“What do you have there?” she asked, eyeing the bundle.
“Oh. For you.” He held out three books.
She took them, peering at the titles with curiosity.
“It’s A History of the Sikhs, a recipe book the lady recommended. I figured you and Nicole cook a lot, so you might like to try something different. And...” He squinted. “One about women’s role in the Punjab diaspora. The Sikh one I wasn’t sure about, but the reviews looked better than some of the other options. Thought they might be useful.”
Brandi flipped between the books.
She was speechless and more than a little stunned by the gesture.
When had he found the time to go buy her books?
“Thank you,” she said and held the books to her chest. She didn’t even know what they , but they were already precious to her.
Jayden’s gaze traveled down her body. “Are you ready to go?”
“Oh, yes. Let me just grab my purse.” She had the urge to take the books with her wherever they went. But that would be silly. Wouldn’t it?
“Can you move around on those heels?”
She glanced down at her strappy black heels. “Depends on how much moving I need to do. You said move, not run.”
He made a noise in the back of his throat, as if he were considering telling her something.
Brandi half wanted to see if he’d tell her the surprise. Then again, the not knowing was actually kind of fun. Not that she was about to tell him that.
She sighed. “I have flats in my purse. Did you really expect me to pass up the chance to wear heels and not tower over a guy? Do you know how rare that is for me? Come on.”
Jayden grinned. It seemed like his smiles and expressions of happiness were becoming more common, and Brandi would be lying if she claimed she didn’t like it. Jayden smiling was...well, handsome was a good place to start.
“Well, shall we?” He gestured toward the now closed door.
“Yeah.”
Brandi set the books on the sofa then scooped up the medium sized black leather bag with the silver detail work.
“All ready,” she announced.
Once more Jayden’s eyes traveled up and down her body. It was an appreciative look that made her want to preen or something.
What the hell?
“So, you going to tell me where we’re going now?” she asked.
Jayden held out his hand. “Nope.”
“Figures,” she grumbled and took his hand.
He didn’t give any indication where they were going once they got in the car, either. He wasn’t even using navigation, so she had nothing to go on.
“How was your day?” she asked.
He seemed downright chipper as he said, “More productive, thankfully. You?”
“Slept in. Did a little work. Then spent a couple hours researching Punjab online. Part of me wonders, where did my mother meet a man like that? I wouldn’t exactly call my mother racist, but every man I’ve seen her with is so white bread. My step father? Whitest of the white breads. So what was she doing? Did she get super drunk at a party? Or was it a one-night stand? A passionate fling? She’ll never tell me, but I’m so curious.”
“Did you look at the online results?” Jayden asked.
She shook her head. “I got really overwhelmed. I wasn’t expecting what amounts to data stressing me out like this. There’s no reality where I expected these results. I decided to give myself a little time to absorb it.”
“And there’s no rule saying you have to adjust to it overnight.” He glanced at her. “Take your time. It’s okay.”
“Thank you,” she said softly. “You might be the only person who really understands this.”
“The paper and results don’t matter to who you are as a person. Brandi is who she is, regardless of her genetic make-up. You like who you are. At least I hope you do, because I happen to like Brandi just as she is. All of what you’re stressing about is just research to help you find your father.”
She blew out a breath. “You’re right. You’re absolutely right.”
At the end of the day, nothing about her had changed. Yes, she finally had some idea about her father, but her chances of finding him weren’t any better.
“Here we are,” Jayden announced.
He pulled into a parking spot along a brick building.
“What is this place?” She squinted at a sign that looked as though it had axes on it. Like cutting logs axes. “Good Throws?”
Jayden was already out of the car. He jogged around to her side, opened her door and held out his hand. She shook her head and took it.
“Are you really taking me axe throwing?” she asked as she peered in through the windows.
“I am.”
She watched a burly man hurl an axe end over end at a wooden wall. “How would you even find out about something like this?”
Jayden guided her toward the sidewalk. “I saw it on a show. Queer Eye, I think? Sounded like fun.”
She arched a brow. “You watch Queer Eye?”
“Only at Sawyer’s.”
“Who is Sawyer? Why does that name sound familiar?”
“Sawyer is one of my younger brothers. He’s gay. I’ve probably mentioned him and his husband, Jose. They have a baby, Nathan. We spent a lot of time as a family at their place after they brought Nathan home.”
“Wow, that’s so neat.” And she didn’t miss how casually Jayden spoke about it all either.
Nothing ever seemed to faze him. He accepted it. No qualms. No fuss. Just let’s have some fun. And that said a lot about him.
No sooner had they entered the establishment than they were shown to their own private throwing lane for the evening and given a quick demonstration by a man with tree trunks for arms. After signing waivers, they were left alone with a basket of axes and a drink menu.
She held up the menu. “Alcohol and axes? Why does this seem like a bad mix?”
“Only if you’re scared.” He hefted an axe, then handed it to her. “Ladies first?”
“Oh my God,” she muttered and took the axe.
She was equal parts apprehensive and excited.
Still, she went to the line just like they’d been shown.
“Should I two hand it or just use one?” she asked Jayden.
“Hands hm?” His voice came from right behind her.
She straightened a bit as a shiver raced down her spine. He placed a hand on her hip and felt the heat of his body behind her.
“Looks like a two hander job,” he finally said.
She glanced up at him. “We’re talking about the axe.”
His heavy-lidded gaze was smoldering, all while smiling a bit too much. It was both wholesome and sexy as hell.
How did the man do that?
“Okay.” She blew out a breath and gripped the axe with both hands. “Out of the way.”
Jayden laughed and gave her space.
Brandi hefted the axe up over her head then threw it, using her upper body strength to send it spinning through the air...to bounce off the wooden wall and fall onto the floor.
“Whomp. Whomp.” She couldn’t help grinning. Yeah, she’d missed, but this was fun.
An arm wrapped around her waist. She turned and found herself in Jayden’s embrace.
Brandi tamped down on her fun levels and draped her arms over his shoulders.
“Okay, fine, I’ll give it to you. This is fun,” she said.
He dipped her backward just enough so that she instinctively tightened her hold on him. “So you admit it then? I can be fun.”
“Maybe once in a blue moon.”
Jayden’s slow, sensual smile did dangerous things to her insides. Then there was the feeling of being in his arms again, and the rest of the world just faded away.
He bent his head and she mentally froze as he came closer and closer.
She ached for his kiss, and yet she knew if she let it happen, she’d want to do it again.
Jayden
’s soft lips pressed against hers. She sighed. She couldn’t help it. Kissing him was perfection. The way he moved and gave, how he held her. She curled her toes as much as she could in her heels.
He straightened, but she continued to cling to him as her head swam.
“You aren’t supposed to do that,” she muttered against his lips.
He arched a brow. “I’m not? But aren’t you allowed to kiss your date?”
“Not this one.” And yet, she still had her arms around his neck and there was zero space between them.
He bent his head so their noses touched. “Sure about that?”
Brandi swallowed and found she no longer had the ability to speak. Not a word. Because she very much wanted to keep kissing this man.
JAYDEN LEANED AGAINST the wall and watched Brandi totter forward into the condo. If he had to guess those heels weren't exactly comfortable, but they did nice things to her legs. The added height was perfect for stealing a quick kiss, too.
“This place is so you.” She laughed and glanced over her shoulder at him as she set her purse down on the side table next to the sofa. Her dark hair swayed with the movement as she placed a hand on her hip. “It oozes stress.”
He chuckled at her ribbing. “Does it?”
“Yup.” She nodded her head, but it was the impish smile that did him in.
Brandi was a lightning rod. She was a creature of change. She’d changed him. He didn’t think she was aware of her power, which was likely a good thing.
“Is this your family?” She peered at the living room wall out of sight.
He crossed the condo to stand with her, looking at a Christmas picture from last year.
They were a ragtag bunch, but they were his family.
“You all look so happy.” Brandi linked her arm through his and laid her head on his shoulder. “This one is your twin, I’m guessing?”
“Yeah, that’s Asher.”
“Any word from him?”
“Nope.”
“That bothers you, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“You think he’s okay?”
“Knowing Asher, he’s fine and he won’t appreciate all the concern.” He grimaced. Damn Asher. Why couldn’t he just let someone know he was fine?
“Trust him then,” Brandi said softly. “Now, which one is Sawyer.”
“Here. And that’s his husband.”
Her voice did that high-pitched female thing. “They’re cute together.”
Jayden chuckled. “This guy here is Maddox, Sawyer’s biological brother.”
She nodded. “And Maddox also works with you.”
“Yup. This is Axl and his dad.”
“You include them?”
“They’re family.” He shrugged. “Axl actually changed his last name to Fullilove. He had his mom’s last name, long, weird story.”
“Then these three have to be Kingston, Luca and Diego?” She tapped each man in turn.
He peered down at her. “Wow. Look at you. Have you been stalking me or something?”
She tipped her chin up. “Don’t be silly. I listen. And you’ve mentioned all of them tonight. You have a beautiful family.”
That he did.
How much time had they spent talking? Was there anything important he hadn’t told her already?
“I have to say...” She pivoted, letting go of him to look around. “This looks exactly how I pictured your place.”
“What does that mean?”
She waved her hand at the living room. “It’s all a set. Everything is gray, white, black or chrome. It’s got a very sterile feel.”
“Sterile?” He frowned and glanced around, trying to see it from her eyes.
He’d picked furniture he liked, that he hoped would last a good ten years or so, and tried to see it from her eyes.
Brandi liked unique and different. She mixed and matched when others might opt for something more uniform. He liked her place, but he also liked his place. They were just different. But could they be compatible? Was there hope?
When he looked at her, he prayed there was.
“Funny you should mention that.” He pivoted to face what looked like a black chest of drawers. “I was thinking I might buy that piece with the warped glass off you to replace this. Or maybe go with it. I thought it might be a nice statement piece.”
“What is this?” She stepped forward and tugged on one of the handles.
“The wet bar.”
Brandi stepped back as the front folded out, revealing a modest liquor collection. Jayden didn’t do a lot of drinking. An occasional glass after a stressful day was nice, or some wine if he were preparing a special dish. He didn’t enjoy it like some people did, nor did he like to drown out his problems.
“A wet bar, hm?” Brandi glanced back at him with narrowed eyes. “Let me guess, for entertaining purposes?”
“Of course.”
“And just who are you entertaining?” Her gaze was a little too narrowed. Because she truly wanted a list?
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
She shrugged. “I guess it isn’t my business.”
Jayden grit his teeth. He wanted it to be her business. He wanted her to care and for him to plan evenings with their mutual friends in mind. He wanted her to meet his family, have dinner with his parents. But she had to want the same thing, too.
“What’s that sour face for?” Brandi asked.
“Hm? Sorry, I was thinking about something.” He shook his head. “You were asking about my wet bar usage.”
“I bet you use it,” she said dryly.
“What’s the point of having it if you don’t use it?”
“And you do know how to use it.”
“I would hope it’s mutually enjoyable.”
Brandi’s lips quirked. She was failing at not smiling. Too bad he couldn’t chalk this up to a win. His skin felt stretched too tight. This banter only served to frustrate him. He wanted Brandi to want him enough to break this line between them. He couldn’t kiss her again. Earlier at the bar had been a tactical mistake. He’d gotten caught up in it, in her.
The next time they kissed, it would be because Brandi wanted him more than she wanted her space.
“I bet you do,” she said dryly.
“I try to always be an excellent host.” He shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from reaching for her.
Did she not feel the same connection? Was it different for her? Or was she simply stronger than him?
Brandi crossed her arms over her chest. “Is there anything you aren’t good at?”
“First impressions?”
She threw her head back and laughed one of those full-belly laughs. He chuckled, and the tension coiling inside of him relaxed a tiny bit.
“Oh my gosh.” She wiped at her eyes in that careful way women had when they were trying to not mess up their make-up. Satisfied, she blinked a few times then grinned at him. “That was spot on. I guess there are worse things to be bad at.”
He smiled back, because he couldn’t help it. When Brandi smiled, the room was a little lighter.
A stray thought whispered through his mind, and all at once the pieces of his relationship with Brandi rotated and shifted. Not a lot, just a little, allowing him to see it all from a new perspective.
Brandi held him to the same standards he held himself.
It was a small realization, and yet it made all the difference.
Early on in life, no one expected anything from him. He was a poor Black child with no future and no expectations. Then he’d been a foster kid, with odds stacked against him. As a young adult and growing into a man, people judged him according to his skin color. Jayden had to work extra hard for every milestone in life he reached. And still, people never expected him to get this far.
Brandi would, though.
She was the kind of person who saw worth in a person’s actions. And for the first time, someone expected as much o
ut of him as he did himself.
Demand excellence, that was what he’d told himself in college and he’d never looked back.
Brandi would accept nothing less than excellence, because that was what she gave.
Jayden felt himself tip over the edge. He’d been attracted to Brandi before and curious about the chemistry. Now? Now he was really falling for her, and she didn’t want him.
“What’s going through your head?” Brandi asked as she studied him.
Jayden tamped down on his thoughts. “Just seeing possibilities.”
“That include me?”
“Right now everything in my head includes you.”
She wagged her finger at him. “Naughty boy.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “I was not thinking about that.”
“Really? How about now?” She had that mischievous light in her eyes again. The one that made him think of Asher and all the problems they’d gotten into.
He leveled a stare at her. It was impossible to not think about last night. Not when she looked at him like she might want to be kissed. “According to you, I’m not supposed to be thinking about that.”
She held up her hands. “I will never presume to tell you what to think.”
“That so?”
She sighed and looked at him, all the mischievousness gone. “What are we doing?”
“Talking.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“We’re figuring out how to be friends,” he said slowly.
“Friends don’t kiss each other.”
He nodded. At the bar, he’d gotten wrapped up in the moment with her and it had just happened. “I did say I wouldn’t do it again.”
She arched a brow at him. “Yeah, but the problem is that we both want it to happen again. Am I wrong?”
“No, but I can stick to my end of the deal.” And he intended to do his best.
Brandi’s gaze narrowed and she frowned slightly.
Wasn’t that what she wanted to hear him say?
“That’s inconvenient,” she muttered.
“Is it?”
She took all of two steps, closing the distance between them, and draped her arms around his shoulders. His instinct was to touch her, but he kept his hands in his pockets. If this was a test, he intended to pass. His goal was the future, not now.
The Wrong Perfect Match (Fullilove in the House Book 1) Page 14
