“Okay, whatever you say.” I wanted to end the argument.
“The single mom’s club at the school has no complaints about it.” He winked to add a touch of idiocy to his comment.
“Well, there are plenty to choose from.”
I looked back at my Jeep, making sure Parker wasn’t trying to get my attention. “I should warm up the Jeep.”
“Yeah, same,” he said.
“Well, if I see you, should I pretend like you don’t exist,” he asked.
“That would be for the best.”
Brody stepped away to walk toward his truck, but I could have figured our little meeting wasn’t over. “Just out of curiosity, why would it be for the best?”
I didn’t have a logical answer to the illogical question. Although, a dark thought rolled through my mind, and I made my way over to where he was standing. We were away from the overhead streetlamps and in the blindspot of our two vehicles. “Well, Brody, it’s because I’m good at making things very uncomfortable,” I whispered to him.
Brody tilted his head to the side with a surprised expression. “I’m not following,” he said, his voice hoarse. “I don’t get uncomfortable easily.” I don’t think he seemed too sure of himself.
I looked around once more to make sure no one was watching as I placed my hand on his broad chest, clenching his shirt into my fist. “I’ve learned a lot since our seven minutes in heaven game way back when, Brody.” I pressed up on my toes, bringing my lips a half-inch from his. “The game of making a man uncomfortable is one I enjoy winning.” I brushed my mouth against his and dragged the tip of my tongue along his bottom lip.
Brody’s hand looped around my back and pulled me in against him as if he had no restraint. “Don’t assume you’ll win a game with an opponent who has perfected his skills over the years,” he muttered against my mouth. “Got it?”
“I don’t usually like to assume anything, but I am aware of my capabilities.”
“Is this a challenge?” he asked.
“Shave your beard, and I’ll consider it.”
“Not a chance.”
“That’s too bad,” I said.
“You haven’t changed a bit, Journey.”
I raised my brow. “Neither have you, Brody.”
He tugged me into him a little harder and kissed me with a clear need. “This isn’t over,” he whispered.
“Prove it.”
Brody’s hand slipped down against my back pants pocket, where he snagged my phone. “Perfect,” he said. “Lucky for me, you don’t lock your phone.” Brody turned around and held my phone up, out of reach.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure I can send you texts and photos.”
“Photos …”
He stared over his shoulder with a hard look. “Photos,” he said again. “We have all this wonderful technology in our favor.”
I heard his phone buzz from wherever it was on his body. “I have your number, and you have mine. Don’t be a stranger, Journey.”
“Goodnight, Brody,” I told him.
“Hey,” he said, tugging at my hand as I tried to walk away. “Tell me you haven’t thought about me over the years.”
I stared back at him for a moment. “I can’t tell you that.”
