Chapter 7

I pulled Hank into my arms and hugged him close. Kissing the top of his head, I told him I loved him and that I’d be back. I had a moment of grief at the idea of leaving him, but it was easier when I knew he was going to be with Kara. I handed him back to her and planted one last kiss on his cheek before pulling away.

Isaac’s hand on my back moved up slightly as he leaned closer to me. “We can stay here. Or take him with us. I don’t mind.”

I shook my head and gave Hank one more kiss before I met Kara’s giddy gaze. “I don’t like you. Just so we’re clear.”

“No, you love me. Get out of here.”

I stuck my tongue out at her and then looked way up at Isaac. “I just need to grab my purse.”

I met him at the base of the stairs a few minutes later, after checking my hair and makeup in the bathroom, and then he led me outside to his truck. I had a moment of shame as he opened the truck door for me, knowing what I’d done with his brother in another truck. I felt guilty, knowing that he probably wouldn’t want to take me out if he knew that I’d been with his brother.

“We really can stay here if you want to. I’m sure leaving Hank isn’t easy.”

Caught between the truck and Isaac, I looked up at him and shifted. “No, it’s never easy. He’s with his Aunt Kara, though, and she loves him almost as much as I do.”

“What else is on your mind?”

I frowned. “Don’t be so perceptive.”

Laughing, he easily picked me up and set me in the truck. “So I should just ignore your looks of trepidation because I really want to take you out?”

“It’s not trepidation. Not because of you, anyway.” I sighed. “It’s just… I know your brother.”

Leaning into the truck, he put my seatbelt on and then stepped back, a smile on his face. “Most women know my brother, Mallory. That’s not going to stop me from taking a beautiful woman out on a date if I want to.”

“I know your brother.”

“I said what I said.” He saw my hesitance and leaned back in the truck. “If it bothers you, we don’t have to do this. It doesn’t bother me, though.”

I raised my brows. “Is that not weird?”

“Only if you wish I were him instead of me.”

“Not at all.” I meant the words so thoroughly that I relaxed as soon as I said them. I knew that my attraction to Isaac had nothing to do with his brother and our short story, but it was all about Isaac. Maybe it was a mistake to go out with someone so closely linked to Hank’s father, but no one knew. No one was ever going to know.

“Then I only have one question for you.”

I waited.

“Would cooking for you at the ranch be off-limits?”

“At the ranch?”

“At my house, to be honest.”

I hid a smile. “So, you weren’t honest before when you said the ranch?”

“I was…not entirely.” He leaned against the truck door and grabbed the top of the truck, exposing the strong line of his triceps through his shirt. “I had pure intentions, I promise.”

“Fine. If you try to kill me, though, my sister will hunt you down.” I shrugged as if I’d said the weather was nice. “Also, I watch a lot of true crime shows and I lived in the city for nearly a decade. I’ve taken plenty of self-defense classes.”

“Noted. No killing, and watch my back because you’re a master of defense.” He backed away and inched the door shut. “How do you feel about burgers?”

“I feel strongly in favor of them.”

“Burgers it is.”

I watched him shut the door and walk around the truck, his eyes moving back to me even as he did. There was an attraction between us that felt good and exciting, but I was older and more mature after having Hank. I could control myself.

Isaac got in and started the truck. A slow country song played automatically and I blinked as I realized that maybe I shouldn’t trust myself, after all. It’d been too long since I’d had an orgasm, and Isaac looked like he served up delicious ones. It was too late, though. I just had to hope that I wasn’t that easy, that I’d give it up to a practical stranger on the first date. Not after I’d given it up to his brother as an actual stranger behind a bar.

Lord, help me.