Free After All by Jolene Betty Perry Page A

remember the last time I’d let someone take care of me. And never someone who gave my stomach tingles.
    “Wow, you two sure made a mess.” Trevor laughed and I jumped.
    The mood between us split, and Brandt took a large step back.
    “Way to go, Ash,” Marie teased.
    “How’d you know it was me?”
    She folded her arms with a smirk. “Well, for one, Dad is working his voodoo magic on you. And second, it’s rare that he makes a mess of the kitchen.”
    “Fair enough.” I paused. “Voodoo magic?”
    Marie shrugged. “How many people have a jungle room of plants, most of which serve some sort of purpose, like herbs, tea and something that should be used on sunburns?”
    “Which people wouldn’t get if they used the sun screen I set out for them and buy in large quantities.” Brandt looked pointedly at Marie. And just like that he went from hot guy taking care of me to Dad. So weird. But also nice. Unexpectedly nice.
    Marie shrugged. “I think dinner’s done, or overcooking.”
    “Oh, shoot.” Brandt started to move, but froze and squeezed my arm. “Can you handle this?”
    Our eyes caught again, and I just nodded, not trusting my voice to sound normal.
    Brandt salvaged the pasta I’d started, but I couldn’t focus during dinner. I was afraid to look at Brandt, but I was afraid not to look at him. Marie and Trevor were full of news from school so I continued to ask them about teachers and classes and friends because talking to them and about them was so much safer than anything else. It all sort of passed in a blur.
    When we finished, Brandt turned his music on for cleanup. The Steeple house was warm in a way that no place I’d ever been was warm. Warmth from smell, comfort and love. Marie and Trevor headed for the living room once the dishwasher was loaded, and I still held the aloe on my hand, afraid to move. Or using it as an excuse to once again be quiet and absorb my surroundings.
    “Hey, Dad. Guitar?” Marie looked at him with a wide-eyed, smiling face I knew he wouldn’t say no to.
    “Sure.” He glanced back at me. “You okay?”
    “Yep, I’m good. Your voodoo magic is working wonders.”
    He chuckled in response.
    Brandt let the kids walk ahead and he waited for me to make the few steps to him.
    “Let me see.” He took my arm carefully in his again. He leaned over in front of me, putting our faces so close that the warmth of his breath brushed against my cheek. He rested my hand in his and the nervous tingling was back in full force, blurring my thoughts and making me weak enough to lean against the cabinets. “It looks a little better.” When he looked up at me we were so close, it would have been so easy to move just slightly and feel our lips together. I craved it. I started to close my eyes as Brandt leaned in but paused.
    "I find you very hard to read," I whispered as my eyes dropped to the floor between us.
    "Maybe because my brain is moving in too many directions at once."
    My eyes found his. "And what is your brain working so hard on?"
    The pause was brief, but felt like an eternity as his dark eyes turned conflicted. "You.”
    I breathed in again as I leaned closer, anticipating the moment his lips touched mine. The briefest touch of skin on skin sent a rush of heat through me, just enough to make me know I definitely wanted more.
    “ Dad !” Marie called from the other room.
    Brandt was gone in a second, leaving me once again, breathless in his kitchen. What was that? And more importantly—how did I make it happen again?
    * * *
    His fingers moved so fast across the guitar strings that I couldn’t process, but the music felt mellow, slow. Not rushed or forced like I’d expect from the speed. Ree sprawled on a large chair glancing at me once in a while and then back at her dad… And then at me… Her smile widening each time. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that she was glad I was here. That made two of us.
    I watched Brandt for any sign of our nearly-kiss. When our