He grinned, his thumb brushing over her lower lip.
She shuddered at the featherlight touch, need setting her blood on fire. “Maybe too much?”
His gaze traveled over her face, the corners of his mouth turning up. “You’re saying I’m too much for you?”
Her laugh was breathy. “I’m saying I don’t know what to do with this.” Her hands tightened on his shirtfront, making her even more aware of the rock-hard chest beneath the neatly pressed shirt. “With you.”
He nodded. “What do you want to do?” he asked, his voice gruff and pitched low.
A dozen possibilities played through her mind. But none of them was acceptable to say out loud. Her experience with JT hadn’t provided a foundation for what was happening between her and Brody. Nothing had prepared her for this. She wanted Brody, to touch him and kiss him and explore the contours of his body. She wanted him to keep looking at her like he was now—like there was no place else he’d rather be.
“This. You. I want you to take me home,” she murmured. “And I want you to stay.”
His jaw tightened. “You’re sure?”
She nodded. “Absolutely.”
He frowned. “It’s been a hell of a day, India. We don’t need to rush things.”
“You’re right,” she agreed. “But there’s no rush. Tonight, we can be like we were. You and me.” She smiled. “Talking. Laughing. Us against the world.”
“I can do that, Goldilocks.” He smiled down at her, his arms sliding from her waist. “Whenever you’re ready.”
She was more than ready. But they still had to get the Fire Gorge work truck from the fort before they could head home. “I’ll hurry,” she said, slipping from his hold to close the shop.
“What can I do?” he asked.
“Check and make sure the back door is locked?” she asked, straightening up the desk, filing the few invoices away and packing up her things onto the bookcase behind the counter.
He returned. “All locked up.”
“Thanks.” She stood, pushed her chair in and turned off the desk light.
“My pleasure,” he said, at her back. His hands settled at her waist as his nose ran along the curve of her neck. He kissed the skin behind her ear and released her. “Anything else?”
“Eager to leave?” Her voice wobbled. She heard it. He probably heard it, too.
“Hell, yes.” He took her hand in his, threading their fingers together as he led her toward the shop door.
He released her when they were outside, but India didn’t let it get to her. They both needed to be careful—for different reasons. They got into his truck.
“I need to let Scarlett know not to come get me,” she said once they were on the road. She typed in a quick t
ext, Got a ride home. See you tomorrow. Then hit Send.
Scarlett’s response was quick. With who? Followed by a string of smiling emojis and hearts.
India giggled. Nothing to tell.
“What?” Brody asked.
“My sister,” she said, taking his hand in hers. “She’s a hopeless romantic.”
“That’s bad?” he asked.
“It’s...unrealistic. A recipe for disaster. Scarlett’s so gentle, I worry about her. I’m afraid her first heartbreak might really break her heart.” She tucked her phone back into her pocket. “We should get the ranch truck. Dad will notice if it’s missing.”
They drove to the fort, shared a handful of stolen kisses and drove the remaining leg of their journey apart. She held her breath as she parked at the truck shed and Brody kept going. It was late, and her parents were probably in bed in their bedroom that was on the other side of the property—ensuring her comings and goings were nobody else’s business but her own.