The animal’s joy was infectious, and Brynne, full of delight, couldn’t help laughing.
She was about to round the truck and climb in on the front passenger side when Eli came to stand before her. He laid his hands on her shoulders and she tilted her head back to look up at him.
“No matter what else happens, Brynne,” he said, “can we be friends again? Like we were before—well, before?”
She smiled into his eyes. “Yes,” she replied. “We can be friends.” A pause. “I had a wonderful time today, Eli. Thank you.”
He curled his right index finger and used it to lift her chin. “Now that we’re out in the open, where you won’t feel cornered, I think I’d like to kiss you.”
“I think I’d like that, too,” Brynne admitted, her voice very soft.
Eli bent his head then, brushed his cool, firm lips across hers, very lightly.
A charge shot through Brynne, radiating from her middle, filling her, turning her head to mist and at the same time sending roots of fire through the soles of her feet, coursing deep into the good earth.
When Eli kissed her in earnest, she soared.
Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck, and she stood on tiptoe.
Their tongues sparred briefly, and then the kiss ended.
Eli held her at a slight distance, breathing heavily, his head tipped back so he gazed at the blue, blue sky.
Brynne stood dazed, a little alarmed, grateful that Eli’s grip on her shoulders was firm, holding her upright. Her arms remained around his neck.
“Whoa,” he said, after a few tense moments. “That kiss was a little more than friendly.”
Brynne actually laughed, partly with amusement, partly with relief. Nodded.
He turned her around, steered her past the back of the truck and around to the passenger door. He opened it for her, hoisted her inside.
“What on earth—?” she murmured.
“Gotta get you out of here pronto, Bailey,” he said, addressing her as he had in high school, before time and Reba Shannon ruined what they’d had going. “We’re way too close to my bed for our own good. Or mine, at least.”
With that, he closed the truck door and walked around to his own side.
Festus, fidgeting in the back seat, pulled a sneak attack and licked Brynne’s cheek exuberantly.
She laughed again. “Stop it, silly dog,” she chided, but she gave his ears a good ruffle, rewarding him.
Eli climbed into the truck, snapped his seat belt on, and gave Brynne a look until she remembered to put hers in place, too.
“Sorry,” she said, with a ridiculous little giggle that immediately embarrassed her.
“I’d hate to have to run you in for ignoring safety laws,” he informed her solemnly.
“Perish the thought,” Brynne replied.
She’d called the dog silly, but at the moment, she was feeling pretty silly herself. She’d regressed to her high school self, it would seem. Giggling, for heaven’s sake. Why, she hadn’t giggled in forever.
She sat facing forward, trying to compose herself. Turn back into the adult version of herself.
They were passing the city limits—”Welcome to Painted Pony Creek, Montana”—before Eli spoke again.
“Bailey?”
“Yes?”
“You’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
Brynne couldn’t help being flattered. “Thank you,” she said.
“That cop back in Boston?”
Again, “Yes?”
“He must be a damn fool.”
The remark pleased Brynne, but she didn’t let on. “Friends,” she said. “Remember?”
That kiss, back at Eli’s place, complicated matters, but she was determined not to get carried away. If she got involved with the sexy sheriff of Wild Horse County too quickly, she might be on treacherous ground.
She didn’t love Clay anymore, but she hadn’t had a remotely serious relationship since their breakup, and that meant she was probably on the rebound.
Everybody knew it wasn’t wise to get too serious, too quickly, especially so soon after a broken romance.
“Friends can compliment each other,” Eli reasoned. “Can’t they?”
Brynne said nothing. She could have offered a compliment or two of her own, but they would be more than friendly.
Eli Garrett, she could say, if she dared, which she didn’t, you are so sexy I can barely stand it.
The way you love your dog melts me in places I didn’t know I had places.
And that kiss—dear God, that kiss.
“Bailey?”
“What?” Brynne retorted cheerfully.
“Say something.”
“Are you fishing for compliments?”
He grinned, made a shrugging motion with his powerful shoulders. “Maybe,” he replied. “Or maybe I just like hearing the sound of your voice.”
“If I had your job, I would appreciate peace and quiet.”
“You’d look good in a uniform,” he said.
“Stop it,” she said.
He laughed.
They were passing through town now, traffic was normal, and people were going about their usual business.
When Eli pulled into a slot in front of the restaurant, there were several old-timers gathered on the sidewalk, stomping their feet and rubbing their hands together to keep warm.
“The breakfast club has arrived,” Brynne said, smiling and waving at the half-dozen men clad in overalls, heavy boots and Carhartt coats. Retired farmers and ranchers all. “Just in time for a late lunch.”
Eli chuckled, waved to the group with a salute-like gesture.
Frank, one of the fry cooks, who doubled as a bartender, was just unlocking the door. He’d already turned the Closed sign to Open, and he gave Brynne a curious glance before he let the men inside.
Eli got out of the truck, came around to Brynne’s side, and opened the door for her. Helped her down.
“Thanks, Sheriff,” she said lightly. “I might have forgotten how to open a door for myself.”
He grinned. “I’m a gentleman. Get over it.”
“Come in for coffee and pie?” It was a simple, ordinary invitation, and yet offering it made Brynne feel bold, maybe even a little brazen.
“Can’t,” Eli said, with polite regret. “I’ve got to check in with the Creek’s PD and then head on over to my office for a while. The battle against crime never ceases.”