Need You Now (Love in Unknown) - By Taylor M. Lunsford Page 0,57

working. He sat next to her, his shoulder just brushing hers.

Opening the basket, he chuckled. “When have I ever? Especially when it comes to you.”

His words quieted her. Caine Maddox lived life at full throttle. When he was passionate about something, he put all of himself into it. In college, he’d thrown himself into drinking and partying to fit in with his frat brothers. That intensity had split to her after their first night together and she’d been afraid to see which passion he picked. Now that attention was back on her, and she still didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Until she decided, Mel would settle in to enjoy it.

“We’ve got some burgers and fries. Sodas." He pulled each item out of the basket, setting it on a small tray in front of them. "Chocolate chip cookies for dessert. And popcorn for later."

They ate quickly, conversation flowing between them easily. She got him talking about the baseball game, about his work. He reciprocated, encouraging her to tell him about some of her favorite cases from her residency.

Mel smiled. Leaning back against the pillows, she admired him. "Well played, sir. Well played. The true test, though—what movie have you selected for us?"

Nostalgia lit his eyes as the sun started to sink behind the big old screen. A boyish grin teased the corners of his mouth. "Do you remember the first time your dad brought the four of us out here?"

“Of course I do." She sighed softly as the memory took hold. "We all piled into the back of his pick-up truck to watch the movie. He bought us all popcorn and candy. After the sun went down, I got cold. Micah and Gage teased me, but you just picked up the blanket you were sitting on and wrapped it around both of us. And you stayed right beside me the rest of the movie. I think you even covered my eyes when I got too scared. God, how old was I?"

Caine reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear, which turned into him cupping her cheek. His thumb rubbed circles on the flesh, sending tingles of awareness through her body. "You were six and I was ten. Can you use your genius powers to guess what movie we're going to see tonight?"

She frowned at him, searching her brain. Realization dawned on her, and a smile stretched her lips. The reason her dad had brought them out here was because the drive-in was hosting a special screening that the boys had been clambering to see. "Star Wars? We're seeing Star Wars?"

“Yes, ma’am.” Caine wove his hand in some sort of signal. A few moments later, a light flickered on the screen and the iconic score trumpeted through the sound system. "Here, lie back, sunshine. The pillows aren't just here for atmosphere."

Arm wrapping around her shoulder, he eased her back. Head cradled in the crook of his shoulder, she settled in without protest. It felt right, letting him hold her as he had so long ago. At six, she’d convinced herself he was either a knight in shining armor or a prince, straight out of one of her fairytale books. At eighteen, he’d been everything she could have wanted in a first boyfriend. At twenty-eight, she didn't know what to do with him.

“You confuse me, Caine Maddox," she whispered after several minutes. "I can never find my balance around you."

Instead of responding right away, he kissed her temple. "Join the club. What's between us goes a lot deeper than either of us is used to, Mel. Why don't we just enjoy the ride and see where it takes us?"

Such an easy thing to say…Such a hard thing to do.

“I don't know if you've noticed or not, but I seriously suck at the whole trust thing these days." She propped herself up to look into his face. The blue light from the screen etched shadows across his handsome face. Reaching up, she ran a hand through his silky hair.

He didn’t smile. His lips found the palm of her hand. "I know, sunshine. Trust takes time and effort. And patience. Don't know about you, but I think what we have is worth exploring."

Her chest tightened almost painfully. "My brain says run, but my heart says to try."

“I know you rely on your brain a lot and it doesn't lead you wrong. But in some situations, the heart knows better." He threaded their fingers together, palms kissing. "Please,