“I’d hoped to avoid something like that,” she said, “him being such a delicate little flower and all.”
His laugh was deep and unrestrained, which told her he was in a better place than some of the others she’d seen him in.
“Your arm up to gardening, Rosebud?”
“Yes.”
“If you don’t give it the proper rehabilitation, you could be wearing that brace for longer.”
“I thought you gave up being a doctor, McBride?” She’d touched a nerve, because his left hand fisted briefly and his good mood started to slip.
“I still know how to be one.”
“And yet you choose to work on automobiles.” Why was she doing this? Pushing him? Maybe because she could feel him getting too close?
The brief silence was thick enough for her to reach out and take a swipe through it. She attacked another weed, so she could avoid looking at him; he was so gorgeous it made her eyes hurt.
“Why did you choose Howling as your last name?”
Branna’s hands jerked at his question. “Because I did, and it has two L’s.” She was not going there, not with him. “Why don’t you doctor anymore?”
“Because I don’t want to, and for a writer, that’s not very good English.”
“I’m taking a hiatus, like you with the car fixing thing,” Branna fired back.
“Why don’t you and your dad get on?”
“Because we don’t.” She dug her gloved hands deep into the dirt. If anything made her irrational, it was talking about her father.
“Why’d you leave the army?”
“Okay, I’m done with this bullshit.”
“What bullshit?” She made herself look at him again.
“This, us, me looking at those long legs of yours and wishing we were both naked with them wrapped around my waist.”
“I-I, ah, thought you were done with all the questions and no answers.” Branna’s body had started to tingle all over as he spoke, and the vision of them both naked made it hard to breathe.
“We’ll get to those answers, but for now, I’m done talking.” He took a step toward her.
Branna squeaked as he suddenly gripped her arms and stood her upright. He pulled off her hat and threw it onto the ground, and then removed her gloves.
“What are you doing?’
“Shut up.” Anger clenched his jaw and darkened his eyes, but she wasn’t scared of him; he’d never hurt her… He was one of the good guys.
“Don’t tell me to shut up,” Branna protested.
He picked her up after throwing her gloves on top of her hat and carried her inside. Making for the stairs, he took them two at a time, even with her in his arms.
“Put me down, Jake.” He didn’t, and her foolish heart started thumping with excitement as they reached her bedroom. Walking inside, he lowered her slowly down his body so that her front touched all of his and left a trail of heat streaking through her. Then, he kissed her.
It was savage and messy, and she wanted more.
“Don’t deny this is where we’ve been heading since you came back, Rosebud.” He pulled her top over her head then put his lips on her collarbone, tracing the edge with his tongue. She was suddenly awash with pleasure, her body simmering with heat as he continued to taste her. What would happen when he kissed the rest of her?
“I-I… this is wrong, Jake.” She sighed as he moved to the top of her breasts above the lace cups of her bra.
