Building Something Hot Page 11

  “Okay, just as long as you’re cool with this. If not, I’ll leave,” Briella said, still a little doubtful.

  “No, I’m definitely cool with this. You’re not leaving!” Kason replied, then gave her a quick kiss. “Come on, we’ve got work to do!”

  For the rest of the afternoon, Briella and Mila fielded questions from different people in the firm. Their input seemed to please the people who asked. They day seemed to fly by, and though they thought the men would be a distraction, it turned out that they worked very well together.

  Charlee sat back and watched her daughter work at different tasks during the day. Briella reminded Charlee of herself when she was younger, only her daughter had more talent that Charlee ever did. She hoped her daughter would see reason and move down to Texas. She didn’t need to stay in New York to be successful anymore, especially with the rate of commercial developments in the area lately. She hoped that Briella would

  finally see the light.

  By the end of the week, Briella and Mila had made a lot of new friends at work. And, even though the girls were technically on vacation, they were more than happy to go into work. They got to see a lot of what Charlee did running the business, and of course they had more time than ever with Dexter and Kason.

  When Friday came, the girls were sad to say goodbye to all the people they had met. They promised to come back and visit soon, and then left the firm to head back to Kason’s.

  At his house, Kason headed up to his bedroom with Briella. When he shut the door, Briella fell back onto the bed, a distant look on her face. Kason lay down next to her, not touching her, sensing she needed to talk.

  “Are you upset that you’re going back to New York soon?” he asked.

  Briella sighed. “Yeah. I never thought I’d feel that way. Your office is so different from ours. People don’t talk much to one another in our office, as it’s not encouraged. It’s unreal how easily I made friends here with everyone, and how much fun I had at work this week. I’m not looking forward to going back to New York, and it bothers me to say that.”

  There was a comfortable silence between them for a long moment before Kason spoke. “Not that I’m trying to pressure you or anything, but would you ever move here?”

  There was another long moment of silence while Briella contemplated that. “I don’t know how to answer that. I used to think my mom was crazy for wanting to move down here, with the accents, and country music and rednecks,” Briella said, making Kason chuckle. “It’s the opposite of everything I’ve ever known, and now, I just don’t know. I mean, my mom’s here, you’re here, and I have a feeling I’m going to lose Mila to Texas soon. I still feel this loyalty to New York, but I don’t think I can give you up.”

  “First of all, I would never ask you to give me up. We’ll work something out when the time comes. I’m not worried about that. I won’t lose you, even if I have to move to New York myself,” he declared. “No matter what happens, when the time comes to decide, everything will work out in the end. I would do anything for you, and I just want to see you happy, do you understand that?”

  “I know you would. I love you so much, and I know we can work this out. I’m just confused right now.”

  “Well, there’s nothing we can do about it tonight, so get up and change. I’m taking you out to dinner,” Kason said.

  “Just me, or are Mila and Dexter coming too?”

  “Just us. We need to go on a real date for once.”

  Kason was quiet as he and Briella drove to the restaurant. Briella didn’t take much notice, because she was thinking about what she wanted to do, move to Texas or stay in New York. She agreed with Kason, of course. It wasn’t something that would be decided tonight, but she couldn’t help but think about it.

  During dinner, Briella finally noticed that Kason was a little distant. He was talking to her, but it seemed as though his mind was elsewhere. She thought about the conversation they had had about moving, and wondered if she had said anything to bring this on. She hoped that he wasn’t having second thoughts about their relationship, because she didn’t know what she would do without him.

  After they finished their meals, the waiter came to clear their plates. When he came back from the kitchen, he was carrying a birthday cake with lit candles. He walked over to the table followed by the other waiters, singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Briella.

  Briella’s face turned red and she gave Kason a look. The waiters placed the cake on the table, clapped with merry good wishes, and walked away.

  Kason reached across the table and tilted Briella’s chin up, so that she was looking him in the eye. “You didn’t think I knew it was your birthday?”

  Briella shook her head.

  “Well, I did, you can’t put one past me,” he laughed, and Briella smiled.

  “I’m not big on birthdays,” she explained.

  “Maybe this will be the best one yet.”

  She smiled and kissed him.

  “Briella, I know we haven’t known each other very long, but I do know that I could never live without you. My mama always told me that when you find someone special, don’t let them go.” Kason got up out of his chair and kneeled next to Briella.

  She looked startled. “What are you doing?”

  “Make a wish and blow out your candles, darling.”

  Briella blew out her candles, and as she did, she saw a ring around one of the candles. She instantly knew what it was and what it meant. She burst into tears before Kason could say another word.

  Kason took the candle off the cake and picked the ring up. “Briella Fox, I love you so much. I don’t ever want to let you go, I want to wake up holding you every morning for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?”

  Kason’s eyes filled with tears as he looked at her tenderly, waiting for her answer.

  Briella knew what her answer would be. But she had to be absolutely sure he was on board with her. She saw what the ring meant, but she had to hear the words. “Are you sure this is what you want to do?” she asked softly.

  “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. I want you as my wife and I want to have kids with you, and get old and gray together. So, please, follow your heart?”

  Briella laughed. She threw her head back and laughed so hard that she started to cry again. “Yes! Yes, I’ll grow old and gray with you!” she said. Kason stood up and kissed her, and everyone sitting at the tables around burst into laughter and applause.

  Kason cleaned the icing off the ring and slipped it onto Briella’s finger. She really looked at it for the first time, and saw that it was a four carat princess cut diamond, with smaller princess cut diamonds set into the band. It fit her finger perfectly. “Oh, Kason! It’s beautiful! Did anyone help you pick it out?”

  “Um, no. The only one who knew what was your mother, and that’s because I asked her permission first. No one else knows,” Kason said.

  “Well, this ring is perfect, exactly what I’d have chosen myself,” Briella gushed. “Wait, you asked my mom’s permission?”

  “Yeah. I respect your mother, and I know how close you two are. I wanted her to realize how much she means to me too, so I had to do this with her permission,” Kason said.

  “That is the sweetest thing, Kason! Is this why we had that talk earlier?”

  “No, we had that talk earlier because it was bothering you at the time, and it was something you needed to get off your chest. I guess it was just a lucky coincidence,” Kason said, and smiled at his fiance. He looked at his watch and gestured for the waiter to bring their bill.

  “There’s someplace else I want to take you,” Kason said.

  “As long as it’s home to celebrate, then I’m fine with it,” Briella teased.

  “Not yet. Be patient for that. It’ll happen soon!” Kason said, and paid the bill among congratulations from the waiters and staff. He stood up, grabbed Briella’s hand, and walked with her out to the SUV.

  Kason held Briella’s hand as he drove,
and a few minutes later, they pulled into the parking lot of the bar where Kason first met Briella and Mila. He looked over at her. “You have yet to beat me drinking. I think it’s time for a rematch.”

  Briella groaned. “Not that I’m wimping out, but I kind of want to remember my first night being engaged. I think tonight is a night to take it slow with the alcohol?”

  He walked around to her side of the vehicle and opened her door. After he helped her out, he pulled her body close to his and kissed her deeply. Briella melted into his arms with a sigh. His lust was evident not just in his kiss, but in the way his body responded to hers. It was more than obvious as he held her close to him.

  “Tonight is definitely a night to remember,” Kason said. He reluctantly pulled away from her, and escorted her to the front doors of the bar.

  When they walked into the bar, Briella was shocked to see some people from her mother’s company there. Mila, Dexter, and her mother were standing in front of everyone, along with Kason’s family.

  “Surprise!” everyone yelled.

  A banner hung over the bar saying, “Happy Birthday Briella.” Briella turned back to Kason, and he grinned without an ounce of guilt. He kissed her cheek, and whispered in her ear, asking if she was ready to tell them. Briella nodded and squeezed his hand.

  “Wow, thanks for coming, everyone. I thought I was going to be able to celebrate my twenty-third birthday without anyone noticing. I guess I was wrong,” Briella laughed.

  Someone from the crowd shouted, “You have your boyfriend to thank for that one. Now we all know!”

  Briella laughed again and said, “Well, he’s not my boyfriend anymore.” The crowd went silent, and everyone looked at the couple in shock.

  Kason let that sink in for a moment, then yelled back at them, “I’m her fiance now! I asked her to marry me at dinner tonight, and she said yes.”

  The crowd was stunned and then all at once they surrounded the newly engaged couple, hugging and kissing them, patting Kason on the back, and congratulating them.

  “Nice birthday present!” Mila teased as she gazed at Briella’s ring.

  Raelynn made her way through the crowd and found Briella. “I am so happy for you and Kason. I couldn’t have asked for a sweeter daughter-in-law!”

  “Thank you, Raelynn! That means so much to me, Briella said, blinking back more tears. “I know it’s kind of fast, but it’s not like we’re going to get married tomorrow. Besides, he told me that a wise woman always told him when he found someone special not to let her go. Any idea who that wise woman was?”

  Raelynn laughed and hugged Briella. “Thank you for making him so happy!”

  Kason’s sister Aubrie came up and pulled Briella away from Raelynn. “Finally, I have a sister!” she cried, and hugged Briella. “I am so happy for you. We’re going to have so much fun together!”

  Briella laughed at her. They walked up to the bar together to get some drinks. Lined up across the bar were little shot glasses with red liquid in them.

  “What are these?” Briella asked.

  A deep voice came from behind her. “I believe they call those ‘Red-headed sluts’. I heard they’re pretty good.” Kason put his arms around her waist from behind and rested his head on her shoulder.

  “The last time we came here, the bartender looked at me like I was an alien when I asked for one of these,” she chuckled, remembering. “Why do they have them now?”

  The bartender leaned over the bar and smiled at her. “Because someone thought you were special enough for us to learn how to make them. He even brought in the directions for us.”

  Briella turned around in Kason’s arms. “You did that for me?”

  “I told you I’d do anything for you, Briella. I also told you that New York doesn’t need to be as far away as you think. I know that there are parts of New York that we can’t bring here, but there are some parts that we can. I want to do everything I can to make you feel at home while you’re here, no matter how big or small it is.”

  “It’s no wonder I love you so much,” Briella said, and brought her lips to his.

  When they broke the kiss, Briella began looking around for her mother. This was the best night of her life; she wanted to hug her mother and show her the ring and talk to her about everything that had happened.

  But while they were looking for Charlee, they kept getting stopped by well-wishers. About half an hour later, they finally found her sitting at one of the tables in the back room, far away from the noise.

  “Mom, are you alright?” Briella asked, as they sat down.

  She knew immediately her mother wasn’t alright. Charlee looked pale and tired, but it was more than just that. There was something else that looked a little off, something Briella couldn’t put her finger on.

  “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to ruin your special night. I’m just not feeling well,” Charlee said, as she tried to smile.

  “Mom, you look horrible. Do you want us to take you home?” Briella asked.

  “No, don’t worry about me,” she said, waving them off. “You both have a good time tonight. I’m just going to go home and get to bed. I’m sure it’s just a bug. Congratulations! I really, honestly couldn’t be happier for you both. Take good care of her Kason! I love you!”

  Charlee stood up from the table and immediately stumbled. She pressed her hand to her head. “Whoa. I’m lightheaded.”

  Kason steadied her with both hands on her shoulders. “You aren’t driving yourself home. Briella will drive your car, and I’ll follow her.”

  “No, you’re not leaving your party! I’ll be fine. It’s just the flu or something.”

  Briella’s heart began to pound. There was something wrong. “Mom, we’re not letting you drive. You can barely walk, and you look like you’re going to pass out any minute! How long have you felt bad?”

  “I’ve been feeling like I’ve had a bug for a few days now, but today I feel the worst,” she admitted.

  Kason looked at Briella for a moment “Charlee, I think we need to get you to the hospital. You really don’t look good.”

  Briella nodded. “I think he’s right, Mom. I’m going to let everyone know we’re leaving.” She turned to Kason and asked, “Do you think you can carry her out? Maybe let her lie in the back seat of your SUV?”

  “No,” Charlee started to protest, but then stopped, weaving a bit.

  “Not a problem,” Kason said. He picked Charlee up in his arms and carried her outside.

  Briella told everyone that they were sorry, and had to get Charlee to the hospital. Their guests understood and wished Charlee well, especially since most of the people at the party were Charlee’s employees. Dexter and Mila told Briella they would follow them to the hospital, and Kason’s family made a point of saying their goodbyes and heading that way, too.

  While Kason drove, Briella sat in the back, holding her mother’s hand. Charlee was scared of what the doctors were going to say. She knew that she should have gone to see them earlier, but she never went unless it was absolutely necessary. She hadn’t been feeling well for a few weeks, but it had become more pronounced a few days ago. She had a bad feeling as the SUV stopped in front of the emergency room.

  “Briella,” she said softly.

  “Yes, Mom?”

  “I love you, honey. Don’t you ever forget that, okay?”

  Tears sprang to Briella’s eyes. “Kason…”

  “We’re almost there,” he said, his voice tight with worry.

  Kason roared into the emergency bay. As soon as the SUV stopped, he ran in and brought back a wheel chair for Charlee.

  Mila and Dexter pulled up behind them. “Keys so I can move this beast,” Mila said to Kason, and he tossed them to her. Kason and Briella wheeled Charlee into the ER, where a nurse took Charlee from them and took her straight into a room.

  “The waiting room is over there,” the nurse said, pointing. “As soon as we know anything, we’ll let you know.”

  Kason led
Briella to a chair. She sat down and put her head in her hands. Kason sat next to her rubbing her back, whispering words of comfort to her. Dexter and Mila ran in, followed by Kason’s family. Everyone hugged Briella, reassuring her that everything would be okay.

  Mila sat off to the side, silently struggling with her worries. She was thinking back on the past few years, how Charlee had always been there for her. She was lost in her thoughts when she felt a hand touch her knee.

  She looked up to see Kason crouching in front of her. “Briella wants you. She knows how hard this is for you. You two need to be together right now. Go sit with her, talk to her about how you’re feeling.”

  Mila nodded and went to Briella. The moment Briella saw her friend, she burst into tears. Mila did the same, unable to hold back anymore.

  The two friends sat together, holding each other. All they could do was wait.

  Chapter Twelve

  Two hours later, there was still no word on Charlee’s condition. Kason was pacing in front of the nurse’s station, waiting for someone to give him some new information. After another fifteen minutes, a doctor came out to the lobby of the ER.

  “Briella Fox?” he asked, as he looked at all of them.

  Briella stood up and quickly walked over to him. Kason stood next to her and held her hand. Mila held her other hand, as the three of them waited for what the doctor had to say.

  “Your mother has a tear in the aorta of her heart, and she is going to require surgery. She isn’t strong enough for the surgery right now, so we’re admitting her, and we’ll proceed with surgery in a few days, after she’s regained some strength,” the doctor explained.

  The news hit them all with the strength of a tsunami wave. Briella made a sobbing sound, low in her throat. Kason’s heart began to pound. Mila started to cry again.

  “Will she survive?” Mila asked.

  “I believe so,” the doctor said. “I think it’s fair to say that the worst-case scenario is that she’ll need a heart transplant. But we believe that she will make a full recovery.”