Finding Forever (Living Again #4) by L. L. Collins Read Free Book Online Page B

not take you away from me.”
    Lacey forced herself to take a deep breath, registering the words she had a feeling were coming. Her very soul was screaming to make her mouth open and say the word ‘YES’, but her brain, the part of her that wouldn’t stop thinking this would only end badly for both of them, kept a firm grip on her lips. Before she could stop the war going on inside her, Brant scooted his chair next to her.
    The sandwiches forgotten, Lacey looked into the blue of his eyes, so different from hers. The scent of him tickled her nostrils, and she knew that her heart rate was through the roof. What was he doing? It was a good thing she was sitting, because she wasn’t sure her legs would support her right now. It was like the noise of the sandwich shop, busy at lunchtime, fell away, and all she could see was Brant’s chiseled cheekbones, tan skin, and luscious lips right in front of her. His eyes seemed to look right through her, and Lacey thought it was possible that she wasn’t even breathing.
    She flinched involuntarily as he lifted his hand to touch her face, but that didn’t stop him. The second his hand, slightly rough, touched her cheek, her eyes fluttered closed on their own volition. She felt him lean closer to her, his lips against her ear.
    “Lacey,” his voice rumbled, the warmth of his breath tickling the inside of her ear and making her tremble. She could feel his cheek against hers, his slight stubble scratching her smooth face. She couldn’t move. Her mind and heart were screaming equally now, both so loud she couldn’t hear anything. He backed up so that his face was mere centimeters from hers, and used his other hand to touch the other side of her face. She couldn’t move, but she wasn’t sure she wanted to.
    His eyes scanned her face, starting at her lips and moving up to her nose, then back to her eyes, where he stopped, just looking at her. What was he going to do? What did she want him to do? His gaze flicked back to her lips, and she licked them without thinking. He rubbed his thumbs along her cheeks, then took one and traced her lips with it. She gasped, the feeling of him touching her sending shooting shocks throughout her body. Her body was a traitor. She didn’t want to feel anything for him. She refused to.
    A small smile made one side of his lips quirk up, and just like that, he withdrew, scooting his chair back to where it was before. It was almost like that didn’t even happen. Which was probably for the best, she admitted. Apparently he made her stupid and lose all rational thought. She would never want him to kiss her in the middle of a deli. Would she? No, she wouldn’t. He was a player; he knew exactly how to get to girls. She needed to remember that.
    “Will you come over tonight, after I get Max home? You know, to check on him?” He grinned, and she saw right through him. He was using Max to get her to come over.
    “I don’t know.”
    “Just dinner, Lacey. I promise, I won’t bite. I’ll even cook.”
    “You’ll cook?”
    “Yes,” he laughed. “You think guys can’t cook? I cook for myself daily. I make a mean grilled chicken breast and brown rice.”
    Lacey held out her hand, and he looked at her quizzically. “Give me your phone.”
    Brant fished the phone out of his pocket and put it in her hand. She picked it up and added her number to his contacts, trying to ignore the panic that was threatening to overtake her. Her heart was winning right now, and her head didn’t like it. Not one bit.
    “Now text me, and I’ll have yours. You know, just in case Max needs something.” He pressed a few keys, then she felt her phone vibrating in her purse. Taking it out, she smiled as she saw his text, then that feeling settled in her chest again, the one that made her want to run away.
    Max says thank you for taking such good care of him .
    “I need to get back to work,” Lacey said, pushing back her chair. She had hardly touched her food, but knew she