It took a good minute for Amy’s heart rate to decrease and for her brain to switch back on. The bedroom door was hard against her back and she was wrapped around the man she’d been having very sexy dreams about before he’d woken her. Maybe that was why she’d been so wanton. She’d thought she was still dreaming.
But damn, she was glad she wasn’t. She didn’t want to let go and that scared her. She hadn’t needed anyone for years.
Her face flushed to match the heat in her body as Brandon lowered her to the ground. She stepped away as he cleaned himself and disposed of the condom.
This was awkward. “Ah…” She had no words. She’d basically thrown herself at him.
“I’ll say.” He laughed, the sound relaxing the sudden tension in her. He pulled her towards him and gently kissed her lips. “Was it all right for you? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“No.” At the concern on his face she clarified, “You didn’t hurt me, and it was more than all right.” She might ache a little later, but it would be a good ache. Amy couldn’t stop herself from pulling him closer, running her hands down his muscled back to his butt. She met his blue-grey gaze. “You OK?”
“More than,” he assured her. “I wasn’t expecting it when I knocked on your door, but I’m not complaining.”
“I’d been dreaming of you,” she admitted.
“Must have been a great dream.” His grin lightened her heart. “Want to tell me about it?”
How could she fight her attraction when he was this happy Brandon? “We kind of just re-enacted it,” she admitted.
“Then I hope you dream of me more often.” He kissed her again.
Someone knocked on the door. “Amy? Dinner will be in ten.” Matt.
“Be right there,” she called.
“Bran, you hear that message?” Sam yelled, laughter in his voice.
Great. They knew Brandon was in here.
“Roger that,” Bran called. He’d already slid his shorts back on.
Outside the two men chuckled and their footsteps faded.
She pushed away her embarrassment. They were both unattached adults, there was nothing to be embarrassed about. She slipped on her underwear.
“Amy.”
Brandon’s tone was serious, and she turned to face him, pulling a shirt on.
He rubbed his head. “That meant something to me. It wasn’t just sex. I care for you.”
His vulnerability drew her closer and she slid her arms around him. “I’m pretty fond of you too,” she admitted and brushed a kiss against his lips.
He stepped back but took her hand. “I’ve been thinking about a lot of things since I came home.” He tapped his thigh. “I hadn’t realised how much of a hole I had in my life until I came back and this place filled it.” He smiled. “I was jealous of you when I first arrived.”
She leaned away from him. “Why?”
“Because you were more part of my family than I was. The Ridge was your home and I wanted it to be mine.”
“It’s always been yours,” she said. “Beth knew you’d come back one day.”
Grief filled his face. “I couldn’t face her after what I did.”
She finished dressing and pulled him down to sit on the bed next to her. “You shouldn’t blame yourself for Charlie’s death.”
He shook his head. “I should. A prank I set up caused the cattle to stampede and Charlie to be crushed.” His hand trembled a little in hers and she squeezed it. “I thought it was best for everyone if I stayed away, but only by coming back have I seen how I’ve kept hurting them. I’ve been punishing myself for over a decade, missing this place, missing my family.”
She couldn’t imagine how hard it must have been for him—a fun prank with tragic consequences. No wonder he hadn’t come back. “So what are you going to do?”
