Page 23 of Call Back

He did a double take. “You’re kidding. Not once in ten years?”

“It was hard to get away. Most waitressing gigs don’t have paid vacations.”

“Still, ten years . . .”

“That must be hard for you to believe because you’re so close to your family,” I said. “My family fell apart when my daddy disappeared.”

He frowned. “I’m sorry.”

I shrugged. “It is what it is.”

We spent the rest of dinner sharing stories. While I stuck to New York tales, he told me about growing up with his brother and sister. By the time the waiter brought our bill, I almost felt like a somewhat functional person. Brady Bennett really did seem like a steady kind of guy. The kind you’d be lucky to build a life with.

And damned if I didn’t like imagining myself in that pretty picture.

“It’s early,” Brady said as we walked to his car. “Do want to see if we can catch a movie?”

I stopped and looked up at him, unsure about the decision I was considering. Was it so wrong to be impulsive just this once? “Can we go back to your place?”

“Are you tired?” he asked, worry filling his eyes. “Is everything okay?”

I gave him a soft smile. “For the first time in a very long time, everything is perfect.” My life was in shambles, but tonight there was no place I’d rather be than with Brady. He almost made me believe there was a better, more normal life waiting for me outside of the craziness that had engulfed mine—and if I just stuck close to him, I might get there someday.

I placed my hands on his chest and reached up to kiss him. He kissed me back, then lifted his head and grinned. “Magnolia Steele, you are a woman full of surprises.”

“I have plenty more,” I said playfully, but anxiety prickled at me. How would Brady react when he found out all the secrets I’d been keeping? Based on what I knew of him, he’d not only be understanding, he’d want to help me.

We were quiet most of the way back to his apartment, and my mind drifted back to the cameras planted in my apartment. If Owen was the cameraman, what would he do if I started something with Brady? Would it hurt their friendship? I tried to feel some guilt over that, but if Owen had really stooped that low, maybe Brady deserved a better friend.

Brady snagged my hand as we walked through the parking garage to the elevator, and he was quiet until we were in his apartment. Once he locked the door, he turned to me, looking uncertain. “Do you want to watch a movie or something?”

“No.” I closed the distance between us and kissed him. A spark ignited deep in my gut as I slid my arms around his back and pressed myself against him, needing him closer.

His mouth tore from mine and he searched my eyes. “Are you sure, Maggie?”

No.This was the stupidest thing I’d done in a long time, but I wanted this. Needed this. I needed to know that I could have a life with someone good. That my existence didn’t have to be defined by fear. “Yes.”

He kissed me again, threading his hand into my hair and tilting back my head as his tongue coaxed mine.

I matched his urgency, blindly searching for the buttons of his dress shirt. I had several undone when Brady lifted his head and searched my face. “I want you, Magnolia, but only if this is what you want. If you have any hesitations, tell me. We’ve been taking this slow. We can go back to slow.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to take it slow. I want you.”

He kissed me again, pushing me backward down the hall to his room.

Colt suddenly came to mind, uninvited. How could I be doing this now, after the way I’d reacted to him this afternoon? But I assured myself that I’d been playing a role in our trick to fool the cameraman. I wanted to be with Brady, not Colt, and this was the best way to purge the scene from my apartment from my head.

Brady stopped next to his bed and reached around my back to pull down my zipper. The cool air hit the bare skin of my back, making me shiver.

Brady pushed my dress over my shoulders and down my arms, and it dropped to the floor at my feet.

I reached for his shirt, made quick work of the rest of his buttons, and then pulled his shirt free so I had full access to his chest. After resting my hands a moment on his pecs, I let them wander down his hard abs to the waistband of his pants. It took a few movements, but I soon had his pants and underwear pushed down below his hips.

Brady kicked off his shoes, stepped out of his pants. He unhooked my bra, then pulled me down to the bed and kissed me. His mouth lowered to my chest as his hand slipped into my panties. My back arched and I gasped as his tongue teased my nipple while his hand slid between my folds. Soon I was writhing beneath him.

“I want you now,” I moaned.

“But—”

---