“What can I say? Even then, I had it.”
“And there’s that ego I remember.”
“Over there, I got drunk for the first time and my father tried to look angry in front of the townsfolk when I puked all over the place. But when we got in the car, he laughed the entire journey home.”
“I like your father.” Branna looked to the stage at the top of the main street where Jake was pointing. The band was playing country music and a few people were dancing.
“Me too.”
They fell silent as they contemplated their fathers, and Branna felt that pain she always did with the memory of hers.
“You want some fudge?” He pulled her toward another tent. “Gussie Neeps makes the best fudge in town.”
“That’s an unusual name.”
“Gussie or Neeps?”
“Both.” Branna tried to dig her heels in as he dragged her, but he just tugged harder.
“Augustus Neeperman is a legend around here. She can trace her family back to the beginning of Howling, but if you don’t have a spare hour or two, don’t go there.”
“Your teeth will fall out if you eat too much of that stuff.” Branna nodded toward the confectionary laden table they were approaching.
“Will you still like me then?”
“Maybe. Although, I’d hate to have to eat soft food all the time.”
“And I couldn’t use my teeth all over your body, and that would just be a downright shame,” Jake said the words into her ear.
Branna shivered. She’d never thought of herself as a sexual person, but it seemed she was. Jake had ripped away any inhibitions she may have been harboring, and now he just had to give her one of his steamy glances and she was mush. A few little words and her body ignited.
“I like to tug on your—”
“Stop!”
His laugh was dirty, but he shut up.
They didn’t talk about her father or Jake leaving the medical profession; she knew that would come, but for now they were just getting to know each other, and Branna could feel herself changing. Some of her hard edges were softening too. She was beginning to believe that maybe she was loveable enough to begin a relationship with this man. God knew she was so deep in like with him now, she wasn’t sure she could pull back.
“Thanks, Gussie.” Jake paid the large woman with no front teeth for the fudge, then placed a piece in Branna’s mouth, then his. He hummed his appreciation before swallowing.
“You didn’t answer my question, Branna O’Donnell, which leads me to believe that you won’t still like me if I lose all my teeth from eating this fudge, which in turn leads me to believe you’re shallow.” After these words, he ate another piece, making the same noise in the back of his throat.
“I’ll probably toss you over for Ethan, Buster, or Newman, depending on which one has all theirs.”
His smile was wide and showed off his sparkling white collection, all set off in a handsome tanned face. He’d dressed up tonight—his words—in jeans that had worn patches in all the right places and fitted him perfectly. His shirt was black and long sleeved with buttons up the front, and he’d rolled the sleeves up so she could see his forearms. The man was a walking fantasy.
“What?”
“What?” She questioned him right back.
“You sighed.”
“You’ve probably heard this a million times, but in all honesty, I’m not sure I can cope with your handsomeness.”
“Handsomeness?”
Branna waved to Belle, who was debating something with Newman beside a stall, before she looked back at Jake. Surprisingly, he was embarrassed, which was a revelation to her. She’d never seen him flustered before.
