EXCERPT from BRIX

She was the most infuriating woman he'd ever met. Sometimes she would listen. Sometimes she wouldn't. She would spend hours looking at art books, talking about lost art with Ellie and Ro, visiting the galleries in New Orleans, and then she would say she was no longer interested in art.

With the incessant calling of her parents, it was a wonder that she was healing at all. That's all Brix was worried about. They'd been in the same cottage for weeks now but had yet to touch one another beyond a hug or chaste kiss.

He was starting to wonder if she was interested in him at all.

"Brix?"

"Yeah, babe."

"Where are we headed?" she asked. He held her hand, smiling down at her.

"Right now, we're headed out to the Sugar Lodge. We have some interesting art pieces out there I thought you might like to see."

"No. That's not what I meant. Where are you and me headed?"

He stopped smiling down at her. He'd wanted to have this conversation the moment they'd arrived at Belle Fleur, but he was giving her the chance to heal.

"Where would you like for us to be headed?" he asked.

"Brix," she said, frustrated with his answering a question with a question, "I'm asking you!" He laughed, shaking his head.

"Alright, if you're asking me. We're headed toward a permanent, full-time, all-in relationship. You and me, Daph. Marriage, kids, the whole thing."

She frowned at him, tears filling her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I thought that's what you wanted," he said, swallowing back his own tears. She shook her head.

"Oh, Brix, it's everything I want. But I'm fairly sure you're not going to want me."