Page 22 of Light on Love

Brett smiles at her response then asks, “do you miss home? Your family? What is it like there?”

“They’re all in Massachusetts, and I outgrew my life there a while ago. I was still away from them in Virginia. Being the pretty little polite daughter to round out the picture-perfect family at events and obligations for my dad’s finance firm… it wasn’t a role I felt fulfilled in. Plus, I didn’t like wearing pearls,” she adds lightly before continuing.

“It was an easy move to Virginia where my last name didn’t carry all that weight. And between my move and their constant trips away, my brothers and I have gotten pretty used to not seeing each other. But I do miss being able to talk to them daily. With this the terrorists can track you through your phone thing, I’ve only used it for short chats with Ray and Captain. I’d like to be able to show Charlie and Stephen this place, tell them about it all.”

Brett leans up on his arms. “You know you can use my phone, right?” he asks. “I’m sorry I didn’t think about how I was isolating you.”

“Technically the Navy isolated me, not you. But I don’t feel isolated, not anymore. Spending time with you, getting to work with the horses and Floyd, training, getting to cook in that amazing kitchen, and cook for someone other than myself… I think you’ve expanded my life.”

Laurel feels a flutter in her stomach, as if she’s just understanding what had been nagging at her thoughts lately. “So really, I should be thanking you, for all of this. Not just the protection, but for letting me in.”

Brett sits up and pulls her to him, placing her back against his chest, creating a tangle of legs before them. He removes his hat from her head and sets it upside down on the blanket. Then she feels his lips in her hair before he tucks her under his chin.Wrapping his arms around her, he murmurs, “it’s a privilege to have you here.”

Laurel nestles into his embrace and breathes in his musk and citrus scent that she has come to crave. “I don’t want to go back to worrying about everything tomorrow,” she whispers, referencing the case, the threat that brought her here.

Brett flicks her ear with his nose then says, “as far as I’m concerned, they should be the ones worried about you. You’re going to figure this out.” His voice is soft in her ear and ends with a gentle breath that sends a shiver down her spine.

She responds by reaching up and squeezing his arms.His arms that are long enough to reach every part of her like this. He lets his hand roam down her leg, his fingers leaving a trail of warmth that goes straight to her core.

She sinks further against him, widening her legs just slightly, an invitation for his hands to trail higher. Her own hand reaching back and looping behind his neck, pulling his face closer. Brett presses a kiss behind her ear before saying, “you might not feel like an assignment to me, but you are still an asset. This is wrong.” Despite his words, he runs his hand up her inner thigh.

“You’re retired. I’m an asset for the Navy, but not you. You’re not bound to any codes, other than friendship to Ray, and he sure as hell doesn’t decide this for me,” she responds breathlessly. Behind them, one of the horses stomps, expressing his impatience with the length of their break.Probably just Dune annoyed he’s not getting attention, she thinks. Brett has different ideas though.

“I guess that’s our cue. I’m sorry I almost crossed that line,” he says wistfully. Laurel wants to shout out that she had invited him in, she didn’t put any line in place. It’s that sense of duty everyone says is so engrained in him, and she wonders if he’ll ever see past the fact that she’s there as a favor to the Navy.

He rises and reaches out to help her to her feet. Once standing, he keeps a hold of her hand, interlocking their fingers, and taking a step closer.“Has this been a good break from training?” Brett asks, playing with a strand of her hair with his free hand.

Laurel leans up on her toes, her hand on his chest to steady herself, and places a kiss on his jaw. She feels him tremble at the touch of her lips and turn his head towards her. Their lips are inches from one another, and his hand that was in her hair has slid up to cup her face. Laurel’s breathing hitches and for a moment they remain there, as if waiting for the other to close the gap.

When Brett doesn’t Laurel knows he’s still thinking of her as an asset. She can’t force that change for him. Dropping down off her toes, she gazes up at him. The look in Brett’s eyes can only be described as tortured when he releases her and turns to begin collecting the pack items. She takes one last look out over the ranch, trying to absorb the beauty to keep with her when she must return to Virginia.

13

Brett insists he’s busy with ranch duties for three days after they go horseback riding. The morning of the fourth day, Laurel wakes earlier than usual, a woman on a mission. She’s in the kitchen as the first signs of daylight are crawling over the mountains. Seating herself at the kitchen island with a cup of coffee in hand, Laurel waits.

It’s not long before she hears movement, and then the clear sound of the staircase creaking. Brett rounds the corner into the kitchen and freezes, surprise on his face. “Good morning, cowboy,” she purrs, sliding a pile of post-it notes across the black marble.

“You’re up early,” he says with a raise of an eyebrow. Laurel taps the pile of orange notes, each one reading that he’ll be too busy to train.

“Am I getting another one of these this morning?”

“I haven’t been avoiding you,” he says quickly.

“But you haven’t wanted to train since I got a little bruise. Please, Brett, don’t try to make this decision for me.” She pleads with wide eyes, peering up at him through her lashes.

He runs his hand though his hair. “I don’t want to hurt you. It would just get more physical from here.” There’s ahidden meaning in there, and Laurel doesn’t respond as he leans forward on the island, looking into her eyes.

“I want this,” Laurel says, adding her own double meaning to the conversation.

“If we do train again, you need to tell me if something is sore or hurting.”

“Okay, that’s fair,” she responds quickly.

Brett shakes his head with a grin, “you stubborn thing. I guess I can train after my morning rounds. Go back to sleep and meet me at our normal time.”

Laurel flashes a full, bright smile and hands her coffee cup to him. “Here, I just made it. I won’t be needing it in bed.” Then she bounces off the stool and squeezes his arm on her way by, heading back towards the entryway. Pausing at the base of the staircase, she looks back at him. Brett takes a drink of the coffee and raises the mug to her before grabbing his hat and carrying them both out the door into the morning light.

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