Page 51 of Once Removed (Blackhawk Security)

Chapter 15

As they drove home from Helena later that evening, Brody glanced at Phoebe, sitting next to Lainey. Her head rested on Lainey’s shoulder, and her eyes were closed. It had been a long day for the teen. Brody glanced at Lainey. For him and Lainey, too.

As if she’d sensed him looking at her, she turned her head and gave him a secret smile. One filled with everything that had changed between them.

But her smile didn’t reach her eyes. Was she having second thoughts? Wondering if she’d made a mistake?

Him? He had no doubts. He’d wanted her for years, and making love with Lainey had far exceeded any dreams he’d had. They’d been perfectly in sync. Completely attuned to one another.

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. Perfect for him, maybe. But had it been too much for Lainey? Had he pushed too hard? Too soon?

He glanced at Lainey again. She’d been the aggressor in the barn. If he hadn’t stopped her, they would have been naked on the barn floor.

Maybe he should have taken it more slowly. Remembered she’d been through a lot of changes in the past couple of weeks.

At the restaurant earlier, he’d been overwhelmed by Lainey’s presence beside him. The brush of her thigh against his when she shifted on the bench seat of the booth had sent heat rushing through him. The sound of her voice, a little rougher than usual, had made the hair rise on his arms. He knew why her voice sounded so rough. Thank God they’d been alone in the house this afternoon, because everyone would have heard her when she came. Even Phoebe had noticed, asking Lainey if she was getting a cold. “You’re hoarse, and your face is pink. Do you have a fever?”

Lainey had blushed. Shaken her head. “No fever,” she said in a voice barely above a whisper. “Brody and I went for a horseback ride this afternoon. I think my cheeks got windburned. Or maybe it’s warm in here.”

It was certainly warm for him, seated so close to Lainey. And when he glanced at her face, he realized with a tiny thrill why her cheeks were pink. It wasn’t windburn. Wasn’t the heat in the restaurant.

It was whisker burn from his scruff.

He’d marked Lainey. And maybe it made him a Neanderthal, but he loved seeing the results of their lovemaking. No one else would know what it was. But he and Lainey knew.

As they’d eaten dinner, Lainey’s scent had swirled around him, a scent that was layered with the smell of his soap. It had been difficult to keep his hands to himself. He’d struggled to pay attention to Phoebe, and he sensed Lainey had had to focus hard, as well.

They’d asked Phoebe to pick out a restaurant, and she’d chosen this small, homey pizza place. Her parents had taken her there a few times when her mom was alive, she’d said, staring around the room as if recalling good memories.

Brody hoped they were good memories. Because Phoebe’s life the last few years had been difficult. He didn’t need to hear her story to know that. The way she’d reacted to seeing her father’s truck the other day? The way she’d tensed, her gaze, flicking toward the door every time it opened? Those small things told him everything he needed to know.

Now, twilight darkening the sky as they drove home, Lainey was tucked close to him on the front bench seat. With tiny, almost imperceptible movements, she edged slowly closer to him. He suspected she was afraid to wake Phoebe. She ended up so close that their thighs were plastered together from hips to knees.

He could have driven forever with Lainey tucked next to him this way.

Heat rushed through him, and he wished they were back at the ranch. Back in his bedroom, the door closed and locked. In each other’s arms.

They were less than a mile from the ranch, thank God. It was a struggle to focus on driving with Lainey so close to him. When he slowed and turned onto the driveway, Lainey slid away from him. Closer to Phoebe. He missed the press of her leg against his. Missed her scent filling his senses. But her attention was on Phoebe now.

“She must have worked really hard today,” Lainey whispered. “She’s asleep.”

“Almost home,” he said, swallowing the smile that wanted to spread over his face. He wished it really was home for both Lainey and Phoebe. But he was getting ahead of himself. One day at a time.

The gate swung open, and the truck rattled across the cattle guard. As the truck vibrated, Phoebe stirred and raised her head from Lainey’s shoulder. “Home already?” she mumbled.

Brody’s mouth curved into a smile. Both Phoebe and Lainey had referred to the ranch as home, and he liked the sound of that. “Yep,” he said, driving toward the well-lit house and pulling to a stop. Swinging out of the truck, he hurried around to help Phoebe out. He smiled when she scowled at him.

“I can get out of a truck by myself,” she said.

“I know you can. But my father taught me to be a gentleman. So get used to it.”

She stared at him for a long moment, as if she had no concept about what a ‘gentleman’ should do. Then she nodded, her mouth curling into a tiny smile.

Lainey slid out after her, and Brody took her hand to help her down. Her fingers gripped his tightly. Held on for a few seconds longer than necessary. Then she followed Phoebe into the house. As he closed and locked the truck, he heard them talking in the hall. By the time he walked through the door, Phoebe was on her way up the stairs.

“She said she’s tired and wants to go to bed,” Lainey told him quietly. “Did you notice how she tensed every time someone opened the door to the restaurant?”

“I did.” He curled his hands into fists. “Damn Art Larsen.”

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