Page 31 of Moonstruck Kiss

He holds my gaze and, my God, there’s that intense pull again! It’s much stronger than it’s ever been, unlike my resistance, which is deflating faster than a popped balloon.

Is it my imagination or is Brax having a hard time breathing like I am?

I wish he’d stop looking at my mouth because it’s making me want to throw myself at him—Oh, I just realised I’m biting my bottom lip. Is that why he looks like he wants to kiss me?

“I’m back,” Oscar announces.

I jump and turn away from Brax.

Oscar stares at me. “You okay? You looked flushed.”

I press my palms on my cheeks. “Am I? It must be all the excitement. Anyway, I’d better get back to…whatever I was doing.” What exactly it was, I don’t remember.

“That’s a shame,” Brax murmurs.

I glance at him and look away again before that arousing eye-to-eye contact happens in front of Oscar.

Unlike before, I no longer have the motivation to dislike him.

And the prospect of a fling with him is becoming more and more appealing.

If only the reason weren’t so embarrassing.

Chapter

Six

BRAX

Lando: Anything on Moonstruck Chocolatier?

I finish dressing before sitting on the bed to start tapping a response to Lando’s text.

Me: The Barkers have no intentions of selling. It’s a family business and it means a lot to them. Not sure how they’ll react if offered a competitive price.

Lando: That’s it?

I blow out a big breath. My response time to Lando’s work requests has been quite poor of late. Since doing more things around Moonstruck Cove with Ollie, I haven’t been spending as much time working.

Lando’s expecting me to produce more. I bet making me work during my holiday is partly to figure out if I’d be one of the employees he’d want to retain during the restructure. That’s the only reason I’m complying instead of complaining.

Should I tell him about the Barkers’ expansion plans? It could help GX win the Teews contract, which means I’d be in Lando’s good books.

But would it hurt Joey’s family if I shared that news with Lando?

I run a hand over my face as I consider the answer.

I don’t see why it would. At the end of the day, if the Barkers don’t want to sell, then they won’t. Besides, a higher offer from Teews based on this information might even give them food for thought.

Right. I think I’m comfortable with all that.

Me: The Barkers are planning on expanding by buying an existing chocolatier business so they can meet demand for Theo’s First. And they have their eye on Chocolates at Oldington.

Lando: That’s exactly the kind of information I’m looking for! Great job! We can get Teews to hurry up and sign with us with this information.

Me: What’s holding them up from signing?

Lando: Their lawyers. They’re looking through everything with a microscope. But they won’t find anything they don’t like. Getting back to Moonstruck Chocolatier, if it remains just a small family business, then it’s not going to be worth much even with Theo Cresswall’s recipe.

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