My tone had changed. And if I wasn’t mistaken, she had noticed it since her cheeks had turned pink.
I cleared my throat. “You have your family, you have your friends, and we’re here to help you.”
“It’s nice to be back.”
“I know your brother is elated.”
“Has he told you as much?” she asked, humor clear in her voice.
“Of course. Do you know that he cried when you left Maple Creek for Arizona? Actually, I’m pretty sure we both did. After all, I never had any siblings. You were the closest thing to it.”
She frowned. “So you think of me like a sister?”
I laughed. “You know the answer to that.”
“So you’re happy I’m home.”
With raging emotions, I took the final step that separated us, bent down, and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. I had meant for it to be a kiss to comfort, or at least that’s what I told myself. But it wasn’t what it ended up being.
I don’t know which of us turned our face, but our lips met and that was it. I pulled away slightly, looking down at her, waiting for her to push me away.
Instead, she returned the kiss with fervor, her arms sliding around my neck as she arched against me. I deepened the kiss, and her hold on me tightened.
For one second, my mind screamed to put on the brakes. What was I doing? Hadn’t we done this last night?
And yet I couldn’t deny how good it felt to kiss her again. To feel her fingers tighten around the back of my neck, her nails digging in a little.
I knew she had reservations, especially since she was still recovering from her breakup, and therefore, I should be a gentleman and stop while I still could.
The problem was…I didn’t want to stop. Using all the strength I could manage, I put her at arms length, and at once I could see ten different emotions pass over her face. “Come to my house tonight for dinner. It’s just a date.”
She hesitated. “Just a date?”
“I’ll make you dinner, that’s it.” I wanted her to get to know me. To trust me. My stomach tightened as I waited for her answer.
After ten awkward seconds, she nodded. “Alright. Dinner it is.”
CHAPTER 7
Amanda
Brax’s house looked like it could be photographed for a spread in Better Homes and Gardens. Despite the fact that he was a contractor, when I had originally envisioned his home, I had thought along the lines of the typical twenty-two-year-old pad with beat-up, oddball furniture and pictures of beer logos and half-naked women on white, scuffed up walls. Not this house. Dark distressed hardwood flooring ran the length of the downstairs, and there was a cream-colored carpet on the rather elegant living room where pictures of landscapes blended well with earth-tone walls and a dark brown leather couch and recliner. The tables were all in dark wood that matched the wood trim on the doorways and window frames.
If this was an example of his work, I had definitely found the right guy to renovate my house.
“It’s not much, but it’s home,” he said with a proud smile.
“It’s beautiful, Brax. Comfortable yet homey, and a heck of a lot nicer than my place.”
“Pretty soon your house will be nicer than this. I guarantee it.” He ran a hand through his still damp hair. His biceps bulged with the effort, making my insides tighten.
He looked so hot. Dark, low-riding jeans molded to strong thighs, and a black V-neck cotton t-shirt couldn’t hide that wide chest, narrow waist, or the ripped edges of his abdomen.
I smoothed the front of my light blue cotton sundress. I had changed no more than five times, going back and forth on what to wear. The last thing I had wanted was to show up looking too casual.
He took a step toward me. “You look gorgeous,” he said, pulling me into his arms and kissing me until my legs threatened to buckle.
I had promised myself to take things slow. My heart hammered against his hard chest as he pulled me up against him, proving to me just how much he desired me.
I wove my fingers through his silky damp hair while my other hand explored the muscles of his back, the high arch of his ass, and down his firm cheeks. He smiled against my lips even as I pulled him tight against my belly.
“Careful…you might just get more than dinner tonight.”
I could hear my heart pounding. Every muscle in my body was tense with anticipation. It felt so right being in his arms, and I couldn’t deny the simple fact that I wanted him.
Desperately. No more waiting, no more second-guessing myself and worrying about what might happen. I needed to live in the moment and have fun. Look at Kara. She said Brax would be her hall pass. Why not have him be my hall pass? Why not just enjoy whatever this was, no strings attached?