Page 38 of Off Limits
“I’m flattered he’s talked about me so much.” Anna’s cheeks pinkened. “I can relate to the center of his world being work. I’m cut from the same cloth.” She shrugged a shoulder.
“Do you like him?” Jane scrutinized her face, watching for any tics that would mean she wasn’t being wholly honest. But she didn’t see any.
“Yes. Of course.” Anna swallowed. “He was unexpected. I certainly hadn’t planned to meet someone on a business trip to Michigan, but life happens.”
“I like that. Unexpected. Life should have some unexpected things.” She smiled and her gaze drifted to Brady, leaning against the bar chatting with her brother.
He was like a cold glass of lemonade on a blistering summer day—refreshing, irresistible, never enough. She could stare at him all day and never be quenched.
That dark, silky hair she’d once fisted in her hands to guide his mouth between her thighs now stood in a tousled wave. That sinful mouth—God, the things he did with it—moved quickly as he chatted. And those eyes, those deep brown eyes that once saw straight through her, flicked her way and locked on.
Mexico was supposed to be a reset. A breath. An exhale. She’d thought she could leave her feelings for him somewhere in the ocean air or on the meditation mat. But no. Not possible. Seeing him now verified that.
She didn’t just want Brady.
She wantedonlyBrady.
And knowing that—finally knowing that—was freeing in a way she hadn’t expected.
She glanced at Anna, who had followed her gaze. When Anna looked back at her, she raised an eyebrow as if questioning her.
Uh oh. Play it cool. “So tell me about you before Rex gets here and hogs all your attention.”
Anna cleared her throat. “Ah, what do you want to know?”
“What’s your favorite movie?”
Anna’s knee bounced. “God! You’re starting off with a hard one. Hm ...Under the Tuscan Sun.” She smiled shyly like her choice seemed silly.
“Did you read the book?” Jane read a lot of Thich Nhat Nahn but she also enjoyed getting swept away by a good and sexy romance. And what says romance more than a broken-hearted woman refurbishing a house in Tuscany. No one does romance like the Italians.
“I did. Obviously, the film dramatized some of it, but I do love the scenery of the film.” Anna looked away, almost reflective.
“Have you ever been to Italy?” Jane could get dreamy-eyed thinking about her travels to Italy. The food. The wine. The landscape. The sea. The men.
Anna shook her head pulling Jane back from her thoughts.
“You’d love it. You must definitely go.”
“Go where?” Rex said.
“You must take Anna to Italy. Tuscany—particularly.” Jane squealed.
Rex glanced over at Anna, whose cheeks were now the color of cherries. “I’m still waiting for the invite to the Tuscan villa—from her.” He winked at Anna.
“Say what?” Jane asks.
Rex sat next to Anna and proceeded to tell Jane about his and Anna’s conversation in the hotel room that first night. Anna would interrupt whenever she felt that Rex exaggerated or twisted the truth. The banter was cute and caused Jane’s heart to constrict. She wanted this sort of teasing, fun and caring relationship. She could have it with Brady. She wanted it with him.
****
Jane kicked back onthe couch in her family room, her bare feet on the thick wood of her farmhouse coffee table. Jimmy Fallon opened his show with his monologue. He always squeaked out a few laughs from her. Sometimes her stomach would hurt from her laughter.
The soft buzz of her phone indicating an incoming text message startled her. It was after 11:30. She picked up her phone from the coffee table and her eyes bugged out.
Brady: Open your door.
Heat coursed through her at just the sight of his name and his demand. They hadn’t really talked aside from some playful banter at the brewery that night. She hadn’t figured out her next move, not completely, even though her heart had already made some big decision where Brady was concerned.
