Page 35 of Falling for Brody

She looked at him and shook her head. "Why do you have to be so... reasonable?"

He sat up on the steps. "Me?"

She nodded and watched him pat down his long-legged sleep pants.

"What are you doing?"

He continued to pat around his hips and thighs.

Rhea saw the way his movements pulled his pants across his hips and even in the low light of the moon it was impossible to ignore what Brody had under those pants.

She doubted that he'd intended to do that, so she had to turn away, studying something in the darkness as he answered her.

"Just searching for my phone so I can record you saying that I'm reasonable. Who knows when I might need that."

She shook her head and looked at him again, focusing on his face. "I think you're just trying to get your way."

"With you?" He smiled. "That sounds promising."

She narrowed her eyes at him. "Why do I get the feeling that I'm going to have a bit of trouble with you. Not just tonight but on a daily basis?"

He smiled from ear to ear. That she could see in the moonlight. "I'm just happy that you're talking about every day."

Rhea shook her head. "I'm too tired for this." She leaned down a little. "For you."

He lifted his head, and she had to pull back a little.

"Don't be afraid, Rhea."

"What?" She frowned as her brow furrowed a little. She felt her skin tighten between her brows. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Me?" He shook his head, frowning a little. "I don't think you're afraid of me, per se."

"I'm not."

"I'm not going to fight about it tonight, Rhea."

She startled when she felt his gentle touch on her arm again.

"Brody-"

"I'm not trying to scare you, Rhea."

She drew in a breath, but didn't move away from him.

Or his touch.

It was the wrong decision, but there they were, under the moon, barefoot in the grass.

And it had been so long since she'd felt like a woman.

A mother? Sure.

An EMT? same.

But a woman?

She'd forgotten what that was like.

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