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Bella was upset that she couldn’t babysit and that she needed a babysitter. Sarah tried to explain to her that she wasn’t old enough, nor was it wise to leave her alone in a strange town where she didn’t know anyone with a young boy to take care of. Bella relented and Allie told her that she would be a big help to the sitter because Johnny listened to her and loved her.
The sitter, Addy, arrived and Bella and her hit it off immediately. Almost as if they’d been friends for years. Sarah wasn’t sure if it was because the young girl, dressed in just simple jeans and a tank top, made it look stylish or if it was just her friendly attitude toward Bella, but the two were instantly chatting away with Johnny following Bella.
Once they were settled, Will, Allie and Sarah headed out. Brody decided to go ahead of them to get seats, so they could get dinner. Friday nights evidently got a bit busy at the local bar and he didn’t want the women to have to stand all night, let alone stand to eat dinner.
On the drive to the bar, Will asked Sarah how she was liking the farm. The chatter filled the truck with laughter, especially when they talked about how sore Sarah was the second morning at the farm. But she was relaxed and felt at home, which was strange because she was so far away from her home, that she never thought she’d be this happy.
Will parked the truck and escorted the women in. Once inside, Will directed them over to the table Brody was at. Sarah hesitated because they were sitting in a booth, and of course, Allie was next to Will, so that left her to sit next to Brody, who with his size, nearly filled the seat himself. She sat down carefully and tried to not touch the man sitting next to her.
Allie’s pregnancy was going well so far, and she was taking it easy. Will groused about going out because he wanted her to rest. Allie had argued with him that she was resting more and more at home. Between Bella and Sarah chasing Johnny and taking care of everything else, there wasn’t much left for her to do but rest.
Sarah was laughing at the two of them going back and forth, and Brody leaned in and said, “Now that is a beautiful sound.”
Sarah jumped at the words said quietly to her, and with the sound of his voice rumbling in her ear, it shot tingles down her spine and goose bumps over her arms. Brody didn’t miss the goose bumps and asked if she was cold. Sarah turned her eyes to him and shook her head no.
********
Brody didn’t miss the way Sarah tried to sit in the booth not touching him. He didn’t miss the way she jumped every time he bumped his leg or arm into her, which was every chance he got. He especially didn’t miss the laughter coming from deep inside of her for the first time since coming to the farm. But when he leaned in and whispered in her ear, he couldn’t help but mention the goose bumps, by asking her if she was cold.
Damn, when she looked at him and shook her head no, he nearly lost his damn mind. This woman. She unraveled him in so many ways, but she wasn’t meant for him. She didn’t belong with him because there was no way she would be able to forgive him. He knew that because he still couldn’t forgive himself.
The waitress dropped off their food and Sarah was moaning over the burger she was eating, and it was driving Brody crazy. The woman was mumbling around her burger, saying it was the best burger she’d ever had.
Will and Allie were laughing, while Brody was just trying to not imagine all those noises she was making, being made by him doing the things he wanted to do to her. Yes, he wanted to do plenty to the woman sitting beside him.
Sometime during the meal, Sarah finally relaxed and now their thighs were touching and at one point while waiting for the check, Brody put his arm behind Sarah, resting on the back of the booths seat.
Brody didn’t miss the way Sarah leaned into his arm. Nor did Will miss it when Brody looked down at Sarah and placed his hand on her shoulder, rubbing back and forth over it. When Brody looked up, he saw Will’s pointed stare and Brody shifted, but it only caused Sarah to lean into him more.
Brody was semi grateful to Sarah when she said, “Is that a dance floor? Are they country dancing?”
Allie looked over her shoulder and said, “Yes. They’re doing the two step. You should give it a try. Brody is an excellent dancer and teacher. We can move over that way and grab a table now that we’ve eaten.”
Allie and Sarah got up and moved toward an empty table, and Will grabbed Brody’s arm.
“What are you doing?”
Brody looked down at Will’s hand, then up at the man’s face. “Nothing.”
Will shook his head. “Damn it, Brody! The woman has been through hell. Don’t play with her emotions. She came here to try and get over heartbreak, not have another one. You know she’s leaving.”
Brody moved his arm out of Will’s grasp. “Believe me, Will, the last thing I want to do is hurt her. She’s incredible. I know she’s leaving and I’m not doing anything, but if she asked me, I’d give her anything.”
Will cursed, “Shit! My brother is going to kill me. I’m supposed to be looking out for her. Brody,”
Brody held his hand up, “Look, man. I get it. Just know that I don’t want to hurt her. I don’t want to fuck her and run out. I’d give her the world if I could, but I can’t. I don’t have a damn thing to give her, and a woman like her deserves the world.”
Will shook his head, “You got it bad, dude. Maybe I should be asking Sarah her intentions, so she doesn’t break my friend.”
Will put his hand on Brody’s shoulder, squeezed gently and Brody shook his head, “Yeah, maybe.”
By the time the guys made it over to the women, Allie had explained the basics to Sarah and then pointed at Brody saying, “Take her for a spin. Just remember, Sarah, trust your partner, don’t fight him.”
Sarah nodded and looked to Brody. He put his hand out to her and she took it. Then he led her to the dance floor.
Will looked at Allie, “You know he likes her right?”
Allie nodded. “You know she’s hot for him, too, right?”
Will chuckled and shook his head. “What’s the plan, baby?”
Allie just grinned and said, “We’re going to dance a few dances, then make our excuses. We’ll keep Bella tonight and let mother nature take her course.”
Will shook his head, leaned in to kiss his wife’s cheek and said, “Okay, baby, let’s go get this dancing done. I’m ready to call it a night.”
********
Sarah was looking down and saying, “Slow, slow, quick, quick.” She kept repeating it until suddenly she bashed into Brody’s chest. “Ouch! That should be a lethal weapon.”
Brody laughed, “What, my chest?”
Sarah looked up at him and said, “Yes. Do you wear a bullet proof vest or something, because ouch.”
Brody just laughed at her.
“Why did we stop?”
Brody still smiling at her said, “Because I can’t dance with you if you keep mumbling and looking down. Trust me, Sarah. I’ll guide you. It’s my job.”
Sarah lost herself in his mouth moving and the words. It’s his job? What did that mean? “Excuse me? Your job?”
Brody looked at her, confused, “Yes, my job as your partner. The man leads, the woman follows.”
Sarah frowned, “Story of my life.”
Brody put his hand on her cheek and said, “Only in the dance, Phoenix, only in the dance. Otherwise, you lead. Your life, your rules, always.”
Sarah watched his eyes and before she knew it, he was leading her around the dance floor, like she was a professional, like they’d been dancing together for years, like they were meant to be one unit. Sarah couldn’t stop looking up into his eyes.
“Do you always wear a hat?”
Brody chuckled. “Pretty much, yeah, why? Don’t you like it?”
Sarah snorted, “I’m a woman, so yeah, I like it. But it would be nice to be able to see your eyes without the hat hiding them. You have a beautiful face, Brody.”
Brody groaned, “Don’t say things like that.”
Sarah looked at him confused, “Why? What’s wrong with what I said?”
Brody looked in her eyes and said, “Do you have any idea what you do to me?”
Sarah shook her head no. What was she doing? She didn’t understand. The music changed and Brody pulled her into an embrace and pulled her to his chest, so she leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder. Being so close, it hurt her neck to look up at him. He tucked her hand, which was connected to his, into his chest and she could feel a rumble coming from him.
When Sarah tried to pull back, he held her tighter. “Don’t, Sarah. Just listen.”
Sarah nodded her agreement.
Brody leaned his head down and said in her ear, “You light me up. From the first day my eyes met yours, you’ve woken me up. You’ve made me feel alive. Having you and Bella here these past few weeks have been more incredible than I think you realize. But you are here to heal. You are not here for me. Not here for anything more. But I swear when you look at me the way you do, when you tell me I have a beautiful face, when I have you in my arms like this, I want more. I will never ask you for more, though. Your life, your rules.”
Sarah was listening to him, and her body was shaking. The man had no idea what he was saying. He was crazy. He didn’t want to get mixed up with her. She was trying to piece her life back together. The man was gorgeous, he was younger than her, wait? Was he?
“How old are you, Brody?”
He chuckled, “After everything I just said, that’s what you ask me? I’m forty-eight. Why does that matter?”
Sarah relaxed, then said, “No. Now it doesn’t. I thought you were younger. I didn’t want to be a cougar.”
Brody straight up laughed. He was laughing so hard, he allowed her to pull away from him slightly. “Are you kidding me? A cougar. You?”
Sarah raised a brow at him. “Yeah, you know, older woman, younger man, rawr.”
Brody stopped laughing. Damn! “Do that again.”
Sarah looked at him, confused, “What?”
“The growl thing.”
Sarah shook her head. “I did not growl. I just said, Rawr.”
Brody groaned and all Sarah heard was, “Fuck it.” Then Brody’s lips were on hers, and as she gasped in surprise, he took that opportunity to slip his tongue inside.
Sarah was done. Her body lit up. She was wrapped up into his embrace and she didn’t care that she was in a public place making out with a man that every woman in the room wanted to sleep with. Okay, they wanted to fuck him, and he was kissing her. HER!
Her center was convulsing, clenching, weeping, and she moaned into his mouth. She pulled her hand out of his and reached up, pulling his head harder to her by placing it on the back of his neck. Holy God, she wanted to rip her clothes off and jump this man right there. Right fucking there! Then it hit her. They were in a public place, on a dance floor, with people watching them. She started to pull away, only he wouldn’t let her go.
Brody ended the kiss, but rested his forehead against hers. “Don’t, Sarah. Don’t pull away.”
Sarah looked at him, then said, “I can’t do this. I’m married. I have a daughter. I-”
“You what, Sarah? You don’t deserve to be kissed? To be held? To want a man’s touch? Tell me. Tell me one good God damn reason why I shouldn’t want this, why you shouldn’t. Being married doesn’t count because we both know that’s been over for a long time.”
Sarah gasped, “How would you know it’s been over for a long time? Last time I checked, it was just Ted and I in that marriage. You weren’t there.”
Brody grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the bar.
