“Then we should leave.” I started to get in the Jeep when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me gently away from it.

“She’s out of town. It’s fine. Let’s get a Coke.” He threaded his fingers with mine and led me into the house. “Besides, I need to change clothes before we go. Someone squirted mustard on my jeans at lunch, remember?”

She’s out of town. Oh, well, that makes it so much better.

“Huh? Oh, that was an accident,” I said absently. My mind was still focused on the fact that Brody’s mother was out of town.

We’re on the friendship train. Nothing more. Just friends. Yeah. That’s why we were practically mauling each other this morning in the girls’ bathroom. If Brody can make the girls’ bathroom a sensual, seductive place, just think what he could do in a bedroom. I’m thinking about those damn beds again! I need a distraction.

“This is a really nice house. Just you and your mom live here?”

“I guess. It isn’t ours. We’re just renting until we find a place of our own. My mom likes this side of town. I kinda like it here, too.” He glanced at me and grinned. I was sure something melted inside me—a vital organ, no doubt, because my body started doing all kinds of weird things in response. My hands started shaking, my breathing was shallow, and my heart was skipping every other beat. My mind tried to stay immune to Brody Victor—even though it was failing miserably—but my body had completely lost control. Wherever he was, my body was like a homing beacon, picking up his signal. Missiles locked and loaded. I was ready… for what, I had no idea. But I assumed it had something to do with the beds.

Yup, I’m a lost cause. Just give me a gallon of chocolate chip ice cream and a spoon now. I’m going need them. No need for a bowl. This heartbreak will call for eating it right out of the carton.

We walked into to a huge two-story foyer with a curved staircase on one side and a formal living and dining room on the other. Brody led me to the back of the house where there was a great room with a family media room, and a huge kitchen with an attached sunroom. A second staircase was located off the kitchen.

“Wow.” I looked around. “I didn’t know this subdivision was this upscale compared to mine.”

“It’s just a house. I’ve lived in more houses over the years than I can count. None of them ours, so they’ve never really been homes, you know?”

Yeah, more than you can imagine.

I sat down at the breakfast bar and watched Brody grab two Cokes out of the fridge. He pulled down two glasses, filled them with ice, and handed one to me along with the can.

“Thanks,” I said, smiling up at him.

He didn’t say anything, and he didn’t smile back. I forced myself not to squirm in my seat. He turned back to the fridge and pulled something out of the freezer. Turning around, he handed me a bag of frozen peas. “You need to ice that.” He gestured to my eye.

“Peas?”

“I don’t know where the ice pack is and I don’t like peas.” He shrugged a shoulder.

I laughed. “Okay, peas it is, then.”

“I’ll be right back. I’m going to change. Make yourself at home.” He jogged up the stairs

I dropped my head on the granite countertop. “Ugh, he’s changing. Distraction. I need one. Now.”

“What?” Brody’s head peeked over the balcony.

“Nothing,” I said a little too fast and loud.

“I thought I heard you say something.”

“Nope.” I smiled, praying he couldn’t see the flaming blush I could feel crawling across my face. I smacked the bag of peas to the side of my face and cringed.

His head disappeared, and I let out the breath I was holding. I dropped the melting bag of peas on the counter and wandered around the family room. My arms were held ramrod straight as I clapped my hands against the sides of my thighs, a nervous habit I’d had since I was a little girl. It made me look like a chicken trying to take flight. That thought threatened to make me giggle so I forced my arms to go limp, putting one hand over my mouth to hold in any laughter that might try to escape.

I came to a collection of eclectic framed photos on a table in the family room. I stood looking at them, picking them up one at a time so I could examine the faces smiling back at me. I smiled when I came to one of a baby smiling at the camera while it ate an ice cream cone. Vanilla ice cream dripped from its chin and onto its bare belly. One chubby hand held the ice cream and the other twirled its dark hair between its fingers, filling it with ice cream.

“It’s you?” I asked when he walked up behind me. He hadn’t said anything, but I knew he was there. My body was becoming more and more in tune with his presence. I could feel his warmth radiating from him, smell his scent, and feel the slightest shift in the air as he moved.

“Yeah. How’d you know I was here?” he asked. I looked over my shoulder and saw his amused grin—one of my favorites out of his many smiles.

I looked back at the photograph and shrugged a shoulder. “Why? Were you trying to sneak up on me, Ace?”

“No, not really.”

“Not really?” I asked, putting the frame back in place on the table.

I felt his hands settle gently on my hips and froze. He hesitated for a few beats. Whether he was giving me a chance to move or was deciding his next move, I didn’t know, but the next thing I felt was his warm breath moving over the back of my neck, then his lips skimming over my skin. Sucking in a breath, I gripped the edge of the table. I felt him smile against my skin just before his fingers dug into my hips. He pulled me closer and placed an open-mouthed kiss on my neck, touching my skin for the briefest moment with his tongue.

“Brody,” I whispered.

He wrapped one arm around my waist, hooking his finger through the belt loop on my jeans. I reached over my head and ran my fingers through his hair, holding his head to me, letting my head fall forward. Brody cursed and pulled me harder against him. He kissed from the back of my neck toward my shoulder. His free hand moved slowly up my arm to the collar of my shirt. When he started moving my collar out of the way, it was as if someone threw a glass of ice water in my face.

“No!” I reached up and brushed his hand away. His grip on me loosened briefly, and I slipped by him. “We… we can’t,” I said, my breath coming in small pants.

He turned and looked at me. First confusion marred his face, and then understanding. “Move your shirt.”

“What?”

“You heard me, Willow. Move your damn shirt.” He took two strides toward me. I backed away from him, bumping into the wall behind me. He stood in front of me, his hands planted on the wall on each side of me, caging me in. “Do it.”

I looked up at the ceiling and bit my lip, trying to decide if there was any way I could distract him from wanting to look under my shirt. Problem was, the only way I could think of was by taking my shirt off—which was exactly what I was trying to avoid. Totally messed up.

I watched him as I reached up and pulled my shirt collar away from my neck far enough that he could see what he already knew was there. He didn’t say anything, but his look turned hard. He reached up and placed his hand over the bruises, moving it around until he found how it fit the pattern. “The other side too?”

I nodded but stayed silent.

“It’s fresh. When? Friday… when you were hit in the eye?” I looked at him, not answering. His fist hit the wall next to my head. I flinched and squeezed my eyes closed. “Damn it, you don’t get to just not answer.”

“I said I wouldn’t lie to you. If I answer, I’ll have to lie.” My voice was strained from the lump in my throat, and I was trying—unsuccessfully—to keep my tears from falling.

Brody let out a loud sound of frustration, almost a growl, and ran his hand up the back of his head, resting his hand on top, his other hand low on his hip. “You are so frustrating.”