Chapter 26 Monroe #2
“I told you,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion, “I was running from a lot of things. But I always missed home. And being home for the past few months has only made me realize how much I want to be here. I was going to tell you later, but now that you’ve brought it up, I’ve been thinking how much I’ve enjoyed teaching Lewis and Callie and the kids about acting.
The truth is, I didn’t know I had it in me to explain the craft and to explain it in a way that kids could understand.
” He laughed a little self-consciously, reminding me of the Brodan of my childhood.
“Do you think it would be ridiculous of me to consider teaching drama?”
My pulse raced. “Seriously?”
He frowned.
“No, I don’t mean it like that,” I hurried to assure him. “I’m just surprised you would want to do that. I think you’d be wonderful at it.”
“Aye?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
“The University of Highlands and Islands have a drama course. They’ve asked me a few times over the years to guest lecture, and I haven’t. But I think I might like to change that.”
As wonderful as that would be, considering my alma mater was only a forty-minute drive from Ardnoch in Inverness, I felt obliged to tell him, “Brodan, you’re one of the best actors of your generation.
I’m not just saying that. You could guest lecture at the best acting schools in the country. In the world.”
He was quiet a moment. Then he replied, “As much as I appreciate that, and I do, Roe, more than you know … none of those schools are within touching distance of you or my family.”
Blood rushed in my ears, and I swallowed my fear to remind him, “I don’t know if I’ll be here next year. I’ve put feelers out for a job in the Lowlands. You shouldn’t decide based on where I’ll be.”
His head whipped toward me. “I didn’t realize you were serious about that.”
We entered Portmahomack, following the signs to the beach car park. Only a few cars were there, and Brodan glided the SUV into a spot, switched off the engine, and turned to me. His eyes searched my face. “Roe?”
“I wasn’t lying when I said there’s a lot of pain in Ardnoch for me. I know you and I are working toward fixing that, and I’m grateful we are, Brodan, but you’re not the only person who’s hurt me.”
“Your fucking mother,” he bit out angrily.
“Mrs. Waddle scolded me in Flora’s the other morning for abandoning Mum when she needed me.” I shook my head, indignation burning in my chest.
“Mrs. Waddle?”
“She lives a few doors down from Mum. Remember, she used to tell us to get off her stoop anytime we were standing outside her house on the public path?”
Recognition lit Brodan’s eyes. “Arran and I subscribed her to a porn magazine.”
I burst out laughing, remembering it. “You were wee buggers, so you were.”
He grinned. “She deserved it.” Then his smile dimmed. “Especially for saying that to you in Flora’s. She hasn’t got a fucking clue what your mother has put you through.”
My lips twitched. “Flora gave her an earful before I could. But that’s what living in Ardnoch is like. Everyone in your business and everyone thinking they have a right to it.”
“That’s just the negative parts. Mrs. Waddle isn’t the problem. You not talking about your mum and your dad is the problem.”
“I can’t.” I pleaded, “Please, Brodan, I can’t. Every time I let myself think about it, I feel like something inside me will shatter again.”
Emotion brightened his eyes. “I won’t push. But I want you to promise to come to me the moment you’re ready to face it.”
I looked away, staring out at the water. “Let’s not make any promises to each other.”
Feeling his cool fingers touch my chin, I allowed him to turn my face back to his. “We have a problem here, Sunset. Because I want to make all our promises to each other.”
“How can you be so sure?” I whispered. “About me? I’m not sure of anything, Brodan.”
He shrugged helplessly. “I once convinced a director to let me do my own stunts, including base jumping from one of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe. And yet, nothing has made me feel as alive as I’ve felt the past few months being home … with you.”
The man was determined to make me melt all over him. “Brodan …”
Then his words penetrated, and anger at his recklessness filled me. I smacked him hard across the shoulder.
“Ow.” He rubbed the spot. “What was that for?”
“For throwing yourself off a bloody skyscraper.” I unbuckled my belt in my fury and launched out of the car. The salty, brittle sea air hit me hard, but I needed it.
To my surprise, the bastard got out of the car, grinning from ear to ear, as he rounded the bonnet to get to me.
“What have you got to smile about?”
He bent his head to mine and brushed his lips across my ear. “Because you really like me.”
I jerked away. “Keep those lips to yourself, or I’ll consider the bet over.”
Brodan had a spring in his step as we walked down the harbor street. “You really, really like me.”
“I do not.”
“Do too.”
“I do bloody not. You’re a pain in my arse, Adair.”
“But you care I threw myself off a building.”
“If you want our date to continue, I wouldn’t keep reminding me.”
“You like me.”
“If you don’t stop, I will throw you off another building.”
He grinned boyishly to himself.
I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips.
“I’m going to hold your hand because it wasn’t stipulated in the bet,” he announced.
“Touching was implied.”
“Aye, like my tongue on your clit kind of touching? Not holding hands.”
I swear my clit throbbed at his words. Stopping in the middle of the quiet street, I gaped at him. “You did not just say that.”
Brodan searched my face, delighted by whatever he found there. “Oh … oh, this is good.”
I spluttered a nonresponse.
He practically did a jig. “We never stipulated there could be no sex talk, right?”
“Brodan—”
“And look at those rosy cheeks just at the mention of me going down on you.”
“Brodan—”
“This is going to be fun.” He rubbed his hands together gleefully. “As will fucking you on your hands and knees until you see stars, but that can wait.”
“Brodan!” I glanced around frantically to make sure no one was around to hear his filthy words.
“And you’ll keep saying my name like that every time I thrust into your sweet, tight pussy.”
My whole body flushed hot as I throbbed with need, gaping at him in desire and horror.
“Fuck.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “This is making me hard.”
“Good,” I snapped, stalking toward him. “Then maybe you’ll think twice about talking to me like that in public.”
“I have,” he agreed, hurrying to catch up. “I’ll save it for when we’re alone.”
I squeezed my eyes closed in despair.
This was going to be the most torturous bet of my life.
Brodan reached for my hand, and I glowered at him.
He smiled back. “I think the date is going well so far.”