I was speechless. Frozen in place. Uncomfortable. Ecstatic. Yet, my mouth opened, and I spoke. “Funny. Those were all qualities that set me apart from other girls in high school. Made me about as much of a novelty as this,” I held my ringed finger up. “I was made fun of. People talked behind my back.” I rose and busied myself with locking the scope onto the mount. Brax stood behind me, and I continued. “I knew it, though, and didn’t care, really. I mean, it was me. Who I was.” I gave him a quick glance, and he studied me in silence. “I was comfortable with myself and wasn’t changing for anyone.” I pushed my braid over my shoulder, checked the scope locks, then looked skyward. Finding the moon, I situated the eyepiece, zeroed the target, tilted the scope, and pressed my eye to it. Forced myself to breathe.
“I’m damn glad of that.” Brax’s raspy voice spoke with certainty; maybe a little admiration. Or surprise. And very close. You’re being stupid again …
“Well,” I shook off my self-chastising and continued setting the scope. “I’m … relieved you appreciate my individuality.” I lifted my head and looked at him, and gave him a half smile. “Or maybe you just have weird taste in friends.” I stepped out of the way and inclined my head toward the scope.
Brax’s shoulder brushed mine as he moved to take my place, but he didn’t comment. He lowered his head to the eyepiece and I studied his profile. In the shadows, his features were fierce, set, cut in stone like a gargoyle, maybe, and I was again disarmed by how brutal yet completely stunning he was. “Are you fucking kidding me?” he said in a low voice. Pulling his eye from the view finder, he grinned, then returned his gaze to the telescope positioned toward the moon’s surface. “Christ, I’ve never seen anything like it, Gracie.” Moments went by, and I waited in the dark as he scoured the stars. I felt thrilled Brax was intrigued. For some crazy reason, I’d hoped he would be.
“I guess we’d better pack it up,” I finally said. “I don’t want to abuse my privileges on the first day.”
Brax straightened and made his mouth twitch. “You a by-the-book type of girl, yeah?”
I nodded. “Especially when it comes to my job. Yes.” I reached for the scope, about to start unlocking the pieces, but Brax beat me to it. I watched, and to my surprise he’d really paid close attention. He broke every scope piece and mount part down perfectly. I crouched beside him and held open the bag while he loaded the pieces carefully inside. When he finished, he pointed.
“What’s with the camera?”
I zipped the bag, Brax shouldered it, and we both rose. “Celestial photography,” I answered. I started toward the platform door, and he followed. Inside the stairwell, the lights were dim. “Sometimes the lighting is perfect, and objects are sharp. I don’t like to miss an opportunity.”
He reached the bottom just ahead of me and he stopped. The space between us was non-existent, he was so close, and with me one step up we were nearly eye level. “Neither do I.”
The surge of electricity between us pinged off the walls of the stairwell, bringing awareness to all of my senses. The scent of Brax’s skin smelled clean, like soap, and it mixed with the faint aroma of fresh paint on the concrete walls. The warmth inside the stairwell brought a slight sheen of moisture to my arms, neck, face, and with each breath Brax released, it washed over me and cooled my skin. My heart slammed against my ribs, and we just stared. I couldn’t move, frozen to the step I stood on. I knew I wasn’t imagining it. Brax’s gaze lowered to my mouth and stayed there long enough to make my breath lodge in my throat. Suddenly the scar through my lip seemed twice as large, and I tried to hide it with my teeth.
“Don’t do that,” Brax said. His thumb brushed over my scar, and he looked at me. “Don’t hide that scar. Don’t hide who you are, Gracie. Ever.” Scah.
Brax’s broad shoulders shifted, and his body leaned toward me. My mind was clogged, confused, but all I knew was I wanted his mouth on mine. I wanted him to kiss me. Oh, God, he’s going to kiss me …
The exit door opened, and I jumped back as Noah Hicks stepped inside. Luckily, his gaze was directly on Brax instead of me, because no doubt I had guilt written all over my face. “Hey, I was just coming to check out your scope.” Brax had shifted back and stood tall, eye to eye with Noah. “But I see you’ve already packed it up. What’d you think?” he asked Brax.
Brax didn’t answer right away, and I got the feeling he did it on purpose. “Fucking amazing,” he finally said, then reached back and grabbed my hand. “We were just heading out. Thanks for letting me in, man.” He moved past Noah, towing me behind him.