Two beats passed before he wrapped her in his arms, his face tucked down to her neck, his breath a little ragged. “I’ll get things worked out. Job, housing, all that, because I want to be with you, too—you and Andy. I’ve already looked at some job prospects in the area, and there are houses near Lankton, where you work. I know you’d prefer to be on the lake, but—”
“Things have a way of working out here in Bramble. You’ll see. Until then, we’ll take it one day at a time.”
“You’re being generous,” he said as he slowly released her. “The thing is, I have to pay my own way. I always have and I will always want to.”
“You’ve already paid for a summer lease on the lake house.”
“Yes, but I also want you to have choices.”
Stubbornly, she said, “I choose you.”
His smile this time was pure sunshine. “You have no idea how good that makes me feel.”
It suddenly occurred to her that she was rushing him. His life had been in turmoil for so long—first because of life-threatening injuries, then the loss of his sister, taking guardianship of his niece, and the constant harassment from Ruthie. He’d come to Bramble, as she had, as Marlow had—as so many had—to find some peace and quiet so he could collect his thoughts and find his footing.
And here she was, pressuring him to commit himself.
“I’m sorry.” Pixie sat back against the couch with a heavy sigh. “I’m usually not so forceful.” But she’d felt so sure of herself and what they had together. It killed her to say it, but she got out the words. “If you want to go back to the lake house, I get it. We’ll still see each other.”Just not as much.“I’m sure you’d enjoy sleeping in a bed for a change.”
Brogan slowly took the seat next to her. He also leaned back and then reached for her hand. Together, with each of them staring at nothing, they sat there.
After a moment, he said, “Just so we’re clear, I don’t need a bed. I’m comfortable enough on the floor. My issue is that I barged into your life, and you haven’t had time to sort out how you really feel.”
Pixie drew herself up to glare at him. “I know you’re not suggesting that I’m so weak I don’t understand my own feelings.”
“No.” His smile warmed even more and he oh-so-cautiously drew her down to his chest. “I would never underestimate you.”
“Well … good.”
“I thought you might like a breather, though, a chance to get back to your routine. We’ve been moving pretty fast, and it has to be a bit overwhelming.”
To counter that statement, she demanded, “Areyouoverwhelmed?”
“A little.” When she started to sit up, he locked his arms around her. “In all my plans to come here, to introduce Shayna and get your agreement for the kids to know each other, I never anticipated you. Your impact on me. The way your smiles do me in. How damned pretty you are. And friendly. And talented.”
“Stop,” she said, half-laughing, a little embarrassed, and even more turned on.
“I never considered that I’d take one look at you and start imagining impossible things. Things I gave up on years ago.”
“They’re all possible,” Pixie softly promised.As long as we’re together.
“I want you to be sure.” His lips touched her temple, and in a raw voice, he said, “You have to be sure.”
Because he couldn’t take another disappointment, anotherrejection. Oh, he’d be fine. He’d get by—just as he always had. But she wanted more for him, for them. So much more.
“Then we can do things your way,” she grudgingly agreed.For now.
“I’ll be at the lake house,” he promised. “When you have free time, we can spend it together—as often as you want.”
“I want coffee together in the morning,” she insisted. “I want Andy to hug you good night, and I want to kiss Shayna good night.”
“Done and done.”
She shifted around to see him. “I want to know about any jobs you check out, and how your father is doing.”
“Of course.”
Pixie drew a breath. “And I want sex.”
