“Love you, too.” After another squeeze, her friend went to her. “You sure you’re okay? I worry about you being in that house by yourself if you’re not feeling well.”
“I ap-preciate the concern, but I’m okay. Just need food and sleep.”
In that order. Or maybe she’d sleep first, and then eat. Or maybe she’d eat and then—
“Well promise you’ll call if you need anything.” Megan pulled her in for a hug, too.
“I will. And…sorry I’m a kiss ass.”
“What?” Her friend laughed as she released her gentle hold. “You’re not a kiss ass, Ro. You’re driven and trying to build a business. Trust me, I understand how hard that is.”
“Thank you.”
“But…you do need to be careful where Clayton’s concerned. The way that man blatantly flirts with you—even after you’ve turned him down time and again—I don’t know.” Megan’s shoulders fell with a sigh. “It’s concerning.”
“I know,” she admitted aloud. “And I’ll keep him in line. He flirts again I’ll send him on his way. Promise.”
“Good.” Her friend gave her another hug. “Okay, now go. Get some food and get to bed. You coming by the shop tomorrow?”
Megan’s image swirled. Or maybe she was swaying on her feet again. Either way, Ro realized she needed to get home sooner, rather than later.
“You kiddin’? After tonight, I’ll probably be racing Cade to the front of the line. In fact, maybe I should put my order in now instead of waiting until—”
The weight of Brody’s warm, muscular arm landed on her shoulders as he gently guided her away. “Okay, Ro. Let’s go.”
“But…” She swung her gaze back to Megan’s.
The woman was doing a poor job at hiding her amused grin as she hollered after her, “See you tomorrow!”
When Ro swung her gaze back to Brody’s, she had to reach around his narrowed waste and hold on tight to keep from falling. The crowd grew thicker, making it impossible for them to continue side-by-side.
In a seamless motion, the former SEAL removed his arm from her shoulders before reaching down and taking her hand in his.
Her heart kicked, her lower belly tingling from the innocent contact, the heat radiating from his touch electric. Earlier, when she’d been holding his arm, she hadn’t been able to break contact fast enough.
Now…
I wish he’d hold my hand forever.
Ro’s steps faltered slightly, but she quickly recovered and blinked the crazy thought away. She didn’t want forever. She just wanted…
Him.
One night. That’s all she wanted.All she needed, really.
Just one night of no-strings sex to finally solve the mystery of what Brody King was like in bed. One night and she could finally end the decades-long obsession she’d had for this man.
A man who’d just tightened his grip as he created a pathway through the crowd.
In an effortless display of command, her friend’s brother had no problem getting the sea of people around them to part ways. Soon Ro realized they’d already made it to the establishment’s front door.
Using his free hand, Brody pulled on the oversized handle, propping the door open with his backside. At the same time, he slid the hand that had just held hers before placing it on the small of her back.
“Watch your step.” He motioned toward the metal threshold’s slight lip.
Despite the warning, Ro nearly caught the toe of her black high heel as she crossed over the strip on her way out. She threw her hand out to the side, her fingers in a death grip on the door’s thin frame.
“Okay, seriously,” she slurred. “I cannotdrink on an empty stomach again.”