Caught Up In You

Book 2: Monroes

by Jules Bennett

Genres: Family Life; Siblings; Small Town & Rural; Women's Fiction; Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

“ A fun cast of supporting characters, including bickering brothers, a newly adopted teenager, [and] a guide dog, add zest to this enjoyable romance.”— Publishers Weekly The Monroe brothers have their differences, but one project unites them: turning an antebellum mansion in their Haven, Georgia, hometown into a peaceful spa. It was the dream of their late sister—and it’s about to set off a major renovation in the life of middle brother Braxton. . . Braxton Monroe’s taking a break from teaching to do some strenuous work on a Civil War–era house, and feeling the strain in every rock-hard muscle. Good thing he has to interview massage therapists for the spa—even if it’s embarrassing to meet a job candidate in his boxers. Cora Buchanan has hands so talented—and a voice so sultry—he wants to hire her before he even lifts his head from the table. But he’s shocked to meet her outside the massage room—with her seeing-eye dog, Heidi the yellow lab. Cora has left her family—and fiancé—in Atlanta to make her way in this small town. All her parents’ money can’t restore her sight, but it’s up to her to restore her independence. Though she bristles at Braxton’s protectiveness, she too feels lingering effects from their intimate touch. Now that he’s her boss, it’s strictly hands-off. . . .Until a secret she’s keeping destroys his fragile trust, and they must find the courage to knock down the walls between them. Praise for Jules Bennett and Wrapped in You “Another page turner—I couldn't put it down!” —Lori Foster, New York Times bestselling author

Release date: November 29, 2016

Publisher: Zebra Books

Print pages: 278

Sample

Just try it, she said. It will be fun, she said.

And that manipulative conversation with Sophie, his soon-to-be sister-in-law, is how Braxton now found himself wearing nothing but his boxer briefs and a towel, waiting for a massage.

A massage. He may as well turn in his man card now and go ahead and sign up for a facial and a pedicure while he was here.

Braxton Monroe and his brothers were gearing up to open a women’s-only resort and spa, in honor of their late sister, Chelsea. The business had been her dream, so how could they ignore something she’d been so passionate about?

With the resort set to open at the first of the year and the open house just a week before Christmas, they were needing to hire a masseuse. In the beginning, they weren’t sure if they needed one on hand the first day the resort was open, but they finally decided they wanted to do this up right and do it up big, just like Chelsea would’ve wanted.

Sophie had just sold a house to a new lady in town and, after some apparent girl bonding, Sophie wanted the guys to check out this prospect for the masseuse position.

Because the woman was new to the small town of Haven, Georgia, and not currently employed, Braxton was now in this stranger’s home. He’d been half naked in a strange woman’s house before, but usually under much different circumstances. Braxton hoped like hell Sophie hadn’t lied when she’d said she’d checked out the woman’s credentials.

Thankfully, Sophie had driven him to help with the awkwardness of the situation. Though he’d questioned her in the car when she started acting weird. She never gave him a straight answer when he asked about the naughty grin on her face and he was almost afraid to see how this was going to play out. Okay, he wasn’t almost afraid, he was flat-out terrified.

He also had no clue why he couldn’t meet the potential employee before she came in and rubbed her hands all over him. But Sophie insisted he was to undress and wait in the room because he needed to have the full “client experience.” Yet again, how the hell had he ended up with his ass up and his head in a doughnut-shaped hole?

Braxton groaned as he realized how foolish he looked lying here. For all he knew, this was a prank orchestrated by his brothers. No doubt Zach and Liam were back at the resort laughing their asses off at his expense. There would be payback.

The door behind him clicked, and footsteps shuffled across the glossy wood floor. Braxton didn’t lift his head, didn’t want to see whoever had just walked in. He’d had more than enough of pampered rich girls to last him a lifetime. He’d seen the designer bag by the front door, Prada if his ex had taught him anything. The last thing he wanted was to deal with another label-snob.

Bitterness was a pill he’d been trying to swallow for months . . . it still wasn’t going down.

Braxton wanted to get this humiliation over with so he could go back home to his punching bag, drink a beer, fondle his remote, and try to regain some of his masculinity. First, he had to get this damn warped interview process over with.

The pocket door to the room slid open, then shut with a soft whoosh. Braxton attempted to mentally prepare himself for the next hour of the unknown.

“Good morning, Mr. Monroe.” The soft, almost angelic voice washed over him, hitting him straight in the gut with a punch of lust. That was definitely something he hadn’t prepared for. “My name is Cora. Have you ever had a massage before?”

Braxton grunted out a laugh. “First, call me Braxton. Formalities aren’t necessary when you’re going to have your hands on me. Second, no, I haven’t, but I lost a game of rock, paper, scissors with my brothers and my so-called friend drove me so I wouldn’t be able to back out.”

Her soft laugh seemed to caress his bare skin. “I assure you, by the time I’m done, you’ll be glad you lost that game.”

Between that laugh and her sultry tone, he was getting more turned on than he should. Seriously? That was new to him. For the past several months he’d been a bit . . . social with the ladies. Normally it was a flirty smile, a heavy-lidded lingering gaze, or a blatant touch that set him in motion.

Did Cora have a sultry smile or bedroom eyes? Tall, short? Did she have curves or more of an athletic build? Did she dress classy to match that Prada bag or was she more laid-back?

He gritted his teeth. He was here for a job interview, not to visualize the body that belonged to that sexy voice. He shouldn’t care because the last thing he needed was to be tied in knots over a woman . . . any woman. Physicality was his best friend lately and he was just fine with that.

Braxton closed his eyes, listening to the soft movements, the subtle clangs of containers being opened, closed. He had no clue what to expect, but when something small and warm rested against the top of his spine, he stiffened.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“Hot stones. I’ll be placing them down your spine. Would you like me to explain each step as I go so you’re more comfortable or do you prefer quiet? Each client is different, but since this is basically an interview, I feel I should tell you everything so you understand better what it is that I can offer.”

What she can offer? With a voice like that . . . Braxton bit the inside of his cheek. He couldn’t start hitting on a potential employee. Yes, he’d gotten a bit more outgoing since his engagement debacle, but there was a time and a place. This was neither, nor.

Cora carefully rested the stones down his spine, which he had to admit was rather nice. Damn it. He refused to like this. He was here under duress. Why was he already thinking of her on a first-name basis? Oh, yeah, because she was about to rub him.

“While I’m working I can tell you about myself.”

Yeah, something he should’ve thought of. This was his chance to interview her for the position and they desperately needed someone to fill the role. Sophie absolutely swore this woman was the one for the job, but she’d insisted one of the brothers interview her to make sure. Focusing while getting a rubdown was a bit difficult, in his defense. Damn it, that felt too good. Should he be enjoying himself this much?

“I’ve been a licensed masseuse for two years.” Her calm, relaxing voice cut off his thoughts. “Not very long, but I went to college first and I have my degree in accounting.”

Okay, so that told him two things: She had her head on straight for getting a degree, which the nerdy professor in him admired. And she was still young, almost a decade younger than him if he were to wager a guess, which was just another reason he needed to keep his lustful thoughts out of his head. Just because her voice was silky smooth didn’t mean he had to react to it or start to fantasize what she looked like.

While the rocks stayed in position, Cora’s hands started gliding in short, smooth strokes from the middle of his back down to his side. Braxton had to catch himself from groaning. No, he wasn’t here to enjoy the process, he was here to see if she would work out in their spa. In his defense, though, he could see how women would eat up this type of pampering. And that’s precisely what they needed for this women’s-only resort and spa he and his brothers were going to open.

Bella Vous was a vision of their late sister, Chelsea, and the Monroe boys were fighting like hell to make sure this resort was unlike anything around. They didn’t want to just open their doors and hope for the best. They wanted to make the business thrive and flourish, just like their beautiful sister. They wanted this to be a place women came to relax from work, from family, from life in general. Chelsea had wanted that because their adoptive mother had put her life on hold to ensure they all had an amazing life. The woman had never asked for anything for herself, everything was for her family. Chelsea’s dream was to cater to those women who were constantly giving.

“Why aren’t you working as an accountant?” he asked, impressed he could form a coherent sentence while she worked her magic. Oh, man, those hands of hers were talented. And he had no idea why there were rocks down his back, but this was absolutely amazing.

Fine. He was enjoying every second of this, but that didn’t mean he had to admit it to anyone.

Her hands stilled for only a split second before she replied. “Personal reasons. Being a masseuse gives me more freedom. I love making people relax. In a world when everything is rushed and hectic, I think people need to take more time for themselves. To work at a resort as unique as this one would be perfect.”

Something about her passion, her need for freedom, reminded Braxton of Chelsea. His late sister would already love Cora for this position in the spa. And Braxton had to admit, he could get used to this treatment . . . still without anyone knowing, of course.

“I’m going to use some oil now,” she told him, still in that soft, made-for-the-bedroom voice. No, damn it. She wasn’t made for a bedroom, at least not his. “Do you prefer a scent or unscented? I keep both for allergy reasons and for men who prefer not to smell like flowers or fruit. Everyone is different and I like to please each client.”

Oh, man. She was killing him. Killing. Him.

His mind drifted to areas it shouldn’t be. He didn’t need to think about being pleased in any other way than to find the perfect employee.

Braxton laughed at his wayward thoughts and how quickly he’d strayed off course. “Unscented is fine. Do you have many male clients?”

“I did where I was working,” she replied easily. “I had quite a variety, actually. CEOs, blue-collar workers. Granted, most of them were private about their guilty pleasure, but that’s fine. I understand the need for them to feel masculine. I’ve learned how to keep secrets and every client has them.”

Her hands slathered together seconds before the warm, oily glide took over. He had to swallow back the groan that threatened to slip out. Mercy, he didn’t expect to really enjoy this. Braxton didn’t know if all massages were this sensual or if he’d hit the masseuse jackpot, but this woman and her clever hands could rub him all day.

Best. Interview. Ever. Maybe he needed to hold more interviews for possible masseuses. Or not. That was one thing he’d never live down if either of his brothers thought he actually liked this.

“Why the move to Haven?” he asked. “I was told you lived in Atlanta.”

Her hands traveled easily to the other side of his back. The oil slid effortlessly between her palms and his skin, making him think of other, very nonprofessional thoughts.

“My family is in Atlanta, but I’ve never wanted to stay there. I’m not a big-city girl. Too rushed, too chaotic for me.” She finished his back, then moved to shift the towel over his backside as she placed more oil on the tops of his thighs. “I love Savannah, always have. Several summers ago I came to Haven with a friend and instantly fell in love with the small-town charm.”

Was she trying to get away from the city or her family? Or both? There was a story there, but right now Braxton was having a hard enough time controlling his urges with her digging into the backs of his thighs . . . he couldn’t delve into her personal issues.

“Can you tell me more about the resort?” she asked, shifting down the table to work on his lower legs. “Sophie told me enough to have me interested in what three guys would want with a women’s-only resort.”

Braxton chuckled, lifting his hands to settle on either side of his face on the cushy doughnut pillow. “We’re either really smart or we’re about to make total fools of ourselves.”

“Personally, I think the idea is brilliant. Working moms; young, single women looking for a getaway; sisters; moms and daughters. You’ll have a whole host of women flocking to this resort.”

He didn’t know why her approval pleased him. Cora with the sultry voice and the talented hands had clearly taken control of his mind and every single thought. Who knew a masseuse held so much power?

“Our sister, Chelsea, bought this house a few years back. She always loved to travel and take off on a whim. The one place she always wanted to see was Paris.” He focused on the story, not on the fact she was now on his thigh up near very personal territory. “She had a vision for this place that none of us knew about until she passed away almost a year ago.”

Cora’s hands froze. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea you’d lost someone that close.”

Braxton still couldn’t believe it himself. Not a day went by that he didn’t want to send Chelsea a text, but just as quickly as that thought would hit, the pain of the emptiness would replace it. That ache, it hadn’t lessened one bit. The pain was just as fierce, just as crippling; he’d just grown accustomed to living with a hole in his life. He didn’t like this new chapter without her, but he would go on living and honor her memory. The alternative of letting his grief consume him wasn’t an option. Chelsea was a strong woman and he’d be damned if he’d let her down.

“We’re getting along.” The simple reply for emotions that were anything but. “We’re doing this for her, to keep her alive the only way we know how.”

Cora smoothed the towel back in place. She brushed against the side of his leg as she moved toward his feet. “You must be a strong family to support one another like this.”

There was a wistfulness to her tone, almost a longing. None of his concern. Sexy women were one thing, baggage and anything personal were a whole other level he ran fast and far from. Being jilted by a so-called love could make a man a bit jaded . . . or at least wake him up to how careless people were with others’ hearts.

“We have our typical moments where we don’t agree, but we know we can always depend on one another.”

“Sounds perfect,” she murmured.

Oh, yeah. There was a story. A story he had no reason to care about. Even if she came to work for his family, getting personally involved on any level would be a mistake.

“Chelsea left behind several binders with notes and pictures, detailing exactly what she wanted out of this new property she’d purchased.” He still couldn’t believe the whirlwind they’d been on over the past year. “She wanted to name it Bella Vous, which means ‘beautiful you’ in French.”

“She must have been an amazing woman,” Cora replied. “This idea, it’s all so perfect.”

“That’s what we’re holding on to,” he said honestly. “We want every woman who hears about the resort to have that same reaction. We figure at first there will be all kinds of interest, but we don’t want that newness to wear off.”

“Tell me more about my position,” she went on as she gripped the arch of his foot with her fingertips. “Will there be appointment times given like at a spa or would you prefer someone there all day to be ready for spur-of-the-moment clients?”

Sticking to the reason he was here, Braxton replied, “We will have set hours for the spa, but you will be doing your own appointments. We want the spa workers to feel like they have control over their schedules while still meeting the needs of the clients.”

“Smart.”

Braxton smiled. He’d be sure to tell his brother Liam that, since Liam wanted all spa employees to be there all day and all evening. Braxton and Zach had finally talked some sense into him. They’d burn out their staff in the first few months working them to death like that. Growing could come later. Right now they needed a good, solid base to keep things running smooth without being so overwhelming they missed out on catering to the guests.

By the time his massage was over, Braxton didn’t know if he could move. Would it be unprofessional to lie here and take a nap now that he was all relaxed?

“I’ll let you get dressed,” she told him. “Just tell me when you’re done and I can come back in so we can talk more. I just have a few more questions and I assume you have more for me.”

He should, but with his loose muscles all he could think of was When can you start?

The door opened and closed. Braxton sat up, twisting his neck from side to side. Damn, he felt pretty good. After working on that house, getting everything fixed and repaired, he’d had his fair share of aches and pains. He wasn’t twenty anymore and his body was reminding him with each crack and cramp. Not to mention he was used to working at a college and not a construction site.

He quickly dressed because now he wanted to see the woman behind the magic. Would her tone match her appearance? For all he knew someone’s elderly grandmother had just felt him up and he’d liked it.

Wouldn’t be the first time he’d found himself in the company of an older woman. Unfortunately, Zach’s overeager neighbor had been a one-night mistake he still couldn’t dodge.

But Cora wasn’t a grandmother, of that he was sure. She’d sounded young, she’d given him a hint as to her age when she’d discussed her education. Regardless of how attracted he instantly was, that was only because of her voice, her talented hands. What man wouldn’t be instantly turned on? He was human.

He needed to get into professional mode fast because he refused to be taken off guard again by this woman.

Fastening his watch, Braxton glanced to the closed door. He’d been in here for all of an hour and he’d never felt this calm. She truly was a miracle worker and perfect for the spa. As usual, Sophie was right.

Braxton turned the knob, easing the door open, but stopped short at the sight of Cora standing in the hallway talking with Sophie.

Swallowing his shock, Braxton stared at the beautiful woman who’d just rubbed his body to complete relaxation. The long, rich auburn hair tumbling down her back, the petite build, the way she tipped her head toward him but didn’t meet his gaze.

Sophie smiled. “I’ll let you two talk. I’ll just wait in the living room.”

Braxton noted the large yellow Lab sitting obediently next to Cora. He hadn’t seen the dog when he’d first arrived, which was strange. Didn’t all dogs bark and run like mad toward the door when a visitor arrived? Zach’s dogs certainly did . . . all eight of them. Well, the seven puppies did. The poor mom tended to remain still as if she didn’t even have the energy to greet a new guest.

“Would you like to go in and sit or stay in the hallway?” Cora asked, a wide smile spreading across her face, her gaze still locked over his shoulder.

Braxton returned her infectious smile. “We can go back in here. I only have a few more questions.”

“Great.”

Braxton watched as she reached her hand out. He thought she was reaching for him, but realized she was feeling her way. She also hadn’t looked him in the eye. And she had a very obedient dog who stayed by her side.

Nothing much shocked him, but the fact Cora Buchanan was blind and had just given him the massage of a lifetime sure as hell left him utterly speechless.

He followed her into the room, but remained standing until he saw where she wanted to go. Propping his hands on his hips, Braxton stared down at her where she’d taken a seat on a small accent chair in the corner of what most likely used to be a bedroom. Her dog right at her side.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were blind?”

Cora ignored the accusatory tone. “Does my sight change how you felt when you were getting a massage? When you were completely comfortable and talking about the job?”

“No.”

His feet shuffled against the wood floors and Cora kept her hand on the back of Heidi’s neck. “I asked Sophie not to tell you. I wanted to be interviewed and judged on my abilities and my professionalism, not my lack of sight.”

Because she’d come here to prove she could be alone, she could work and not worry about being judged or discriminated against by those who were supposed to support her the most. Why did her condition disturb so many when she was the one who lived with it?

She was the one who’d been robbed of her sight, she was the one who had to rebuild her life, to rediscover who she was after the accident that ultimately led to a life-altering diagnosis. And damn it, she refused to let any obstacle stand in her way. Independence was hers, she just had to reach out and grab it.

There was a time when she’d been too afraid to grab hold of freedom—a time when she’d reach out and only encounter darkness. She had no idea what all she’d lost until everyday actions became difficult.

With each passing day her world had grown dimmer and dimmer. She waited for the anxiety, the panic attacks, but they never came. What consumed her had been so much worse. There was an emptiness she couldn’t even put into words. There were places she wanted to see in this world, but once the diagnosis hit, her family started to withdraw and Cora feared traveling alone.

“I don’t like being manipulated,” he told her, pulling her back into the moment. Why did his tone have to be so low, so sexy? And why were her hands still tingling? She’d given countless massages, many of them to men, but there was something about Braxton’s taut muscle tone beneath her fingertips that would have them zinging for days.

Focus. No zinging.

“I don’t manipulate people,” she defended with a tilt of her chin. “But I also wanted a fair shot at this position.”

The air shifted as Braxton moved. Material slid together in a smooth yet quick motion. She pictured him crossing his arms over what she knew was a broad chest. Her heart beat so fast, she had to force herself to take deep, calming breaths. She couldn’t let this opportunity pass her by. She needed this position and the women’s-only resort sounded absolutely amazing. Financially she didn’t need this at all, but for her sanity, for the life she longed to have, she wanted this job and she wasn’t letting it slip from her hands.

Cora wasn’t going to hide behind her lack of sight, wasn’t going to use it as a crutch to have people help her through life. Even when she’d been at her lowest point, she’d fought to get back that independence. She’d come so far and she had no intention of slowing down.

She literally had all the money she could ever want, had a multimillion-dollar company at her disposal . . . but it came with a price and Cora had to at least try being on her own before deciding what to do with the rest of her life. She wanted, no, needed to stand on her own two feet—and she damn well would or she’d go down fighting.

“If you need to think about it, or discuss with your brothers—”

“How would you get to work?” he asked, cutting her off.

Cora pursed her lips. She’d thought of this when first approached by Sophie for the potential job. “If you give me the job, I’ll figure it out. I know I’m only a couple miles away.”

Silence settled in the room once again. Braxton wasn’t moving, she could barely hear him breathing, but tension filled the room. Cora slid her hand down Heidi’s back, taking comfort in her best friend . . . the only being she’d been able to depend on the past three years.

At first Cora had wondered just how much a dog could help, but she and Heidi clicked instantly. Cora recalled that moment when she didn’t feel so alone. When just the slightest brush of fur reminded her she had a companion who understood and maybe, just maybe, they would get through this together.

“You’ll need to see the resort first,” he stated, then muttered a curse and shifted again. “Sorry. I wasn’t thinking.”

Story of her life. Everyone was sorry, which only made her angry. Why was everyone sorry? Had they caused the condition her doctors had overlooked for years? A condition her parents were still in denial about. There was nothing to be sorry about. Her condition was something she’d learned to live with, was still learning to live with. Adjustments came every day, but in t. . .