LITMIR.BIZ

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a few miles off the highway and parked next to a tree-lined pond, shutting off the engine right as the final edge of sun slipped beneath the horizon. Brynn peered out the window at the small park, its only occupant a lone goose wandering around one of the benches that lined the water’s banks.

      “Looks like a real popular place,” she said, unbuckling her seatbelt.

      He chuckled. “It is during the day. People just don’t realize how cool it is at night.”

      She looked out the window again. Obviously, coolness was in the eye of the beholder. “Yeah, I bet serial killers and drug dealers find it very appealing.”

      That earned her a snort from him before he stepped out of the truck and came around to her side to open her door. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

      She handed him the food and stepped down, the warm breeze lifting her hair off the back of her neck. He grabbed her hand, his fingers interlacing with hers. She couldn’t fight the smile that played around her lips. Reid was making an effort for this to feel like a date, which she appreciated. She’d been out with a few guys during high school, but usually the “dates” consisted of hanging out at each other’s houses and having awkward make-out sessions before their parents came home. Although, in her case, she always made sure she went to their place instead of bringing them to hers.

      Reid placed the bags in the bed of the truck and unhitched the tailgate. “Hop up.”

      She frowned. “Not the best day to wear a skirt.”

      “Funny, I was thinking it was an excellent choice.”

      She rolled her eyes.

      “Come on, I’ll help you. I promise not to peek.” He put his hands on her waist and hoisted her up as if she weighed nothing. The wind caught the light material and sent her skirt fluttering upward, no doubt revealing her underwear in the process. She tamped it down with her hands, but not quickly enough. Reid grinned and put a foot on the tailgate, stepping up in one fluid motion.

      She punched his thigh. “You are such a liar. You totally looked.”

      “Hey,” he said, rubbing his leg and laughing. “It happened too fast. And they’re pink panties. It was like a tractor beam. How am I supposed to turn away from that?”

      She groaned. “Guys are all the same.”

      He unlocked the truck’s steel storage bin and pulled out a flannel blanket, smiling as he spread it out. “When it comes to the chance to see up a pretty girl’s skirt, you’re probably right. I’m sorry. Guess I shouldn’t have made a promise I couldn’t keep.” He took the burgers and fries out of the bags, uncapped the two bottles of soda, and then patted the spot next to him. “Still willing to eat with me?”

      She should’ve been annoyed—the wicked glint in his eyes said his apology was less than authentic. But instead, his unrepentant playfulness only drew her to him more. Even with the effect he had on her hormones, something about him put her at ease—made the air around her feel lighter, the stress of the day not as daunting.

      If she hadn’t been working with him, she would’ve assumed this was how Reid went through life—always cracking a joke, enjoying every moment, not a care in the world. But she hadn’t missed his switch in demeanor when his aunt and uncle were around. As soon as one of them walked through the office, it was as if Reid had a steel rod shoved up his back and all that easy confidence seemed to drain away.

      Brynn wasn’t sure which version of Reid was the real one—the self-assured charmer or the wary political son. Maybe neither.

      She scooted over to his side and unwrapped her sandwich. “So what’s so cool about this place?”

      “Besides the fact that we’re here?” He sipped his drink and glanced at his watch. “You’ll see. Should start anytime now.”

      They ate their burgers for a few minutes, the song of the cicadas and frogs providing the only chatter. She wanted to lean into him, to know what it would feel like for him to wrap his arms around her, to taste his kiss, but she glued her butt to the spot. This was just a burger. He’d said so himself. She needed to enjoy it for what it was. And even without him cuddled close, an unfamiliar feeling of contentment settled over her.

      Every evening she either ate her meals on the run or in her room after she had cooked for her sister. Having someone to sit with was nice. She turned to Reid to tell him how much she appreciated him bringing her here, but a loud whooshing sound cut her off. “What in the world—”

      “Here we go,” Reid said, and put a hand on her shoulder. “Lie back and look up.”

      She set her sandwich down and lay next to him, her gaze going to the stars. The roaring grew louder, until it was almost deafening. She winced, but just when she thought her ears couldn’t take any more, the inky sky disappeared and the silver underbelly of a plane replaced it. The massive aircraft seemed as if it was going to land on top of the truck, but instead zoomed past them and touched down on a runway hidden behind the trees. The leaves around them shook and warm air gusted over her in the jet’s wake.

      She turned to Reid. “Wow.”

      He grinned, his face inches from hers. “Awesome, huh?”

      She laughed. “Scared the hell out of me at first, but yeah, definitely. I had no idea you could get this close.”

      His gaze scanned her face, pausing on her lips, tracking down her neck, then back up. “Yeah, the view’s pretty amazing this close up.”

      Her body warmed under his stare, her heartbeat picking up tempo. She turned back toward the sky, hoping her voice would come out steady. “So can the people in the plane see us down here?”

      “No, I don’t think so. Not at night. I’ve landed on this runway during the day and all you can see of the park is the pond and trees.”

      “Must be pretty neat to see it from that perspective. I’ve never been on a plane,” she said, an unexpected wistfulness tingeing her tone.

      He shifted onto his side, propping himself up with his elbow and looking down at her. “More of a road-trip girl?”

      She shrugged. “I don’t exactly have room in my life for va­cations.”

      His eyes searched hers. “No time for trips, no time for dates, what’s got you so busy, Brynn LeBreck? You’re not secretly working undercover for the FBI or something, right?”

      She laughed. “Why? You have something to hide?”

      He leaned in a bit, like he was going to tell her a secret. “Only that I’ve got a mad crush on a girl who won’t even tell me the littlest thing about herself.”

      The balmy notes of his voice moved over her like a caress, turning her insides liquid. She attempted a lighthearted smile. “There’s just not that much to tell. I’ve been going to community college for two years and am working to save money so that my sister and I can move to Austin in the fall. I have a scholarship to UT. That’s about it. My life isn’t exciting like yours.”

      He sniffed. “You think my life’s exciting? I go to ­summer school, and then play the political game for the rest of the afternoon.”

      She turned onto her side, mirroring his pose, needing to get some space between them. “You don’t seem to mind playing the role at work.”

      “Being good at something and enjoying it are two totally different things. I hate the whole song and dance of politics. Drives me nuts. I just want to tell all those people who are trying to kiss Uncle Patrick’s ass via mine to fuck off. But he’s done a lot for me, so I smile and shake hands like I’m supposed to.”

      She cocked her head to the side. “Why do you live with them?”

      “They’re the only family I have around here.” A glimmer of sadness crossed his features. “My mom died of cancer when I was twelve. Aunt Roslyn took me in, and she and Patrick adopted

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