Page 40 of Beauty Of Her

Julia's eyes flickered up, meeting mine halfway across the room. There was a moment of hesitation in her gaze as if she sensed the intensity buzzing between Robert and me. But as soon as she saw the fire burning in my eyes, her concern melted away, replaced by a look of trust and reassurance.

I reached them just as Julia finished her conversation with the woman. “Hey, beautiful.” I slinked my arm around Julia’s shoulder, pulling her close, and she didn’t fight me. Maybe it was from the liquid courage of bubbly in her hand, but whatever it was, Julia leaned in naturally.

“Hey,” Julia said, placing a hand on my chest. “Brett, this is Stella. She and I go way back.”

My eyes shifted to the woman in red, and this was my chance. “Stella, a pleasure.” I shook her hand. “I’m Brett, Julia’s boyfriend.”

Boyfriend? When did Brett become my boyfriend, and wasn’t this something we should have discussed first? While I was wildly flattered that a man like Brett wanted the world to suddenly know me as his, I was completely befuddled. While I stood there like a dumb statue with Stella, who ogled Brett in his form-fitted suit, I stared at him, beaming at his announcement. Was I ready for this commitment? Could I trust him with my heart? We didn’t know each other, and I thought that was the point of this getaway. The only thought spinning through my mind was how carefree and easy Brett was. He was so refreshing, and if this was who he was with just a few layers to discover, then what was the harm of being exclusive and slapping these labels on each other prematurely?

Brett reached out his hand, gently threading his fingers through mine, pulling me back from the whirlwind of my thoughts. His touch was warm and reassuring, grounding me in the present moment.

“How did the two of you meet?” Stella asked, drinking in every inch of Brett, and a part of me twitched, wanting to warn her to back off. He was mine.

“We met at the supermarket,” Brett chimed in. “At the butcher counter.”

“Really? That’s so cute.” Stella’s eyes darted between us, waiting for more details. I was so new to this and just stood there like a deer caught in the middle of the road.

“Well, I actually helped Julia pick burgers out. I work there.” Brett squeezed my hand.

“You work at a supermarket?” Doubt crept into Stella’s voice, triggering me out of my haze.

“Yes, but he and his family own a chain of supermarkets,” I corrected. The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. Brett popped his shoulders, unaffected by Stella’s intrigue.

Stella's gaze softened, though a trace of skepticism still lingered. "Well, I suppose anyone can find companionship in the unlikeliest of places," she remarked, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

We wrapped up the shallow conversation before making a final round of hellos and goodbyes to colleagues. This time, Brett and I introduced ourselves as a full-blown couple. By the sixth introduction, the label rolled off my tongue. I had one final glass of wine before telling Brett it was time to leave. He probably thought nothing but sweet luck awaited him, but I had other plans. We needed to talk.

We walked hand in hand back to our room. The weight of the conversation I needed to have with Brett grew heavier with each step. The truth was, I still had reservations about diving headfirst into a relationship with him. The age difference between us was becoming more apparent by the minute, and my mind was plagued with doubts and insecurities.

When we entered the dimly lit room, I noticed how effortlessly Brett sauntered through the space, confidence oozing from every pore. I envied his carefree nature and ability to embrace the moment without overthinking. But for me, thinking was an integral part of who I was, a protective mechanism forged through years of heartache and disappointment.

Brett tossed his jacket off, landing on one of the chairs near the kitchenette, leaning into the mini bar fridge, and grabbing two water bottles. He opened my bottle and poured a full glass of chilled water for me, handing it to me. The slightest gesture triggered an infectious grin on his face, as if he was so proud of himself for serving me.

I took a sip of the cool liquid, savoring its refreshing taste as I gathered my thoughts. Brett's playful demeanor, charming smile, and willingness to go the extra mile for me were all endearing. But I couldn't get lost in the whirlwind of passion we had been swept into.

Setting the glass down on the counter, I cleared my throat. "Brett, we need to talk." My voice stood firm but tinged with vulnerability.

He turned toward me, his face curious yet attentive. "Sure, what’s up?" he asked, the sincerity in his tone soothing my nerves. He peeled off his shirt, throwing it onto the bed, and the sight of those perfect abs and smooth muscle running abound was enough to morph my mind into mush.

“Look, there’s no denying the chemistry between us, and we’ve had a good amount of fun so far, right? But I’m just confused when you decided to make us official.” I frowned, fiddling with my fingers. “I mean, it’s kind of a big deal. I would have liked to be asked first before being blindsided.”

Brett’s steely gaze burned into my skin, sending heat to every pore in my body. “Do you not want to be in a relationship with me?”

I swallowed hard, his piercing stare paralyzing me. "It's not that I don't want to be in a relationship with you," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's just...I have trust issues from my past. And the fact that we're at different points in our lives, the age difference...it all adds to my uncertainty." I paused, trying to gather my thoughts. "I don't want us to get hurt."

Brett's expression dropped, and he stepped closer, closing the distance between us. His hand reached out, cupping my cheek gently. "Julia." The warmth of his touch seeped into my skin. “I don’t want you to feel pressured into something you don’t want to be in. But just know, this is what I want. You.”

“But why? You barely know me. I barely know you. How can you know what you want so soon?” I caressed his cheek. Something about him being this close made it irresistible not to touch him.

“When I know, I know. Look, what I’m feeling with you is new, I’m not going to lie. I don’t think I’m being impulsive even though things might be moving quickly, but I also know I don’t want to let a good thing slip by.” He swallowed, shifting in his step. “I want to give us a chance as long as you’re on board.”

I gazed into Brett's eyes, searching for any sign of uncertainty or doubt. But all I found was unwavering determination and a genuine desire to make this work. His vulnerability mirrored my own, and in that moment, I knew that taking a chance on him was worth the risk. “I want to. But what if we want different things in the long run? Have you thought of that?”

Brett’s shoulders slumped, and his chin dropped an inch, but his orbs still held my attention. “You mean kids and all that? Marriage?”

I swallowed, bracing myself. “Yes. All of that. What if we want different things at the end of the day? Sometimes, people aren’t enough to cover up the voids.”

“Julia.” Brett’s deep timbre rattled my bones. “Let’s give each other a fair shot before jumping to conclusions. We can be a couple and see where things go before taking on the world. What do you say?” To add emphasis to his words, Brett took my hands and pressed them against his warm, hard chest.

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