“Don’t be. She’s happier now. That’s what matters.” He took a drink of milk. “What about you? You said you raised your brother?”
I nodded. “Dad left when Jesse was three. Mom worked two jobs to keep us afloat. So I... stepped up, I guess. Made sure he did his homework, went to his games, kept him out of trouble.” I smiled, though it felt sad. “By the time I was old enough to go to college, I couldn’t afford to leave. I worked at the diner and took night classes when I could. It took me until I was twenty-five to finally go to nursing school full-time.”
“That’s why you need this job.”
It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “Yes. I have student loans to pay. And Jesse eats like a bear.”
That did earn me a half smile. He was quiet though, studying me. “You’re tougher than you look.”
“I’ve had to be.”
“Yeah.” Something shifted in his expression. Understanding, maybe. Recognition. “Me too.”
I jumped when lightning flashed outside, followed by a loud rumble. I bit my lip, knowing I needed to leave, but not wanting to. I got up and put the dirty dishes in the sink. “I guess I better go.”
I turned around and he was there,
“You’re not going anywhere now.”
“I, uh,” I didn’t know what to say. Was this just the protective streak that ran through him? Or something more?
He placed his hands on the counter next to my hips, caging me in with those big arms. I started to tremble, realizing this was happening.
He leaned in closer, his mouth by my ear. “I’ve been trying not to think about you for days. Trying to convince myself to stay away. I’m done fighting it.”
My heart hammered against my ribs. “Fighting what?”
“This. You.” He leaned forward, slow enough to stop him if I wanted to—but I didn’t. Not even a little. His lips brushed mine once, testing. Then again, deeper, hungrier.
The storm, the world outside disappeared as he kissed me like a man who hadn’t in years—cautious at first, then desperate, all at once. This kiss was different from the one on the side of the road or the one in the parking lot. Slower. Deeper. Like he had all the time in the world to learn the shape of my mouth.
When he pulled back, we were both breathing hard. “This is a terrible idea,” he said.
“The worst.” His mouth curved—an actual smile, small but real. “Again?”
“Obviously.”
He pulled me into his arms, flush against his hard body and I did what came naturally. I melted into him. He slanted his mouth over mine and kissed me again.
This time it was exploring. His tongue licked at the roof of my mouth. I followed is lead, our tongues tangling as we kissed.
Finally, we came for air.
“Emily.” Th sound of my name was dark and deep. “If you stay here tonight, if we—” He stopped, jaw working. “I need you to understand something.”
“What?”
“I’m not good at this. At people. At... any of it.” He was clearly frustrated but I found it enticing. “I’ll probably screw it up. Say the wrong thing. Push too hard or not hard enough.”
“Okay.”
“But I want to try.” The words sounded like they cost him something. “With you.”
I stood on my tiptoes and kissed the underside of his jaw. His eyes widened slightly, like he hadn’t expected the soft touch.
“I know,” I said softly. “I want it too.”
His hand cupped my cheek, thumb brushing across my skin. The touch was gentle, at odds with everything rough about him.
