AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Four
Brant wasn’t in bed with her anymore. That was the first thing Talulah noticed as she slowly came awake. She thought maybe it was morning. That he’d simply gotten up and left and she no longer needed to take care of him.
But when she forced her heavy eyelids to open, she saw that it was still pitch-black outside.
Had he gotten sick? Was he throwing up?
The doctor had warned her that would mean a trip to the hospital.
Jumping out of bed, she called his name but got no response.
It was then that she heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom.
He was in the shower.
Shoving a hand through her hair, she padded quickly out of the bedroom into the hall and knocked to check on him.
No answer.
She cracked open the door, improving the odds of him hearing her. “Brant?” she called. “Are you okay?”
“Talulah?” he responded. “Are you up?”
Now that he knew she was there, she felt safe poking her head into the room, and he poked his head through the crack in the shower curtain that enclosed the old-time, claw-foot tub.
“You weren’t in bed and... I was worried about you,” she explained.
“I’m fine.”
She covered a yawn. “How’s your head?”
“Still hurts, but I’m doing better.”
Relieved that there was no emergency, she sagged against the door frame—until she noticed her toothbrush on the side of the sink.“You used my toothbrush?”she cried.
“Sorry,” he said with a sheepish expression. “Ihadto brush my teeth. I would’ve used your great aunt’s if that was all I could find.”
She laughed in spite of her outrage.
“I’ll buy you a new one tomorrow,” he added.
She didn’t really mind that he’d used it; she was just surprised he’d be bold enough to help himself to such a personal possession. “There’s no need. I’m sure I’ll survive your germs.”
Their eyes connected and something passed between them that sent a wave of pleasure through Talulah. When his gaze moved down over her, speculatively but with obvious interest, she knew he’d felt it, too.
“Well, if you’re going to let me use your toothbrush, maybe you won’t mind a few more of my germs,” he said.
She told herself she’d better get out of there—fast. They were alone in the middle of the night, he was naked and she was barely dressed. But her feet wouldn’t carry her. “What do you mean?” she asked.
“Would you like to join me?”
She felt her jaw drop. “Are you propositioning me?”
When she stated it that baldly, she figured he’d laugh it off and say he was just messing around. Brant Elway had never shown any interest in her. Even if he was attracted to her—although she’d never gotten that feeling—his loyalty to Charlie would’ve kept him from making any sort of move. But they were just kids when she was with Charlie. The wedding was so long ago it probably seemed like a moot point now.
He maintained eye contact. “Yeah. I guess I am.”
She felt her breath rush out of her lungs. Why her? And why not Ellen? “You must’ve hit your head even harder than I thought.”
