riding his bike all around Tennessee. And pissed at his brother because he couldnât get off the drugs.
If only heâd come home. If only heâd been here, maybe things would have been different.
âSo what happened?â he asked.
âWhat happened? Oh, between Kurt and me? He was nice. We had fun together, but the chemistry between us just wasnât enough to sustain the relationship, so it was a mutual breakup. I didnât know about the drug thing back then. He hid it well.â
Brady looked down at his shoes. He never wanted to talk about his brother, never wanted to relive the pain and the guilt he felt. âYeah, he did that well.â
âNone of us knew. Not until a lot later.â
He finally lifted his gaze to hers. âI knew. I knew for a long time.â
She gave him a sympathetic look. âBut you couldnât have fixed him, Brady. No one could have. Surely you understand that.â
This wasnât the first time someone had tried to hit him with understanding and sympathy. The problem was, no one understood the deep bond heâd shared with his brother. Theyâd been tight since they were kids, and no matter what had gone down, they had always been there for each other.
He should have tried harder to reach him, should have pushed harder for another shot at rehab for Kurt, instead of shrugging and staying out of town, hoping like hell his brother would see the light this time and climb out of his heroin addiction.
Instead, heâd let it go. And his brother had died as a result, because he hadnât cared enough to push one more time.
He stood, realizing he needed to get out of there before he drowned in the thick fog of painful memories. âI need to go.â
Megan frowned. âAre you all right?â
âYeah, Iâm fine. I just have an early day tomorrow.â
âOh, of course, sure.â
He scooped up the pup, then turned to Megan. âHey, thanks for dinner tonight. I really appreciate it.â
âYouâre welcome.â She walked him to the door and opened it, then grasped his arm. âBrady.â
He turned to face her. âYeah.â
âIf you ever need someone, Iâm here for you.â
Same thing heâd told his brother during one of the many times heâd thrown out the lifeline. Only Kurt hadnât grabbed it. âThanks.â
He looked into Meganâs warm brown eyes, and on impulse, grabbed her around the waist, needing that contact of another human being, something heâd denied himself for far too long.
Just for one damn second. He tugged her against him and his lips met hers in a crashing thunder of hot passion. She moaned against his lips, grasping his shirt in her hands, and for just a few seconds, he felt wildly alive again.
And damn, it felt good.
Roxie squirmed between them and he backed away. Megan licked her lips and he felt a moment of regret for leaving.
But he had to get away.
âNight,â he said, then turned and walked to his truck, feeling more regret now than ever before.
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
MEGAN WAITED AT the door until Brady pulled away. She was certain she didnât exhale until she saw his truck turn the corner.
Then she remembered to breathe.
âWow,â she whispered to herself as she closed and locked the door.
That had been some kiss. Passion and need had been wrapped up in Bradyâs kiss, along with a desperate longing that had surprised and touched her, awakening a hunger within herself she hadnât even realized she had.
She knew Brady had taken the loss of his brother hard, but until now, she hadnât understood how hard. Sheâd thrown out the comment about dating his brother in an offhanded way, not realizing how difficult it was going to be for him to even hear his brotherâs name mentioned.
As she picked up the glasses and carried them to the sink, she thought about how reclusive Brady had been since
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