7. Brooks
CHAPTER SEVEN
Brooks
Setting down the last box of supplies, I close the garage door behind me just like I told Maggie I would. When I turn back to the work truck, I freeze.
Hadley is running up the street, her brown ponytail swinging behind her. Toned muscles strain with each stride, and there’s a lot of her on display in a pair of tiny pink running shorts and a black fitted tank.
This woman is fucking delectable.
She slows to a walk, stepping from the street and onto the sidewalk in front of the house. She wipes at the sweat on her brow, trying to catch her breath.
“Hey,” I say, not wanting to just be the silent creep standing here staring at her.
She pulls out her earbuds. “Hey,” she manages, still breathing hard. “I’m used to running a lot, but this altitude is kicking my ass.”
“You also chose to come up this beast of a street at the end of your run. I’d say that’s kind of masochistic, but I don’t really know you that well.” I pause, winking at her. “Yet.”
She chuckles, sliding her earbuds into the pocket of her shorts.
“I need water,” she rasps. She stands there contemplating something for a moment before turning and walking around the side of the house.
I follow her because I need to make sure she’s okay and doesn’t have altitude sickness or something. Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
She grabs the garden hose off the ground, turning the faucet until water sprays out onto the grass. She leans forward, drinking the water right from the hose.
Why is that so hot? I bite my tongue to stifle a groan, watching her.
She turns, seeing I’m standing there. “Are you thirsty, too?” she asks, turning the hose in my direction.
“No, I’m alright. I was just enjoying the show.”
She slaps her hand over her heart. “Why, Brooks, I feel scandalized,” she says dramatically.
“Mmhmm, I’m sure that’s what you’re feeling right now.” I take a few steps toward her.
She turns, angling her body fully toward me. The hose is poised and ready in front of her like a weapon.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Trouble.”
“Trouble?” she asks, quirking a brow.
I take another step, water splashing right in front of my work boots. “You are trouble with a capital T if I’ve ever met one.”
“You seem like you could handle some trouble, though.” She smirks.
If you only knew, baby girl.
I lunge for the hose, but she’s fast. Water splashes across my shirt and pants. My hand wraps around hers, angling the hose toward her.
She shudders as the cool water cascades down her body, then steps back until she runs into the side of the house.
“What did I say? Trouble.”
Somehow, she angles the hose up, spraying me in the face. My hair sticks to the side of my face. I wrestle the hose away from her, tossing it away from us. The water runs out onto the grass.
With one of my hands, I pin both of hers above her head. With the other, I wipe my wet hair out of my eyes.
Her breaths come out in heavy pants as I step into her body, her delicate curves pressing into every hard plane of mine.
Her deep brown eyes blink up at me. Eyes that are anything but innocent. Lust written all over her face.
My thumb traces over the pulse point in her wrist, feeling it pound erratically. Wanting to feel her heartbeat from the source, I slowly reach my hand out.
I wait for a beat, seeing if she’ll tell me to stop before I press my palm over her heart. Her heart pounds even faster against my hand.
“Brooks,” she whimpers. Fuck.
“The best kind of trouble,” I whisper, moving my hand from over her heart to cup the side of her face. She bites her bottom lip, staring right at my mouth.
That’s all the encouragement I need before I press my lips to hers.
Her body softens into me as she kisses me back, her tongue teasing against my lips. I eagerly ease my mouth open, sliding my tongue against hers.
She whimpers into the kiss, and I pull back for a breath, only to lean in again for more.
I could kiss this girl forever. Who needs air when you can be kissing her?
With one last gentle kiss to the corner of her mouth, I rest my forehead against hers and release her hands that were still pinned above her head.
I expect them to fall to her sides, but she rests them against my chest. Keep touching me.
“I should go. I have to get to the softball game.”
“Right,” she says, but her hands press in even further against my soaked shirt.
Screw the game. There are a million other things I’d rather do with her instead.
I draw in a jagged breath. With every ounce of willpower I possess, I kiss her temple and step back from her.
I lean down, turning off the water that’s still soaking the lawn before I start to walk back to the truck. Then I pause, glancing at her over my shoulder.
“I’ll be seeing you, Trouble.”
She gives me a small smile from her same place against the house that she hasn’t budged from.
Turning away from her is physically painful. Now it all makes sense. This is why those two are so hung up on her.
Rounding the corner of the house, I see Martha walking up the street like she does every day to go see her best friend Louise.
“Hi there,” she says, smirking at me like she knows exactly what happened against the side of that house.
“Hi, Martha,” I say, climbing into the truck. I guess the seat’s getting wet.
Once Martha is far enough away, I start up the truck and drive toward the softball field. I can’t wipe off the smile that’s plastered on my face.
I haven’t felt this way in a long time. Hadley might be trouble, but she’s right. I know exactly what to do with trouble.
One kiss was far from enough.
I want more.