of the way he stood over her, but she was terrified of what he was implying.
He wanted more. She could feel it.
Neil had wanted more, too. She hadn’t been ready for more but had agreed anyway. And now? How could she be ready for more with Brady when she’d only been apart from Neil for a handful of months? It was too soon. Made no sense.
Plus, she wasn’t staying here and Brady was a Cove fixture. He wouldn’t give up his life to be a city cop. He loved Evergreen Cove.
“I’m flattered,” she said, trying to sound as neutral as possible. “But great sex isn’t a foundation on which to build a future.”
His jaw hardened, his eyes with it. “Why not?”
She laughed. When he didn’t, she compressed her lips. Maybe she could blame the wine for her lack of clarity. She was tired. It was late. She hadn’t prepared for an argument, if that’s what this was. She’d assumed when she told Brady he’d react like Neil and just… let her go. But Brady wasn’t Neil. She should’ve expected more.
“We don’t have to end things tonight,” she clarified as she pulled a mug and tea from the cabinet. “I was giving you a heads-up.”
And giving myself an out.
“What’s the rush?” he asked. “You have a job here. You have friends you like. You have me.”
Her heart ka-thumped. Her head swam. Brady was supposed to be a fun, temporary fling. What he was saying…
You have me.
She didn’t think he meant for a few days or weeks. He meant… She couldn’t fathom what he meant. Her hand resting on her stomach, she tried to calm herself by taking a deep breath.
“I know you were mistreated by someone who should’ve cared about you,” he said, his voice as hard as his expression. “I know you’d like to lump me into a pile with that piece of shit, but I am not him, Elli Bean.”
That was true. Brady was more of a man than Neil could ever aspire to be. Still…
“I’m not ready for anything serious.”
He drew away from her, stung.
“I don’t need rescuing like Lila.” Hearing her name, the dog padded into the room, her tail wagging. The teakettle screeched. “I can rescue myself.”
“Do I make you feel trapped? Smothered? Do I demand you do things you don’t want to do?” He folded his arms over his substantial chest and glared at her.
He hadn’t made her feel anything but safe, happy. Sexy. But…
“You’re making me feel trapped now,” she admitted.
“By telling you I don’t want you to leave? How’s that trapping you, Elli? I didn’t say you couldn’t leave. I’m not manipulating you into a decision. I’m telling you—and this isn’t easy for me, by the way—that I don’t want you to live in Chicago, because I don’t want you to forget about Evergreen Cove.” He swept his tongue over his bottom lip before he added, “Or me.”
She stared. Speechless. Shocked. He didn’t let up.
“I lost my parents when I was a kid. Lost my gram when I was a teenager. I’ve experienced some deep, dark hurts over the years.”
“Join the club,” she said, her defenses sky-high. She did that when she was afraid, and his confessions were scaring her. Shakily, she poured hot water into her mug.
“I’m not saying I cornered the market.” He was calm. And kind. So kind. “Losing people I loved wasn’t in vain. Because of the bad, I recognize the good. You and me? We’re the good. I know this isn’t on your timeline.” He paused to let out a short laugh. “It’s not on my timeline. I had a plan before you got here, you know. You messed it up.”
He stood close, hip leaning against the counter, her steaming mug of tea between them. Him in front of her, real and live and in the flesh, she had an even harder time thinking of leaving. Leaving him and the life she’d begun here.
It was easy to believe in happily ever after when there was nothing but the soft sound of a dog snoring in the background. She opened her mouth to say… God, she didn’t even know what, but he spoke first.
“It’s late. I’m exhausted. I shouldn’t have said anything. I actually came here with Lila to make a request.”
“Oh?” Resetting her brain would take a minute. He’d turned her world upside down tonight.
“Gramps wants to meet you.” He held up a hand to stay any argument she might have. “I know. Bad timing after what we’ve