Page 20 of Rescuing Brinley

This woman…hearing her say she wasn’t experienced made him want her all the more. Not because of what she may or may not have done physically with another man. But because if anyone deserved to be treated like a queen, he had a feeling it was Brinley Deaton.

“Screw protocol. I want you to say what you’re thinking. I want you to be real. Be yourself. And for the record, it’s been a hell of a long time since I’ve been on a date myself.”

“You aren’t…This isn’t…Shoot.”

Shadow took a risk and reached for her hand. She didn’t resist when he rested their clasped hands on her thigh. If she made the tiniest effort to pull away, he’d let go, but she didn’t. Her fingers closed around his tightly, hanging on like she needed an anchor. She was obviously a competent and successful businesswoman, but at that moment, all Shadow wanted to do was protect her. Shelter her. Make her feel comfortable.

“Don’t be afraid to tell me what you’re thinking, Brinley. I swear I won’t get upset or change my mind.”

She sighed. “Are you doing this because your friends put you up to it?”

It took every ounce of Shadow’s control not to show how pissed off her words made him, especially since he’d just said he wouldn’t get upset about anything she told him. But the second he had the thought, he realized why she must’ve asked. He didn’t think anyone would ask such a thing if they hadn’t had something similar happen to them before. And that only made him angrier. Not at her, but at what she’d probably been through in the past.

“Hell no. I’m asking you out because I’ve been dreading the end of this assignment, knowing it would mean we’d go our separate ways and the chances I’d ever get to see you again would be slim. I’m sure I jumped the gun and I’m probably moving too fast, but hearing that you not only live in the same state as I do, but in the same city has me so excited, I couldn’t hold back from asking you out immediately.”

“Oh.”

“Has that happened before?” He asked the question gently, wanting to know the answer but dreading it all the same.

She nodded. “Yeah. Junior year of high school. It was a very long time ago, and I should be over it by now, but…it still hurts. A boy asked me to Homecoming. He picked me up, then left me at the dance and met up with the girl he’d actually invited, along with all his buddies. They made a bet he couldn’t get the ugliest girl in school to go to the dance with him. He won.”

“Fuck him,” Shadow bit out. “Seriously. Kids are the fucking worst. But I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that he didn’t deserve you.”

To his amazement, she smiled. “A shadow of a doubt?”

But he wasn’t ready to let this go. He lifted the hand that wasn’t holding hers and did what he’d wanted to do earlier. He ran a finger over her cheek. “These freckles? They’re adorable. And sexy. They make me wonder if you have them…everywhere. And I know it’s inappropriate as hell, but all I can think about is tracing them with my tongue. Seeing how much of you they cover.”

He felt the heat in her cheeks under his finger.

“You aren’t ugly, Brinley. I hate everyone who ever made you feel that way in your lifetime. You’re unique. You stand out in a crowd of women who try too hard to look like a bunch of Barbie dolls. That asshole back in high school didn’t deserve your attention for two seconds. Didn’t deserve your uniqueness. Your kindness. Your loyalty. Because reading between the lines, I’m guessing your friend, Cypress, didn’t want to move to Alaska on her own, and having you with her was as much a comfort to her as it was to you.

“Please say yes to going out with me when we get home. And for the record, if you don’t want to, or if I’m freaking you out with my intensity, you can say no and that will be that. I won’t harass you or make things uncomfortable for you. I’ve just never been so attracted to a woman, and I don’t want to leave here without at least making an effort to see you again.”

He was definitely babbling now, which wasn’t something he usually did, but Shadow was nervous. Scared Brinley would say no. He held his breath and forced himself to lower his hand from where he’d been touching her cheek.

“I’d like that,” she said quietly.

His breath came out in a long whoosh. “Thank fuck.”

She giggled, and the sound went straight to his dick, making it twitch in his pants. He wanted to make it his life’s goal to keep this woman smiling and laughing. Because he had a feeling she’d had way too little of that thus far.

A weight felt like it lifted from his shoulders, now that she’d agreed to see him again.

She didn’t try to pull her hand from his as they sat on the beach and slowly got to know each other. They talked about their favorite foods, music, books, and everything in between. Shadow soon found himself talking about his mom. He hadn’t planned on it, just in case it made her sad that her own relationship with her mother obviously wasn’t good, but she encouraged him to talk by asking questions.

Once she’d reassured him that just because she didn’t have a healthy relationship with her family, didn’t mean she begrudged anyone else the same, he gladly told her about the amazing woman who’d raised him.

“My mom is awesome. My dad died when I was around three, and unfortunately I have no memories of him. But Mom made sure I had plenty of male role models in my life, putting me in all kinds of sports and encouraging relationships with the husbands of her friends. But at the end of the day, it was always my mom and I against the world. She taught me that women are the strongest gender. She taught me to never be ashamed to admit how I feel. We laughed together, cried together, and celebrated every little milestone as if it was the most amazing accomplishment on the planet. She’s my rock, my biggest supporter and loudest cheerleader. I can talk to her about anything and everything, and she’s never judged me for the decisions I’ve made in my life. I love her so much and wouldn’t be half the man I am today without her.”

“She sounds amazing.”

“She is. And she’s going to take one look at you and love you on sight.” Okay, that was definitely probably too much, too soon, but Shadow didn’t care. He knew in his bones that his mom would love this woman. That she’d smack him on the back of the head and tell him to “put a ring on it” as soon as possible.

“Dash, I have a hard time around new people. I don’t think⁠—”

“You haven’t had a hard time around me tonight,” he interrupted.

She stared at him for a beat before shrugging. “You’re easy to be around.”