“I know enough.”
“Oh, yeah? What if I’m the Black Widow or the next Jeffrey Dahmer?”
He barks out a laugh. “I doubt that. I’m a good judge of character and you, sweetheart, couldn’t hurt a fly.”
I make a noncommittal sound.
“Like I said. Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’m all ears.” He wraps his arms around me and kisses the top of my head. “I hope one day, you’ll trust me enough to tell me.”
The reassurance of his words tugs at my heart. Brody’s embrace subsides all my fears and I no longer want to run away from him.
Brody pulls back and he looks down at me. “What are you thinking?” he asks, tracing the lines of my jaw.
“You’re too good to be true. And it’s kind of scary.”
“I assure you, I don’t mean to scare you. As a matter of fact, I still owe you a cup of hot cocoa and that, Dorothy, is not scary at all.”
“Well, that all depends.”
“Depends on what?”
“If you’re going to sneak up behind me again.”
“Hey, I did not sneak up behind you. If my memory serves me correctly, I think you were the one who was pointing a weapon at me.”
“Only because you freaked me out.” I jab my finger in his chest.
He lifts my chin with his fingers, forcing me to look at his soul-reading eyes. The simple touch sends a spark down my spine and the butterflies flutter again.
“I like you, Delilah. And I think you like me. Just give me a chance to show you that whoever you are comparing me to, I’m not him.”
Chapter Seventeen
Brody
Everything about Delilah captures me. The scent of her sweet perfume. The smell of shampoo in her hair overwhelms me. The warmth of her body, inches from mine as we stand on the dimly lit porch. I gaze into her eyes and I hate not fully knowing what put that look on her face back at the restaurant.
“Which room is yours?” I ask off the cuff.
She points to the right. “That one. Why do you ask, you plan on serenading me?”
I stifle a laugh. “Hardly. I don’t do the singing thing.”
She tucks her lip under her teeth, and it sends a jolt to my tightening balls and I want to kiss those soft lips of hers again.
The moment never felt so right, and I want her to know I’m here and I’m not going anywhere. Then I remember the hesitation that swept across her face when I asked the question she still has not answered.
Delilah never confirmed or denied.
Although she hasn’t admitted it, the signs are there. And all I can do is respect and admire her strength for getting out of an abusive relationship.
I need to calm the rage stirring in the pit of my belly. I need to be patient as I look down at the beautiful woman that captured me the moment I met her.
I’m fucked when she unknowingly pries open the crack in my breastplate, taking me by surprise. And I am nowhere near qualified to be her knight in shining armor. But something about her pulls at me as she looks up at me through her thick lashes.
The troubles she’s battling should be a bright fucking beacon warning me to let her go, so she can deal with her own shit. She’s the reason I don’t date complicated women. But here she is, in my arms and I can’t help the warm feeling in my chest that I never expected and want with her.
“Thanks for bringing me home.” Her voice is soft, and the topaz of her eyes makes me take a pause, step back, and catalog this moment.
“What was I going to do? Make you walk home?”
“I just thought after I left you in the restaurant . . .”
“Shh, I’m just happy I didn’t lose you this time.” I frame her face with my palms and kiss her forehead. “You sure you’re okay?”
She nods and something tells me she’s not as her eyes dart over my shoulder. I turn to see what she’s looking at and it’s just my truck still idling with the headlights on.
“Thank you for . . . for everything. I had a really good time,” she says.
Fuck! There goes that smile again as I look at her lips and remember the taste of her kiss. And despite the night we had, it was all worth it to see that smile light up her face at the end of our date. But I can’t seem to walk away from her.
“I want to see you tomorrow . . . if that’s okay?” A rush of nerves races up my spine. “I mean, if you’re free, assuming you’re available.”
“I would love to see you tomorrow.”
Thank fuck! I let out a breath, not wanting her to see how excited I am.
“Cool,” I say. “What would you like to do?”
“You’re the one with all the surprises. So surprise me.”
Delilah’s nerves show as she plays with her necklace and fidgets with the cross hanging from it. All I want to do is surprise her as long as it makes her smile like she is at this very moment.
“Well, I don’t want to take you someplace you have been.”
“I haven’t been anywhere. I’m kind of new here.”
“How long have you lived here?”
“A few months,” she says.
“And your ex-boyfriend?” I narrow my eyes, prying for an answer.
“Is out of state.”
“In Kansas?”
“Yes,” she answers quickly and looks over my shoulder again. Rage boils in my veins knowing that asshole made her paranoid and I have a whole hell of a lot of work to do to rid her of her doubts.
“Well, how about I pick you up tomorrow around oh-nine-hundred?”
“Oh-nine-hundred? Nine o’clock. As in the morning?” she asks with surprise in her eyes and I can’t help but laugh.
I twist my lips and gaze at her beauty. “Just dress comfortably tomorrow. And wear a swimsuit.”
“Brody, where are you taking me?”
“What’s the matter, Kansas? Don’t you trust me?” I lean forward, testing her reaction. She doesn’t flinch as her eyes dart to my lips. I keep my eyes fixed on hers. I pull her closer to me as my hand slides around her rib cage.
Without another second passing, my mouth meets hers. She opens her lips slightly and I take the invitation. And holy fuck, this woman can kiss.
“Brody,” she whispers between kisses. “Please don’t hurt me.”
Christ! It pains me to hear her say that to me and I know she has every reason. My heart breaks hearing those words as I pull away from her soft lips. My forehead rests on hers and my eyes are closed. “Delilah, I would never . . .”
The warmth of her hand is on my chest. “Then I trust you.”
Chapter Eighteen
Delilah
“So, how’d it go?” Sydney asks as she points the remote control to the television and turns down the volume. “I didn’t get a call, so is it safe to assume you had a good time?”
My back leans against the door and the hum of Brody’s truck disappears as he drives down the street.
I cover my lips to hide the smile on my face. The evening would have been perfect if I didn’t have that damn panic attack.