Page 60 of The Spark Between Us

For now, I resigned myself to enjoying the present and whatever road trip Braden had in mind. I’d get a firm grip on my feelings when we got back. I’d have to.

I took the stairs two at a time and threw together a combination of clothes that could work for a variety of settings since I didn’t know where we were going.

That meant I’d stuffed my overnight bag to the gills, shoving in a dress, heels, shorts, a hoodie, jeans, and whatever else I might possibly need in the next twenty-four hours. Then I threw in an extra pair of heels, my favorite pair of red stilettos with a bow on the back, the pink lingerie, and a bikini because you never know.

In ten minutes, I was back downstairs, where Braden was waiting with two iced teas. He handed me one and kissed me once more before escorting me back to the truck. Before he closed the front door of the house, he called to Bella, who came barreling outside and leaped into the backseat.

“Ooh, it’s dog friendly?” I rubbed Bella behind the ears as she wagged her tail so hard the truck shook.

“Oh yeah. She’ll probably have more fun than we will.” His mood was lighter than I’d seen it over the past few weeks, which made me all the more intrigued about where we were headed. I imagined a beach or a hiking trail where Bella could run free, and I mentally checked that I’d packed a pair of running shoes that would work for a hike.

“Is she always this happy to go in the truck, or does she know where we’re going?” Braden saw through my not-so-subtle attempts to gather clues about our destination and gave nothing away.

“Not telling you, control freak,” he sang.

“Fine. I’ll live in suspense,” I grumbled. I’d come a long way in two months, but my love for controlling outcomes was deeply rooted. I couldn’t just become fancy-free and comfortable without having a plan just because I’d discovered great sex.

And that’s what it was. Great sex with a great guy.

Sure, it was just sex. I had no illusions that I was anything more to him than the rest of the women he dated, but for now, my body was thrilled to be on his current shortlist. I’d return to Berkeley after six months and begin dating again in earnest. For now, I’d have my fellowship at the lab accompanied by a side of phenomenal sex.

So why did something about the arrangement feel wrong to me?

Maybe because you’re lying to yourself. You don’t do non-relationships.

“Hey, where’d you go?” Braden asked.

“Huh?” I hadn’t realized I’d spaced out while I sorted through the angst in my head.

“I said I doubt Bella has any idea where we’re headed. She just likes the truck. And most of the time, it works out well for her and we end up someplace fun. Once in a while, it’s the vet and I get the stink-eye.”

We pulled onto the highway, with Bella sprawled on the backseat, ball in her mouth like she knew we were headed someplace where she could fetch it. “Did you plan on getting a dog before she fell into your life?” I turned in my seat to scratch Bella between the ears. She stood up and started to climb into the front seat.

Braden laughed and gave her a gentle nudge. “Bella, sit.” She obediently resumed her position behind us. “Yeah. It was something my ex and I couldn’t agree on. She wanted a labradoodle from a breeder, so it wouldn’t shed, which I was totally against at the time because I wanted a rescue. A big dog like a Bernese or a Newfie. But when I saw this girl, it was a love match. She was this happy, scrappy thing, probably the runt of the litter, but I could tell she was feisty.”

“She still is feisty.”

“Yup. People said she’d either settle down when she was two or five. It’s looking like five.”

“And your ex? How’d she feel about the shedding?”

He chuckled, and it was the first time I hadn’t sensed a dark cloud descending when he talked about her. “She hated it. Maybe that’s why Bella was always so possessive of me—she knew I loved her, furball or not. She never got that love from my ex.” His smile dimmed.

“I don’t know how a person could meet her and not fall in love,” I said, resting a hand on his leg. Braden looked at Bella in the rearview mirror and nodded. Then his gaze shifted to me and lingered before moving back to the road.

I didn’t have time to analyze it because he started peppering me with questions. “Have you had pets? Plants? Goldfish? I’d kind of peg you as a cat person.”

Looking at him warily, I gave him a playful punch. “Why, because I’m single? Sad cat lady?”

“Hardly. Cats are smart. They don’t do anything without thinking it through. Unlike dogs, who will chase after anything you throw for them and bound around looking for love, cats are particular. Discerning.”

“Now you’re saying I am a cat?”

He shrugged, laughing again. “I have no idea what I’m saying. I’m saying I like that you put thought into everything. I like that you’re discerning.”

“You just like that I seduce you with brownies and let you eat them off my body.”

“Trust me, that’s not all I like.” He smirked. “So tell me, is that a thing with you, the brownie seduction?”

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