Stepping into the shower, my thoughts continued to wander to the delicious man consuming my every thought. I had been on my own a long time and had only been with one guy, but that wasn’t to say I didn’t have experience making sure I felt good over the years. No shame in that right? This was different though. I had a real man front and center in my mind as my hand slowly slid down my stomach finding its way to my most sensitive area and I stroked myself until pleasure rocked my body to its core and his name broke free from my trembling lips.
Braxton.
As I got dried off and changed into my comfy cotton lounge pants that were cream with peach-colored roses on them, and my peach tank top that matched, I couldn’t help but feel the effects of the aftermath of energy racing through my body. It was because of him, it was all Braxton. But if he’d been there with me in the flesh, that would’ve been a game-changer. I wasn’t sure if that time would ever come, and I knew I’d be nervous and unsure I could live up to what he may be used to. Which left me riddled with doubt. But I still wouldn’t let the moment pass me by if it should arise.
Padding down the hall in my bare feet towards the kitchen, I smelled something wonderful in the air. As I rounded the corner, I was greeted by two of the best people in the world, and a table full of our favorite Chinese food. Both Summer and Alley gave me big smiles and a funny look. What the heck was that about?
Summer chimed in first. “Well, well, well, someone looks awfully pleased at the moment, want to tell your besties about it?”
“Really, you can’t tell anything, I just walked in the room?”
“Jurnee, we know you well, so spill. The dreamy, satisfied look on your face and cheeks tinted the color of your tank top, is a dead giveaway. Like I said, someone is pleased.”
“Girl, you’re crazy,” I told Summer.
That’s when Alley of course felt like she needed to add her two cents because that’s how we rolled.
“Just spit it out girl, what did my brother do? You can leave your personal shower-time out of the story.”
Anything could have happened and yet she’d zeroed in on her brother. I’m not even addressing her shower time comment. Am I that obvious? I need to work on my poker face for sure. Shit, I couldn’t hide anything from these two, especially Alley. Not that I tried, but they could read me before I even had a chance to tell them on my own and it was nuts.
“What makes you think it’s about your brother? Maybe I just had a good day going back to my normal routine and the things I love.”
“Girl, we know you adore what you do and how much it means, but that look has my brother's name written all over your face. So just clue us into what went down today while we shovel this amazing food in our mouths. I’m starving.”
Alley was always hungry. The amount of food that girl could put away and still have the figure she did was baffling. Not having a clue where she put it all, it was always fun to watch her.
“Fine, Braxton came into Hopeful Jurnee today. He wanted to see how I was doing, look around the place, and talk, okay?”
“And?” they both drawled in unison.
“And what?”
“There is a lot more to it than that, or do we have to remind you of your expression when you walked in here a few moments ago?” Summer said with a grin.
“Okay, geez. He took me to lunch and asked if I wanted to go out this weekend. Maybe to dance, but I’m not ready.” With that said, I noticed both my girls’ eyes soften because they knew I was still mentally struggling a bit with everything that had gone down. They worried about me like mother hens, but I knew I would be okay eventually.
“Maybe we can all still do something else, right?” I asked. I know Braxton asked to take me out, but he’d surely not say no if I’d asked for the others to join in. I guess if I was being honest, I was using them as a crutch because Lord I was scared. But they both explained how they had to work. Summer was on night shift all weekend at the hospital and Alley had a deadline for her new book. Looked like I was going to have to put on my big girl panties and do it on my own.
“You go, and have fun,” Alley said.
“A lot of it,” Summer replied.
These two were impossible. So I picked up a potsticker and threw it at Summer. She caught it midair and plopped it on her mouth. We’d all had a good laugh and kept digging in.
“I’m nervous you guys.” And I was too. I didn’t go out much, I was just invested in my business and volunteering while spending time with these ladies every chance I got. But even though I was scared, I was excited about something new. “I will probably mess it all up. And you both know how I always say random, crazy things when I am nervous.”
“Girl, that is part of your charm. Just be yourself and you will be fine. You're one of the best people I know,” Alley replied. “Everyone loves you, they can’t help it.”
“You're just biased and have to say that because I’m your best friend,” I said with a laugh.
“She said it because it’s true,” Summer chimed in.
We stuffed ourselves as we usually did when we got Chinese food, talked, and let the other conversation go for now. They probably could tell I just needed the time to realize I could do this, and it’s something I had been waiting a long time for, but never expecting to happen.
Back in my room, tucked into my fluffy peach duvet, while surrounded by pillows, I watched my favorite TV show with rapt interest. The Voice was on fire this season. I was addicted to it and yet couldn’t carry much of a tune. Regardless, I still sang in the shower, belted songs out in the car, and loved watching others who were awesome singers.
Plus the back and forth between the judges always made me laugh my ass off.
Caught up in the show, it hadn’t registered that my phone was alerting me to a text until it beeped again a second time, letting me know someone had sent a message. Reaching over to the nightstand, I picked up my cell. Holy shit, it was from Braxton. I knew he was going to get with me this week about the weekend, but I never imagined he would be messaging me tonight.
Heart pounding with excitement, I read his words.
Braxton: Hey, just wanted to say I am glad you agreed to this weekend and to tell you I had a really good time with you today.
Jurnee: Umm, wow that’s sweet. I had a great time today too. I’m looking forward to Saturday.
Braxton: Me too. What are you up to tonight?
Jurnee: Just laying on my bed, watching The Voice. What about you?
Braxton: I probably shouldn’t say this, but picturing you laying in bed just did crazy things to my manhood.
Jurnee: Omg, did you really just say manhood! Lol. Have you been reading one of your sister’s books?
I couldn’t help but add a bunch of fire symbols and laughing emoji faces.
Braxton: Tried that once, but I couldn’t finish. It was bad enough knowing my little sister knew about that shit, but to even wonder where she got the inspiration from, just no!
Jurnee: I shouldn’t be laughing right now, but to tell the truth, I’m totally rolling on my bed in a fit of giggles.
Braxton: You are killing me with the images now running through my mind of you rolling around on your bed. And here I was trying to be polite with my choice of words. If I had said what I really was thinking, you may change your mind about Saturday.
Jurnee: I doubt that since I have had fantasies about you for a long time.
Braxton: Seriously?
Braxton: Jurnee, you there?
Damn, I couldn’t speak. I’d just embarrassed myself for the hundredth time. Panicking a little, my fingers wouldn’t move to message him back. After a couple deep breaths and I finally answered him.
Jurnee: I can’t believe I just admitted that. Can we forget I said it?
Braxton: I would like to say yes because it seems you're embarrassed, but Jurnee, I don’t want to forget you said that. Just know you have been on my mind since the night at the bar.
Braxton: Oh and by the way, I
like The Voice too, I’m watching it now.
Jurnee: You’re kidding. Are you just saying that to get on my good side, kinda like how you love tacos too? lol
Braxton: I might say just about anything to get on your good side and see those beautiful brown eyes sparkle, but I really do like both. Maybe one day we can watch it together and eat tacos?
Jurnee: Now that is the kind of date I can get behind.
Jurnee: Oh shit, I didn’t mean to say date. I just meant it would be fun.
Braxton: It would be a date, Jurnee. Just like Saturday is. Would that be okay?
Jurnee: Yeah, that would be nice.
Braxton: I’m gonna let you go watch your show. I will text you tomorrow and we will talk more about our date.
Jurnee: Look forward to it, night Braxton.
Braxton: Sweet dreams, Brown Eyes.
Putting the pillow over my face, I screamed. I didn’t want to wake the girls, but I needed to do something to release the excitement bursting to get out. Like bubbles in a champagne bottle as you pop the cork, I was ready to explode with joy.
Should have known those two would hear me anyway. Hearing footsteps pounding down the hall, I knew my bedroom door was about to burst open and thought…here we go again for the second time tonight.
Chapter Ten
Braxton
“Hey, Braxton, do you have the file on Mr. Rogers?” he asked me with a silly smirk on his face. “Shit, caught you daydreaming again, you have been doing that for days.” Gyth chuckled as he barreled into my office in his chair, wheeling right up to my desk.
I chucked a pen at his head. He dodged it and it went flying out the door into the hall. “Wow, you're a funny guy. I was thinking, for your information. We do have stuff going on here you know.”
“Yeah, if I believed for one second your brain was on business and not Jurnee, then maybe I could cut you some slack. Has the girl left your mind once since you went to see her?”
That was a big fat no, but I shrugged my shoulders like just maybe it was possible. Then I decided what the hell, and just tried to say what I felt.
“I’m sure at some point she has, but that girl is hard to forget. It’s finally Saturday, and I get to take her out. I mean, it’s been great talking and texting over the last few days, but I am ready to see her.” Gyth was staring at me funny. Did he notice the dreamy look on my damn face or something?
“Look at you all acting like a girl and getting excited and mushy.” I squirmed a bit in my seat as he harassed me. “But really, I’m happy for you. Just be careful. I know I said before to go for it, and that it is fine that she is your sister's best friend, but tread carefully. Make sure it’s right before you get in too deep.”
Little too late for that, I’d passed deep days ago. Probably from the first moment my eyes caught hers.
“I’ll try.” Because what else could I have said, when it was the best I could do at that point? “Now, Dr. Love, can we get down to business, or do I need to pay you for your time first? Or, we could always turn the tables and talk about your love life?”
Gyth’s face had been comical. His oh shit look and panicked expression, had me doubled over in laughter. But he bounced back quickly.
“Fuck off, dude. I don’t have one and I don’t want one. We are busy with the startup, Kace is here now and we got to get the clients rolling in. Plus, I need to focus on getting out of this damn chair permanently.”
I knew Gyth was holding up quite well, but I also knew how much being in the chair bothered him. The man was not made for taking things slow or needing help. He was used to being the one everyone could count on and he liked it that way. So even though he was putting up a tough front, he was really frustrated. But I had no doubt that he’d get back to his old self sooner than most if placed in his situation.
“You're doing great man. You will be back up and running in no time and the business will be flourishing too. Now, back to why you came in. Mr. Rogers, right?” A chuckle passed my lips. “I can’t even say that without Won’t You Be My Neighbor getting stuck in my head.” Then both of us started laughing. But seriously, he was a client and we had to hold back when we were around him. I don’t think he would take us seriously if we broke into song every time he came into the office. “What about him?” I asked. And the two of us had knuckled down and got back to work.
Throughout the day, Jurnee was never far from my mind, and I’d been counting down the hours until I would see her.
I was almost sure a guy shouldn’t get this nervous getting ready for a date. At least I never had been before so this was new territory to me. I’d been on many dates over the years, but there had been nobody serious during my time away. The military, my team, they’d had my full attention. All of that and of course Alley. I would always be there for her, she was important beyond words.
She was my baby sister.
I had a couple girls I dated back in high school, one that had lasted longer than the others, but in the end, I was a dipshit for having not realized what a materialistic bitch she’d been. She’d wanted me because of my status on the sports teams and popularity but was ashamed I didn’t have the money to buy her shit she’d felt she deserved. I’d let that go on far too long, but when I had caught her bad-mouthing Alley for her clothes and not having the money to buy the latest and most expensive designs, that was the end of the line. I was done. It wasn’t long after that I left for boot camp.
I’ve grown up a lot since then, my life was changing and I knew exactly what I wanted now when it came to a girl. Or should I say, a woman. I was going to stop at nothing to make her mine.
I just hope Jurnee was ready for me.
I was ready for more, for a real relationship, one like I’d never had. And I believed Jurnee was the one to do that with. Thinking about the future beyond the military wasn’t something I had done until recently. Kids, they’d never crossed my mind either. But after visiting Jurnee at work, seeing her with Embry, flashes of her pregnant with a child kept creeping into my head.
My child.
She wanted Embry, and that was amazing. The love she had for her and all the kids there was evident and beautiful. She had such a big heart, one large enough for many. Would she share it with me? It might have been too soon and maybe I was moving too fast, but everything in me said go for it. This was everything I’d secretly wanted and it was finally within my grasp.
Taking a trip down memory lane and thinking about everything had me running behind and I was going to be late if I didn’t get my ass in gear. Hopping in the shower, I sped through my routine and got ready to go. Before long I was out the door and on my way to Jurnee’s house.
As I jumped in the Jeep, I contemplated putting the top down, but I wasn’t sure how Jurnee would react to her hair flying all over after spending all that time getting ready like girls usually do. It looked like it was going to be a nice evening, but girls, you know how they can be. So I’d left it up, turned the key to start the ignition, and plugged in my phone so I could start the playlist on Spotify. Cranking up the radio as the opening riff of The Eagles, Hotel California, drifted through the speakers, I was off.
Tapping my fingers on the wheel to the beat of the music, I thought about the date I had planned and hoped Jurnee had a good time.
Chapter Eleven
Jurnee
The sound of the doorbell, then a couple raps at the front door alerted me to the fact that I’d run out of time. I frantically looked around my room. A room with dresses, pants, skirts, and more strewn haphazardly, looking as though a tornado had just spun out of control picking up every article of clothing I had and tossed it in all directions. This was a mess I didn’t have time for as I scurried into the bathroom to finish up.
Alley was home and she would grab the door. She was happy that I was going, even if she was a little crabby these days because of her deadline and book releasing soon. Why I don’t know, she killed it every time and each one was just as awesome as the next. Summ
er and I were lucky enough to read them before anyone else got the chance to. It was a perk of your bestie being a killer romance author.
Summer, man was I glad she had been working. I could only imagine what she would have said if she was out there with Braxton right then. That girl was silly and loved to tease me.
Finally finished, I quickly grabbed my white cardigan off the pile of clothes and headed out of my room. Walking down the hall I could hear Alley and Braxton talking, but as I approached they stopped. Not sure if that was a good thing or not, but I wasn’t going to ask about their conversation. If I needed to know, Alley would tell me. I trusted her, always had, and always would.
As I got closer, Braxton was just staring at me. I was feeling a little self-conscious wondering if I looked okay. I mean I hadn’t known what we were doing, but when I’d asked, Braxton said to just dress casually. So even though I had rummaged through all my clothes, I ended up throwing on a pair of jeans, a flowy red shirt with white flowers on it, and white strappy shoes. I had tried dressing up my jeans a little, but now I was wondering if what I had on was wrong.
Entwined Souls (Soul Sister Book 1) Page 6
