Page 46 of Ever With Me

And you’re lonely and tired.

Brooks leaned against the wall near the entrance to the kitchen, casually hooking his fingertips into his pockets. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been curious about anyone. But the more she talked, the more he wanted to know about her. Which wasn’t smart, considering she’d shown she had a dishonest side, too.

“Thanks for doing the dishes. You don’t have to stay any longer.” He glanced at the clock. This afternoon’s debacle had cost him another four hours of her time. Somehow, ten hours didn’t seem long enough now.

If he didn’t know any better, a flash of disappointment filled her face as she stepped back, lowering her hands to her sides as she nodded. “Yeah. No problem. I’ll just get going, then.”

“We never got to the mechanic. Think you can come tomorrow at four again?”

She gave him an odd look, then nodded.

Stay.

He bit the edge of his tongue, keeping himself from talking.

He was leaving in a few days.

Loneliness was a bitter drug.

It almost made him believe shewantedto be here.

She’d only come because he’d coerced her.

He walked her to the door, his chest tight.

Come on, Brooks.

Don’t do it.

Don’t be an idiot.

“I think the fire’s still going. . .if you wanted to stay.”

She tilted her head, the whisper of a smile on her lips. “Are you asking me to hang out with you off the clock?”

“I just didn’t want you to feel like I was kicking you out.”

Amusement danced in those blue eyes. She dropped her purse by the door, then shrugged. “Okay, Brooks. I’ll stay. Off the clock.”

“Don’t be like that.” He crossed his arms, instantly irritated with himself. Why had he gone and opened his mouth? “I don’t need your pity, you know.”

“Maybe I do pity you. What do you care what I think?” She moved to walk past him.

His hand shot out, settling at her elbow, dragging her to a stop. “Well, I do care. Stupidly. Probably because I’m an arrogant son of a bitch who doesn’t entirely love being called pathetic.”

Her thumb curved up the inside of his forearm, brushing it with the barest touch. She said nothing, but her eyes locked with his, her chest rising and falling slowly. “You keep contradicting yourself. Either you care about what people think about you or you don’t. Which one is it, Brooks?”

Shit.How did she keep digging deeper under the walls he’d spent so long constructing?

When he didn’t answer, she dropped her hand. “Thought so. It’s not so black and white, is it?” She didn’t go toward the outside, though. Instead, she strode toward the game room, where he’d been hanging out with Cormac earlier in the day.

He followed her, intrigued as she ran her fingers over a pool cue, then kept walking. She stopped in front of his guitar case, then dropped to her knees beside it.

“Whoa—hang on.” He rushed to her side and squatted. He set his hand over hers. “What are you doing?”

“Taking out your guitar. As your prospective employer, I figure it’s probably a good idea for me to hear what you’ve got.” She raised a brow. “Especially if you don’t play much anymore.”

She’d somehow come back to their conversation the previous night.

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