Hugh pulled her around the side of the building and took her in a long, avaricious kiss. “God, I’ve missed you.”
Brianna hooked her finger in his belt. “Me too,” she whispered.
He took her cheeks in his hands and pressed another kiss to her lips. They were definitely in sync. Her eyelids hung heavily, and her lips remained parted. Holy hell, she was so damn hot that he had to remind himself she had only a few minutes. He drew further away to calm his desires.
“I…uh…I fixed your lock, and I saw that Layla opened her gift. I’m glad you gave it to her.”
Brianna held his gaze. “She found it on the counter and she loved it. Thank you, but you really didn’t have to buy her those things. She’s just fin—”
Jesus, I want to kiss you. He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep from touching her. “I wanted to. I’m glad she loved it.” He didn’t have a plan for the fifteen minutes with her. He’d just needed to see her.
Brianna fiddled with the edge of her jacket.
“Hey, you okay? Did I overstep my bounds with the kiss? Or the gift?” His stomach lurched.
She shook her head and took a step closer to him; then she reached up and took his cheeks in her hands and stood on her tiptoes. He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her again, soft and tender.
“I’ve been thinking about you all day,” she whispered.
She kissed him again, and Hugh backed her up against the wall, allowing himself to kiss her like he needed to kiss her—like he’d wanted to kiss her all afternoon—passionate and deep, until neither of them had any breath left in their lungs. She ground her hips into his and he couldn’t help but run his hand down the delicious curve of her hip and grab hold of her backside.
He pulled back, and she said, “Kiss me,” in one long breath. She grabbed the back of his head and pressed his lips to hers again, capturing his next breath.
Jesus. She drove him crazy. He’d have to walk back to the bar with a hard-on and no hope of being able to hide it.
“Next time, please don’t hesitate.” She looped her index finger in the waist of his pants.
“I was trying to be respectful.”
“I got it. You respect me. Hugh, I want to experience the real you, and whatever that is, I’m not afraid of it.”
“You may not realize what you’re asking. I’m a thrill seeker—not with other women, but once I let my emotions take over, my carnal desires won’t be far behind. I might smother you.” He dragged his eyes down to her heaving chest and let his eyes linger there, then brought them back up again, weighing her expression, which got hungrier with each breath. “I don’t want to screw things up with you. I force myself to slow down and ask if I can touch you.” He cupped her hip in his hand.
“Don’t,” she commanded, with serious eyes and an expression to match.
He took his hand off her hip and she grabbed it and put it back.
“Don’t think of me like that,” she said. “I mean, think of me with respect, but I can tell you’re holding back, and I want to experience you full-on, Hugh. If I’m going to risk my organized and overly scheduled life, then I want to do it right. I’ll never do anything that’ll jeopardize Layla or the world she knows, but if we’re alone, or in bed together…” Her cheeks flushed.
“Love you like I want to?”
She nodded.
He breathed heavily. “You might want to retract that the next time we’re alone together.”
She bit her lower lip again, before whispering, “Good.”
Sweet Lord, Brianna had no idea how his feelings for her had multiplied over the afternoon, or how much he wanted to crawl right back under the sheets with her.
“When I get back from my race next weekend, I have a couple months off, and I’ve been thinking that I’d spend them here with you and Layla. You might regret your decision when you see me more often.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I can’t wait to find out.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
BRIANNA’S HEART FELT as if it might explode. She couldn’t believe she’d told Hugh what she wanted, and when she saw the dark, wild look in his eyes, a shock of apprehension ran through her—and just as quickly excitement chased it away. He held the door to the tavern open as they returned.
“Did you say you get a couple months off? Months?” she asked as he helped her take off her coat.
“I usually take off some of November, December and January. I’m an on-again off-again road warrior for most of the year.” Hugh looked around the busy bar.
“A road warrior?” She grabbed her towel from behind the bar and looped it over her belt, then grabbed an order pad as she noticed two couples settling into the booths.
“The race schedule runs thirty weeks out of the year. When I race the circuit, I’m on the road a lot of that time. Listen, you need to work. I’ll sit down and have a soda and watch you for a minute or two.” He raised his eyebrows with a coy smile. “Then I’ll take off so you’re not distracted. You can call me after Layla’s asleep and we can talk.”
Road warrior? What was I thinking? The thought of being apart for even half of that time was too much. She felt her heart breaking and knew she couldn’t mask the ache.
“Okay,” she managed. She headed for the new customers before Hugh saw her face. Thirty weeks. Oh my God. I can’t do this to Layla. Or myself. Hugh settled into a seat at a nearby table, and her heart twisted; her stomach ached. She took the customers’ orders and went behind the bar to make their drinks.
“So? Did you show or tell?” Kat whispered.
Brianna’s lower lip trembled. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
“Bree? Oh my God. Bree. What happened?” Kat took the glass from Brianna’s trembling hand. “Honey, what happened?”
She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Tears tumbled down her cheeks.
“Mack?” Kat called.
Mack came behind the bar and stopped cold when he saw Brianna’s tear-filled eyes. “What happened?” Mack shot a look at Hugh and took a step in his direction.
Brianna grabbed his shirt. “Mack, no,” she whispered. “He didn’t do anything. It’s not that.”
“Then what is it?” Mack kept his eyes trained on Hugh.
Brianna glanced across the bar at the same time the door to the bar opened and Layla and Mrs. Cranston walked in.
“Oh God.” Brianna wiped her eyes.
Layla ran up to the bar. “Mommy! Mr. Cranston had to go to the hospital and I need to stay here.”
Brianna looked at Mrs. Cranston. She had a frightened look in her red-rimmed eyes. “What happened?”
“We’re not sure. He had chest pain, and you know Mr. Cranston. He could have had it for weeks before saying anything. I’m sorry, Brianna. Your mom is out until midnight with that evening job, and I didn’t have anyone else to take her.”
“Don’t be silly. Go, and thank you for bringing her here. Do you need a ride to the hospital?” Brianna came around the bar and hugged Mrs. Cranston.
“No, thank you, dear. I’ve got my car. I’d better go.” She hurried out the door.
“Of course. I hope he’s okay.” Brianna put her hand on Layla’s shoulder and looked at Mack. “Mack.” She glanced down at Layla, then at the full tables and booths.
Mack blew out a breath. She could see that he needed her to work. Brianna took Layla’s hand and walked her to the end of the bar. “You can sit here and color while I work.” Shit, shit, shit.
“Brianna, she really needs someone to watch her. We’re too busy for you to do both, and we can get into trouble with her at the bar.” Mack’s gaze was soft, and Brianna knew he wasn’t trying to be a stickler, but he was right. She was too busy to be a mom and a bartender. Something had to give.
Hugh came to the bar, and Mack moved beside him.
Brianna shot a look at Mack. “Mack, please.” She caught a glimpse of Kat, who was rushing from table to table.
Mack crossed his arms.
“Hi, Mack.” Hugh smiled at Mack, then narrowed his eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You tell me,” Mack said.
Hugh’s eyes darted between the two. “Bree?”
“Ugh. Mack, I told you it wasn’t him. Hold on, Hugh.” She waved a hand at Layla. “Honey, I’ll be right back.” She dragged Mack to the other side of the bar with Kat on her heels.
“It’s not him. Okay?” Brianna said to them. “He didn’t do anything. I just didn’t realize how many weeks he traveled each year, and once I did…”
“Brianna, that’s why you were crying? Jesus, you scared the shit out of me. I didn’t want to be known as the guy who beat up Hugh Braden.” He pulled Brianna out of earshot of the customers. “Bree, if you guys really stay together, you won’t be apart during that time. Lots of those guys are married. Their wives and children travel with them and they bring along tutors for their kids, or they travel back and forth. Listen, if you were all broken up over being apart, then you must really like him. Give it a chance.” He took her by the shoulders and turned her around. “Look.”