Saving Stella (3 page)

“I won’t hurt you Stella. I swear
it.”

She didn’t speak. After a few
tense moments she gave a slight nod of her head and lowered her gun.

Relief flooded my system, as I
slowly backed away from her made my way around the desk to take a seat across
from her. Putting a bit of distance between us seemed to help calm her too.
Jesus, I was still in shock. I dropped my head and ran my hands through my
hair. I was beginning to think this chic was going to be too much for me.

But then I raised my eyes to see
her sitting in her seat shaking like a leaf. I wanted to hold her. Pull her
tight into my body and take away the pain I could see shining in her eyes. I
knew she wouldn’t let me though. We’d only met yesterday, and she had just
pulled a gun on me for fucks sake!

I didn’t know what to say to her,
I knew I had to say something, but what? For the first time ever, I was at a
loss for words. Nobody had ever pulled a gun on me. We sat there staring at one
another in silence until I couldn’t take it anymore.

“Are you ok Stella?”

“No, not
really.
I umm…”

She paused as if she was looking
for the right words. She let out a huffed breath.

“I’m sorry about that, I ah, I
don’t do well in such close quarters with men. And you surprised me when you
approached me so quickly. I panicked.”

“I didn’t mean to frighten you, I
just saw that I had upset you. That’s the last thing I wanted to do.”

“I realise that, I may have
overreacted, bad habit of mine.”

“Are you packin all the time?”

She tilted her head to the side
before answering me.

“Yes, I am.”

“Wow, I gota say, I was not
expecting that. It would have been kinda hot if I wasn’t scared out of my mind.
No one’s ever pulled a gun on me before.”

I smiled at her, hoping to
lighten the mood, dissipate the tension that had grown in the room a little. It
worked, well kinda. She lifted one side of her mouth in an attempt at a small
smile.

“Well, I’ve never actually pulled
it on anyone. Don’t get me wrong, I know how to use it. I made sure of that
when I bought it.”

“I should be relieved then, I was
wondering if you knew how to use it. I’ll be on my way then, I don’t want to
push my luck today, and end up full of lead.”

I bounced my eyebrows at her and
gripped the sides of the chair getting ready to make my exit. I pushed myself
to my feet and began to turn.

“Why?”

I turned my head back in her
direction.

“Why, what?”

“Why are you being so nice to me?
Why did you buy me the flowers? What do you want?”

She had cocked her head to the
side again. God I loved the way she did that.

“I told you, I wanted to make
amends for yesterday. I’m a pretty nice guy you know, I didn’t buy you the
flowers because I wanted something from you. If you would let me, I’d like to
get to know you better. But if strictly business is all your willing to give
me, I’ll take it.”

“Why do you want to get to know
me? The last man I trusted enough to get to know turned out to be the biggest
mistake of my life. So forgive me if I find it hard to believe that you just
want to get to know your new accountant.”

“I’m sorry about that Stella, I
really am. And there isn’t anything I can do about that guy. Except assure you
that I am not like him. You’re not just my accountant. Your Sloan’s sister, I’ve
been friends with Sloan for years. I’d like to be your friend too, if you’d let
me.”

She seemed to at least be
considering it. Good sign, I’ll take what I can get right now.

“How about we just go for
friendship for now, on your terms. How’s that sound?”

“Okay, my terms then. I should
tell you though; I won’t be going to any restaurants, bars, clubs or any of
that. I, I’m a bit of a home body. So you may find it hard to retain a
friendship with me.”

“Not a problem. You can come to
my place, or I could go to yours.”

Her eyes bugged out of her head
so I assume that neither of those places were options just yet.

“Or, you could just give me your
number, and we can just chat now and then. Get to know each other that way.
Until you’re comfortable enough to spend more time with me.”

She relaxed instantly. Another
good sign.

“Okay, I can do that.”

She scribbled her number on a
piece of paper and handed it to me. My fingers grazed hers when I took it from
her, and her eyes darted up to meet mine. We were both still holding the bit of
paper. She finally let go.

I immediately pulled my phone out
of my pocket to enter her number. Then sent her a quick text with a smiley
face.

She was watching me with her head
tilted to the side again. Watching me with such innocent eyes. So damn cute. She
startled a little when her phone went off signalling she had a new text. What
could possibly turn a girl who used to have ‘spunk’ as Sloan said, to this
jumpy little gun packin mouse?

Stella glanced over to her phone,
then back at me.

“Now you’ve got my number too. I’ll
see you around Stella. Hopefully soon.”

I sent a wink her way before
exiting her office.

Stella

I was settled into my couch for
the night with my big ass bowl of popcorn and ‘This Means War’ about to start
on my massive TV. Ahh, it didn’t get much better than this, Tom Hardy in all
his supersized glory perve fest. I may not be able to talk to men very well
anymore but I could certainly appreciate the male form.

Thinking of appreciating the male
form, my mind kept wondering back to Brayden. Now that was a form I could
admire all day long! If I had the nerve to that is. He was tall, at least 6”4.
He towered over me. Not that that’s hard. Even wearing my heels, I still didn’t
reach his chin. The guy exuded power and charisma, a deadly combination.

Just as I was getting carried
away by my thoughts of Brayden my phone chimed, signalling I had a text.

‘Hey, I thought embarking on this friendship with baby steps would be a
good plan. Feel like getting to know each other over texts?’

Oh God. I had opened the text
without seeing who it was from. But after reading it, it wasn’t hard to guess.
I hadn’t saved his number yet. I was a little worried about having to talk to
him on the phone. But texting I could do.

‘
I think I can manage that.’

‘Great, so let’s start with the basics. Favourite movie?’

‘I’m watching it right now actually, This Means War. Yours?’

‘Not a bad choice, for a chic. I’m more of a Die Hard kinda guy. Your
turn.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean? ‘For a chic?’ It’s got everything a good
movie needs. Action, comedy, drama, Reese Witherspoon and even more
importantly, Tom Hardy. What’s Die Hard got other than action and a whole lot
of the F-Bomb?’

‘Tom Hardy fan ha, I’m impressed. The F-Bomb? Are you to prudish to say
Fuck Stella?’

‘No! Well, maybe a little. It’s a very expressive word and should only
be used when the time calls for it. Otherwise it loses its oomph.’

‘Sounds like something you’ve put a lot of thought into. When was the
last time a situation called for you to say it Stella?’

That made me pause. I hadn’t said
that word in a very long time, I didn’t curse very often.

I must have gotten lost in my
musings and taken too long to reply because Brayden sent me another text.

‘You don’t have to tell me Stella. We can move on to something else.
How about ink?’

‘Ink? What about ink?’

‘Do you have any? Sloan’s covered in it. I was just wondering.’

‘Yes, I have one tattoo. Sloan did it when she was first starting out.’

‘Really? Honestly I’m a little shocked. You don’t seem like the kind of
girl to have a tattoo. May I ask what it is? And Where?’

‘It’s on the inside of my left ankle, an infinity symbol with the word
sisters in it. I wasn’t always like this. If things were different, I might
have gotten more. Do you have any?’

‘I’ve seen the same one on Sloan’s ankle, it’s nice. What do you mean
if things were different? And yes, you could say I have ink. Considering I own
a string of Tattoo Parlours, it would be strange if I had clean skin.’

‘Oh, of course. I wasn’t thinking. It’s just that I didn’t see any when
you’ve come into the office. But I suppose you were wearing suits. I’m not sure
what Sloan has told you about me, but something happened to me in the past, it
changed me. Set me on a different path you could say. Whether it’s for the
better I don’t know. But I’m just different now.’

Somehow things would always come
back to that night. The night I wished I could forget, but would always haunt
me.

‘I’m sorry Stella. For whatever you’ve been through. You can talk to
me, if you want. I’d be happy to listen, if it would help. I’d like to help you
Stella, if you would let me?’

It was really very sweet of him
to offer. And I did feel comfortable with the parameters of our new found
friendship. But I didn’t think I was ready to go there, not yet anyway.

‘Thank you Brayden, I appreciate your offer. Maybe one day I will take
you up on it, but not today. Why do you want to help me?’

‘This is going to sound like some corny shit, but it’s the truth. I
felt something when I met you Stella. Something I’ve never felt before. Like I
don’t just want to know you, but I need to. Your special, I don’t think you see
it in yourself, but I do. I need to be around you, even if this is all your
comfortable with for now. I’m okay with that. I can wait until you’re ready for
more.’

Wow, I wasn’t expecting that. I
had tingles running down my spine as I read his words. Would I ever be ready
for more than this? I hoped so, but I just didn’t know.

‘I can’t say when, or if, I’ll ever be ready for more than this. I
don’t want you wasting your time on me, waiting for a day that may never come.’

‘I don’t mind, you’re worth the wait. Time spent waiting for you could
never be time wasted. Goodnight Stella. X’

‘Goodnight Brayden.’

Brayden

It had been three days since I had
seen Stella, three long frigin’ days. But I didn’t want to push her. Too much
too soon and I’d scare her away. I hadn’t meant to spill my guts the other
night, it just happened. I wanted to be as honest with her as possible, I
didn’t want there to be any reason for her not to trust me.

I was itching to see her again.
Or even talk to her. I kept pulling out my phone to send her a text but then I’d
put it away again. I’d never played it safe before, but I couldn’t risk losing
Stella before I’d even had a chance to have her. Maybe I should talk to Sloan.
See what she thinks my next move should be.

Just as I picked up my phone to
text Sloan to tell her to meet me at Freddie’s when she knocked off in half an
hour, my phone chimed. It was from Sloan wanting to know how things had gone
with the flowers.

‘Great, and not so great.
She pulled her gun on me. Why does she have
a gun?’

‘Hahaha really?
What did you do?’

‘I can see the humour in it now, but not so much at the time. I
frightened her. I didn’t mean to. I guess I approached her too quickly?
When she wasn’t expecting it.’

‘Yea well, I told you to go slow. I meant it literally.
Beers at Freddie’s?
Meet you there in 15, finished up early
today.’

‘Great minds, was just thinking that. We need to talk strategy.’

I felt better knowing I would be
able to talk this all through with Sloan. Nobody would know how to proceed from
here better than her. I threw on a fresh shirt, grabbed my keys and headed out
the door.

Walking into Freddie’s I let the
atmosphere sweep over me and calm my nerves. It was Friday night, the band was
playing some Nickelback covers and they weren’t too bad. I found my usual
booth, took a seat and signalled the waitress.

Sally came over swinging her
hips, her big tits jiggling as she moved in my direction. Usually Sally was my
kind of girl. She was up for a little fun and didn’t complain when I didn’t
call her. But tonight, watching her as she approached I felt nothing. She leant
down on her elbows when she reached my table giving me an even better view down
her cleavage.
Yep, nothin.

“What can I get for you tonight
sugar?”

She licked her lips, that move
would have normally stirred some kind of reaction from me, but again, nothin.

“The usual thanks Sal.”

Sally was obviously put out by my
lack of interest and flirtation. She stood upright, frowned at me before
swishing her long blonde hair over her shoulder and storming off towards the
bar. I hoped she wouldn’t spit in my drink.

Just then Sloan slid into the
booth across from me.

“What’d you do to piss sally
off?”

“Nothin.
Just not in the mood to have her shoving her tits in my face
tonight.”

“If I’m not mistaken, that’s a
first.”

“Yea well, people change
apparently. Never thought I’d be one of those people but hey, stranger things
have happened right.”

“Right?”

She looked confused.

“Shouldn’t you be glad I’m not
going to bag the skank tonight? You’re the one who wanted me to go after Stella
to start with.”

“Yea I did, I mean, I do. I’m
just surprised I guess. Didn’t think you’d fall so fast. But Stella has that
effect on people, if she lets them get close enough.”

“It’s driving me frigin crazy. I can’t
stop thinking about her. It’s only been four days since I last saw her, and I’m
hangin to see her. I don’t want to freak her out and have her pullin that damn
gun on me again.”