“That sounds ominous. You know, given those rules turned you into a giant ass.”
He laughed. “I deserve that.”
“What are these rules?”
He ticked off his fingers. “No overly attractive women, drink in moderation, always be in control. Oh, and protection—always use protection.”
“Why no beautiful women?”
He pulled her close and kissed her lips. A peck. If pecks were heated by a furnace. “Too tempting. They made me think with another brain instead of the smart one.”
“So, I’m not attractive. Or seductive. And that’s why we’re on this date?” The last sentence ended on a slightly higher pitch.
“The opposite. You’re too much of both. You’re beautiful, and sexy, and now I’ve discovered how smart and nerdy you are. It’s a deadly combination. Why do you think I’ve kept you at arm’s length?”
“You broke your own rules?”
He shrugged. “I didn’t want the rules if it meant I couldn’t be with you.”
Chapter 20
Ireland’s heart beat double time. Bran’s words were the sweetest thing she’d ever heard. “B-but, what if things get challenging? What then?”
Relationships could be rough and dirty and raw. Ireland wanted to be with a man who believed her worthy of treading through the muck.
Bran held her tight. “Trust me to handle Club Tahoe and our relationship.”
Relationship. That was what they’d been talking about, but this was technically their first date. “Do we have one?”
He shook his head and made a clucking sound with his tongue. “Oh, Ireland, we’ve had a relationship since we first met.”
His hands went a-wandering, and she slapped them away. “You mean of the hate-filled variety?”
He kissed her bared shoulder. “I mean of the lust-filled variety. I had to be sure I wasn’t making a mistake.”
She lurched back. “Amistake? If anyone was making a mistake, it was me. You were nothing but a coldhearted, venomous—”
He nuzzled her neck, and she felt him sucking on delicate skin. “Past tense. And keep talking. I love it when you’re feisty.”
She fell back onto the mattress, and he rolled on top of her. She grabbed his chin. “I’m serious.”
“So am I. I had to make sure we were right before I dove in.”
“You sound like an ass, and it’s not helping your case.”
“Ireland, I haven’t had a girlfriend in…ever. Well, maybe in junior high? Consider that for a moment. I’m closing in on thirty, and I haven’t been in a serious relationship. Why else would I be here if you weren’t important to me?”
“Because you’re horny?”
“I’m always horny. Besides that.”
“Because you like to touch me?”
“Mmm, I do like that,” he said. “But there’s another reason.”
She blew at a lock of bangs covering her eye. “I give up. Why are we here?”
“Because I like you. I want to touch you, and kiss you, and sleep next to you at night. I want to argue with you and laugh with you. I want to be with you. Do you understand?”
