Free Unbelievable by Lori Foster Page B

she preferred the privacy of the cabin for dinner. “We can check out the concert, but there’s no way I’m going to eat a greasy hamburger. I want real food tonight.”
    “Fair enough. How about an hour or so of music, then you can pick the restaurant we eat at?”
    “No restaurant. I want to go back to the cabin and order room service.”
    At first, Sebastian didn’t answer her. Brandi knew how he felt about the expensive meals the lodge offered, but she needed some privacy tonight, away from the crowds. And she wanted to teach him to take pleasure in the small things, even when they cost a bit more. She half expected an argument from him, especially given his earlier contentious mood. But then he took a deep breath and asked, “Did anyone pack you a swimsuit?”
    “I think so. Why?”
    “Yesterday you showed some interest in the Jacuzzi.” His gaze dropped to her mouth and stayed there. “I thought maybe after dinner you’d want to try it out. It might help to relax you.”
    Heat uncurled, chasing away the last remnants of embarrassment over her flight of terror. “Do you have a swimsuit?”
    “No. But I can just wear my briefs.” His gaze held hers, his eyes bright. “As long as you don’t have a problem with it.”
    Brandi knew in that instant exactly where her knees touched him. She felt his body stir, felt his erection grow hard and long and knew it was the thought of being with her that affected him so strongly. But she wasin charge. She could do this—play in the Jacuzzi, indulge in the special feeling of being alone with him—with no fear of being pushed and no fear of consequences.
    She called all the shots, and she trusted him to abide by her rules.
    Knowing he expected her to refuse, or to at least look shocked, she lifted her chin and nodded. “All right. We can try out the Jacuzzi. But dinner first.”
    Though his expression didn’t change, she saw him draw a deep breath. He lifted her from the wall, then stood there looking down at her. “What the hell? I think I’ll need to restore my energy with a good meal anyway.”

CHAPTER FIVE
    W AITING THROUGH THE concert had just about killed him.
    Sitting in the grass with Brandi at his side, her body swaying in time to the music, was enough to make him crazy. But what played even more havoc with his male libido was the memory of how she’d run to him. Whatever had frightened her—and he had no doubt there was more to it than she claimed—she’d run to him. Even though she hadn’t trusted him enough to share the whole truth, it still had to be counted as progress. No wonder his mood was uncertain today. She kept throwing him off balance. It had all started with that kiss last night, a sweet little kiss that had kept him awake tossing and turning until the early morning. Since then he hadn’t been able to get his thoughts gathered.
    Something had happened during that brief, all too innocent kiss. And it had to do with Brandi taking control. He’d suggested it as lark, hoping to encourage her. But it had gone beyond that. Somehow, they’d crossed some invisible boundary. He only wished he knew what it was.
    Waiting through the concert had been torture enough, but compared to that, dinner was the SpanishInquisition. He hadn’t even found the wit to complain about the damn T-bone steaks Brandi ordered, steaks that had cost enough to feed a family of four. When she finally leaned back in her seat and pronounced herself finished, he pushed away the rest of his uneaten steak and offered to do the dishes.
    She shyly looked away. “No, you did the dishes last night after I went to bed. It’s my turn.”
    He’d taken care of cleaning up and banking the fire just to give himself something to do. But it hadn’t worked. He’d still wanted her so much sleep wouldn’t come. All because of that one simple but explosive kiss.
    He didn’t argue with her now, not when he had other things to accomplish. “Fine. You can do the dishes and I’ll go