She sat back on the couch. The TV was on and she flipped around to the news. Anything to just not sit here staring at the wall.
Brennan returned fifteen minutes later.
“Is she all tucked in?”
“She is. Her eyes were drooping before I finished her story, but I made sure she was out before I shut the book.”
“She sure has an abundance of energy,” she said. “I noticed you ran after her on the stairs. She seemed pretty steady to me.”
He sighed. “I’m overprotective. I get it. I’m always worried that she is going to get hurt.”
Alana didn’t want to criticize him on his parenting, but she found it odd Becca could run like an animal on one level, but get her near stairs and Brennan had to carry her.
You couldn’t always avoid injury in life, and constantly looking over your shoulder instead of what’s in front of you could worsen things. “Thanks for dinner. Everything was wonderful.”
He reached his hand out for hers. She put it in his and he yanked her up and into his chest. “My pleasure. I’ve been wanting to do this since yesterday morning, but I wasn’t positive I had the strength.”
She giggled, almost stunned the sound came from her mouth, but was thrilled he was the person she was coming to enjoy when they were alone. “I would have liked that you did it.”
Being in his arms, shorter than him, she was forced to look up. He was smiling down on her, his mouth lowering, his lips landing on hers.
Together they opened up for the other, his tongue sliding in and testing the waters.
Oh, the waters were hot. Very hot.
Along with the rest of her body that was rushing to catch up.
This was the kiss she’d been dying for.
A pity they weren’t alone.
He lifted his head first, his smile as bright as hers felt. “See you tomorrow at work?”
“You betcha,” she said.
“We are putting our tree up tomorrow night. I’ll send you some pictures.”
“I wondered why it wasn’t up yet,” she said.
“My mother put hers up on Sunday with Becca there. I told her this week and then I got sick. Tonight she was more excited about you coming over. Tomorrow it is.”
She put her hands in his hair. “One more kiss for the road. To get me through the night.”
“It’s only going to make the night harder for me,” he said, but gave her what she asked for.
Now she hoped he could continue to do it.
19
AIDING HIM
“Wow,” Brennan said on Friday when he picked Alana up for the work Christmas party.
The office closed at two today for everyone to go home and relax, get ready and not feel rushed for dinner at Duke’s.
He wasn’t surprised it was being held at Kelsey’s twin brother’s restaurant.
He’d heard nothing but great things about the place, but it wasn’t where he’d take Becca.
