He swallowed hard, adding moisture to his dry mouth, and licked his lips. His hunger for food suddenly disappeared and a different appetite consumed his very being.
He hoped he could act like a gentleman and show her what a nice guy he was without making a complete fool out of himself.
* * * *
BROOKE’S HEART LODGEDin her throat as she watched Justin for signs of disgust, but so far, she didn’t see any. His expression didn’t read like he was looking at something hideous. Instead, the warmth in his eyes melted her. The look on his face was of pure amazement... yeah, like he hadn’t seen anything so gruesome in his life.
The more she studied his wide brown eyes and his increasing smile, she realized he wasn’t thinking that she was ugly after all. She fidgeted, pushing her damp hair behind her ears.
“I’m sorry I look so... so... awful, but I don’t have my makeup with me.”
He walked to her slowly as his tender gaze traced her face. “No, Brooke, you’re wrong. You don’t look awful at all.” He stopped in front of her and caressed her cheek with his fingers. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, “so lovely in fact, that you take my breath away.”
Her heart came to life and hammered a wild rhythm. Butterflies danced in her stomach and made her knees weak, but she kept herself from laughing aloud from the sheer joy of it all.
She swallowed. “Really?”
“Oh, yes,” he answered softly. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful as the woman standing in front of me.”
She was lost in his eyes. His intoxicating gaze softened her heart as she fell under his power. Surprisingly, it didn’t frighten her this time.
His attention dropped to her mouth and her heartbeat sped. He stepped closer, but she didn’t stop him. Without taking her in his arms, he bent his head and softly pressed his lips to hers. It was brief, but the tender effect left her mind spinning out of orbit.
He withdrew, and his smile widened. “Good morning, angel.”
Although this was one of the happiest moments of her life, she wanted to cry. If he only knew about her past, he wouldn’t call her angel. Maybe she’d let him think she was pure, if only for today.
“Are you ready for breakfast?” he asked.
She nodded, and he took her hand, leading her to the table. He helped seat her, pulling out a chair for her like a gentleman. She was amazed that there was a man who still did this kind of thing. A few months ago, she’d convinced herself men like that didn’t exist. But Justin was real; very real and tempting her almost more than she could stand. He seemed to know how to wear down her resistance.
Her hand shook when she picked up the fork and cut off a piece of omelet. It was slightly cold, but it didn’t matter because Justin’s stare warmed her completely. Besides that, she couldn’t taste a thing. Her heart was stuck in her throat.
Neither said a word during the meal, but Brooke knew exactly what was on his mind. She’d seen that look of desire before on the last man she’d been with, except with Justin it was different. And now, fright didn’t consume her very being.
When she couldn’t eat one more bite, she stood and picked up her plate. Within seconds Justin stood by her side. She smiled, welcoming his company, amazed again that such a man existed.
Brooke washed the dishes and he wiped, but they didn’t speak. Strange as it seemed, his presence comforted her even without a conversation. The few months she’d dated Chuck, she had always felt the need to say something. Silence never flowed so easily with him.
After Justin put the last dish away, he grasped her hand and pulled her into the living room, sitting her on the sofa by the fireplace. When he threw a couple more logs into the fire, the flannel shirt he wore stretched across his shoulders, emphasizing his muscular build. His blatant masculinity stirred something within her soul, but she didn’t want to think about what it might be.
He returned to the sofa and sat beside her. Taking her hand, his warm gaze slid over her face. It made her a little uncomfortable, only because she wasn’t wearing make-up, but his soft expression left her feeling pretty and very special; a feeling she hadn’t experienced for a long time.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“No.”
“Just let me know if I need to throw a blanket over your legs.” His attention moved to her limbs, and butterflies flopped in her stomach. He grinned. “I remember how easily your feet get cold.”
Suddenly, her heart burst with happiness that he would remember such a thing. The urge to tell him everything about her life overwhelmed her. She hesitated. She didn’t want him to judge her as harshly as her friends and family. And she definitely didn’t want him to stop looking at her as if she was an angel.
Settling her pounding heart by taking deep breaths, she turned toward him. “Justin? About last night—”
“Brooke, about last night—”
Simultaneously, they laughed.
“You go ahead,” he told her.
