Page 42 of Chasing the Sun

He bristled and tightened his grip on her hand. “He might drink too much too.”

“You don’t have a lot of faith in your brother, do you?”

“Not when it comes to being around a beautiful woman.”

Her mouth fell open, and her eyes blazed with dawning. Before he could get into any more trouble, he let go of her hand, missing the contact immediately.

She curled her fist around the paper and stepped back, almost tripping in the process.

“Careful,” he said, and he cupped her elbow to steady her.

“I have to go,” she said, looking like a scared rabbit. She turned and hurried out of the kitchen, and he stood there and watched her leave.

Around midnight, after tossing and turning in his big, empty bed, Bryce threw back the covers, grabbed his book off the nightstand, and went into the living room. He’d been looking at the clock constantly, waiting for Chloe to get home. He’d kept checking his phone too in case she called.

He tried to keep from imagining her and Seb together, but he kept envisioning them flirting, touching, and kissing until it drove him mad. He padded into the living room, wearing only his plaid sleep pants, and sprawled out on the couch. He hadn’t bothered with a shirt because, as soon as he heard the garage door, he planned on retreating to his bedroom. He didn’t want her to know he’d been waiting up. He just wanted to know she was safe.

He’d left a lamp on in the living room, and he used it to read by, though he was having trouble concentrating. Eventually, his eyes grew tired, and he set down the book, thinking he’d close them for a few minutes.

The next thing he knew, he heard her voice.

“Bryce?”

He blinked his eyes open, and there she was, standing over him. He glanced at the mantel clock and saw it was after one o’clock in the morning. So much for sneaking back to bed before she got home.

He sat up and ran his hands through his hair. “Good morning,” he said pointedly.

“What are you doing on the couch?”

“I was reading, and I fell asleep.” He pointed at his book for proof.

“Were you waiting up for me?”

“No.”

She shook her head disbelievingly.

“I wasn’t.”

“Okay. Well, I’m going to bed.”

“Wait. How was your evening?” It took all his willpower to keep his voice neutral.

“Good. Thanks for asking.”

He wanted more details, but he was afraid to ask. She looked a little less pissed, but she still eyed him warily. Then, to his surprise, she sat down on the couch, leaving an appropriate amount of space between them. Her eyes flickered over his bare chest, making him glad he hadn’t worn a shirt. He’d seen her look at him like that before, and it was a look of appreciation. She’d mentioned that health and fitness were important, and he figured he’d scored a few points in that area, anyway.

“Before you ask, your brother was a perfect gentleman. He introduced me to his friends, we played Euchre, had a few drinks, and that was it. So, see, you didn’t have to wait up.”

“I wasn’t,” he repeated, though his lips curled into a grin. How was it that she knew him so well already?

She smiled back. “Whatever.”

“Are you going to see him again?” He blamed the late hour for his lack of filter.

“Would that bother you?”

She tilted her pretty head, and her hair fell over her shoulder. How he longed to reach out and touch it.