Page 53
“That’s even worse,” she wailed.
“Are you kidding? Sleeping on soft carpet in a warm room is heaven compared to where I’ve slept in the past.” Brax held out his hand and she looked at it. “Take it.”
She stared at it.
“Be brave, Jenny, hold my hand. We’ve kissed. You can surely hold my hand.”
She bit the inside of her cheek, then took his hand, and he threaded their fingers together. They continued along, and she stared at his profile. He was so handsome. She could gaze at him forever.
He glanced over at her. “Do I have something on my cheek?”
She could feel herself blushing, but dammit, she wasn’t going to be all blushing-high-school-girl. “I like how you look.”
“That’s a relief, since you know I almost had a heart attack when you came out of the bedroom in that outfit this morning. It sure as hell was worth the wait.” He squeezed her hand a little tighter. It shot tingles throughout her body.
“I bought some clothes online.”
“You did good. Let me say again, the boots are stellar.”
Jenny had to force down a grin. She’d had Brax in mind when she’d bought the tight, black, knee-high leather boots with the crisscross laces up the sides. They went perfectly with her skinny jeans and red sweater. She’d even blown-out her hair so it had extra body. Only lip gloss though, since they had just been going to breakfast.
Hopefully her outfit would be okay when she met Lainey. She’d bought the boots to impress a man, but maybe Lainey wouldn’t like them. Would she think they were too over the top? Too slutty?
“Whatever you’re thinking, stop.”
“I’m not thinking anything. I’m sitting here wondering when we’re going to get to Mateo and Lainey’s house.”
“Liar. You’re getting yourself worked up again.”
She blew out a breath. “You’re not supposed to know me so well. It’s against the rules.”
“You know me just as well. We’ve been talking on the phone twice a day for almost a month. Some of our conversations have lasted over an hour. I think that’s close to twenty dates, don’t you?”
“I think you’ve been sniffing cleaning fluid, or licking lizards. What makes you think I would have gone out on twenty dates with you?”
“’Cause you like me.” His fingers tightened around hers, and he brought her hand up to his face and he whispered a kiss across her knuckles. “Mateo and Lainey are going to love you.”
“I hope so,” she said with a sly smile. “But this is a make or break it moment.”
“You’ll get along with them just fine, stop worrying.”
“I’m not worrying about them, I’m worried about your dog. ’Cause don’t lie to me Braxton Walker; you’re sweating bullets over there hoping that I’ll get along with your dog.”
He turned his head and gave her a sharp look. “You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do. You’re totally one of those, ‘love me, love my dog’ types. You’ve talked about Faith a lot. It’s one of the things that made you so approachable. I don’t think I would have glommed onto you so much if I hadn’t heard how much you love her.”
He gave her hand another squeeze. “Well, then I’m happy.”
Mateo and Brax stood at the grill as they watched Lainey and Jenny playing fetch with the three dogs.
“You’re going to overcook the burgers,” Brax said for the second time.
“I’m from Argentina, grilling meat is in my bones. The burgers will come out perfectly,” Mateo assured him. “Go play with the dogs.”
“I like watching.”
“You’re just happy that your woman and dog are bonding.”
