He loved how relaxed she looked tonight. It surprised him that she was so at ease, even though they were alone. Of course, he’d always felt comfortable around her. Hopefully, she’d return that feeling, because that meant her heart was softening toward him.
Brad dug through his pocket and found another coin. Staring at the penny, he tried to think of a wish – a practical wish, but the only thing going through his head was yearning for her to fall in love with him.
He might as well throw the coin inside the well now, because if he tried to think of something else, he’d be here all night. Holding his breath, he tossed the coin inside. The light splash of it hitting the water inside echoed through the well.
“See,” she said. “That wasn’t so hard.”
“Not at all.”
“Brad,” she shifted on the edge, facing him more, “tell me more about your life. I don’t really know that much about you.”
He sat beside her. “What do you want to know?”
“Where you a big flirt when you were younger?”
Tilting back his head, he laughed heartily. Memories of when he was younger swarmed in his head. “Actually, my brother won the title in school for the biggest flirt.”
“How old is your brother?”
“Two years older.”
“Dang, I can’t wait to meet him. If the women at work consider you the sexiest man alive, I wonder what your brother looks like.”
Her tone was teasing, but forgotten feeling resurfaced from his youth. His brother had taken a few of Brad’s high school girlfriends. There was no way he wanted Tyger meeting Corey, not until she was completely in love withhim.
“Oh, I’m sure you’ll meet him. But I can promise you, he’s not the sexiest man alive. Just imagine someone who looks like me, but has short and lighter brown hair, and a smooth shaven face.”
Her eyebrows drew together. She leaned toward him and placed her hand over his. “Brad Montgomery? You aren’t jealous of your brother, are you?”
He snorted. “Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. It was just the way you said it, I guess.”
He shrugged and stood. The subject made him uncomfortable. “I was jealous of my brother when we were younger, but not now. However, I still don’t think you should meet him anytime soon. I don’t want you drooling over him.”
Slowly, she shook her head. “You surprise me, Brad. I’ve never seen this side to you.”
“Yeah, well, it doesn’t come out very often, unless a girl I like is eager to meet my older brother.”
“Oh, Brad.” She stood and reached her hand out to touch his arm. “You have no reason to think that way. Not when—”
Suddenly, the lights went out. Darkness surrounded them.What the crap?
Tyger shrieked and flew into his arms. All thoughts of jealousy toward his brother vanished. Now his head quickly filled with thoughts of her as desire warmed his heart. He wrapped her in his arms, pulling her body closer.
“What happened to the lights?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“I’m not sure.” But he’d bet money that it was his match-making father. Brad had noticed how his father had watched Tyger during dinner. Brad could tell his father was impressed with his date. Finally.
“You’re going to be fine.” He stroked her hair softly as he nuzzled his cheek against hers. Her breathing became uneven, and he worried that because she was claustrophobic, that she was beginning to panic. “I won’t let anything happen to you, my love.”
“Funny, but without the lights, it makes this place seem very spooky,” she said.
He chuckled. “That’s true. My brother and sisters used to decorate this maze during Halloween and we’d invite our friends over.”
Her chest shook with a silent laugh. “I bet your house was the hit of the neighborhood.”
“It was.”
