"I'll finish it when we get back."
Heat shoots through me so sharply my breath stumbles. He watches the reaction strike, and wicked satisfaction crosses his face. It makes me want to shove him back down and get a replay.
He kisses me once before easing me off his lap. "Let's get ready."
I stand with shaky legs.
He straightens his shirt, still breathing unsteadily, and looks at me like he wants to pull me back into the bed and forget the outside world exists. He warns, "We're not done here."
"I never said we were," I reply, shooting him a coy look and sauntering into the bathroom.
He whistles, and I laugh, then jump in the shower. I wash my hair, dry and curl it, then put on my makeup. I slip into the dress and heels and step out of the closet.
He mutters, "You're going to be the end of me, Minx."
My flutters erupt.
He grabs my hand and escorts me through the building to his Mustang. He holds open the door, and I slide in. He gets in next to me.
My anxiety flares the second Brax turns the key and the engine roars to life. The Mustang vibrates beneath us. It's steady, powerful, and impatient, mirroring the way my nerves climb up my gut. I keep my hands folded in my lap, fingers tight, then loose, then tight again as he pulls out of my parking garage and onto the street.
He glances at me, reading every twitch and micro-expression I don't have the energy to hide. "You okay, Minx?"
I watch the city blur past my window. "I'm thinking."
"About what?"
"About Finn possibly stabbing me with a fork during dinner."
His mouth curves. "Finn prefers the steak knife."
"That's reassuring."
He laughs under his breath. "He won't stab you. Not tonight."
"What a relief," I mumble.
"Take a deep breath. Everything will be fine," he confidently states.
I crush my fingers together again.
He reminds me, "Brenna invited us. You've already got another ally."
"Because she said she either wants to 'adopt me or bury me'?" I ask.
"It was a joke, Minx, relax," he orders. Then he reaches over and slides his palm across my thigh.
My breathing settles by a fraction.
He reassures, "We walk in together, and I'll stay beside you the entire time. If you want to leave early, we leave early. If Finn says something stupid, I shut it down. Sound good?"
I nod. "Yeah."
His hand doesn't leave my thigh for the rest of the drive. He veers into an older neighborhood.
Finn and Brenna's house sits on a quiet street lined with mature trees and soft lighting. Brax parks, kills the ignition, and turns to me before I can open the door. "You ready?"
"No."
