.  Most have treated her well but this world is still foreign to her.  It requires a true partnership to navigate and that’s something she and Braylin don’t have.  There’s only one week left on the deal they made with each other.  She wonders if Braylin has been counting the weeks as she has.  

She looks over to the viewing area pass the crowds of excited faces.  Her gaze lands on her mother.  It’s not a look of pride she sees in return, it’s derision on the face staring back at her. 

 A team headquartered in England with offices spread across the US comes in second.  Carlyle and Elise’s team representing Monroe Industries comes in third.  The Mathew’s team Lauren and Logan represent comes in sixth place.  The water pass challenge was a complete disaster for them. 

Cameron pushes Braylin forward to accept the trophy for the Hurst Corporation.  He almost has to drag Kara with him.  He holds on to her waist while making their acceptance speech.  After he's done he hugs her and kisses her on top of her head.  The crowd is on their feet clapping.   Kara is suddenly surrounded by the rest of his family and other people congratulating them. 

After the games there is a clambake party set up on the beach for the guests.  Kara is walking to the resort hotel rooms with Amanda and Michelle to get cleaned up and changed for it.  Braylin stayed behind with Kevin and Cameron to sign for their trophy and have their names engraved on it.   

Kara enters the room assigned to her.   The first thing her eyes focus on is the two overnight bags sitting on top of the king sized bed.  She frowns, maybe they put somebody else’s luggage in her room by mistake. Getting a closer look at the luggage she realizes its Braylin’s.  

Someone made a mistake.  They are not sharing a room she’s got to get this corrected immediately.  She rushes into the bathroom stripping her dirty clothes off she hurries getting showered and changed. 

After she’s dressed she relaxes.  She has had time to think about them sharing this room together, sharing this bed later tonight.  She wants it ti happen.  She makes her way back to the competition area.  There are lots of people around enjoying cocktails and conversation.  They are waiting for the clambake party to start. 

She’s wearing a short white thin V-necked dress that has soft open cut sleeves.  It hangs loosely from her body.  Showing off her long tanned legs, she has on a pair of flat shoes, she is wearing her entire set of bracelets given to her by her father.  She washed the dirt and sand out of her hair leaving it loose to hang dry around her shoulders.  She’s comfortable, she doesn’t have on much makeup, just some gloss.  As she walks through the crowds of people not recognizing any of the faces she isn’t aware that one person in particular is watching her. 

Elise approaches her just as Kara sees Aaron and Lester in front of her talking to some women that look like they could be sisters.  She suspects they are flirting arranging dates with them.  She doesn’t want to interrupt but she can’t find Braylin. 

“Are you contemplating how to run them off so that you can have Aaron and Lester to?”  The unnaturally thin woman walks to the side of Kara a drink is in her hand.  She presses it to her neck cooling herself off. 

Kara turns away from looking at Aaron and Lester talking to the women to keep her eyes on Elise. 

“Alright, let’s get it all out there.  You don’t like me, I sure don’t like you.  Why do you keep trying to talk to me Elise?  We have nothing to say to each other that would be pleasant.”  Kara responds with a cutting look. 

“Maybe not, but we do both have someone in common except now I have a better chance of holding on to him than you do.”  Her shrill laugh is irritating Kara’s nerves. 

“That was a nice display you put on for everyone to see last night at the gala.  Not that I believe for one minute your mother didn’t know you would be here this weekend.  Knowing Mellie (Amelia) she planned all of this.  Maybe you’re working with her who knows.  She can’t have Braylin, so she pretends to give him up to her look alike daughter.   Notice I say, Pretends.  That woman doesn’t know the meaning of the word share.  She takes everything she wants regardless of the consequences.” 

Elise takes another swig of her drink while Kara watches her closely.  She’s drunk or close to it.  Kara doesn’t know what she’s talking about.  She knows a lot of what she says is based on jealousy and she can’t trust her.  Why Elise is making such an accusation Kara can’t fathom.  Braylin hates the entire Monroe family. 

Her mother, now that’s different.  The only time her father talked to her about Amelia’s affairs was the year before he died.  He was tired of other restaurant owners throwing it in his face that Amelia brought her lovers to their establishments.  Kara didn’t know about it until he told her.  This particular affair was with a famous actor eighteen years younger than her.  A friend of her father’s owned the restaurant Amelia and her lover were frequenting.  Her father refused to believe she was sleeping with the much younger man until the friend showed him pictures from his cell phone of them together.  He kept telling Kara she had her mother’s beauty, he prayed she didn’t inherit her black heart.   

“She does like to make an entrance and be the center of attention.  Your mother is a formable adversary for any woman.”  Elise remarks.  Her drunken stupor becoming more apparent as she slurs her words. 

“You may have him to yourself for now, but it won’t last.  Mellie is too selfish to give him up to you.”  She points at Kara spilling her drink and laughing. 

“Oops, don’t want to waste that.  Oh whatever? Mm, I’ll just stand off in the corner and enjoy my drink watching you get devoured by that mother of yours.  Braylin ah...abhors weaknesses.  He doesn’t recognize it in himself when it comes to dealing with you.  Everyone is just watching and waiting for the show to begin.  Take some advice, you are not meant for this life Kara Santino.  Go back to your little restaurant serving burgers and fries or whatever the hell you cook there.  This shit is for the big girls who know how to go after the men they want.  You’re acting like a school girl with her first crush.  You’re going to get eaten alive.  Get out while you can.” 

Elise spills the rest of her drink, the glass tips forward.  Kara jumps back but not far enough.  The drink spills on her.  She looks down at her shoes and legs.  The alcohol drips down her legs onto her shoes it just misses her dress. 

“Oops,” Elise winks at her while staggering backward. 

“Dammit Elise, you’re drunk.  I don’t think anyone would want you in your current condition.”  Kara wipes the alcohol from her legs with a napkin she grabs from a table nearby. 

“Sorry, but not really.”  She responds sarcastically.   “I’m upset, I was looking forward to having Braylin in my bed tonight you understand that.  He's so....Mmm.   Who knows, I hear Mommy is upset with you.  My hope is that you two go at it to tear each other apart.  I’ll be sober by then, ready to comfort Braylin.  Don’t worry about him, he’ll be in very good hands.” 

She teeters off in her six inch stilettos.  The glass she’s carrying is turned upside down. 

Kara doesn’t know how she is still able to walk.  She hates Elise but there is so much in what she says Kara knows she can’t discount.  She rushes off to find a bathroom before someone comes near her thinking she spilled  liquor all over herself. 

After she comes out of the bathroom she goes a different way to get back to the beach.  She is walking past a small lounging area.  She hears raised voices.  They sound angry but familiar.  As she gets closer the sound of the voices stop but she keeps walking toward the door.  It's partially opened.  She can see a woman’s outlined dress.  She’s wearing a white caftan, she has on flat shoes similar to what Kara is wearing.  Her blond hair is shoulder length.  The set of bracelets she's wearing look too familiar. 

Kara pushes the door slowly open.  It doesn’t make a sound.  She watches the woman who gave birth to her slide her arms up his chest, lifting one hand she caresses the cheek of the man that has unlocked something primal within Kara.  

His kisses leave Kara wanting more.  She craves him in her erotic thoughts.  It doesn’t matter how much they argue and fuss with each other, the underlining attraction, the need to touch, that fervor for one another is always there between them. 

The words coming out of Elise mouth didn’t bother her because she feels it and she knows by the way Braylin touches her he feels it to.  When she saw his overnight bag lying on that bed next to hers in their room she thought while taking her shower this is an opportune moment for them to spend the night together.  She is ready to act on the desire she has for him but now…...  

Kara watches as he pushes her mother away holding her at arm’s length he removes her mother’s hand from his face.  He’s wearing a scowl.  Amelia’s caustic smile is troubling to Kara but Braylin’s response to it troubles her more.  Is this a game between them?  Why isn’t he walking away from her unwanted advances?  She can’t hear what they are saying.  She opens the door wider. 

“Kara, I’ve been looking for you my dear.  I was hoping we could talk.”  Kara lets the door go.  It slams shut as she turns to look at James Monroe walking toward her with a doleful expression. 

She really doesn’t want to talk to him right now but she wants even more for him not to see his wife coming on to a younger man.  She doesn’t know why she is protecting him.  Her heart feels like it has a crack in it and she doesn’t know if it can be sewn back together.  She can’t bring herself to watch another person that loves Amelia suffer over her callous behavior.  

James is disappointed at the look on Kara’s face, he had hoped they could be friends.  She comes toward him hooking her arm through his walking him away from the door.  He takes it as a sign that she’s willing to listen to him.  He’s grateful for it.  He pats her hand as they walk toward the beach area.  Kara looks behind her as they are walking away.  That door she slammed doesn’t open.

**Thanks for Reading.

That talk between them keeps getting more stuff to pile on.  Might be some begging going on.  Is it poor James or a case of karma?  I'm sure Logan is just waiting around somewhere to comfort Kara and listen to her cry on his shoulder  about her cougar mother.

Other Story:  Tiptoe Kisses (Check it out if you haven't read it already).

 

   

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