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“Fuck, Brinley, that explains so much.” He pulls me into him. One arm is wrapped around my waist and the other is burying my head into his chest. His natural scent overwhelms me in the best possible way. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said all the shit I did. God, I’m a jackass. Forgive me.”
I draw back and our eyes lock. Gathering all my courage, I say, “I’m not just scared, I’m terrified now that I know you’re going away so soon and there’s really no future for us.”
His forehead falls to mine and his hands mold to my hips. “I don’t know the answers, but I really like spending time with you. Maybe…”
“Are you suggesting a relationship while you’re here and then we stop when it’s time for you to leave?” I shake my head because I’m not sure I can do that.
“I’m merely suggesting we don’t put a label on it, but I’m also not suggesting we sleep together. If you’re not comfortable with that, then we can take it off the table.”
I double blink. “Really?”
He shrugs as if ignoring the sexual chemistry between us will be easy. “The only thing I know is I like to be around you. The other thing I know is that you need time. Now that I know you’re a widow, I get it. I would never push you into anything.”
I wrap my arms around his waist, leaning my head on his chest. “Thank you so much.” I draw my head back a little. “I can’t promise you anything, Van.”
“I know, and it’s okay.”
I look at him in disbelief. I love that I have no pressure. And maybe it’s good that if things go south, he’ll be leaving in six weeks to go back into the military.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I pull it out to see a text from Lance.
* * *
Lance: Thanks for the highlight on BuzzWheel.
* * *
I look up at Van. “We made BuzzWheel.”
I hurriedly pull up the app. Sure enough, a picture of the four of us at Terra and Mare is front and center. In it, I’m talking to Van, and Lance and Sabrina are talking.
* * *
Look who we found at Terra and Mare this evening. A rare foursome. The customers who sent in tips said our newest resident, Van Adler, arrived with Sabrina Thompson. Soon after, Brinley Kelly arrived with her cousin, Lance Whitmore. It didn’t take long for Van to usher the cousins over to dine with them, where Lance and Sabrina shared a bottle of wine while Van and Brinley seemed to be chatting it up the entire dinner. So, who is dating who? That remains to be seen. The only thing we know for sure is that something is going on with our newest bartender and our Brinley, but I think I speak for the entire town when I say, if you hurt her, Van Adler, we’re coming after you.
* * *
Then there’s a bunch of comments that say how hot he is, how cute we are as a couple, and how Lance should be asking out Sabrina.
“What’s it say?” Van asks.
“Oh, um… it doesn’t matter.” I push down his hand that’s now holding his phone. “Want to veg out for the night?”
“You mean watch The Mindy Project?” he asks, one eyebrow quirked.
Thankfully, he’s put away his phone. I don’t need him thinking people in this town will hurt him if he breaks my heart. They need to know I can stand on my own two feet, but maybe I need to prove it to them first.
“I’m going to change first,” I say.
“Great. I’ll make some popcorn,” he says.
I go into my room and change into my pajamas. As I’m about to leave my bedroom, Kenzie texts me.
* * *
Kenzie: Is Lance dating her?
* * *
