“I don’t make a habit of agreeing with Number Five, but in this, I do,” Buster said; he also knew about Jake’s time in Iraq.
Jake looked to make sure Branna hadn’t suddenly appeared before he spoke. “I don’t need this now, Ethan. I’m dealing with it the only way I know how. The flashbacks are getting further apart, but the dreams are still vivid. I would never inflict that on a woman.”
Ignoring the pitying look on his friend’s face, he walked further into the café. Jake stopped when he saw Branna, because the sight she made was worthy of that, and it gave him time to let the tightness in his chest ease. Seeing her pulled him out of that pit of darkness he sank into when he thought about his time in Iraq.
She was totally unaware of him, hadn’t realized he’d even walked in, which let him observe her undetected. The sun brushed the thick black curls that reached her shoulder blades. He’d never seen it loose, and it made his fingers itch to touch it. The dress was another revelation, and while the cutoffs had his vote, this soft pale green thing was something special. She’d curled her legs under her, and the hem was halfway up her thighs. Jake wanted to get his hands on her; he wanted to run them over all that exposed skin. Two white top teeth trapped her bottom lip as her eyes studied the screen of Buster’s laptop.
“Hey, Rosebud.”
Her head shot up, green eyes wide, and then she muttered something and looked at the screen again. But Jake wasn’t fooled; he’d seen the flash of interest. He wasn’t the only one in this, whatever it was. Walking around behind her, he looked over her shoulder. A picture of Buster stared back at him.
“Damn, that man’s ugly.”
“He’s not. In fact, he’s cute.”
Her hands flew over the keys as she tweaked this and adjusted that.
“How about a drop-down there, with different options?”
Her hands stilled and she looked at the screen for a few seconds. “McBride, if you’re good at this, why the hell didn’t you help him before?”
“I offered. We just never got ‘round to it, but I guess there’s no need now, as you’re doing it.”
She worked silently to implement what he’d suggested, and when it was done, he suggested a couple more things. His hands touched her shoulders as he leaned over her, and she tensed beneath them.
“Relax, I don’t bite during daylight hours.”
“I’m done. You can move back now.” She’d tilted her head to look up at him.
“Clever girl, it looks pretty good.” He wasn’t looking at the screen as he spoke; his eyes were focused on her. The soft curve of her lips and the sweet beauty in her face eased the pain inside him.
“Don’t.”
“Do.” He cupped her chin and closed the distance. It was sweet and brief and ignited him in seconds. She responded, her lips moving beneath his, and when he lifted his head, they were both breathless.
“You’re beautiful, Branna Rose O’Donnell.” Running a finger down her cheek, he traced the soft blush that stole into her cheeks.
“Haul ass, Buster, she’s finished!” Jake grabbed the nearest chair as he spoke and sat it close to Branna, just to unsettle her some more, before dropping into it as his friend appeared.
“She’s made you look pretty, which should get her a lifetime supply of mystery muffins, I reckon.”
“I am pretty.” Head now beside Branna’s, Buster was soon getting a tutorial on how his new website worked.
“Son, I’ve seen Texas longhorns that could outshine you,” Ethan said, coming to look at the website too.
Buster snorted. “You’re a Texan. Everyone knows how you feel about your cattle.”
They threw insults around between the three of them while Branna alternated between giggling, which was a sweet little sound that made Jake’s gut tighten, and outrage on Buster’s behalf when both he and Ethan attacked him.
“Don’t listen to these feckin’ eejits, Buster, you and I both know who the prince among the three of you is.”
“Honey, that hurts right here.” Ethan thumped his chest.
She wasn’t interested in Ethan; Jake could see that by the way she interacted. He’d seen women stop in the streets, their mouths falling open, as the Texan walked by, but not Branna, she treated him like she did Buster.
“And now that I’ve had my daily dose of fun and laughter, I must return home and do some real work.” She climbed to her feet and the hem of her dress settled a few inches above her knees.
Hell of it was, he’d just calmed down, but seeing that hem just begging to be raised was firing Jake up all over again.
