Melody of the Heart (Runaway Train, #4)

I don’t know how long we stood there kissing in the rain. When Brayden finally pulled away, I gasped in a breath. He cupped my face in his hands. “I’m sorry I acted so stupid.”


“It’s okay.”

He shook his head. “No, it’s not. I promise you I won’t ever stop fighting for you.”

I smiled up at him. “I’m glad to hear that. I’ll fight for you, too.”

He laughed. “You’re a little scrappy thing to be fighting, aren’t you?”

“I can be pretty tough when I need to be.”

Leaning down, Brayden bestowed another kiss on my lips. This time it was chaste, but I still enjoyed each and every second of it. No one had ever kissed me like Brayden had.

When he pulled away, he brushed his thumb across my cheekbone. “Wanna get something to eat?”

I nodded. “I’m starving.”

As Brayden surveyed our drenched clothes and hair, he exhaled a defeated breath. “I had planned to take you somewhere really nice tonight for our first date, but I’m thinking that’s not going to work right now.”

“I don’t care about any of that.” I swept a damp strand of hair out of his eyes. “I just care about the part where I get to eat.”

He grinned. “Come on, you can ride with me, and then I’ll bring you back to your car.”

“Sounds good.”

When we got to the car, he held open the door for me like a true gentleman. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied. Glancing back at the house, he grimaced. “Give me five minutes to go tell the guys I’m cutting out.”

“You won’t be in trouble, will you?”

He laughed. “No, I was only playing with them until the first break.”

“Oh, okay.”

He shut the door and then ran back to the house. It didn’t seem like he was gone a minute before he was back. He hustled around the front of the car and then slipped inside. “There’s some napkins in the dash if you need to clean up.”

“I don’t think they’re going to help.”

He grimaced. “I’m sorry you got so wet.”

“I didn’t mind.” With a grin, I added, “It was for a worthy cause.”

“It was the cause of a stupid idiot.

“Hey now, that’s my boyfriend you’re talking about like that.” When the word escaped my lips, I realized it was too late to take them back. Brayden hadn’t asked me to be his girlfriend. We’d barely even had one date. “Well, um, you know.”

“You want me to be your boyfriend?” he asked.

“Do you want to be my boyfriend?”

With a grin, he said, “I asked you first.”

I smiled back at him. “This is all new to me. I don’t have a lot of experience with guys.”

“I find that hard to believe.”

“It’s the truth. I’ve dated a few guys, gone to the movies, held hands, that kind of thing.”

Brayden’s eyes widened. “So you’re a virgin?”

I couldn’t help the warmth that flooded my cheeks. Ducking my head, I questioned, “Is that a problem?”

“Of course not. Why would it be an issue?”

Shrugging, I replied, “Some guys aren’t interested in a girl that won’t sleep with them.”

“Those guys would be douchebags,” he answered, as we turned into the parking lot of an older looking restaurant. The illuminated sign with red letters read “The Varsity.” While there was a place to go inside and eat, Brayden drove over to the drive-in area.

Taking my hand, Brayden said, “If we’re being honest, I’ve never had sex either.”

Now it was my turn for the wide eyes of shock. “You haven’t?”

He shook his head. “Is that a problem?” he asked, repeating my question.

“No. Never.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

As we sat there staring at each other, Brayden’s thumb rubbed circles over the top of my hand. “Lily, would you—”

A man’s loud voice bellowed outside the window. “Whadda ya have?” he questioned, with his order pad in hand.

“Shit,” Brayden muttered. After he rolled down the window, he said, “Can you give us a minute?”

The man nodded before he ambled over to one of the other cars. I glanced up at the menu. “So what’s good here?”

“Oh no, you’re not going to do that.”

“Do what?” I questioned innocently.

“Change the subject.”

Glancing over at him, I said, “I was trying to give you an out. You know, in case you felt pressured.”

He shook his head. “I don’t ever need an out when it comes to you. Now are you going to be my girlfriend or not?”

I grinned. “I am.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” Rubbing his hands together, Brayden said, “Now that we have that out of the way, it’s time to get serious about food. We’re lucky this place is close because it’s legendary.”

“It is?”

“Oh yeah. Best chili dogs in the whole state.”

“Hamburgers?”

“They’re awesome, too.”

“Why don’t you order a little bit of everything, and we can share.”

Brayden grinned at me. “I sure do love a girl who isn’t afraid to eat greasy, artery-clogging food.”