Page 7 of Off Limits
Not the brotherly kind. Not even close.
Brady had always taken an interest in her—asked about school, her yoga practice, the places she wanted to travel, the guys she dated. He saw her, reallysawher, in a way most people didn’t. Especially during those teenage years, when friendships felt surface-level and fleeting.
But Brady? He was different.
Every time he walked through their front door, his presence lit her up. Her skin would tingle. Her heart would race.
The limited traffic on the road at this hour made it easy for her to navigate. The chilly air swirled in the interior of her vehicle making her feel like Elsa at the top of the mountain inFrozen. She hummed a few bars ofLet It Go. Maybe she should let her crush on Brady go.
Fuck him!
She’d given him too much time and space in her mind and her heart.
Her Jeep jerked then wobbled.Shit! She gripped the steering wheel with both hands and guided the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. Flinging the Jeep into “park,” she climbed out to assess the issue. She walked around the front of the vehicle. Damn it. A flat.
She knew how to change a flat tire. Her father and brother both made sure she could do so. But it was almost 2:00 in the morning. Standing on the side of the road changing a tire by herself felt like an invitation for trouble, especially on a night when so many people would be intoxicated from their New Year’s celebrations. She could call a towing service. She could call her brother, who was likely passed out in his bed. She could lock the Jeep up, get an Uber home and deal with the flat later.
She could call Brady. She did know he was still awake and sober.
Ugh!Calling Brady would certainly make her dramatic exit less theatrical. The cool air raced up the skirt of her dress. She shivered. She wasn’t properly dressed to be out here or to change her tire. Opening the passenger door, she grabbed her phone from the center console and pulled up Brady’s contact.
“For fuck’s sake, Jane. Why’d you run out on me like that?” Brady huffed into the phone after only a half of a ring.
“Brady, I have a flat. I’m near East Pine and South Osceola. I pulled over.”
“Jesus Christ. This is why I wanted to follow you home. It’s freezing out and all sorts of crazies are roaming the streets.”
She rolled her eyes. She didn’t need a lecture. He’d shattered her with one comment and then expected her to hang out and wait for him. He was a prick of epic proportions.
“Don’t move. I’ll be there in less than two minutes.”
“I can’t move. My tire is flat.” She sighed.
He huffed. “Stay on the line with me. I think I see you.” He groaned. “Come on, light.”
Was it possible for her eyes to get stuck from rolling them too much? Yes, it was chilly out and she wore a rather skimpy dress. Yes, it was after 2:00 in the morning and she stood on the side of the road alone. But she wasn’t in danger—at least not yet.
The headlights of his silver Mercedes C-Coupe blinded her as he pulled in behind her Jeep. He exited his vehicle but left it running. He’d slid into his suit jacket again, looking the posh professional even at this late hour. No one would be able to tell he’d fucked the hell out of her less than thirty minutes ago. Damn him. Always so put together.
He stood next to her assessing the situation. “Why don’t you go sit in my car while I change this for you?” He nodded in the direction of his Mercedes.
“I know how to change the tire.” His chivalry pissed her off even though she had called him.
“I have no doubt you do.” His gaze roved over her, his chocolate-colored eyes melting with heat. “But you are in a beautiful dress so I will handle it.” He slipped out of his jacket and handed it to her. He rolled up his sleeves. His muscular forearms came into view.
Ugh!Why did he have to be so damn attractive? Even his forearms agitated her heart.
“Just put the jacket in the car. This should only take me a few minutes.” He walked to the back of the Jeep and popped open the hatch.
She moseyed over to his car and slid into the passenger seat without a word. If he wanted to get greasy and wrestle with the flat tire, he could have at it. She cranked the heat, sank back into the seat, and let her eyes drift closed.
What a night.
An emotional rollercoaster didn’t even begin to cover it. The new year, the unexpected turns, and—God—the moments with Brady.
Her body warmed just thinking about the way he’d touched her. The way he’d kissed her like she was the only thing that mattered.
Honestly, with those memories still humming under her skin, who needed the damn heater?
