Page 60 of The Rules We Broke
I nervously twirled my hair. “Yeah, well . . . I wanted to forget Kaysville ever existed.”
Brady reached up and gently pulled my hand from my hair. “And now what do you think?”
“I think—”
I think I’m confused.
His gaze was intense—alive with something I didn’t dare name. He was killing me.
“I think I want you to finish your story.”
I saw the disappointment flicker in his eyes, and that gutted me. Because I wanted him, too. But we didn’t work. We couldn’t.
“Okay, Ellie. I’ve been at the bank for four years, and your aunt wouldn’t even acknowledge me for most of them. During board meetings, she’d only communicate through Benjamin. If she needed something and Benjamin wasn’t around, she’d come back later—refused to deal with me.”
“But a couple of months ago, she walked straight into my office and shut the door. I’ll admit… she kind of scared me.”
I smiled. That sounded like her.
“What did she want?”
“She wanted to talk about you.”
“Withyou?”
Brady chuckled. “Yeah, I was surprised, too.”
“What did she say?”
“She said she’d come across some information about us—didn’t say what—and she wanted the entire story.”
“What does that mean? Theentire story?”
“She meant exactly that. From the first time I noticed you. To the first time I liked you.”
I was about to ask why, but Brady lifted his hand and rested his palm against my cheek. His thumb traced a gentle line.
“To the moment I fell in love with you.”
I couldn’t look away. Those baby blues locked me in.
He leaned closer. My breath caught. I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to stop him. That was what scared me most.
“Ms. Eaton?” a nurse called.
Brady groaned just softly enough that only I could hear.
And all I could think was, Phew. Saved by the bell.
Chapter Ten
Ijumpedup,heartpounding, trying to collect myself. I’d nearly made a grave mistake. And honestly? I wasn’t sure I would’ve stopped him.
Brady stood, too, quietly, and reached for my hand as we walked toward the nurse calling my name.
“The surgery went well,” she informed me, matter-of-factly.
I exhaled—one long, shaky breath of relief.
