“Is there someone waiting at home for you?”The question came out on a low rumble and sounded possessive even to his ears.Not what he was going for right now.He wanted honesty from her, and if she had a dude, he’d take the check right now.
A startled look crossed her face.She compressed her lips and shook her head.“No.But to be completely honest,” she said, shifting uncomfortably in her seat, “I just got out of a rough relationship.I, uh, left him a few days ago.”
Anger fissured through him.The tone of her voice hit him like a sledgehammer to the gut.He was no fucking therapist, but he knew a scared woman when he saw one.“Is there something else you want to tell me?”He leaned closer until their elbows touched.“Did he hurt you?”
Natasha inhaled a shuddering breath.“It’s not what you think, okay?And I’m not comfortable talking about this right now.I’m enjoying our meal together and I’d like to keep it simple.”
He bit his tongue and forced himself to straighten away from her.He reached for his water and, wishing it were a little stronger, took a gulp to stifle the fire inside him.
Natasha wasn’t his girlfriend.He’d known her for barely half an hour.But the military man in him wanted to help her.To make things right.To protect her.
He also had to respect her privacy, though.She didn’t know him from Jack—or Scott—and coming in all hot and bothered would only push her away.“I understand.”
She took a bite of her burger, and a dab of ketchup landed at the corner of her mouth.He immediately wanted to pull her close and lick it clean—and fuck if that wasn’t the kinkiest impulse he’d ever had.Ketchup shouldn’t be a goddamn aphrodisiac, but on her it sure as hell was.
“Why’d you ask if I was flying tomorrow?”She swiped her napkin over her lips, stealing the opportunity from him.Good thing, or he’d have embarrassed himself a second time.
“Well,” he drawled, working to summon a neutral tone.“I was thinking we could grab breakfast at the airport tomorrow morning.”
Her fingers stilled on a handful of fries.Her big blue eyes lifted to his—and hell, she had the most gorgeous irises.Deep, vibrant blue outlined with navy.Her thick, dark eyelashes moved down and then up slowly, allowing him to picture her sleepy-eyed in bed.
She tossed the fries in her mouth, then wiped her hands on the napkin and dropped it on the plate.“Breakfast won’t work.But maybe we can continue this at your hotel?”
If his elbows weren’t on the table, he’d have fallen off his damn stool.Salt from the French fries hit the back of his throat and he coughed awkwardly, then reached for his glass again.
She waited.Her stare filled with uncertainty.“Sorry.We can just part ways—”
“No.”His voice croaked from the coughing fit that wanted to erupt from his chest.He grabbed her hand and cleared his throat.“No,” he said, more convincingly.“I enjoy talking with you.And Natasha,” he said, sweeping his thumb over her knuckles.“Just talking is fine with me.”
Her small pink tongue edged over her bottom lip.“I’d like that.”
***
“This one upahead,” Brick said, his long, brawny finger pointing toward a hotel.
She parked in the lot—no way she’d use valet.Not when she needed to get to her car easily.What the hell had she been thinking inviting herself to his hotel room?In the bar, their easy chatting and his outlandish flirting had been fun and easygoing.Brick had a strange way of settling her nerves.And he also kindled a heat in her body that she’d thought had been long since snuffed out.
Okay, so she was tempted to see how far things could go with this hot soldier.She needed to feel good for once.Wanted.
But leaving the dim lighting and noise of the bar and entering the frigid air had sobered her already alcohol-free brain.She was here now, though.Hopefully he wasn’t a serial killer.
At this point, did it matter?The man she’d fled was surely far worse than this grinning giant next to her.She reached for the keys in the ignition and his hand landed on her forearm, stopping her.
“You don’t have to come up.”His gentle tone made some of the tension leave her shoulders.“Really.We had a nice dinner, and I’d like to see you again.That doesn’t mean—”
“I want to.”Because god help her, she did.From the moment he’d given her that handsome, lazy smile on the ice, she’d been a goner.She’d enjoyed the dinner, the flirting.And now...she wanted more.
She’d never felt interesting before.But the way Brick spoke to her made her feel as if she didn’t have to try to be anyone else.Which was the biggest joke because that was exactly what she was doing.Pretending to be Natasha Smith.Self-disgust filled her.It wasn’t fair.She’d finally met someone kind and funny, someone safe, and she couldn’t even tell him her real name.With this man, she didn’t have to walk on eggshells—she could be playful and funny without worry he’d lash out.But for reasons that had nothing to do with him, she had to use an alias.
His fingers brushed her cheek, gently moving her hair away from her jaw.His knuckles grazed her skin, and she leaned into him.God, his touch was so kind.Not a hint of bite or expectation.
He leaned in as well, his lips hovering close to hers.
Her eyelids fluttered, and desire warmed her panties.
“Can I kiss you?”he asked, soft and breathless.
She nodded.
