Page 61 of Too Hot

“Now that we have that out of the way.” He withdrew his hand and stood. “I’ll clean up our lunch, and we can go back to my place. Or go for a drive. Your choice.” He gathered their empty plates and water bottles.

Brianna watched him cross the room. He chatted with Lara for a minute before returning to the table. She was so enthralled watching him move with such grace she didn’t realize for a moment he was standing next to her, holding his hand out.

“Always a gentleman,” she said, placing her hand in his.

“I was raised right.” He helped her to her feet. They bid Lara good bye and walked out the back door. “Give me a minute to move the dumpster?”

“Do you want help?” she asked.

“I’m good.” He touched the dumpster, then maneuvered behind it, and pushed it across the small lot. He dusted his hands off before walking back to her. “That’s done.”

“Why did you feel the need to move it away from the café?”

“To be safe.” He opened the door to his SUV for her. “I know the fire is out, but I’d rather Lara doesn’t worry about it.”

Brianna nodded. He was so considerate.

“Are we going back to my place or for a drive?” he asked after they were in his vehicle.

“How about we drive out and sit by the water?” She loved Puget Sound and wasn’t quite ready to go back to his place.

“Anything you want.” He pulled out of the parking lot and headed west. In about twenty minutes, he parked close to the beach. “Do you want to walk?”

She glanced out the windshield. It wasn’t raining. It was cool, but she didn’t mind the cold. “I’d like that.”

“Okay. Good. I think I threw two jackets in the car.” He climbed out and opened the back door.

Brianna got out of the vehicle as Rafe walked around, holding out a red puffy jacket to her. “Put this on so you don’t freeze.”

He held out the jacket, and she slipped her arms into the sleeves as he pulled it over her shoulders then moved in front of her and zipped it up.

“This has to be yours.” There was laughter in her voice as she pushed the sleeves up so she could find her hands.

“Guilty.” He captured her hand, and they began to walk the trail. “I haven’t been down here in a while.”

“I’ve only been here once.”

The walked in silence for a few. “Rafe, where do you see this…” She waved her hands. “…with us going?” She’d been thinking about this.

“That’s really up to you.”

“What do you mean?” She wasn’t sure what he meant by that. Well, in a way she did.

“I mean, we can continue as we are right now, playing in the club and being friends out of the club.” He paused and glanced over at her. “Or we can play in the club and have a relationship outside of it.”

“Relationship?” Is that where this was heading? Who was she kidding? They were already in a relationship. She’d slept in his arms, and while some may not consider that a relationship, she did.

“Yes.” He tugged her to a stop. “In case you have any doubt, I want to have a relationship with you in and out of the club.”

“We barely know each other.” Why was she arguing with him?

“I believe I know you better than you think.” He ran his fingers over her cheek. “You love your job; your apartment is cozy. You enjoy being with the women in the club, and you and I fit together.”

“We do.” She grinned. He nailed it. They fit.

“Good. So…” His cell started ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket. “Sorry, I need to take this?”

“Sure.”

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