Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 47381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 237(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47381 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 237(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
A teddy bear?
So she was a Little?
She noticed where he was looking and tucked the teddy bear back under the blankets, her cheeks growing red.
Derek cleared his throat behind him.
“I’ll get the wheelchair,” the nurse said. “And a blanket to keep you warm.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Brand told her. “I’ll be carrying Jolie back to our room. And you don’t need to check up on her. You can give me the instructions for her medicine and whatever else she needs. Although I would appreciate that blanket to wrap around her, I don’t want her getting cold.”
CHAPTER 7
Um.
What was going on?
Who was this man, and where was the real Brand? The gruff, rude, perfectionist who barely had a nice word to say to anyone.
Sure, she’d seen him turn on the charm. Sometimes. But mostly, he was crabby to everyone.
And for some reason, it just made his fans love him more. It was mind-boggling. Although that wasn’t to say he wasn’t good at what he did.
He was.
He was one of the most talented men on the planet. It was just… he could also be one of the biggest dicks on the planet.
But he wasn’t like that to you the other night, was he?
Nope. In fact, he’d stuck around for her entire set. Staring at her from the side of the stage. A firm presence that had felt supportive rather than threatening.
She’d liked having him there. As though they were a team.
And that feeling had been far too seductive.
Which was part of the reason she’d left as soon as she had. Because she couldn’t give in to those feelings. She couldn’t want Brand Starr.
He was about as unattainable as wanting an actual star to fall from the sky into her lap.
Totally improbable.
And yet here he was, wasn’t he? Offering to carry her to her room…
Um, no. Wait.
He’d said our room.
What was he talking about? And why did he say he’d give her medication to her? Why was he even here?
Her gaze moved to Derek. He’d said that Brand had been worried about her. Was that really what was going on?
“Brand, I don’t understand all of this. Why are you here?” she asked.
“Maybe we should give the two of them a moment,” Derek suggested.
“Yes, certainly. Nurse Beverly has all of the instructions for Jolie’s care if she wants them shared with you,” Doctor Nelson said.
Brand frowned and looked like he was going to argue. Reaching out, she grabbed his hand. He immediately turned to look down at her.
She was barely aware of everyone leaving until the door shut with a click. Startled, she jerked a bit then glanced around to find it was just her and Brand.
“Easy, you’re safe with me, Bumblebee.”
She should really object to that nickname. But it was the best one he’d come up with. “Shoot. I should have thanked Doctor Nelson.”
Brand waved his hand through the air.
Right. She bet he’d never once worried about whether he’d thanked someone or not. She doubted he’d ever suffered a moment of social anxiety.
“He’ll think I’m rude.” She bit her bottom lip. “Can you go find him? Tell him I said thank you.”
“Nope.”
“Okay, I’ll tell Nurse Beverly. She can tell him.”
Brand sat down. Not on the chair next to her bed where a person might reasonably expect he would sit.
Nope. He sat on the edge of the bed, facing her. Making himself right at home like he always did.
“Why are you so worried about thanking him?” he asked, looking perplexed.
“I just don’t want anyone to think I’m rude. Especially when I’ve been such an inconvenience.”
“You’re sick. That’s not an inconvenience. They’re doing their job.”
“Right. Of course.” That’s why they were taking care of her.
“Fuck. What did I say?”
“Nothing.” She tried to keep her voice even, but figured she’d failed when he reached out and placed a finger under her chin, tilting her face back.
“I said something. You hunched up and sounded like I’d just kicked your dog.”
She scowled at him. “If you’d kicked my dog, I’d kick you.”
To her surprise, he grinned.
“Will I ever understand you?” she asked grumpily.
“There she is,” he murmured. That was weird. She hadn’t gone anywhere. “I like seeing the real Jolie.”
“What do you mean? I’m always real.”
“No, you get caught up in your own head, worrying too much about saying or doing the right thing. I like when you just let go.”
He did?
“When I let go, as you put it, it’s usually because you’ve pushed me to the edge, then given me a last nudge,” she grumbled.
“I’m good at that.”
He sure was.
“Are you feeling all right, Brand?” she asked.
“Yes. Why? Do I not look well?” he asked. “I very rarely get sick.”
“That must be nice. It’s just the fact you’re here. And you’re acting odd. You just told everyone you were, uh, going to, maybe, take care of me?” It came out as a question because she still wasn’t sure she’d properly understood him.