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“Uh…” He reaches up and scratches the scar in his brow. “Firecracker,” he mumbles.
I hear him loud and clear, but for shiggles, I pretend I don’t. “Sorry, what?”
He meets my gaze—eyes wide—and swallows hard. “Firecracker,” he says a little louder. He hangs his head and shakes it once before straightening. “God, this is embarrassing.”
I laugh and he just stares at me with those hypnotic amber eyes. He may be horrified by his admission, but it is funny.
First off—we never thought we would see each other again. Second—we never exchanged names. He learned mine on a whim. Well, the abbreviated version of my name. Hearing the nickname he gave me is… intriguing.
I reach across the table and grab his hand. “Please don’t be embarrassed. It is what it is. And it’s better to laugh than dwell. If I’m laughing over it, you should too.”
On that note, his smile returns and I find my eyes fixated on his lips for far longer than appropriate. It isn’t until he swipes his tongue across his lower lip that I snap out of my Braydon-induced haze. His eyes simmer as they watch me watch him.
Those eyes simmered for me once before. Above me as he rocked his hips in time with mine.
Gah! Snap out of it, Lessa. Get your shit together.
I lift the menu and block him from view. After a deep breath, I skim the menu I memorized long ago. I don’t miss the soft chuckle across the table.
The server delivers a basket of fresh-made tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole. After we order, she rushes off to fetch our drinks. Zero alcohol will be drunk tonight. Not after how ridiculous I have behaved without it. Last thing I need is to be inebriated around this man. Me drunk with him in proximity may lead to us waking up in the same bed.
“So, what really has you back in Lake Lavender?” I sip my water to keep my mouth busy. Last thing I need is to blurt out how I have imagined sex with him again. On the kitchen counter, the dining table, the floor in front of the fireplace. That would not be good.
Earlier, when he asked to meet for dinner, he said he was there to write an excerpt. That he wanted to speak with a local. But maybe it is an excuse to spend time with me again. He already wrote a story about the town. At least, that is what he said when we met at the festival.
Is he really in Lake Lavender for work? Or did he return for me under the guise of work? The latter thought jars me momentarily and I mentally shake off the notion.
Braydon’s unexpected appearance has me rattled. My mind overflowing with whys and what-ifs. Thinking up scenarios Ineverconsidered with other men. And while my head is foggy with indecision, my body is on cloud nine. Stirring back to life at the sight of him. The smell of him. At the energy pouring off of him.
I love and hate the way it makes me feel. Out of control. Wild. Alive.
All this aside, one question matters the most. How long will he be in Lake Lavender?
He leans closer, reaches across the table and presses the pad of his finger between my brows. The action startles me and I jerk back an inch. Suck in a breath and feel my brows tighten more.
He drops his hand and shrinks into his seat. “Sorry. Just wanted to ease whatever had you thinking so hard.”
“I wasn’t—”
He cocks his head and narrows his eyes.
“Okay, Imayhave been overthinking a bit.” I sip my water then point at him after I set down the glass. “And you’re avoiding my question. Again.”
His shoulders sag as he exhales. He plucks a chip from the basket, scoops up guacamole and shoves it in his mouth.
Still avoiding.
I cross my arms and lean my forearms on the table. Don’t know about him, but I will sit in silence until he answers. Even if it takes all night, he will answer.
When it dawns on him I refuse to surrender, his will caves.
“After my last visit, when I wrote about the centennial festival, the magazine received more interest than usual. The issue sold more than any in the history of the company.” He grabs another chip and dunks it in the salsa but doesn’t scoop up any tomato chunks. “So, I was sent back to write more on Lake Lavender.” He eats the chip and shrugs.
So, he didn’t come back to see me. He did return for work. Although this should make me happy, the twinge beneath my rib cage tells another story. The pang, plus my overall emotional state, makes me dizzy. I don’t like it.
“How long will you be in town?”
Fingers crossed my question didn’t come off as bitchy. But if Braydon will be wandering the streets of Lake Lavender, I need to know how long. I also need to jam-pack my schedule during his stay. Less availability equals less opportunity for round two.
