In an attempt to lighten the mood, Brynnon gave him a sly smirk. “You’ve never kissed someone before?”
The scowl she’d grown accustomed to returned as he ran his hand over the same scruff she’d felt against her skin only seconds before. “You know what I mean. I’ve never crossed the line on a job like that.” He exhaled loudly. “It was unprofessional, and I would understand if you want to have me replaced by a different R.I.S.C. operative.”
“Are you serious?”
“You have every right to be upset.”
“The only thing I’m upset about is the fact that you stopped.”
Grant swallowed, regret swimming in his eyes as they locked with hers. “I never should have started.”
“I think you need to ease up on yourself just a tad. It was just a kiss, Grant. Not a proposal. Besides, it’s not like you were the only one participating.
The muscles in his jaw bulged as he clenched his teeth together. “Doesn’t matter. But regardless, I assure you it won’t happen again.”
Wanna bet?
Those two little words damn near fell off her tongue, but Brynnon held them in. She knew he’d felt the same, heart-stirring connection she had. He just needed a little more time to accept the inevitable.
Deciding to let it go—for now—Brynnon went back to the coffee table and began cleaning up the mess from their dinner. From behind her, his deep voice reverberated through the small room.
“I’m going to go check the perimeter one last time. I’ll...see you tomorrow.”
Without turning back around, she answered, “Okay.”
He cleared his throat before asking, “Did that reporter happen to tell you which newspaper he works for?”
Closing her eyes for a moment, Brynnon forced the sting in her eyes away. Taking more time than she really needed to pick up the napkins, plates, and leftover pizza, she told him, “The Dallas Observer.”
“While we were at the hospital, I texted my friend about getting a tux. She found a rental place downtown that keeps several in stock. She checked, and they have a few in my size. I have an appointment there at eight-thirty.”
Great. So not only had the man kissed her senseless and then pull away before they could get to the really good part, she now had to spend tomorrow morning watching him parade around in a tux.
Freaking fantastic.
“Also”—his deep voice rumbled again—“I noticed you didn’t have anything in particular scheduled for the afternoon, so I’d like to go to the Observer.”
Brynnon turned around. “Why?”
“I want to speak to the reporter. At the very least, he needs to understand approaching you the way he did is unacceptable.”
“I don’t need you fighting my battles for me, Grant. Besides, I told you it was nothing. I already handled it.”
“Still, you said the guy was sniffing around for a story about your father. I’d like to find out if whatever story he’s working on has anything to do with the threats the senator has received.”
“Okay, but it’s a waste of time.”
She walked past him toward her kitchen. There was a pause, and she thought maybe he was going to say something more about the two of them. Instead, the next thing Brynnon heard was Grant disarming the alarm before opening the door and walking outside.
The next day, after a very,veryrestless night’s sleep, Brynnon rode with Grant to the tuxedo shop. Thankfully, he had her wait in the front while he went with the owner to try a few on.
With the massively awkward tension that had been between them, the last thing Brynnon needed was to have the God of Kissing filling her head with suit porn. It was bad enough he’d gone for well-worn jeans, a black T-shirt, and a black leather jacket. The man looked like a damn model for Bad Boys R Us.
Her dreams hadn’t helped her already-grouchy mood, either. During the few short stretches of sleep she’d been able to cling on to, her head had been filled with scenes like those she’d read in her favorite romance novels.
In the first one, Brynnon dreamed she and Grant were back on her couch. Only that time, in her subconscious fantasy, he hadn’t stopped.
Another was of the two of them in her bed. His hard body hovering over hers as he pumped himself in and out of her welcoming heat.
