“Afternoon,” he said, his eyes searching hers. “Almost had to charter a boat to get into town.”
“Hope you didn’t go through all that trouble on my account.” Why did her voice sound like that? Tight and high
and girlish. She cleared her throat.
He shrugged. “Don’t have your cell number. Figured calling here or your place and risking someone else answering might not go over well.”
She shook her head, wrote her number on a slip of paper and handed it to him. “Here. You think no one noticed your coming in here?” Half of Fort Kyle lived with their binoculars in one hand and their phones in the other. Then again, the rain had things closed up tight for the most part.
He chuckled, tucking the paper into his coat pocket. “Maybe I’m looking for something for my girls’ birthday?”
His scent reached her—stirring up every vivid second of last night. She breathed deep and leaned against the counter. “Are you?”
“No,” he admitted, his gaze locking with hers. “But it’s a good cover story.”
She pushed off the counter, putting space between them before she did something foolish. Like kiss him.
“Couldn’t get to your truck.” He followed her, his gaze steady on her as she straightened a knickknack, smoothed a wrinkle from an old quilt draped on a hanging rack and arranged a handful of worn books on the shelf.
She shook her head. “I was worried you’d try to go out there. The road always washes out so—”
“You were worried about me?” he asked, following her.
She took an awkward step-hop back. “Of course. I mean—I couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you. Your daughters probably wouldn’t think too highly of me, either.”
His eyes narrowed a little, the muscle in his jaw tightening. “You look tired.”
She hadn’t slept much. Because of him.
“Didn’t get much sleep?” he asked, picking up an old brass popcorn popper.
“No,” she admitted, her voice low and husky.
“Me neither,” he said, placing the popcorn popper back on the shelf.
“Oh?” she asked, her lungs emptying as he closed the distance between them.
“Not a wink.” His gaze traveled slowly over her face. “My mind wouldn’t shut off. All night long. Spinning.” He shook his head. “Last night.” He broke off with a slight shake of his head.
She sucked in a deep breath, but it didn’t help. He was so close she couldn’t escape the effect he had on her. Last night had lit a fire inside her. Now that fire fought to rage out of control. “Was incredible.”
“The kiss?” he asked, swallowing before he teased, “Or the drive?” His near-gold gaze searched hers.
“All of it,” she murmured. She wanted his touch and his kiss... And when his lips brushed softly against hers, she almost forgot there were still things to say. Important things... But his mouth was heaven. She shuddered, putting a hand in the middle of his chest.
“What’s wrong?” His arms kept her anchored against him. Right where she wanted to be.
“Before I lose my head over you, you have to know this can’t be more than what it is. Yes, you set me on fire—” She broke off, loving the smile on his face. “It doesn’t change anything, though. I’m still leaving. And you’re still juggling a dozen jobs and your girls. We both have kids to think about, and our fathers’ determination to hate each other doesn’t help. Neither of us is looking for more complications right now. But we’re both lonely, both needing something the other can give.”
He stared at her, his expression blank.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this.” She shook her head. “You’re important to me, Brody. And now that we’ve reconnected, you’re too important to lose over whatever this...is.” She pointed back and forth between them. She’d never hurt him, ever. Or risk a friendship she’d always treasured. Right now, she needed his friendship. “I think it’d be easier if we kept this to ourselves. But this is kind of hard to get around, isn’t it? The wanting? I just don’t want us to do something we might regret.” She ran a hand over her face. “Does that make me a bad person?”
His hands gripped the waist of her pants, the ghost of a smile on his lips. “Just so I understand what you’re saying, here. You want me, I want you, and as long as we don’t let it interfere with our friendship, or our families, we should see where this takes us?”
She smiled. “Yes. You made that sound easy.”
His gaze searched hers, the muscle in his jaw working. “And you want to know if this makes you a bad person?”