Dim light filtered in from the moon and the security lamps outside. The couch was right there, but she didn’t sit. Instead, she turned her back to the field of fireflies, folded her hands together, and faced Brogan in the heavy shadows of the unlit interior.
He approached slowly, stepping up beside her to look outside. “They remind me of twinkle lights at Christmas.”
Forcing herself to stay still wasn’t easy. Pixie had to fight her natural inclination to move closer to him. “Last December, with Andy, Marlow, and Cort, was the first time I’d helped to decorate a Christmas tree since my aunt died. When it was just me, it didn’t seem worth the effort.”
“I see them in commercials and movies, and whenever I was off duty in the winter, they were in shop windows.” He shifted restlessly. “I don’t want to talk about holidays, though.”
Ignoring that, she said, “You’d like the holidays here. The Dry Frog Tavern, where Marlow waitresses, has a lot of parties for the locals. It’s fun.”
That got his attention. “I thought Marlow owned the boutique in Lankton.”
“She does. And she also waits tables at the tavern. She had that job first, before she settled on a site for Marlow’s Whimsy. By then, Herman was already a friend, and she loves waiting tables and chatting with everyone, so she does both.”
“And Cort rents out property?”
“Plus, he’s a handyman, and the local hero.” Cort would deny that last part if he could. “Herman has a photo of him in his uniform hanging at the tavern. Cort’s mother gave it to him before she passed away, and Herman hung it with pride.” That was a long story, though, so she summarized. “People in Bramble can be sentimental. They loved Cort’s mother, so they love him by extension. That’s how it works here sometimes.”
Somehow, while they spoke, they drifted closer together. Pixie didn’t know if she’d moved, or he’d moved, but only a few inches separated them now.
She looked up at Brogan, seeing the glimmer of his eyes beneath the level line of his eyebrows. So serious, so resolute.
So alone.
Lifting a hand, she touched his jaw, highlighted by moonlight, and whispered, “Stay.”
His fingers curled around hers … then lowered her hand to his chest, cradling it protectively. “I’ll put a cramp in your routine.”
Even through his shirt, she could feel his heat. Breathing became more difficult, especially when every inhale filled her head with the scent of him. “I promise it won’t.”
His thumb moved over her knuckles.
And sent a shiver through her. She cleared her throat. “There’s, um, only the one bedroom and bathroom.” Looking around as if she hadn’t seen the house before, she tried to sort out the logistics. “Andy sleeps in the room with me—you and Shayna could sleep anywhere else.” This close to him, she felt tiny. “You’re a big man.” When amusement caused a slight shift in his lips, she quickly clarified. “I mean, you’re bigger than the couch.”
“This enclosed porch is nice. Far enough away from the bedroom that if Shayna wakes up, it shouldn’t disturb Andy.”
“If you want to shower, you could—”
“Tomorrow I’ll get hold of Ruth, but for tonight, it would worry me to leave you alone. Even before Cort suggested I stay here, I was dreading leaving you.”
She hoped that was true. It’d be easier if they weren’t coercing him, if he actually wanted to stay. “It worries me, too.”
“A woman and child alone would be bait to Ruth.”
Now that she’d seen her in action, that didn’t seem at all far-fetched. “You really wouldn’t mind staying?”
His smile went crooked. “Thank you for letting me. I have a strong need to know that you and Andy are okay until I can get Ruth out of my hair.”
Relieved to have that issue settled, Pixie stopped fighting herself and hugged him.
He said against her hair, “It’s getting late. Do you think Marlow and Cort could hang out fifteen minutes while I run up to the house to get a few more things?”
“Knowing them, they’ll insist on waiting until you’re done.”
His hand moved up and down her back. “Is it okay for me to leave Shayna here?”
“There’s no reason to wake her.”
“Good. Soon as I get back, we should both try to get some sleep.”
