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I grabbed it off the counter, and my stomach flipped when I saw Ray's name flash across my screen. I had felt a wave of relief this morning I didn't need to see him for a couple of weeks, especially after what happened between Brody and me last night. There was no way I would be able to face Ray anytime soon. I didn't read or respond to the message. Instead, I turned my phone off, something that wasn't odd for me on a Sunday.
I picked my mug up and carried it over to the table where my laptop was and sat down. I opened the program I always use for writing and started to reread what I had written last night. As soon as I got to the part I had been working on, my thoughts went back to us in the kitchen. I squeezed my inner thighs together—I could still feel Brody firmly planted deep inside of me. I could still feel every touch, every kiss, and I still heard every tender whisper he had spoken. He was rough but gentle and tender, all at the same time. He had been perfect, and I had loved the way I felt his muscles tense when he came. The more I thought about it, the more I started to feel that familiar ache of want between my legs.
I tore my eyes away from the computer and looked to the bare tree standing in my living room. I could feel the tears creeping in. Everything had been so beautiful, and yet something, somewhere deep in my soul, told me I had to be careful, there was a good chance he would be gone before I knew it. The hard part for me was even though I didn't want to admit my feelings even to myself, I knew right where my heart lay. I needed to be careful with this whole situation, or I was going to get really hurt.
I got up from the table and walked over to the tree. Closing my eyes, I leaned in and took a big deep breath, smelling the fresh evergreen. I used to the love that smell. It had been so long since I had smelled it, I took another deep inhale. I felt like I could breathe that scent in forever.
I stood there, getting lost in my memories, listening to the soft music playing in the background. I was a million miles away when I felt two large, strong hands wrap around my waist, causing me to jump a little.
“Good morning,” his deep, sexy, sleep filled voice greeted me as he pulled me back against his warm body and kissed my neck tenderly.
I let my head fall to the side as he continued placing soft kisses down the side of my neck to my shoulder. I could feel myself starting to get wet as the memory of last night ran through my mind.
“Brody, are you hungry? Did you want breakfast?”
A gentle hum came from his lips. “I'll eat you, that’s all the breakfast I need.” He ran his hands up under my shirt, cupping my breasts.
I turned and met his lips as he pulled me into him. I pulled away from him and went to step toward the kitchen when he grabbed me and picked me up throwing me over his shoulder.
I let out a loud laugh. “Brody, put me down.”
“Nope, you're coming with me.” He smacked me on the ass and carried me down the hall toward the bedroom.
Chapter Twenty
Cass
We drove down to towntogether in Brody's truck. The roads were rather slippery, and he didn't trust my car even though I had driven it a thousand times on roads like this.
“For dating a mechanic, you would think he would make sure you have good winter tires on your car, Cass. Until I can get snow tires ordered and put on your car, I’ll drive you back and forth to work.” Brody pulled in behind the back of the store and shut his truck off.
“Thanks, but really the tires are fine on my car, Brody.”
“Cass, please, they are not fine. I want you to be safe, and these roads are bad.”
Even though his comments stung, at least he cared which was more than I could say for Ray. I, of course, had Ray put the four almost five-year-old winter tires on my car. He told me they were still fine, I didn't drive far enough for it to matter, but I didn't let Brody know that.
“So, tell me more about this book drive.”
“Well, the Coldhaven Fire Department had a really tragic fire last year, and five firefighters died. I know some of those families personally since moving here, and I really wanted to find a way to give back. At first, I was going to give a percentage of my sales over Christmas, but I'm still struggling, so I came up with the book drive idea. What books don't sell, I'll donate to the local library, and the money from the ones that do sell will go to the families.”
“Wow, I had no idea. Well, I'm not sure if you know or not, but I did sign up to help with the book drive. The coffee shop across the street had a sign-up sheet, and I filled it out before I knew it was you.”
“I know, Maggie told me,” I smiled.
“Good, so use me any way you like. I'm all yours,” he said, lifting his eyebrows and smiling.
As soon as those three little words fell from his lips, I suddenly wished he was really all mine. I met his eyes, a slight blush creeping over me.
“What is it, Cass?”
I shook my head. “Let's go before it starts to snow,” I said, jumping from the front seat of the truck out into the cold. There was no way I could answer him, not yet. I didn't want to scare him away again.
As we approached the back door, I found about twelve boxes of books piled up outside the door. The church had already been there to donate the books they had collected. Brody carried those boxes inside while I cleared a couple more shelves and a table to be able to display more books.
He dropped a couple of boxes on the table and continued bringing in the others, putting them in the small storage room. I wouldn’t be able to take any more donations until I had gone through some of these boxes. I didn't want to have a ton left over, and I didn't carry a used section in the store.
“I figure the day of the actual book fair, I can always discount at the end of the day. Like the last hour or something, I can do a bag for five or something.”
