Page 36 of Reckless

“Oh, well good. I like paying attention and you deserve it. So.” He ducked his head.

Every time he reached for the chips in the center of the table she got caught up in the flex of his forearms and the movement of his hands. It wasn’t the first time she’d found herself staring at him as he played guitar or ate chips at a Mexican restaurant.

“I’d really like to lean in and bite you right here,” she said quietly, pointing out a spot above his wrist.

He dropped the chip, a look of surprise chased by sensual promise. God, she really liked this guy.

And his arms.

“What’s stopping you?” he asked, teasing.

“I’m going to guess the management probably frowns on patrons just nibbling on one another. Even if one of those patrons has forearms that make a girl all fluttery inside.”

“The world is very unfair,” he said, taking another chip.

“So true.” Laughing, she went back to her meal.

“How much time do we have when we get back? Before we have to leave for your brother’s house?” he asked.

“I did some research earlier and I think it’ll take about forty-five minutes or so to get there from the hotel. I called a car service so they’re picking me…us up an hour before. I figure just in case we hit traffic or whatever. It’s going to take me an hour to get ready before that. How long do you need to get ready?”

He was most likely trying to figure out if they had enough time for sex. Which normally she’d be down for. But the closer the time for dinner got, the more anxious she was becoming. Anxious sex wasn’t her favorite. She found it difficult to focus on pleasure when something was worrying her.

So she took a step closer to being a grown up and told him. “We have time after. And I’ll probably be in need of some relaxation.”

Miles took her hand and squeezed to let her know he got it.

Miles was grateful Harlow had helped him pick out what to wear for dinner. He wouldn’t have worried so much if it had been her father, or any of the extended family Miles had. But this was different enough that it had his normally bold Harlow off balance. Which had knockedhimoff balance too because his reaction to her reaction was something altogether new.

He wanted to project that he had his shit together and that he was there for Harlow. So the outfit of dark trousers with a thin but warm cashmere sweater—one he’d push up to his elbows so she could see his forearms—was a signal to her family and to Harlow as well.

Tonight was about Harlow, not so much for meeting her brothers. He wasn’t going to start anything. He wanted things to go well if for no other reason than to erase all the anxiety he could clearly see she carried.

Then when they got back, he was going to stop by her room with her as she gathered her things into an overnight bag so she would be in his bed all night. Then he could make sure she was all right, sex her up if that was something she wanted and watch that she had a good breakfast the following morning. They had a show the following evening, so he knew she’d need the care and the energy.

He escorted her to her hotel room and took his share of the bags. “I’ll be down here to get you ten minutes before we go to meet the car, okay?”

She hugged him, staying longer than she usually did, so he kept her against him, telling her through his body that he was there. He wanted her to tell him more. Reveal the whole story. But he understood from her reaction that she didn’t normally share this much even with people she’d known for years. He needed to be patient. And smart.

Back in his room he took the time to make a call home. Yes, he was a grown man, but his father always had good advice.

“Miles, your mum and I were just talking about you at breakfast. How are things?”

“Hey, Dad. Things are great. The shows have been amazing so far. Sold out every night so far. We’re tight.”

“Yeah, once you get past the first week or two, you hit that spot where you all know one another perfectly. It gets at little threadbare toward the end when everyone is exhausted so remember to take the time for you four to connect and reconnect.”

That was why they’d insisted on a rest day at least once a week. It cost more but Earthquakes would be on tour for nearly six months and they needed not to be exhausted and burned out. His father had been the one to suggest it, another reason Miles respected his dad as a businessperson as well.

“Do you have a few minutes?” Miles asked.

“Always. Your sister is okay? She texts daily and sounds fine.”

“She’s great. You were right to push me to hire her. She keeps us all in line. She’s decided Above Me is hers to take care of too.”

“Ah, I wondered when you were going to tell me about Harlow.”

Miles sighed. “Did she tell you about it?” Meaning his sister.

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