Chapter Twenty- Eight - Sooner that expected

Brandon

I am in my office, dealing with some business. It has been a long day; it is only two in the afternoon—another six hours before I finish. I wanted to see my girl, but I couldn’t. I have back-to-back meetings from two-thirty until I finish just before eight tonight. I hated days like these ones.

I stop what I’m doing to make a coffee. I need a break before my meetings. It is the first one I have had today. While in the middle of doing so, there was a knock on my office door. Typical when I decided to take a break.

I groan in frustration, “Come in.” I call out.

I hear the door open and then close. I glance over my shoulder to see who it is. I am surprised to see Skyla. I was not expecting to see her until tonight. The last I knew, she had a meeting with her editor.

“Hey, gorgeous. What a nice surprise,” I say brightly, instantly feeling better because she is here, “Do you want one?”

“Hey, handsome,” she coos, “Yes, please. Coffee sounds good.”

I nod, and Skyla sits on the sofa. I make our coffee and join her. I steal a kiss the second I am close enough. Skyla smiles into my lips and kisses back.

She takes a sip of her coffee and sets it down on the table. She turns to me and suddenly seems nervous—a serious look on her face. I set my mug down and became anxious. I can sense something is wrong.

“Skyla, what is wrong?” I ask and rest my hand on her knee.

She sighs and runs her fingers through her hair.

“I need to go home sooner than planned.” She whispers.

“How sooner?”

Skyla is supposed to be here for another three weeks.

“Friday. I need to see my editor. She wants to read what I have and go over a few things. She has also set up a couple of meetings for me. One for the new cover, another someone to format my book and lastly, one to help with my book launch party when it is released.”

I can hear the sadness in her voice, and she breaks eye contact with me.

I’m happy for her that she is preparing for her next release. I really am, but I am nowhere near ready for her to leave, to say goodbye to her. We were supposed to have more time together and to work things out. Now she goes in two fucking days!

“Are you coming back after it for a couple of weeks?”

I try to disguise the disappointment in my voice. I don’t want her to feel guilty because of me. Her career is important. I don’t want to be that type of guy.

“I don’t know. It depends on how everything goes. I am sorry, Brandon, that our time together has to be cut short.” She whimpers, and I see some tears trickle down her cheeks.

I reach in and wipe them away. I don’t want to watch her cry. Then an idea came to mind.

“Oh, well, then, I will just need to come with you, won’t I?”

Skyla seems taken aback by my words.

“Y-Y-You want to come to Scotland with me?”

“Yes. And if you decide not to come back here after it, at least we have an extra week together and to figure things out.”

“Are you sure you want to do that? I don’t know how much I will be around, Brandon,” she says softly.

I wasn’t sure how to take what she was saying. Doesn’t she want me to come? Am I moving too fast for her?

“Don’t you want me to come?” the disappointment I was trying my hardest to mask is now evident.

“Oh, God, no, that isn’t what I meant at all. I would for you to come home with me for a week. Can you make it possible with such short notice?”

She has a hopeful look in her eyes as she stares at me.

“Yes, without issue,” I reply confidently.

Even if there were an issue, I wouldn’t care. I would be going, and no one would try to tell me otherwise. A part of me is hopeful that if I am there with her, I may convince her to come back here with me for a couple of weeks.

Before I knew what was happening, Skyla let out a squeal and jumped on me. She presses her lips to mine. I chuckle into her lips.

I am happy to see her excited because it tells me she is enjoying our time together as much as me. I have become attached. I have found myself not only wanting her but also needing her. It was never the plan, but here I am. I have learned that Skyla is special. Women like her don’t come around often. I have never met anyone like her. I am utterly smitten, something which hasn’t happened to me since I was a teenager. I would do anything for her.

Skyla pulls back, “Sorry.” She blushes.

I bring her onto my lap and rest my hands on her hips.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, angel.” I smile.

“I wasn’t expecting you to want to come back with me. I thought maybe you would be mad because I was leaving early, and we would end up saying goodbye.” She sighs.

I reach in and stroke her cheek with the pad of my thumb, “You aren’t getting rid of me so easily, sweetness. You are stuck with me.”

I smirk and prod her nose. She wriggles her nose and giggles.

“Good because I don’t want to get rid of you, well, not yet, anyway, maybe somewhere down the line.” She teases.

“Hey! Mean!” I huff.

Skyla laughs and presses a soft kiss to my lips. It only lasts a second.

“I am only messing with you, babe.” She grins.

“I would hope so. And are you sure you are okay with me coming with you?”

“Yes! But, I am sorry for the time I won’t be around,” she whispers.

“It is okay, sweetheart. Your new book is important. I will be happy enough with just getting to fall asleep with you at night and wake up the next morning to you.”

“Hopefully, I won’t be away too long. I can’t wait to show you around.” she gushes.

“I can’t wait either. I will get my flight booked tonight. If you booked yours yet?”

“No, not yet. I was going to do it tonight,” she replies.

“I will book them, so we are sat together. How does first-class sound?” I question.

“You don’t need to book first class. And I will pay for my flight.” She insists.

“I thought you knew me well enough by now to know that isn’t going to happen?” I smirk.

Skyla rolls her eyes at me and is ready to protest, but I don’t give her a chance. I capture her lips in mine, and she soon doesn’t say a word. When we part, she is too busy panting to reply.

“We can look at flights later.”

She nods rather than using her words. I didn’t expect I would be planning a trip to Scotland, but I am excited for it.