Page 249 of Steamy Ever After

“Relax and enjoy the ride, Brodie.” Peyton turned up the music, and he closed his eyes.

About a mile in, she turned off onto a dirt road and parked where the hill they were on crested. “I love this view,” she murmured.

“Me too, especially when there are no clouds and the full moon lights up Morro Bay.”

Brodie opened his door when she did.

“You wanna take a walk?” he asked.

“Not really.” She popped the trunk of the car, reached inside, and pulled out a heavy fleece blanket. “Mind if we sit?”

Brodie took the blanket from her and spread it out on the grass. She sat down, and he saw her shiver. “Are you cold?”

“A little. There’s another blanket in the trunk.”

When she started to get up, he put his hand on her shoulder. “I’ll get it.”

Peyton pulled the fob out of her pocket and used it to pop the trunk. “Thanks.”

He brought the blanket over and put it around her shoulders.

“Aren’t you cold?” she asked.

“Nah, I’m okay.”

“Liar.” She laughed and held the blanket out so he could sit next to her.

“This, I like, Peyton.”

He waited to see if she’d start their conversation. After a few minutes, she rested her head on his shoulder.

“What’s running through your pretty head, Peyton?”

“I don’t want to keep comparing you and Kade.”

“Am I coming out ahead or behind?”

She laughed. “It’s a toss-up.”

“Ouch! Woman, that was not nice.”

“It isn’t only Kade. I compare you to Lang, too.”

“I know I come out ahead of him.”

“Brodie, Kade and Lang are the only two men I’ve been with, and I took things slow with both of them.”

“I can do slow.”

“That isn’t what I mean. It took Lang a long time to win me over, and ultimately, I think that’s all it was. Two babies later, he realized he missed the chase.”

“He’s a douche, Peyton.” He hated to ask, but the conversation was why they were here. “What about Kade? Did it take him a long time to win you over?”

“It was different with him. We were friends. I had no idea he was interested in more.”

“And me?”

“What’s today? Friday? I have known you five days, Brodie, and I’m sharing a blanket with you. That isn’t slow.”

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