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His look bored into her. “Don’t play with me, Laurel.”
She reached for his two-fingered hand, holding it against her cheek, cupping it.
“Laurel,” he bit out.
“Is something wrong?” She cooed, turning her mouth so she could kiss his palm.
“Don’t.” He pulled it away.
“Brandon.” She waited until his look met hers. “I want you to touch me.”
“I should go outside for a few minutes. See that Herbert’s on his way.” Brandon’s husky voice skidded over her skin.
Her eyes widened. “You’re going out now?”
His jaw tightened and mouth thinned. “I need a few moments alone.”
Why? Then it dawned on her. “You don’t have to leave on my account.”
“Laurel, don’t tease a man who has been by himself as long as I have.”
She looked into his eyes. “Who’s teasing? I’ve had a crush on you forever. You’re better than I imagined.”
“That’s not a good reason to go to bed with a man.” He backed away.
“Now I’ve gotten to know you, I’m attracted to you for who you are. You’re a talented man whom I’ve admired for a long time. More than that, you’re an honorable man. Like right now. Those are hard traits to find. In anyone. You have a sense of humor. Do I need to go on?”
His focus didn’t waver. “If I stay, there’ll be no going back. No promises of tomorrow.”
She wanted Brandon. This memory of the best days of her life. “Remember? I don’t believe in promises. Let me turn off the pot roast.”
His lips touched the ridge of her shoulder as the towel landed on the floor. “It’ll wait. I can’t.”
ChapterNine
Brandon pickedup the largest of the wood chisels. Holding it in place the best he could with his thumb and index finger, he raised the mallet and took aim. The chisel slipped to the side then fell to the table. He tried again. If he only tried harder, he could get this.
He sensed Laurel beside him before she touched his arm then pressed against him. She was wrapped from head to toe in a quilt. His grandmother’s handiwork had never looked so beautiful. For a moment he considered returning to the bed and getting under the quilt with Laurel.
“You’re working.” Awe filled her voice.
He kissed the top of her head. “I thought I’d try again. I had one piece I’d started on. I threw it out. It was under that pile you saw.”
She touched the wood, a gentle movement. The form he had in mind had already begun to emerge. “What’s it supposed to become?”
“Herbert.” The long lines of the mountain lion were already there.
“May I watch you work?”
No one had ever asked him that before. “It’s not much of a show. I’m only removing wood on one out of every three hits.”
“I don’t care. You’re fascinating.”
He grinned and winked. “That’s always good to hear.”
“Don’t let your ego get ahead of you Wheeler.”
He put the chisel in the place he wanted to remove the wood. “Yes, ma’am.”
