Erin Kern - Along Came Trouble

Elisa paused before taking a bite. “Someone tried to sue over that? Are you serious?”

Brody nodded and popped a fry into his mouth. “Maybe Steven’s letter will be enough to get the guy to back off.”

“That’s all I ask for at this point.”

They ate in silence for a few minutes, and all the while Elisa tried to keep her mouth from watering over Brody. He kept moving around like he wasn’t comfortable in his own skin. First he sat with one leg crossed over the other, then he uncrossed the leg and stretched both out in front of him. The position reminded Elisa of how long and powerful his legs really were. Immediately, erotic images flashed through her mind, like an X-rated movie. Brody’s body on top of hers, pushing her down into the mattress. Those same strong legs in between hers, forcing her thighs apart as his pelvis ground into hers with expert movements.

A flush developed, starting at her neck and washing up to her hairline. Why couldn’t she think of anything else?

Brody wadded up his napkin and set the thing inside the Styrofoam container as Brinkley let out a low moan. Suddenly, she went from slobbering over Brody to her heart breaking all over again over Brinkley.

“I’ll go with you when you take him in,” Brody said in a quiet voice.

Elisa glanced at him, but he had his attention focused on the sick dog. “You don’t have to do that.” The idea of having him to lean on, of feeling his solid presence next to her, eased her heartache a little.

He averted his gaze to her, and his penetrating stare touched something deep inside her. “I know.”

They stared at each other for one hot moment, and the images from their last time together continued to torture her. The creak of the bed, the feel of his warm breath in her ear, how his muscles coiled like steel when he came inside her. Elisa cleared her throat and picked at the rest of her dinner, even though her stomach was too unsettled to eat.

“Did you ever get to talk to Kelly?”

He stared at her for a moment longer, like a predator stares at its prey before pouncing on it. “Yeah,” he finally answered.

When he didn’t elaborate, Elisa prompted him. “And?” she asked.

He set his dinner trash on the end table next to the couch. “She said they don’t want to move, and they’re looking for a way to transfer Louise here. But moving is a possibility, and I told her to be prepared for me to follow them.”

The possibility of Brody leaving had her heart breaking a thousand times worse than it did for Brinkley.

“You don’t want me to go,” he said into the silence.

She discarded the last of her dinner and picked at the hem of her shirt. “I think that’s pretty obvious. So is the way I feel about you.”

Something flashed in his eyes, maybe regret or sadness. Sadness because he didn’t feel the same way, or sadness at the idea of leaving her? Or maybe it was pity because she’d been stupid and fallen in love with him.

“I’m sorry, Elisa. But I can’t sit back and let my son move that far away from me. And you’re leaving anyway.”

“I know, but…” Dammit, she couldn’t finish.

“But what?” he prompted.

She turned on the couch to face him. “I’ve already committed to this job, so I have to go. But if I come back, will I have anything to come back to?” Again, there was no mention of his feelings for her. “Brody, I need to know how you feel about me. Why did you come here tonight?”

“Because I wanted to see you,” he said without hesitation.

She pulled in a steadying breath. “And then what?”

He opened his mouth, then hesitated as though he didn’t even know the answer himself. His gaze skittered to a point over her shoulder, then connected with hers again. “Then I don’t know. I told you before I care about you. But right now this is all I can give you. Should I go?”

She licked her lips and thought about what he said. His attitude toward their relationship hadn’t changed, so she wasn’t sure why she expected a declaration of love. At the same time, she was too addicted to him to let him walk away just yet. He said himself that the possibility of him leaving was slight.

But she didn’t want to come back to Trouble if he wasn’t here.

“No,” she said.

He stretched his arm along the back of the couch. His fingertips were just out of reach of her hair. “So, why are you all the way over there, and I’m over here?”

His body had been calling out to her all evening, like a homing beacon. She’d managed to resist him all through their meal, but the memory of him inside of her was too strong. She inched across the couch, her body tingling with anticipation of him touching her. Once next to him, his hand tunneled through her hair and molded to the back of her head. His fingers kneaded lightly, but with enough pressure to have her eyes crossing. His mouth was just centimeters from hers, hovering close enough that she could practically feel the pressure of those wonderful lips on hers.

He moved a little closer, and Elisa thought he was finally going to kiss her. But he didn’t. Instead he shifted again and brought his lips to her ear. “What am I going to do with you, Elisa?”

Goose bumps assaulted her skin when the words left his mouth. They held a promise of unending pleasure, one that Elisa intended to hold him to—even if this was to be their last night together.

A soft sigh escaped her when his soft lips touched the sensitive spot below her ear. “Whatever you want to,” she whispered.

She felt his grin against her neck. “Are you sure you want to give me that free pass?”

“Oh, yes.”

THE MOON HAD LONG SINCE disappeared behind some thick, wayward clouds, leaving the night sky, and Elisa’s room, oppressively black. Brody didn’t mind the darkness or the quiet. It gave him time to think, time to clear his head and categorize his thoughts. Otherwise they were a jumbled mess he could scarcely make sense of. Yes, the peace was always welcome after a chaotic day in a busy restaurant.

Only Brody didn’t have peace now.

What he had was torment and indecision, which was unlike him.

Part of that was due to the situation with his ex-wife. The other part was because of the woman sleeping naked and deeply next to him. Or, rather, on him. Half her body was draped across his, with one of her arms tossed over his midsection with her hand resting on one of his pecs. He liked her there. She fit perfectly snuggled up against him, like two missing puzzle pieces that were now complete.

She completed him.

Shit, that sounded like it was a line out of a freakin’ girly movie.

Earlier she’d asked him why he’d come. He’d given her as honest an answer as he could. Hell, he owed her that much. Especially since she was obviously in love with him, and Brody couldn’t bring himself to admit the same to her. Because he was a fucking coward.

He was also weak. As soon as Elisa had opened her front door, he’d known it wouldn’t be a quick in-and-out, no pun intended. No, his body had instantly responded to her, as had his heart. He’d needed to have her again because it had been too damn long since he’d felt those slick muscles clamp around him.

But, man, had the wait been worth it. After dragging her down the hallway and into her bedroom, he’d gotten himself inside of her as fast as humanly possible—which hadn’t nearly been fast enough. He’d all but ripped her clothes off her body and had barely given her time to catch her breath.

At first, he’d felt guilty for the lack of finesse. But after seeing the satisfied grin on her face when he’d slid into her, the guilt had dissipated, along with any thought of tomorrow.

Her breathing had been fast and labored after he rolled off her. Their bodies had been coated head to toe with sweat because of their exertion. He’d trailed the tip of his index finger down her slick belly, then pulled her limp body into the shower.

“Brody…” she’d protested in a tired voice as he turned the faucet to steaming.

“Hush” was all he’d said.

The next several minutes had been spent with Elisa’s back pressed to the tiles, her legs entwined around his waist, and him filling her again and again. Over and over he’d surged up into her until she’d sobbed for him to stop, that she couldn’t take anymore. Only after her third orgasm did he show mercy on her. He’d shut the shower off and carried her boneless body back to bed. Within seconds she’d been sound asleep, with her still-damp hair fanning across her pillow.

It had been the most euphoric moment of his life. Sex with Kelly had always been satisfying, but never like that. That had been mindless, frivolous, and fucking phenomenal.

Except now he couldn’t sleep.

He didn’t want her to leave. Or, more important, he wanted her to come back. But she wanted to know of he’d be here waiting for her. If Tyler ended up leaving… then, plain and simple, no. He wouldn’t be here. And he was pretty sure Elisa already knew that. The fear had been tangible in her eyes. However, he couldn’t bring himself to confirm her fears. There was a good possibility that whatever they had would come to a quick end. The thought just about ripped his heart in two. He’d finally found a woman who’d captured his heart, and he wouldn’t even be able to keep her.

He needed to enjoy what time they had, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop thinking about its inevitable demise.

On the upside, things at the restaurant were going well. The sous-chefs had pulled off a damn miracle by cooking, to perfection, for the newspaper’s food critic. The woman had had no idea that Anthony hadn’t been the one to prepare the dishes. She’d beamed and said, “Outstanding,” as her plates had been carted away. Brody had almost kissed the sous-chefs in front of the entire staff. They’d saved his ass, and everyone else’s as well. The woman’s article was to appear in next Sunday’s paper, and Brody would be on pins and needles until then.