His scowl dropped straight into his lap so he could bury his face in his hands for a second, dragging them down slowly.
“I like having you close.”
She didn’t realize how bold that sounded until Brick’s head snapped up.
The silence that fell between them wasn’t uncomfortable.It was charged.
“You don’t want me close, Tessa,” he said.
Such an intense stare.Tessa forced herself to hold his gaze.Her pulse thudded.
“You think you get to decide what I want?”Tessa demanded.
Brick curled his hands into fists on the table.She leaned forward just a little.Close enough to challenge him and to tempt him.Brick should know right now that Tessa wasn’t the kind of woman who backed off easily.Once she saw something or someone she wanted, Tessa went for it without hesitation.
“Because I know what I want,” Tessa told him frankly, her breath hitching a little.
“What’s that?”he asked, voice low.
Tessa held his gaze.Steady, she told herself, don’t back off now.
“Breakfast with you.More of this, and more of whatever this is,” she stated.
Brick stared at her like she’d just cracked the ground open under his feet, like she’d become the most dangerous thing in the room.
Then, slowly, Brick uncoiled his shoulders.He picked up another bite, chewing as if grounding himself, eyes never leaving hers.He didn’t argue that this was a bad idea.That was progress, wasn’t it?
“Eat your food, Tessa,” Brick said, voice like gravel.
She smiled and he didn’t look away.Tessa called that a win.
Chapter Five
The clubhouse had mostlygone quiet by midnight.Brick made his usual rounds.He checked the cameras, the locks, the perimeter.It really wasn’t necessary.Their territory was solid and nobody would be stupid enough to pick a fight on their turf.
Routine kept his mind still or still-ish.He paused by the hallway to the guest rooms, listening.Tessa’s room was the second door on the right.Silence behind it.A peaceful silence.
