Kiley ran her finger around the rim of her cup. “So if Brady would’ve said, ‘Tough crap, get in the car and after I switch it out I’ll take you home in something more weather appropriate and then I’m feeding you at my favorite restaurant’ . . .”
“I would’ve done what he asked.” I hated admitting that.
“Well, well. My roomie has a submissive streak.”
“What? No! No way.”
“You like it when Brady gets all bossy and decisive. You’re not mad about the car; you’re mad he let you go without a fight.”
Okay. Although I hadn’t given Kiley all the details, she had gotten some things right.
I did like it when Brady took control. That was what had made me so hot for him Saturday night. He’d touched me, kissed me, even danced with me the way he’d wanted.
That had been powerful stuff.
“Lennox?”
I looked at Kiley. “I dislike it intensely when you’re right.”
She grinned. She despised the word “hate” and had stricken it from her vocabulary and banned the use of it in her house. “So send the man a text and see if he made it home all right.”
“We didn’t exchange numbers.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. I guess maybe he knows he can get ahold of me at work.”
“Think he’ll do that tomorrow?”
I shook my head. “I have a dental appointment, so I’m taking the entire day off as a personal day.”
“Nice. They’re predicting snow tomorrow and Saturday, but promise me you won’t sit around and mope all weekend.”
“I don’t mope.” I finished my tea. “Where will you be?”
“Since I don’t have a place for my kids Saturday, I signed up for a seminar in St. Cloud. I leave in the morning and won’t be back until Sunday night.”
The prospect of a long weekend by myself didn’t fill me with the usual elation.
Kiley stood. “My last bit of advice, roomie. Don’t be stubborn. You knew going into this thing with Brady that he has the mind of a CFO, not a lothario. Work with him. Be forgiving of his slipups. And bear in mind you’re not perfect either.”
*
The next afternoon I’d changed into sweatpants after returning from the dentist. I had my laptop out and I’d finished my weekly bookkeeping when two loud raps vibrated against the door.
Probably the UPS man.
I’d grab the package later.
Two more raps. Louder.
I set my computer aside and headed down the stairs. I flipped the locks and opened the door as far as the chain would allow. I started to say, “Just leave it,” when I noticed it wasn’t the UPS man.
Brady stood there, peering at me through the crack.
“Let me in.”
“What are you doing here?”
“I’ll tell you if you let me in. It’s cold as balls out here.”
I closed the door in his face and allowed myself a quick, happy grin before I resumed a blank expression and reopened the door.
He stomped the snow off his shoes on the outside mat before he came in. “I didn’t see you at work today—”
“I had a dental appointment and I cleared it with my supervisor so it’s not like I called in sick—”
Brady placed his mouth over mine. His lips were cold, as were his cheeks, but his tongue was warm. He kissed me for a good long time. When he eased back, my fingers were clutching the edges of his coat and I’d pressed myself against his body—for warmth, since we’d left the front door wide open.
I reached around him and slammed the door shut.
Then he kissed me again. “I didn’t embellish this,” he muttered against my mouth.
No, he hadn’t. In fact, I think I hadn’t given enough credit to how physically compatible we were.
“Why are you here?”
“I didn’t like how things ended between us last night.” He rested his forehead to mine. “Christ. I let you take a fucking cab home. I should’ve tossed you in my car and made you come with me.”
“Yes, you should have.”
“So that’s why I’m not giving you a choice this time.” He stepped back and tapped my ass. “Get packed. You’ll want a bunch of cold-weather clothing. Pajamas. Anything else you’ll need the next two nights.”
“What are you talking about? I can’t just leave.”
“Why not? You have other plans for this weekend?”
“No, but—”
His thick fingers covered my lips. “You told me being impulsive was the key to getting wild. So the advice you gave me isn’t the same advice you’d take yourself?”
Dammit.
“Ah. It’s true.” He paused and his eyes searched mine. “Were you dancing on the bar that night because you needed a reminder that you used to be spontaneous? Is that why you agreed to help me in my quest to find my wild side?”