Page 60 of Beat of Love
The power she held over him … it was unsettling.
Cool air drifted over his lower back as her hands slipped beneath the layers of his clothes. Goosebumps broke across his skin when her cold fingers found heated flesh, smoothing up his side.
Then her touch stilled.
The calloused pads of her fingers found a scar.
Traced it.
One of many inflicted by a wrathful woman.
Reality crashed over him, cold and brutal, like a bucket of ice water.
He tore away from her and lurched to his feet, chest heaving as he gulped in chilly night air.
*
One minute, she was touching heaven.
Then she wasn’t.
The fall back to Earth was swift and brutal.
The seat swung madly. Chest heaving, Brandy-Lyn stared at the wide-eyed man looming before her. He curled forward, arm snapping out to steady the swing.
His bent position brought his face near hers again.
Jaw clenched tight, those bright blues locked on her, regret swimming in their depths.
Hell no. He was not—
“Do not say you’re sorry, Rafferty Lawson,” she snapped.
“Brandy—”
She lifted her hand, pressing a single finger to his lips. “Not a word of regret.”
His breath warmed her fingertip, but the fire that had raged moments ago drained from her blood, leaving only chill.
He straightened. “It cannot happen again,” he growled.
She huffed and got to her feet. “It was inevitable.”
“That’s beside the point. I…” He dragged a hand over his head — and winced.
And just like that, his expression shut down.
“That will never happen again,” he said, voice flat, face unreadable.
Then he turned sharply, stalked down the steps, and disappeared into the night.
Brandy sagged onto the cushions, curling her feet beneath her as the swing rocked gently.
She stared into the dark where Rafferty had vanished.
Regret sat heavy in her chest.
He was right, of course.
