“I mean it. I know we just met, but I am absolutely captivated by you. I’m not going to lie and say I’m not. That’s what I did wrong in my last relationship. I wasn’t there—physically or emotionally—when I should have been.”
How can he think that way?“But, you were serving your countryandyou’d lost your best friend. Any woman who couldn’t understand that wasn’t going to be right for you anyway. She’s the one who should have been there for you.” Her cheeks flushed with heat. “That’s probably uncalled for, sorry. I never met her.”
He smiled at her again. “Don’t apologize. There’s some truth in that, but it was on me to give her what she needed before it got to that point or recognize that it wasn’t going to work sooner.” Brock shook his head. “Look, she’s in my past. My life has changed. I’ve changed—for the better, I hope. And what I’m asking for right now is the opportunity at a future with you. Whatever that looks like.”
“I—”
He chuckled. “Just as I say I’ve changed, I see I haven’t. I’m the same old Badger.” He held up his other hand. “No need to answer now. You have a lot going on and I don’t want to get in the way of that. Speaking of, as glad as I am that we’re out together tonight, you need to be with the rest of the group, don’t you?”
Dammit. I was hoping he wouldn’t notice that. “It’s okay.”
“No, it isn’t. I have a hunch that either Jerold is still messing with you or you still don’t feel like you belong. Which is it?” A cocky smile appeared. “Because I can fix both.”
Brianna grinned back. “Oh you can, can you?”
He nodded. “By telling you this. Brianna, you are amazing. You are way stronger than that asshole, way more talented, and a hell of a lot cuter.”
That made her laugh hard. “I don’t know, he’s awful darn cute, don’t you think?” she joked.
“More like just awful.” Then he brought her hand to his lips and kissed it, raising goosebumps up and down her arms. “You are stronger than he is, I mean it. You deserve this. I know you’ve worked hard for it and have overcome a lot. I’m honored to be a part of that. Now, how badly is he bothering you?”
“It’s not direct. There’s just this…I don’t know, menacing feeling that he’s shooting at me like a death ray.” She waved it off. “I’m probably being too sensitive.”
Brock leaned forward. “Always trust your gut. But know that a guy like him is a coward. He’s targeted you because you’re the biggest, baddest threat to him there.”
Brianna laughed again. “This?” She waved her hand down her body. “All five-foot-three of me?”
“No. This.” Brock reached across the table and gently tapped her forehead. “And these.” He took her hands and kissed each one, making Brianna cross her legs against the quickly growing ache those kisses induced. “It’s your talent, and your sweetness, and your goodness that intimidates him because he has none of it.”
Brianna. Couldn’t. Breathe. No one had ever said anything like that to her.
“Thank you,” she finally said, her words barely a whisper.
“Thankyou.” He kissed her palm. “Brianna Taylor, world-class fiddle player.”
“Keep doing that, and I’m likely to spontaneously combust, right here, right now.”
Brock laughed.
“No, I mean it. People at the other tables are going to sniff the air, look around, and ask ‘Who ordered all the fajitas? Oh, it must be that table over there that’s on fire.’”
Brock laughed so loudly that people did look up as if there were a fire. When he finally stopped, he said, “Baby, that is one more thing to love about you; you crack me up. So, as much as it kills me—because now itreallydoes—I’m gonna insist on you not going out with me this week if there’s something else you need to be at instead. Don’t let anything stop you—not some asshole, not any self-doubt.” He grinned. “And sadly,” he jokingly placed his hand over his heart, “not even dinner with me.”
But that didn’t stop Brianna after dinner when Brock walked her home from wrapping her arms around him and kissing him for twenty minutes before going into her apartment building. Luckily, the front light was out, and in the dark, they had all the privacy they needed.
The kissing started slowly—lips meeting, tongues tracing and exploring as they opened their mouths to each other. Brock left kisses all along her throat until she was practically swooning. She was moments away from inviting him upstairs when he pressed his forehead against hers.
“So damn hot,” he whispered.
“We could go upstairs,” she said.
“It’s taking everything I’ve got not to take you up on your offer. But I know you’ve got a big day tomorrow, and if I go upstairs with you right now, I have a hunch you will get zero sleep.”
She bit her lip and grinned. “Why do your hunches have to be right? It’s not fair.”
He cupped her cheek and kissed her forehead. “I will see you on the grounds bright and early tomorrow. I expect you to blow them all away again just like you did today. You’ve got this, Brianna.”
Chapter 8
