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“Maybe the reason things are so easy for you is because you haven’t invested yourself enough. Ever think of that?”
He let his hands fall away from her face. “Oh, here we go again. You’re an adult and I’m just a kid, right?”
“I didn’t say that. I just meant that you’re all about rolling with whatever comes, even when you expect me to lay everything on the line. I’m taking a bigger chance than you are.” Or at least it felt that way, since he’d yet to show her that his feelings for her went beyond deep attraction and friendship. Great building blocks, yes, if she were the type of person who could do things halfway.
She wasn’t. When she opened up the dam inside her, there would be no stopping the flood. How could she take that gamble when he’d yet to give her something substantial to hold on to?
“Easy?” he repeated as if she’d never spoken. “You think it’s easy for me to campaign for you to give us a chance every time I turn around? Especially when I know that my age is only the tip of the damn iceberg of why you don’t see me as long-term material.”
Long-term material. Then her skin chilled at the rest of what he’d said despite the heat from his body. “What are you saying?”
“Who do you usually date, Sara? Doctors, like you. Or lawyers. Or accountants. Men with fancy degrees and money coming out of their asses. What do I have to compete with that? When you met me, I was living with my sister in my mom’s old place. Temporarily, yes, and not for financial reasons. Still counts.” He tugged at her towel, his frustration clear. “Could I move somewhere else? Sure. Does my shop bring in decent money? Absolutely. Will I ever have letters after my name? Never.”
“Do you really think that matters to me?”
His penetrating gaze met hers. “Does it?”
“No. Of course not.” She released a long breath. “Look, I’m not going to say I never wondered if our worlds could mix. But that’s not because I think less of you. You’ve built an incredible business, and you have the kind of tight relationships with your employees that I’m still working on with my coworkers. I don’t draw people in like you do. And well, you know I’ve been way too concerned with what others might think, which just shows I have a lot of growing up of my own to do.” Swallowing hard, she covered his hands with hers. “I’m trying, Brad.”
“Try harder,” he suggested. He rose from the bed and grabbed the remote, settling back beside her without another word.
Yes, she was definitely better with birds.
He’d given her plenty to think about, including how much she was asking of him. Neither of them had made any declarations, and that was probably a good thing. They were still learning to trust each other, and she hadn’t given him much to work with. If she wanted him in her life as more than a friend, she needed to show him that the man he was—without any letters after his name—was more than man enough for her.
No problem. She’d just add that to her growing To Do list.
They watched two movies, Inception and Kill Bill. She loved both, and because he was more considerate than any man should be, he’d remembered that and ordered them for her. He’d even stashed Twizzlers in his nightstand where the condoms she’d once thought he ordered by the case should’ve been.
There was something so comforting about curling up in his bed and snuggling in the flickering light from his big TV, passing a bag of candy back and forth and exchanging the occasional comment about the movie. Something even better about lying together in the deepest, darkest part of the night, arms and legs tangled, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
He kissed every part of her face, from her hairline to her jaw and back again. When their mouths finally touched, he moaned, and the sound reverberated through her like a string strummed on a guitar. Sweetly. Powerfully. He didn’t have to slide inside her then, because he’d already found another way in.
Through her heart.
She woke before dawn to an empty bed. Disappointment came first, followed by curiosity. She slid her hand across the cool sheets and sat up, wondering where he’d gotten off to so early. It wasn’t even light out yet. Maybe he’d gone for a run? He probably figured she wouldn’t be up for a while.
She rolled over on her stomach and spread out on his enormous bed, sighing a little at the scent of his aftershave and the soap they used at the shop. It was some heavy-duty stuff that smelled more like detergent. Clean. Her lashes fluttered and she smiled. She’d just have to get him all dirty again.
Right before her eyes closed she glimpsed the folded note on the nightstand. She snatched it up and squinted to make out his messy writing.
Went to fix your car. I’ll drop it off when I’m done. Get some sleep. XO
“Aw, dammit.” A wave of guilt swept over her, and she gripped the note tighter. She didn’t want him to have to go to all that trouble. But then again, he hadn’t been too impressed with her attempt to drive his truck. He probably wanted to save his baby from more abuse.
And he was beyond sweet too. No arguing that.
Now that she knew he wouldn’t be returning anytime soon, she hauled herself out of bed and into the shower. She took a quick, hot one and dried off, jumping from foot to foot to avoid the cold floor. Old houses were great, but they had their quirks.
Her gaze landed on the candles that had guttered out in their own wax on the back of the sink. Shoot. She must be abandoning all sense entirely, because she’d forgotten all about them, as had Brad. They were lucky they hadn’t burned the house down.
A goofy grin slipped across her face as she padded back into his room. One way or another…
She straightened up as best she could then opened the door. Just as well she’d gotten up early. Now she could return to her own room before Kim was any the wiser.
Or not.
“There you are,” Kim exclaimed, stopping dead in her gimpy flight up the hallway from Sara’s room. She clutched the doll she’d obviously removed from Sara’s bed in her hands. “What the fuck is this all about? I was about to—” Her gaze slipped down Sara’s still-damp body, only partially disguised by the towel she held weakly to her chest. “What the hell are you doing in my brother’s room? Naked?”
