A Storm Is Coming by LaShawn Vasser Page A

found her clothing and put them on even though she hadn’t found her panty and bra.
    Alex sat up, “What? What do you want from me? My brother was murdered, I’m fighting for my company, I’m fighting to clear his name, and I’m learning to be a father all in a span of a few weeks. I’m doing my best just to stay sane. Where on earth is there room for anything else?”
    Braylee remained silent as she found her shoes. Leaning over onto the night table for support she angrily stuffed her feet into them. It would have been easier to sit on the bed and do it but she couldn’t.
    She was angry, hurt, but most of all disappointed not with Alex…but with herself. He was right. What did she expect from him? He was hanging on by a thread, and she’d been foolish by sleeping with him.
    Way to throw caution to the wind and live in the moment Braylee. Every time…every damn time she’d let her guard down it seemed to always be a huge mistake.
    Alex got out of bed and walked into his closet. He found a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Frustrated, he pulled the t-shirt over his head and yanked on his jeans as he walked back into the bedroom. “One of the things that attracted me to you in the first place was your drive, your independence and the fact that you were married to your work.”
    She stopped searching for her underwear to glare at him, “So, you only slept with me because you thought I’d only want a screw here or there in between meetings and conference calls?”
    “That’s not what I meant.”
    “But, that’s what you said.”
    “If we’re being totally honest, you don’t have time for anything more either because you are married to your work. I know it, and you know it.”
    She didn’t want him to see the hurt in her face. He was standing in front of the door leading to the hallway. Braylee swallowed hard before pushing past him to leave the room.
    Why did her instincts when it came to men suck? It hurt to know the first person she’d been attracted to in such a long time, didn’t feel the same way. Men could have meaningless sex. She wasn’t built that way. She felt a dull ache in her chest. Why did it bother her so much anyway? Hadn’t she already resigned herself to the fact that relationships weren’t in her future?
    As if running from the hounds of hell, Braylee quickly ran down the long staircase. Her purse was on the table by the door. She grabbed it and pulled out her cell phone to call the service; praying that it wouldn’t take too long to arrive.
    Alex’s voice sounded behind her, “What are you doing?”
    “I told you, I’m calling a service.”
    He took the phone out of her hand, ended the call and gave it back, “I told you that was not necessary and that I would take you home. It’s too late for all these dramatics.” With that, Alex turned and walked out towards his garage.
    Braylee wasn’t being dramatic. She didn’t do drama. But, in this case she would have much preferred walking home to being in his presence one second longer. However, she wasn’t stupid either. Her place was too far, it was too late, and she would probably only make it through his winding driveway in her shoes. Dammit.
    Against everything within her, she begrudgingly followed him out to his garage; becoming angrier by the second with herself for being stupid. She’d known being with him would be a big mistake. And, knowing that she did it anyway. It was only when she didn’t listen to her inner woman things seemed to always end up badly.
    Yet, after everything he’d said tonight, a smart woman would just chalk this up to great sex and move on. But, Braylee still wanted him to want her.
    It would be easy to say it was because it was close to three in the morning, that he was sexier than ever. His tousled hair and that t-shirt that did nothing to disguise his mouth-watering chest that only hours ago her hands had claimed as her own. It was more than physical for her…he left her breathless and guilty for