Page 17 of Finding Love

CHAPTERSIX

Brook got all of an hour of sleep. The night before, she’d slept like the dead on the porch with Ryder and Willy snoring across from her. That hadn’t been the case this time.

For some reason, just knowing he was right outside her bedroom window showering had set her off. Or maybe it was that kiss. She didn’t know why she’d kissed him, but afterward, her brain had completely shut off.

Actually, everything had shut off except her libido.

Which was why she’d had a rough night. She woke about an hour before her alarm and figured that a run on the beach would help clear her head. She changed into her running shorts and tank top and quietly slipped out of the house and off the porch. When her shoes hit the hard sand near the water’s edge, she took off, letting her mind clear and focusing only on her breathing.

This stretch of beach was only two miles long before she came up against the cliffs near the Jordan’s encampment. She could normally run the four miles twice. Today, however, she was just coming up on the Bed and Breakfast when she spotted Ryder and Willy walking towards her.

She hadn’t heard them stirring and expected them to still be asleep.

“Morning,” she said as they came into earshot.

Willy raced over to her, and she knelt down and gave the dog the belly scratches he wanted.

“Morning.” Ryder smiled and stopped next to her. “Nice morning for a jog.”

She glanced up at him and nodded. “Yes, it is. We’re supposed to get some more rain later today. Possibly another storm tonight.”

“We didn’t mean to interrupt your jog,” he said when she turned and started walking with him back towards her place with Willy leading the way.

“You didn’t. I was hoping something would break in to save me from the run,” she joked.

“Do you work again today?” he asked after a moment of silence.

“Yes,” she answered and glanced at him. She wanted to ask him what his plans were, but something held her back. Besides, she could see he was deep in thought, debating something heavy.

Then he turned towards the water and took a deep breath. She stopped and stood next to him, looking out over the water. The view was breathtaking. Even though she’d been raised right here and had seen it every day of her life, it still gave her joy knowing she would see it for the rest of her life.

Already, Brook could see the clouds building far off in the horizon. The rain would be starting within a few hours.

“I was determined to head back up to Seattle. Before…” He glanced sideways at her.

She felt her heart kick and remembered the passion she’d felt in that quick kiss the night before. She’d spent the entire night dreaming of what being with him would be like.

The sultry looks between them had been hotter than anything she’d ever had with her ex-boyfriends.

“And now?” she asked, a little breathless from the desire she saw in those green eyes.

He turned to her and, moving slowly, laid his hands on her shoulders. “Now, I’m not so sure. I’d like a little more time to discover… this.” His eyes moved down to her lips. “If possible.”

She smiled and then nodded slightly as she moved closer to him.

His hands stiffened and a slight frown formed on his lips.

“Are you always this… trusting with strangers?” he asked suddenly. She wanted to laugh but saw the seriousness in his eyes.

“I trust Eva’s judgment of people. And since I met you, you have done nothing to indicate to me that you are anything other than someone running from something that is out of their control. I know how that feels. Maybe not to the same extent.” She leaned closer. “I do live in a small, secluded cottage,” she pointed out, and he smiled. Then she sobered again. “Besides, I think there is… something here.”

He moved closer so their bodies were pressed up against one another.

She looked up into his sea green eyes with the salty air washing over them. She felt her insides start to heat as his lips moved down to cover hers.

Brook could count on one hand the number of times a kiss moved her so much that her knees actually went weak. Ryder’s kiss blew all of those out of the water. If it weren’t for his arms being wrapped around her, holding her up, she would have melted into the sand.

“Yeah,” Ryder said, pulling back a little. “There’s definitely something here.” He rested his forehead against hers. Then he surprised her by taking her hand and turning them so they could continue walking. “I’m thinking I’ll stick around to see what it is.”