Page 58 of Saddles and Snowstorms
I considered it for a moment. The idea of returning to Rowan’s place, just the two of us, was mighty tempting. But I realized there was something I needed to face. If this thing between us was real, if it had any chance of lasting, I couldn’t hide it away like some shameful secret. I just hoped I was ready for it.
“No,” I said finally, meeting his eyes. “I want to take you to dinner. Proper-like.”
The smile that broke across Rowan’s face was worth every bit of gossip we’d face. “Alright then. Let’s get this x-ray done.” He wrapped a hand around my waist, pressing himself against me with a sly grin on his face. “The faster we eat dinner, the faster we can go back to my place.”
Chapter 21
Rowan
“You boys have a good night, ya hear?” Dolly called from the door as we stepped out into the night air. She’d stayed open an extra half hour because we couldn’t quit chatting with one another. “And Brooks?”
“Yeah?” he grunted, looking back at her.
“You be damn nice to that boy, you hear me? It ain’t everyday you meet one like that.”
“Don’t know what you’re talkin’ about,” he grumbled back.
“I ain’t no fool, Books Callahan. Be nice.”
And with that, she shut the door, flipped the sign off, and locked up behind us. I couldn’t help but smile as we walked down the street toward the clinic in the dark. Dolly knew a lot more than she let on and Brooks, despite his best efforts, was being a bit transparent. Still, I was just happy to be near him. Something about walking through town, side by side, just felt right. The streets were abandoned, the shops all closed, and a low fog had settled into town, filled only by the streetlight.
“Hey…” I said softly, nudging Brooks with my shoulder. “Will you… hold my hand?”
“In the middle of town?” he whispered, looking around as if we were about to be discovered at any second.
“Do you see anyone around?” I grinned, nudging him again. “But you don’t have to if you don’t want to. I know this is all new to you.”
He just looked at me, not a word escaping from his lips. I felt his hand brush against mine. Then, with careful movements, he wove our fingers together, the roughness of his hands a comforting feeling against my skin. I squeezed him back, smiling as we walked down the sidewalk together. His gait was still off from his sprained ankle, but he looked far too nervous to notice. In fact, every time we came into the streetlight I had to stifle a laugh. I’d never seen a man his age blush so much.
We walked in silence for a moment, just the sound of Brooks’ boots hitting the pavement and the distant call of a night bird somewhere outside town. The clinic wasn’t more than a block, but I found myself wishing it was miles away.
“You really don’t mind people knowin’?” he finally asked, his voice so low I almost missed it.
I shook my head. “Not if it means I get to be with you. Besides, I’ve never hidden who I was. I have good parents. They never made me feel like I should.”
Brooks cleared his throat, his grip tightening just a fraction. “Ain’t never done this before.”
“Held hands?” I teased.
“Any of it. Well, except for what we did during the storm.” His jaw was set tight, eyes fixed straight ahead. “Dolly’s right, though. I ain’t exactly known for bein’ nice.”
“You’re nice enough to me.”
That earned me a sideways glance, those deep brown eyes catching the glow of the next streetlight we passed under. “Don’t know why. Just... happens around you.”
My heart fluttered in my chest like a trapped bird. “Well, it means a lot to me.”
Brooks stopped walking then, our linked hands bringing me to a halt beside him. We were between streetlights, half-hidden in shadow, the fog swirling around our boots. He turned to face me, his free hand coming up to my cheek, rough fingers trembling slightly as theybrushed my skin.
“I don’t deserve none of this,” he whispered. “Been alone so long I forgot what it’s like to want somethin’ this bad.”
I leaned into his touch, my eyes closing briefly. “Brooks, you deserve everything good that comes your way. You’re a good man. Stop trying to pretend otherwise. Just because you were hurt doesn’t mean you’re bad.”
He made a sound low in his throat, something between a growl and a sigh, before his lips found mine. The kiss was tentative at first, like he was afraid I might change my mind, but when I pressed closer, his arm wrapped around my waist and pulled me tight against him. His hat bumped against my forehead, and I reached up to push it back, letting my fingers tangle in his dark hair.
The fog wrapped around us like a blanket, hiding us from the world, creating our own little pocket of space where nothing existed but his mouth on mine, his hands holding me like I was something precious.
When we finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Brooks rested his forehead against mine. “I ain’t good with words,” he murmured. “Never have been.”
