Page 39 of Need Me
His eyes traveled over her. “I’m not going to apologize for telling you again. In fact, you’ll probably hear it a few timestonight.”
Brooke’s blood warmed as his gaze seemed to touch her everywhere. “I don’tmind.”
Smiling as he withdrew from her, Robert started the car and pulled out of herdriveway.
* * *
That night,a different side of Robert began to emerge and Brooke was mesmerized by him. Over the previous weekend, his initial shyness had abated and he was much more at ease with her. His witty conversation, gentlemanly behavior, and attentiveness made her feelcherished.
Just as he liked holding hands or having her on his arm when they were walking, Robert touched her hand often during dinner. While they were waiting for their dessert, he kissed the back of it, sending a delicious shiver down herspine.
Once their baked Alaska was served, Robert scooted hers out of herreach.
“Robert, it’s dangerous to deny a woman dessert when it’s sitting right there,” Brookesaid.
He picked up a fork and broke through the meringue outer shell. He put a small bite on the fork and held it out to her. “For you,love.”
Brooke practically swooned at the smooth British accent that he pulled off as though he was a nativeLondoner.
Robert grinned at her surprise. “Cat got yourtongue?”
Brooke laughed. “I guess so. That is sosexy.”
“Really? It annoyed my ex,” he said in his normal voice as she took the bite off the fork he held for her. “My grandfather was English and I always mimicked his accent when I was a young boy. He sounded like JamesBond.”
“No. You’re definitely my Superman.” She closed her eyes as the treat melted on her tongue. “That’s incredible, and, by the way, your ex sounds like abitch.”
* * *
Brooke’s statementcaused Robert to choke on the sip of wine he’d just taken.So much for being smooth.He pressed a napkin to his mouth as he coughed. Brooke patted him on the back and giggled while he composedhimself.
Robert’s voice came out a little hoarse. “I’m okay now. Thanks. Kate thinks she was,too.”
Brooke took her dessert from him and he didn’t fight her on it. He’d intended to feed the whole thing to her, but the romance of the moment was broken and doing that seemed silly to himnow.
“You need to listen to Kate more,” Brookesaid.
Watching another bite disappear into her pretty mouth distracted Robert for a moment. “I do listen toher.”
Brooke raised her eyebrows at him momentarily. “So, tell me what these other women found so boring aboutyou.”
Robert folded his napkin and laid it down as he considered his answer. “Basically, that I’m too much of a…homebody. I’m cool with going out only once a week and just chilling at home. My work can be challenging and I volunteer a couple of nights a week, and then there’s the rescue. So, the other nights, I don’t feel like going to clubs in Denver or drinking half thenight.”
Brooke finished a bite and motioned at him with her fork. “So, that’s it? You’re not a party animal, so they think you’reboring?”
“Prettymuch.”
Brooke lowered her voice. “They reallywerebitches. Shallow,too.”
Robert laughed silently, his shoulders shaking. Brooke joined him, their laughter mingling together. They finished their dessert and moved to the dance floor. He was having such a good time that he forgot to be nervous aboutdancing.
Knowing that Brooke thought highly of him gave Robert a confidence he hadn’t felt in a long time. He took Brooke in his arms and started moving to the beat of the slow, romantic song the band played. Keeping his touch light, he slid his left hand down to the small of her back while he kissed her hand and drew it against hischest.
Brooke smiled up at him and his heart throbbed a little harder. The graceful way she moved against him was exciting, but he kept control over his body even as his bloodstreamheated.
Robert combatted his physical reaction to her by saying, “You never did tell me what you named thekids.”
He loved the way she turned bashful and hid her face against his shoulder. “I hoped that you forgot aboutthat.”
