Page 42 of Edge of Danger

He took his time, moving his lips against hers in a firm but gentle way. Wanting, but not forcing. Coaxing her.

The hand under her chin cupped her cheek while the other pressed against the small of her back and pulled her closer. She reveled in it, since there was no way to be close enough to him. Her hands rested against his chest where his heart hammered away. Hers did too, slamming against her ribs, leaving her weak and fluttery.

It was the most thrilling sensation. The sort of first kiss a woman dreamed about after reading about it in books or seeing it in movies. The sort of kiss she’d never imagined anybody would give her.

When his arm tightened around her and the kiss deepened, her entire body came alive. Yes, this was what she wanted. This was right and perfect. The scent of his cologne, his warm breath on her face, the sense of safety in his strong arms.

It ended too soon.

She leaned in a little further, chasing after what he was taking away. Her heart ached almost as much as her unsatisfied body.

“I’m sorry,” Brax murmured, stroking her cheek one more time before letting his hands fall to his sides.

“Is it me?” she whispered. Was she not what he wanted?

“Oh, no. No, that’s not it at all.” He crammed his fists into his pockets, shoulders raised near his ears. “Believe me. I want you, Tessa. Badly.”

“You do?”

He managed a faint smile. “Too much, maybe. But it wouldn’t be right this way. You’re caught up in a situation beyond your control. Let’s get that settled and clear your name, and then we can focus on...us. If that’s what you want.”

That was what she wanted—that and so much more.

Before she could say anything to embarrass herself, the sound of Walker’s cries came from the monitor on the counter. It was almost a relief having an excuse to leave the kitchen and gather herself a little. She made a quick escape with her cheeks still flushed and her lips tingling from Brax’s kiss.

Just when she thought there couldn’t be more of a reason to clear her name.

Chapter Sixteen

Two days of looking into Tessa’s story had left Brax more certain of one thing than he’d ever been: Robert needed a good throttling. He’d needed one for a long time.

“I knew he wasn’t exactly a sweetheart,” he murmured, passing files back and forth among his brothers. “But this takes being a rotten human being to a new level.”

“He’s playing in the pros,” Luke grunted.

“He could manage an entire team.” Chance blew out a low whistle at the report of the accident that had killed Tessa’s parents. “Wild. No matter how many times I see something like this, it always shakes me up a little. One minute they were on their way to dinner. The next? It’s over.”

Brax only half heard his brother’s musings. What concerned him was Tessa. How it must’ve felt to lose her parents so suddenly. How terrified she must’ve been. How alone.

One of those little reminders of life’s unpredictability. “Never get too comfortable. You never know when it’ll end.”

“Wow.” Weston rubbed his temples with a rueful grin. “We’re a cheerful team today.”

Brax sank into the chair behind his desk. “What I can’t understand is why Robert would go to all the trouble of taking Walker away—setting Tessa up, concocting stories for CPS—if he was planning on leaving the kid with me. He stole his son. Not an easy thing to do, and punishable by law if it turns out the reports were faked. Up to two years in jail, a sizable fine. He took a real risk.”

“He probably didn’t count on getting himself in trouble.” Luke shrugged. “Though knowing him, even as little as I do, I can’t imagine why, considering he was always in trouble for something or other.”

“Arrogant.” Weston sighed. “That sort of person has to be arrogant. They have to believe they’re untouchable. That they’ll be able to get out of any situation—and, of course, that this close call will be the last close call. Their luck will turn around.”

“A lot of good that’s ever done him,” Luke muttered, flipping through the falsified reports Robert had called in. “He’d gone into detail too, like it had taken real thought to put this plan together.”

When Brax looked over the signature on the paperwork terminating Tessa’s parental rights, that part made a lot more sense. “Look who it is. Robert’s cousin Ray. He must’ve coached Robert on what to say, how to make an effective case.”

“At least that works in Tessa’s favor,” Weston pointed out. “It’ll take time, no doubt, but just the fact that the judge is Robert’s cousin is a positive for us. No way should anyone remotely related to one of the parties be involved in a legal proceeding.”

“I know that’ll make her happy.” She deserved a little happiness, a little hope, after everything Robert had put her through.

He looked around at his brothers. “So, the best we can come up with is Robert didn’t figure on getting himself in trouble and having to leave town. I guess running with a baby would slow him down.”

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