Page 84 of Broken Trust
“When I win,” he repeats, “are you gonna wear my shirt to bed?”
I stare at him.
He stares back.
Neither of us is smiling now.
My heartbeat pounds against my ribs. It’s so loud that I know he must hear it too.
The moment stretches heavy between us.
The evening breeze stirs my damp hair.
His gaze follows a strand as it brushes my cheek.
I swallow. “Maybe.”
His eyes darken.
I pick up my mug and take another sip of chocolate to buy myself a second.
Then I smile. “We’ll just have to wait and find out.”
Something hot and possessive flashes across his face, making my stomach flip, but it’s gone in a blink.
For a second, I think he might say something else.
Do something else.
Instead, he looks toward the mountains. “It’s getting late.” He looks back to me. “I need to get some shut-eye. Cabe’s got us on ranch duty in the morning.”
Just like that, the tension eases.
“Right. He mentioned that when he brought Micah by the clinic yesterday. Lucky you.”
“Yeah, lucky me. Getting bossed around by my baby brother. Should be a fun weekend.”
“I’m sure it won’t be that bad.”
He gives me a look.
“Well, I should probably get some sleep too. I think between the hypothermia and the warm chocolate, I might actually be tired.”
“Good.”
I stand, and so does he.
The moonlight catches his eyes as I hand him my empty cup.
“Thanks for the cocoa.”
“Anytime, Doc.”
I smile. “Good night, Axle.”
“Sweet dreams, Jovie.”
I turn toward my cabin.
