Page 53 of Igniting Sparks
“Give me five minutes,” I tell her.
No, I don’t jerk off in the bathroom—though it’s tempting. But in a pinch, an icy shower does the trick.
I stroll out, running a towel over my head as a final shiver rolls through me.
“Are you okay?”
“Cold shower.”
Mina’s eyes widen at my disclosure. “That sounds awful.”
“At least I’m awake now. No coffee required.” I toss the towel aside and drink her in as she stands by the mirror. “Damn, but you are beautiful.”
She’s a vision. I’ve always been a sucker for sundresses, and Mina’s rocking the hell out of this pale green number. It shows off her legs—and I’m pretty sure they’re the greatest set on the planet.
Mina smooths her skirt and shrugs, releasing a nervous laugh. “You really think it’s okay? I have no idea how to dress for something like this. The dress is secondhand, which I’m sure Vanessa will point out as soon as she sees me.”
“Nope. You’re not doing that.”
“What?”
I step behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, meeting her eyes in the mirror. “Putting yourself down. You need to own how incredible you are.”
“Except I’m not, Braden. I’m terribly ordinary.”
The worst part? She believes it. And that’s unacceptable.
“Want to know what I see?”
She scrunches up her face. “Probably not.”
“Too bad.” I run my hands along her arms, her skin soft and warm beneath my palms. “I see a vibrant, determined woman who worked her ass off for everything. You deserve allthe accolades, even if the world’s been stingy in giving them. You’re a fighter, Mina.”
“Am I?” Her lower lip trembles, eyes shining with unshed tears. “I feel like a fraud. And a coward.”
“That’s where I come in. I’ll help you be brave until you can do it on your own.”
She exhales a shaky breath and nods. “Thank you.”
I press a kiss to her cheek, lingering for a moment to breathe her in. “Also, I forgot to mention—you have the most gorgeous legs. Just saying.”
That does it. She giggles and turns, wrapping her arms around my waist. “That’s obviously my most important quality.”
“Definitely,” I snort. “So, what’s the plan for today? What quests does Bitsy have in store for us? Jousting? Perhaps a duel?”
Mina laughs and waves her hand. “That would be less painful than what she has planned. Of course, you get a pass for the morning.”
“Really? How come?”
“Aunt Bitsy booked Vanessa and me with a wedding dress stylist.”
“You’re trying on wedding dresses?”
She rolls her eyes. “She claims it’s bonding time, but let’s be real—it’s time for her to pick me apart. One of her favorite pastimes.”
“That won’t happen. I’m going to be there, too.”
Mina shoots me a skeptical look as she grabs her purse. “Men don’t normally tag along for dress shopping.”
