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“I could have communicated better last night,” she told him. “Sorry for leaving on my high horse.”
“It’s okay. I finished your pasta. It was really good.”
She smiled, giving him a headshake. He was too much. And too charming for his own good. “It was kind of you to show up here. I didn’t know I needed saving, but here we are.”
“No one should attend a friend’s funeral alone. Though I’m questioning the ‘friends’ part after hearing his message to you.” He watched her as he popped a sausage puff into his mouth.
“Aren’t we both.”
“What was with the part about you two never making it down the aisle?”
“I have no idea.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. As if that would set the world right again. “Half of me wonders if this is an elaborate practical joke. If Joe is going to stroll through that door and yell ‘gotcha!’ He always was the life of the party.” She realized what she said and offered a wan smile. “Ironically.”
Bran’s eyebrows rose. “A practical joke wherein he fakes his own death so that he can admit that he’s in love with you at his own funeral?”
“Yeah. Probably not.” She sipped her champagne, troubled by that observation as much as everything else that’d gone down so far during this trip. Her eyes tracked to her parents, still talking with the Harts. “I had to sneak away before I broke his mother’s heart. I have no idea what to say to her.”
“Don’t say anything.”
“Well, she can’t go on believing that Joe and I were in love.”
“Why not?”
“Because...” But Addi didn’t know why not. If it was true on Joe’s side, and made his family happy to believe he’d found love during his short stay on this planet, why not, indeed? “That’s actually practical.”
“That’s no good. I’m fighting practicality these days.”
“I noticed.” That small kiss was the least practical act imaginable.
“I was practical to a fault earlier this year. I’m a man who can learn from my mistakes.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I should apologize for the kiss.”
Her lungs deflated. This was the real reason she didn’t “go get ’im” as Joe had suggested. Bran had never shown any interest in her before, so why would one little kiss ignite a five-alarm fire in him now?
“You don’t have to apologize,” she said, hoping she hid her disappointment.
“That’s not what I mean.” His voice was low and sultry. She faced him, the candlelight reflecting in his bourbon-colored eyes. They were nearly as warm as the flame itself. “I mean I should apologize, but I can’t. I liked that kiss way too much.”
She could only stare. “Y-you did?”
“Did you?”
Color him pleased when she didn’t stammer or hesitate in her response.
“Yes,” she stated clearly. “Yes, I did.”
Now that was what he liked to hear.
Reaching across the table, he lightly touched her arm before taking her hand in his. “Have you thought further about my offer last night?”
Addi’s bright blue eyes darkened enticingly. “I thought you’d gone home upset with me, so no, I hadn’t.”
“And now?” He lifted her hand and brushed her knuckles with his lips, kissing her once before lightly touching his tongue to her skin. Her lips parted but no sound came out at first.
“I—I’ll have to think about it.”
“Successful leaders make decisions quickly,” he told her. He wanted another kiss like the way-too-brief one he’d stolen from her earlier. He wanted to give her time to respond. Let her explore and find her way. She seemed curious and he would be more than willing to let her explore that curiosity until both of them were panting for air.
“Brannon. We work together.” Her eyebrows bent almost desperately, but the heat was alive in her eyes.
