Rough Edges (8 page)

Braden stared up at the blue sky, his hands supporting his head as he pulled in a deep breath. He and Allie had shared three weeks worth of lunches. Rotating trips to the deli, the diner, and picnics Allie would bring, like today. Lying out back beneath the oak tree, talking about the past as well as the present. Each conversation gave Braden further insight to the woman she’d become – the woman he was quickly falling in love with. On a few occasions, with as nice as the weather had been, they’d followed lunch with a leisurely horseback ride out on the land. Gunner and Mare liked those days best, and Braden would have to say he did too.

“Anyway,” Allie said with a sigh, “for whatever reason, Terrance just resented taking care of the ranch after Alex died.”

Braden considered that. “Didn’t you say he asked to do it? That he wanted to take a break from real estate?”

“Yeah.” She shrugged. “Who knows? He was miserable and I got blamed for it. Was basically the pattern of our marriage.”

A quiet breeze picked up, dragging clusters of white, puffy clouds across the deep blue sky. “I could get used to this,” he said.

“Used to what, exactly?” Allie asked.

Braden turned onto his side, smiling when he saw Allie lying as he’d been. Only she’d wadded up her sweatshirt and was using it as a pillow. She looked over at him, the blue of her eyes matching the blanket they lay on.

“The cinnamon rolls, for one,” he said with a chuckle. “Those were delicious.”

Allie giggled.

“But what I really meant was lying in the shade with you like this, catching up.”

A trace of pink warmed Allie’s cheeks.

He wondered how long they’d been out there today. Would it be time to say goodbye soon? Let her go back to her busy life? This week, Allie had taken to hugging him when they parted ways. Each time Braden had wanted to kiss her. The feel of her so close and warm and tempting. Only he hadn’t yet. He didn’t want their kiss to be a
goodbye
kind of gesture. Some timid, boy-at-the-doorstep peck. She was a woman now. And he was a man. Years back, they had shared one incredible kiss, and he planned to make their next one just as meaningful. So he’d waited – however impatiently at times – certain the moment would present itself. Maybe it would be today.

“I hope you don’t mind my talking about the divorce and all that,” Allie said, pulling his thoughts back to their conversation.

“Not at all,” Braden assured. “I’m the one who asked about it.”

“Yeah. It’s odd; even though Terrance and I aren’t married anymore, speaking about it still feels wrong. I mean, I’d gotten into such a pattern of keeping the subject off the table, you know? I didn’t talk with anyone about our problems.”

Braden tilted his head. “Why not?”

She propped herself on an elbow and looked at him like he was missing something. “Well, for a number of reasons, really. I guess since you’ve never been married you might not realize … but it’s just not a good thing to do, if you want to
stay
married, anyway.” She lay back down, adjusting the sweatshirt beneath her head. “It’s fine to bounce things off a close friend when you feel like you’re going to snap or something. But married people shouldn’t run to others and complain about their issues.” She paused to give him a meaningful look. “And venting to someone you’ve had feelings for is about the
worst
thing you can do.”

Braden gulped. “Hmm. That makes sense.” But in his mind, he recalled the time Allie had come to him while
she
was married – the time he hadn’t told Bree about. It was after her brother’s death. Allie had shared a list of complaints about Terrance that night. He wondered if she remembered. Had she simply been too distraught with grief to realize what she’d been saying? Perhaps she hadn’t been breaking the rule in her mind; had simply put him in the
close friend
category she mentioned. What if she was doing the same thing now?

The thought put that thick ache back in the center of his chest. His body tensed up in response, worked to build a barrier against the old, familiar pain. Just as he sucked in a deep breath, the pressure starting to clamp down on his chest, Allie shifted to her side to face him. The saddened expression in her eyes reminded Braden of the promise he’d made himself in the diner – the one that said he’d protect her at any cost.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Allie looked at him for a moment, thoughtful. “Sometimes I feel like I wear the ache of it all in my face,” she said with a grimace.

He tilted his head. “What do you mean?”

“When I’m stressed out about Terrance or the girls or all of them at once, it just seems to settle in this major ache right along here.” She ran a few fingers over her brow. “And here.” She touched her cheeks next. “I catch myself frowning sometimes too, not just in my mouth but I swear it’s with my whole face. I don’t know, I worry that it’s aging me too quickly.”

Braden shook his head as he looked over her face. From the delicate arch of her thin brow, to the slight dimple that formed in her cheek when their eyes met once more. “It’s not aging you,” he said. “You’re beautiful.” He scooted closer, brought a hand to her face. With gentle movements, he traced his thumb over her brow, leaning closer even still.

“Right here?” he asked.

Allie had lowered her head, was looking up at him through her lashes. She gulped before nodding the slightest bit. Her eyes fluttered closed as Braden tilted his head, bringing his lips to kiss her there. He let his heated breath tickle her skin as he inched his way to the other side, kissing her brow there as well.

With a quiet sigh, Allie reached up and took hold of his wrist. He glanced down, saw a rash of goosebumps spread over her skin, and smiled.

His lips grazed the lids of her closed eyes, one after the next as he neared her cheek, kissing each in turn with the slightest touch. “Does that feel better?” His voice was no more than a raspy whisper.

She responded with a tiny laugh, a small sound that never left her throat.

Gently, Braden lifted her chin, his mouth watering at the sheer sight of her full, pouty lips. Her eyes remained closed, but her grip around his wrist tightened.

“I’m so glad you’re back in my life, Allie.”

She gave him a weak nod as her breath quickened.

He moved toward the lobe of her ear, speaking against her skin. “I’ve wanted this for so long,” he said. “To be close to you. And to hold you like this.” He glided his lips along her jaw, veered dangerously close to her throat, and reveled in the pleading whimper that escaped her. She gripped onto the back of his neck in return, placing a kiss at the base of his ear. Her parted lips lingered over his flesh as she brought her mouth close to his, setting his belly ablaze.

An invitation he would not refuse.

Allie moistened her lips, and Braden moved in to stake his claim at last. The slick warmth of her mouth made him groan, a deep sound that echoed in his chest as he kissed her again. And again. The soft pull of her lips here, the not-so-gentle press of his kiss there, and a pace that kept like a promise. Slow, constant, and building just the slightest degree with each touch and taste.

His hand found the small of her lower back, his fingers meeting skin at the hem of her blouse. He forced himself to flatten his palm over the fabric, focusing on the kiss and nothing more. He wouldn’t rush an encounter that had taken so long to build. He’d live in this moment, let Allie do the same, and hope this was only the beginning.

~+~

Allie had been waiting for this. Looking forward to it on most counts, but almost dreading it on others. Afraid that perhaps her memory of his kiss had been embellished over time. Some out-of-reach fantasy of a make-believe kiss that would never live up to her dreams. But as Braden’s lips – strong, certain, and persuasive – mingled with hers, that fear was demolished. Burned in the flames of passion Braden ignited with his touch.

The tips of his slightly calloused fingers tracing along her neck. His large hands – strong one moment as they moved up her back, gentle the next as he encircled her throat with a feathery touch. Even then, as his lips left hers, moved to her cheek where he planted one lingering kiss, Allie knew he’d far exceeded her expectations. Call it raw skill, a keen knowledge of how to seduce a woman, or sheer, undeniable chemistry between them. Maybe it was a whole lot of each – all she knew is that no one’s kiss had ever felt so good.

“I want to stay like this,” he whispered against her skin. “All day. Into the night.” A low chuckle rumbled in his throat. “Call the girls and tell them to fend for themselves,” he said. “We’ll just spend the night under the stars.”

“Sounds good to me.” Birds chirped overhead, reminding her they were, in fact, outdoors. In his backyard, no less. She’d forgotten her surroundings altogether. Had been too wrapped up in the bliss of it. She’d definitely have to spend a few late-night hours working on her jewelry business tonight, but as Allie had decided weeks ago, time spent with Braden was worth the trade .

“Hope I haven’t kept you too long,” Braden said. “What time did you say you pick up your girls?”

The question was a slap back into reality. “Oh my gosh,” she said, scurrying for her phone. It was just right next to… “Where’s my phone?” She was so busy scanning the blanket that she nearly missed the look on Braden’s face. The wry smile pulling at his lips. “
What?”
she asked.

His gaze dropped to the blanket. And there was her phone, just inches from her hand. “Thanks.” She checked the time, horrified to find she was late. “Oh, no. Jillian’s going to text me any minute. And Paige will be next.” In a frantic rush, she began tidying up. Shoving pop cans and wrappers into the sack nearby. Cramming paper plates in next.

“You go ahead,” Braden said. “I can get this.” He rolled onto his back, tucked his hands beneath his head, and eased into that killer smile of his.

“You’ll clean up?”

“Of course.”

Allie nodded. “Thanks.” She bent down, picked up her sweatshirt, grabbed her shoes, and began speeding across the grass.

“Here, let me walk you to your car.” Braden moved to get up but Allie stopped him.

“No, no. Please don’t get up. You look too peaceful. I don’t want to disturb you.” She sped toward her car, barely slowing to look over her shoulder when Braden cleared his throat in an obvious manner.

“See you tomorrow,” he said.

“Oh, yes.” She gave him an apologetic smile, shifted the shoes to free up one hand, and gave him a lame wave. “Tomorrow.”

Allie tossed her stuff onto the passenger seat and revved the engine to life. She was late, which was not a good thing. At all. But as horrible as she felt for making the girls wait, Allie could not wipe the child-like grin off her face. After all, she’d never been late picking them up a day in her life. And today something truly wonderful had taken place. Braden Fox had finally kissed her, and it was more incredible than she’d even remembered – which she thought impossible until today.

She sighed, shaking her head as it replayed in her mind.
I’m so glad to have you back in my life,
he’d said. What a thing to say. The words alone had her melting, even before he teased the curve of her ear with his lips. The slope of her neck with his warm breath. Goosebumps rippled over her skin at the memory. Braden knew what he was doing. She’d been on several dates before going steady with Terrance. Some who’d gone in for a kiss after a date or two. Some who’d believed they’d worked their way into earning more than a simple kiss. They seemed to be so preoccupied with getting to the next base they didn’t put any focus on the first, most woman-pleasing gesture of all: the kiss. Braden had proven – yet again – that he knew just what a good kiss could do to a woman, and the pleasure it lent still surged through her body as she drove.

She headed straight for Paige’s school first. Though she got out ten minutes later than her older sister, she’d be less forgiving than Jillian, and there was no sense in making both girls wait. Yet as she drove past the road leading to the high school, Allie regretted her decision. Jillian would have to wait longer now because she was more gracious than Paige. It wasn’t fair and Allie knew it.

She noticed a buzzing from her phone then, and pulled it to her ear.

“Are you here?” Jillian sounded out of breath. “I can’t see the car anywhere.”

Allie eyed the time once more. “Not yet. Do you mind if I pick up Paige first?”

“Why would you do that when my school’s been out for fifteen minutes? The parking lot’s nearly cleared out.”

“I know. I’m sorry. I was running late and on my way I started thinking maybe I should grab Paige first with as moody as she is…” Allie left it there. She’d only just gone over things in her head and knew there was no rationalizing her decision.

Jillian blew out an irritated breath. “I’ll just start walking toward the school. I feel stupid standing here when I’m old enough to drive myself now.”

Allie nodded wordlessly.

“Just sucks,” Jillian added, heaping yet another layer of guilt to the mound.

“I know.” Shadows splashed across her windshield as she pulled beneath the tall trees along the curb. “I’ll make it up to you.”

A mass of junior high students filtered through the crowded lot. Allie squinted, working to sift through the ripped denim and faded tops.

“What were you doing anyway, Mom?” Jillian’s question took Allie by surprise.

“Uh, just lost track of time.” She’d tried to sound casual, but deep down Allie’s insides were screaming; she was nowhere
near
ready to discuss her love life with her sixteen-year-old daughter.

“Were you at lunch with Braden? Did you guys take his horses out again?” Jillian approached secrets the way she did any good mystery. And here she was – a spark of interest strong in her voice – ready to crack the case.

“We didn’t go riding today,” Allie said. “I brought us a picnic and we ate out back. Nothing new. We just lost track of time, like I said. Look, I’ve got to find Paige.”

“Did he finally kiss you?”

Allie’s eyes must have gone as wide as her face. She paused to catch her breath, fearing a lie might be hard to pull off with the effects of Braden’s kiss still fresh on her lips. “Jillian,” she managed, “You know I love ya, but how many times do I have to tell you that I don’t want to discuss things like this with you?” She ducked lower in the car, feeling as if it might somehow keep their conversation under wraps.