What the fuck was that all about?
Never mind. He knew exactly what the fuck that was all about.
Despite Skye being essentially a stranger to him, Brennan was worried about her. That goddamned personality flaw was hard at work, driving him to take control of the situation and save her.
“You are unbelievable,” Skye murmured, shaking him out of his own thoughts.
Brennan swept her fiery red hair off her back and gathered it into one fist, wrapping it around his hand and releasing it. Wrap, release. Wrap, release. Wrap, release. Her hair was uncommonly soft. “Unbelievable good, or unbelievable bad?”
She smiled and pressed her nose to his chest. “Definitely good.”
He wrapped her hair all the way around his hand, holding it firmly and using it to angle her face so he could kiss her forehead. “Hopefully, while you’re here it’ll only get better. I’ve got a few ideas. I promise all fun and no getting up in your business.”
She rested her chin on his sternum and looked at him through troubled, haint blue eyes. “I wasn’t trying to be rude.”
“You weren’t rude, honey. I crossed a line. You didn’t come here for that. I’ll leave it alone, but I do hope you know I care, and I hope everything’s okay.”
Skye turned her head again to rest her cheek on his chest. “It’s all okay right now. That’s plenty.”
9
FRENCH QUARTER, NEW ORLEANS
Oscar completed his set with the same emotional fanfare he’d become known for, his horn pointed toward the heavens as he unleashed a revelry that could call home the saints from the four corners of the globe. The typically sedate atmosphere of the Court of Two Sisters restaurant thundered with applause. Brennan took in the sight of Skye as she clapped her hands, chills scattered across her fair, slender arms, while she shook her head in blatant awe.
“That was amazing,” Skye said, more to the space in front of her eyes than to him. “That was just amazing.” She turned to Brennan with wide eyes and grasped his forearm. “His album is moving, but I never expected anything like that. This restaurant feels like Carnegie Hall, and he is like Duke Ellington come back to life!”
Brennan smiled warmly. “Aren’t you glad you decided to stay?”
She lowered her head as if he’d shamed her and offered a sheepish nod.
“Hey.” He shifted his chair closer to hers, swept his hand under her hair, and stroked the nape of her neck. “I’m glad you’re here. Thank you for staying. I’m having a really good time with you.”
Skye looked up at him and smiled back. “I am glad I decided to stay. And I’m having a really good time with you, too.”
He hovered his lips next to her ear. “As good as you hoped?”
“Way better.”
She did look genuinely happy right then. Her meticulously applied makeup hid her secret from everyone in the room but him. Knowing there were all manner of bruises underneath continued to hold him in a place of emotional intimacy with her that hadn’t been present with any of his previous companions. It was dicey to potentially catch feels for this beautiful stranger, but it wasn’t quite full-on feels yet, and if she was leaving in only a few days like it sounded like she would, it really wouldn’t matter. That wasn’t enough time for him to really bond with her, and he’d be fine after she left.
At least, he’d be fine as long as he knew she was okay wherever she was after leaving. And given how secretive Skye had been, it was unlikely that she’d tell him anything, and he’d probably just spend the rest of his life wondering.
His phone buzzed in the inside pocket of his suit jacket, and he pulled it out.
Oh, hey. Speaking of things he wanted but couldn’t and wouldn’t ever have.
A text message from Liza.
Liza Hardin-Deneau: I can see that you’re entertaining a lady, but Connor and I really need to talk to you.
Brennan quickly punched out a reply.
Brennan Riley: Come on over here then, honey.
Liza Hardin-Deneau: You’ve banned us from ever meeting your ladies.
Brennan Riley: Yeah, but you’ll always be my #1 lady, L. (winky-face emoji)
