“What?” I asked defensively.
“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head, a slight grin still apparent on his face. “Yeah, we caught a few bass and we talked … a lot.”
Panic flared in me. “Uh-oh, what does that mean?”
He looked at me without saying anything, and his eyes danced around my face. When he stared at me like that, he made me feel like I was under a microscope. Instead of metal clips holding me down, it was his two piercing green eyes.
“It means that Fred really cares about you. You’re a lucky girl.” He took my hand, gently kissing the top of it. My skin tingled where he’d kissed it, even after he pulled his lips away.
“Mom, what’s for breakfast?”
I pulled my hand back quickly when Lucy came in the room. Looking at Brody, I was relieved when he smiled and winked at me, not at all offended that I hadn’t wanted her to see his affection for me.
“I don’t know. What should we make today?” I scooped up Lucy and sat her on the island, eye to eye with me.
Her father’s brown eyes looked up toward the ceiling as she contemplated what she wanted to eat. “Chocolate chip pancakes!” she answered excitedly.
“Coming right up.” She wiggled to get down, but I caught her knee before she was able to get away. “Uh … pay the toll.”
She giggled and gave me a big smooch before hopping off the island and disappearing back down the hall.
I grabbed the pancake mix and chocolate chips out of the cabinet and tossed them on the island, glancing over at Brody who was still sitting at the table with his elbows bent, hands clasped together, staring at me.
“What are you looking at?”
Without moving his folded hands from in front of his mouth, he raised one eyebrow in response to my sarcastic tone. He stood up from the table and slowly stalked over to me, stopping just inches from my chest. His left hand rested on the island to my right, while his other hand purposely grazed my elbow as he leaned in, reaching for the bag of chocolate chips and pinning my hips to the island.
“Just thought I’d help you make pancakes.” His taunting tone was husky with underlying meaning as he bent down, his lips nearly touching mine. “My specialty is licking … the spoon when you’re done.”
My heart was pounding against my ribcage; my pulse off the charts. The edge of the granite counter was digging into my lower back, but all I could concentrate on was trying to slow my breathing, and I was failing miserably. He was intimidating, playing with me like a cat played with a mouse, but I wasn’t going down without a fight.
I leaned up on my tippy toes and softly kissed his lips, barely making contact and then pulled back. When he came forward for another taste, I spun around giggling. “You stink, Fish Boy, and I don’t let smelly men lick my spoon. Go shower, then we’ll talk.”
He groaned from behind me and dropped his head on my shoulder. “You’re dangerous, Kacie Jensen, you know that?” He gave me a tap on the butt as he turned and headed upstairs to the shower.
Dangerous, huh? I’d never been called dangerous before. I kinda liked it.
After breakfast, I finished cleaning up the kitchen while Mom was up front, seeing a few guests out. Fred snored off his pancake coma on the couch. Lucy and Piper were in the family room by Fred, quietly coloring pictures of the horses from the fair yesterday. Brody went upstairs to pack up his bags. This was the part about this whole thing that was going to suck, saying good-bye. Less than twenty-four hours since our first kiss and I was already having doubts. There were just so many things that could go wrong. Was this really going to be possible? Were we going to be possible?
I wiped off the placemats and carried them to the pantry. Reaching up to put them on the shelf, I was startled when Brody’s strong arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me in close. I quickly looked past the pantry door.
“Relax, they’re still coloring,” he whispered into my ear as he leaned over and gently kicked the pantry door closed with his foot.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, inhaling his freshly showered scent. He smelled clean, yet outdoorsy. I let myself relax into his hug, losing myself in his comfort. His strong arms wrapped around me like a warm cotton sweater making me feel tiny and protected. He loosened his grip just enough for me to turn to face him. I laced my fingers together and swooped them around his neck, his hands resting on my hips.
“This has been an interesting weekend, huh?” I asked coyly, staring into his mesmerizing eyes. He grinned, flashing me his champion smile.
“To say the least. I don’t want to leave, but I have some things I have to take care of this week.”
“That’s okay, it’s probably good that you’re going. I need to clear my head.” I sighed.
Concern rolled across his face. His brows pulled together as he tightened his grip on my waist.