“That doesn’t mean I’m agreeing to brunch.” I had to play a little hard to get.
He held up his phone right as it buzzed. “That’s my father. He’s called me twice and texted once since we left the airport. He wants to make sure I got you home safe. Don’t let that old man down.”
I guffawed. “Don’t call Mr. Rick an old man,” I said, since his father had given me permission to call him by his first name.
“The old geezer’s a half a step away from keeling over due to old age. Your turning down my brunch invitation could be the thing that does him in.”
I covered my mouth as I laughed. “You’re using guilt to get me to agree to brunch?”
“That depends,” he quickly responded. “Is it working?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
I dipped my head, lowering my gaze to the floor because right then, he could’ve asked me to have lunch with him in the middle of an active volcano, and I might’ve said yes.
“Fine,” I agreed. “But not before eleven. I want to sleep in.”
“Eleven-thirty it is.”
He stepped closer, and that was when I became aware of the erratic beating of my heart. Not until he wrapped one long arm around my waist, pulling me into his warmth, did I realize how much I’d looked forward to feeling his lips on mine, ever since I’d stolen my first look at them on the plane.
And dammit if he didn’t disappoint.
Brutus used his free hand to tip my chin up, keeping it in place while he lowered to capture my mouth.
The kiss was so powerful and all-consuming that I had to brace my hand against his shoulder, clutching it to keep from falling over. When his tongue flicked against the corner of my mouth, a sigh slipped from my lips.
Brutus groaned before pulling back, still holding my chin in place. His hazel eyes had darkened to an almost brown. For nearly a minute neither one of us said anything. We did all of the communicating with our eyes, staring into one another’s.
If I had to guess, I would’ve ventured to say that he was silently questioning what the hell this was that was so powerful between us.
And if he wasn’t, I sure as hell was.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I finally said.
His hold on my waist loosened. He didn’t say anything, but he nodded right before he pressed a kiss to my forehead.
I almost melted on the spot.
“Tomorrow.” God, his voice was so deep.
He gave my waist one final squeeze before releasing me and stepping around me, toward the door.
“Make sure the door locks behind me,” he instructed.
After shaking myself out of whatever trance his kiss put me in, I followed him.
I closed the door behind him and started to press my back against it. A knock on the other side startled me.
I pulled the door open to a frowning Brutus. “You didn’t even check the peephole before you opened it.” He sounded angry, but it didn’t frighten me … which it should’ve. Brutus was an imposing man. And with that wrinkle in his forehead, he did come across as scary as hell.
However, he was angry because he thought I’d done something to jeopardize my safety. So no, that look, nor his matching tone, didn’t scare me.
I folded my arms over my chest. “Who else would it be? You stepped outside of the door two seconds ago.”
His frown deepened. “You never open a door without checking to see who it isfirst,” he insisted.
“Fine,” I agreed only to get him to drop it.
“Good. Now make sure the double bolt is secured once you close the door behind me.”
