AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Where are you going?” she asked instead of voicing all the demands circulating in her head.Take off your clothes. Take off my clothes. Kiss me. Touch me. Make me cry your name over and over again.
“Just being on my way, lass. You and the boy are fine, aye?” He rubbed a big hand over his beard and the bristly sound made Brandy quake with need. This guy was definitely not like Chella’s cousin, Marshall. He wasn’t like Parker either.
He was different. Sexy different. Mysteriously different.
“We are fine, but we also have manners, and we simply can’t have you go unthanked.”
“But you did thank me. Back there.” He pointed to the scene where the townspeople were disbanding now that the show was over.
“Not properly.” She frowned. “I don’t know that we can ever properly thank you. I mean, you risked your own safety for us, a couple of strangers. Who does that nowadays?”
“I do. Apparently.” He smiled and his face became more of a work of art.
“And you should be rewarded. Let me make you dinner tonight. It doesn’t even begin to make up for what you did for my son and me, but it’s something. You can meet our wolves too.” It scared Brandy how much she wanted him to accept her invitation.
Reardon stared past her for a moment, some internal struggle happening in his mind if his tight jaw was any indication. When his green-gold gaze met hers again, however, another smile graced his lips. “Dinner sounds wonderful.”
Brandy had to remind herself not to jump for joy like a lunatic. Instead she clapped her hands. “Great. Is seven o’clock okay?”
He nodded once.
“Super. You’re not a vegetarian or anything, are you?”
His laugh boomed, deep and melodious. “Most assuredly not. I like meat.” Something flared in his eyes over the wordmeat, and Brandy had a sudden urge to slather herself in barbecue sauce.
“Okay. Tonight then.” She hunted in her purse for one of her business cards and handed it to Reardon. “The sanctuary’s address is on there.”
“Seven o’clock.” He took the card, glanced at it, then shoved it into the back pocket of his jeans.
“See you then.”
“Aye.”
She knew she should walk away now. Their conversation was done. She’d see him later. Time to get back to the sanctuary. She had stuff to do. Reardon probably did too.
But the two of them stood there for a few quiet seconds just looking at one another.
Then a horn beeped, cutting into the frozen moment. Brandy looked over her shoulder at where Meredith’s car was parked. Her mom and Dylan were seated inside, waiting for her.
She hesitated, wishing seven o’clock wasn’t so far away. Another horn beep knocked her out of the trance.
“Okay. Bye.” She waved and forced herself to head toward Meredith’s car. Not able to resist the urge, she peeked over her shoulder to find Reardon still rooted to his spot. Man, he knew how to make a basic green T-shirt look amazing. His long legs in those jeans didn’t go unnoticed either. The bandage around his knuckles gave him a badass edge too, as if he wasn’t afraid to find some trouble and go up against it.
Shaking her head, she opened the passenger door to Meredith’s car and hopped in. When she looked back to Reardon, he was gone.
But you’ll see him later.If he came.Ugh. What if he didn’t show up tonight? Maybe he’d only agreed to her invitation to get rid of her. Maybe he had no intention of coming to dinner. Maybe she was absolutely ridiculous for suggesting he dine with them.
Maybe she was overreacting.
“Was that him?” Meredith asked.
“Yeah.”
“Wow. I know I’m an old lady, but hubba-hubba.” She fanned herself and winked at Brandy.
“What’s hubba-hubba mean, Gram?” Dylan asked from the back seat.
“It means he looks like a fine young gentleman.” She started the car.
