Bradford's Orders Book Two The Third Generation Series

Chapter 9

Thank you for reading Enjoy

Chapter 9

Bradford

I hope I'm doing the right thing telling her about this. I understand how important honesty is, and I know firsthand how a lie can destroy a relationship, especially one so new and fragile. I don't want to hurt Holly and I want to be open and honest with her. This is important for a foundation to trust in any relationship.

Holly sat up, pulling away from me and giving me an instant chill. The look on her face said it all. She's hurt, angry and confused. There's probably some fear mixed in there too.

I don't blame her. I've brought her out to the middle of the ocean at night. Just the two of us for a romantic night alone and now I'm telling her that I know her deepest darkest secrets. I'd be pretty pissed off and leery too.

Getting off the lounge, she put too much space between us. Space I don't like. I want her to understand I'm not blaming her. Getting up, I toss the blanket aside and go to her.

"Holly!" Grabbing her arm to bring her back to me, she yanks away from me and steps back.

"Don't touch me!" She says softly but the warning is clear. She's not going to let me in until she's good and ready. And I explain myself.

"I won't," I agreed, holding my hands up in surrender. "Just let me explain what happened please. Then I'll take you home."

Holly, obviously not happy with me, looked around the boat, the dark ocean, the darker sky and realized she had no choice. I chose to do this out here where she couldn't run away from me. She can't go anywhere unless she swims back to shore.

"Fine, you haven't exactly given me much of a choice." She gives in and sits in a chair away from me.

No, I didn't give her a choice. I could have played this better but I meant for tonight to be romantic and private. I was more worried about the press overwhelming her than this. I actually wasn't thinking about this when I was planning tonight. But I'll let her believe what she wants right now.

"I guess I didn't. I wanted us to be alone. No interruption, no press, no fans. I'm sorry if that happens to make you feel like I've cornered you. It wasn't my intention."

I'll leave it there for now.

"What exactly was your intention?" She asked curiously.

And taking a seat across from her, I lean forward with my elbows on my knees and begin my tale. "First, you need to understand we weren't investigating you. We were investigating Zane. With good reason and with good intentions. We're looking out for you and Tempest as much as we're looking out for the family."

She narrowed her eyes but said nothing. I don't think she will say anything until I tell her everything. So I continued on. And I told her all of it. Everything Callahan told us and everything we suspected about Zane.

She was hurt and embarrassed by the things we found out about her financial situation and the way her father left her holding the bag. I made sure she knew we didn't see her any differently than we had but it was clear she saw herself differently. That would have to change.

"You are still the same person you were in our eyes before we knew about this, Holly. We want to help you," I told her, which was obviously the wrong thing to say.

"I'm not a charity case! I don't want a handout, Bradford! I'm working hard to pay off what my father owes. And I'll do it but it's just going to take me some time!" She angrily argued with me.

"I understand that. I'm just saying that I can help you. I can pay it off for you and you can pay me back in time with no pressure and no interest whatsoever. I'm a lot easier to deal with than a bank," I explained wanting to take the pressure off her shoulders.