Page 71 of Something’s Brewing

Madison looked at him then—really looked at him.

Exhaustion lined his face, but he kept checking her expression every few seconds like he was afraid she’d suddenly stop being okay.

“You didn’t have to do all this,” she said.

He stared at her like the idea itself offended him.

“Yeah,” he said. “I did.”

The softness in his voice nearly undid her.

He reached over and brushed his thumb carefully along the bruise forming on her cheek. “You could’ve been killed tonight.” He swallowed hard. “I don’t think you understand what that did to me.”

Madison stayed quiet, waiting.

Garrett heard himself. He knew he wasn’t handling this well, but damn it, she could have died. And the thought of that—of walking into a room and her not being there—was something he couldn’t survive.

What was happening to him?

He’d spent the last year building walls. Hiding behind work. Hiding in Deer Creek Falls. Putting distance between them wherever he could.

For what?

Because she was Mason’s sister?

What if I had lost her before letting myself have this?

Madison laced her fingers through his. “May I say something?”

He turned toward her.

“This isn’t the first dangerous situation I’ve dealt with,” she said softly. “But . . . nobody’s ever taken care of me like this before.”

Something in his chest cracked wide open.

“You don’t always have to be the strong one,” he said quietly.

Madison’s breath caught and she sat up straighter.

He scooted closer, searching her eyes. “I don’t want to lose you. I can’t even imagine my life without you.”

Her gaze dropped briefly to his mouth.

Say something else. Slow this down. Give her a choice.

He gave himself exactly one second to think.

Then he kissed her.

Soft at first. Careful. Waiting.

But when she fisted his T-shirt and leaned into him, his restraint shattered. His hands slid into her hair, and the world narrowed to the taste of her, the warmth of her—and the overwhelming, bone-deep relief that she was still here. Still his to hold. Still alive.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Madison woke up in Garrett’s bed to the rich smell of coffee and bacon. For one disoriented second, she forgot where she was. Then she remembered the warmth of him surrounding her when she fell asleep, his arm draped across her waist, heavy and protective.

The kiss they shared on the couch lingered. She brushed her fingertips over her lips, replaying last night’s make-out session. Her stomach fluttered in a way that had nothing to do with pain and everything to do with Garrett. Every time she closed her eyes, she could feel him again—his gentle touch, his mouth, the way he’d said her name like she meant something to him.