Breaking Braydon by MK Harkins Page A

putting together a list of all our major donors. If we can get a handful on board, there’ll be a domino effect. Everyone loves a party, especially that time of year. We already have the ballroom at the Paramount Hotel reserved.”
    “Wow. You move fast. I didn’t even realize the ball was already rolling.” She paused. “Do you even need me? It sounds like everything’s coming together.”
    “Yes, I do need you.” Those words, they just slipped. “I still have some specifics we’ll need to go over.” I had to stay on track. “Most fundraisers include an auction. We’ll need to put our heads together to decide what you’d like to include. Wealthy people love to compete.”
     

TWENTY
    Jain
    I have to quit staring at his eyes. What did he just say?
    “Wealthy people like to compete?” I think that’s what I heard.
    He nodded. Good, at least part of my functions were working.
    “Yes, auctions are the best, most effective way to draw money from the crowd. We include them in almost every function we hold. I saw a plate of brownies go for two thousand dollars at an event last year. Each bidder had a pregnant woman tugging at his sleeve.”
    “That’s rather sweet.”
    He stared out the window. “If you believe in that sort of thing.”
    “Like love and romance?” I asked.
    “Yeah.”
    “Braydon?” I knew I was about to say too much. “I don’t either. Things will always end. People get hurt. I think it’s much safer to immerse yourself in a job you love, make a contribution to the world and…”
    Braydon’s posture changed; he sat straight up. “Not you. You’re the type of girl who should have it all. You deserve it.”
    “I don’t deserve – I mean, I don’t want that. I don’t want anything to take even one minute of focus off my research. It’s everything to me.” I must not cry. I must not cry.
    “I get that. But you can balance it and still have a life.”
    “Says the pot to the kettle.” I quirked an eyebrow. Take that.
    “I’m not like you, Jain. You’re much…better. Me? I’ll never change.”
    “You won’t change because you can’t? Or because you don’t want to?” I was curious which one it was.
    “A little of both, I suppose. Although, recently, I’ve thought about at least trying to change.” His gaze shifted from my eyes to my lips.
    Every single cell in my body exploded at that moment. Desire, like I’d never experienced before, richocheted through me. I thought I felt it even in my hair; every strand seemed to stand on end. I wanted to run. I wanted to jump him. I wanted; I just wanted. Why did he have to say that?
    At that moment, the waitress approached our table and asked if everything was okay. No! I wanted to say. How could anything be okay when I wanted this man, the very man who was most dangerous to me, to my vision, my goals? He would destroy me; I knew he would.
    “Everything was great, thank you,” Braydon answered. Good, because I couldn’t talk. He gave me a slight smirk. Darn, he knew what he did to me. Did he really want to change for me? I raised an eyebrow.
    “Maybe,” he said softly.
    “No,” I said as I shook my head. I didn’t want to get my hopes up.
    “Perhaps,” he returned.
    “Nope,” I reiterated.
    “Possibly,” A gorgeous, heart-stopping smile curved his lips.
    I smiled in return. “Never.”
    He laughed. “Okay, you win. Anyone ever tell you that you’re stubborn?”
    “All the time.” I grabbed my sweater and purse and headed toward the door.
    ***
    “This has been the longest day of my life.” I slid into the passenger seat in Colin’s car for the ride home.
    He cleared his throat. “I heard about what happened in the lab today.”
    “What? How did that leak out already?” Oh hell, this was bad.
    “Becky told Ali, Ali told Emily Rose, she told Kate who then told Beth.”
    “So, basically everyone knows.” I groaned with frustration and embarrassment.
    “Yes. I’m sorry. I tried to warn you.” He