“You’re asking me out on a date? Isn’t that kind of backward?”
He grinned. “We didn’t really do this the normal way. And I want to see you in a dress.”
Could they do normal? It felt like a step back. They’d said they loved each other, and now he was asking her out.
“Don’t overthink it. It’s my way of giving you space without giving you a chance to shut me out.”
She dropped her gaze to his chest. He was being his usual overbearing self, but he was also right. Left to her own devices, she would find a way to distance herself in an effort to manage everything she was feeling. Still gazing at his chest, she nodded. “Okay.”
“Okay?”
She met his gaze and smiled. “Okay, I’ll go out with you.”
His smile was wide and unreserved. He framed her face with his hands and kissed her. Closed mouth, sweet, and chaste. Yet carnal desire still raced through her veins. She parted her lips to deepen the kiss, but he pulled away.
His thumb brushed over the arch of her eyebrows. “If I kiss you like I want to, I won’t leave, and it might be a little awkward when your gran and Denise come back.”
That should have banked her desire like a bucket of water on a fire, but it didn’t. Even with the turmoil storming in her heart and mind, her body wanted him. Her physical response contradicted her earlier words.
“Stop looking at me like that while I’m trying to do the right thing,” he said. “Six-thirty tomorrow work for you?”
“It should. I’m not sure when my last appointment of the day is. If it’s later in the afternoon, I’ll let you know.”
“Call me tonight before you go to sleep.” He kissed her forehead, then the corner of her eye. The soft and tender way he held her saved him from being told he was bossy.
“Okay.”
“Okay.” Another chaste kiss. He stepped away from her and strode across the room. Opening the door, he looked back over his shoulder and winked.
Bree pulled a glass from the cabinet and poured water from the filter pitcher on the counter. The water soothed her throat, swollen from crying.I need a beer.A couple of shots wouldn’t hurt, but Gran kept only wine in the house. Gran and Denise returned, carrying to-go cups of coffee.
“Where’s Jase?” Gran asked.
“He left.” Bree took the cup Denise held out to her.
“He what?” Anger laced Denise’s voice. “I though you said everything was alright.”
“It is. I told him I needed a little bit of time.”
“And he agreed?” Denise’s eyes narrowed.
“Kind of. He said he’d give me a day, but only if I’d go out with him.”
“What? Like, on a date, go out?”
Bree let out a small laugh. “Yeah, like on a date.”
“Huh.” Denise crossed the small kitchen and flopped down onto one of the recliners in the living room. “Told you he wouldn’t let you go very far.”
Bree rolled her eyes at Denise. Gran took her shoulders in gentle hands. She searched Bree’s face, and a soft hand tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”
Bree swallowed hard. She’d never been comfortable talking to Gran about her lingering issues. She didn’t want to burden her with the pain, the nightmares, or the guilt. But if she was going to stop compartmentalizing things, maybe she should start with the person who loved her most.
“Let’s sit.” Bree sat on the end of the couch and curled her legs under her. She took a sip of the coffee, flicking at a drop of foam on the lid. Polly climbed on the couch and curled up next to Bree.
“Jase’s best friend, Tony, committed suicide a few years ago. Jase blames himself.”
“Why?” Gran asked.
