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“Thank you!” she calls after me.
By the time I’m back, she’s already got the water running. I hand her the bag, and she reaches inside, pulling out a smaller bag and three bottles. She steps into the shower, and in no time, the entire room smells like peaches. No wonder she always smells good enough to eat.
“You need help in there?” I ask, peeking my head around the curtain.
“If you get in here, we both know I’m not going to be getting clean.”
“So that’s a no?” I tease.
“Brooks,” she warns.
“Fine. Kiss me, and I’ll leave you alone.” I can’t get enough of her.
She leans over and presses her lips to mine before grabbing the curtain and pulling it closed, making me laugh. “You’re lucky you’re cute,” I tell her.
“Flattery will get you everywhere,” she fires back.
Shaking my head, I leave her to shower and decide I need one too. Moving to the bathroom in the hallway, I turn the water to hot and step under the spray. I hate that I’m washing her scent from my skin, but that thought alone makes me sound like a fucking creeper, so I lather up without further deliberation.
“Good timing,” I say, walking back into my room wearing nothing but a towel. Her eyes roam over my exposed chest, and she licks her lips. I point at her. “Stop. We just got cleaned up.”
She grins. “I know, and I really need to get going.”
“What?” It feels as if she knocked the wind out of me. “I thought you didn’t have power?” And I just assumed she’d stay over tonight. She never does, and wouldn’t it figure the one woman I want to stay with always seems to have one foot out the door.
“My neighbor just texted me and said it’s back on. I have clothes in the washer, and I’m sure every light in the place is on.”
“We can run over and check it out, then come back.”
“Brooks, that’s not a good idea.”
I want to pull her into my arms and tell her it’s the best fucking idea I’ve ever had. Instead, I nod. “Let’s get dressed, and I’ll take you back.”
* * *
“What crawled up your ass?” Ryder asks as I slam two more rocks down next to Archer.
“Nothing.” That’s a lie, and we all know it. I’ve been surly all damn day. I slept like shit last night. My sheets smelled like her. My entire fucking house smelled like peaches.
“What gives, bro?” Sterling asks. “You’ve been in a pissy mood since you climbed out of your truck this morning.”
I expel a heavy breath. “I’m fine.”
“Clearly,” Rushton says dryly.
“Anyone need a drink?” I ask.
“No, but pick up a better attitude while you’re gone,” Declan calls after me.
My answer is to raise my hand in the air and flip him off. I love my brothers, but I’m not in the mood today. I know I’m being an asshole, but I can’t seem to stop. Stepping into the house, the cool air hits me, and it’s a reprieve from the outside temperatures this late in the summer.
“Uncle Brooks!” Blakely rushes toward me, and I know from experience that she’s about to launch herself at me, knowing that I’ll catch her. She does it to all of us.
“How’s my girl?” I ask her, lifting her into my arms. She places her arms around my neck and gives me a sloppy kiss on my cheek.
“I’m getting ice cream!” she says with all the excitement of a four-year-old.
“You are?”
