Chapter Twelve

Brick placed the book down on the nightstand. His mind spun as he tried to make sense of the world he'd just left, one Aspen had dreamed up to offer an escape for others to enjoy.

She was a great writer.

His finger tapped the hard edge of the cover. He wasn't a big reader, but she'd cleverly hooked his attention from page one, spinning a romance story within the bittersweet edges of reality. Her voice still rang in his head, and Brick had been able to weave together some pieces of her personality by sifting through the clues.

Aspen was a romantic but didn't like to admit it. Her writing had a sense of dreaminess to it as if she finally allowed herself to be seen because she was safe using fiction as her shield. When she spoke, she was no-nonsense and downplayed her softer self. He wasn't sure why this release wasn't as big a hit as her first, but he intended to read Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover next. He wanted to start with her newest to get a solid comparison.

After all, he was key to her next book.

Rising from his bed, he got ready for the day and drove to his shop. It had been a few days since they'd gotten together. The renovations were in full swing, and he'd spent yesterday shopping for a new Jeep. Aspen had dropped into the writing cave, which was a good thing, so he hadn't wanted to interrupt.

But it was time to move further in this relationship. Even though the deal was ridiculous, Brick wasn't comfortable taking her money and not accomplishing his goal. Reading her book would help him narrow in on what she wanted in a relationship, but he needed more quality time with her.

She'd agreed to join him on his run to check on the horses. Even without a tour, Brick liked to keep the familiarity of his route on a schedule. The horses had become family, and he cared about each one. Judy was also babysitting a new sea turtle nest, so maybe he'd connect with her and see if he could help.

Brick spoke with Sal and the team, who confirmed the reno would be done by next week. Losing two weeks at the height of the summer wasn't ideal, but he'd still have the rest of the season to make up for lost funds. Marketing may be a problem since he'd passed most print deadlines, but he'd come up with an alternate plan.

Aspen pulled into the lot, parked, and walked toward him. She wore denim shorts with a ragged hem, a pink T-shirt, and white sneakers. Her hair was caught in a ponytail, allowing those wild curls to escape randomly. Oversized sunglasses hid her gaze as she stopped in front of him. His body lit to attention. Something about this woman called to him and reading her book had buried her voice in his head.

Brick realized something else at that moment.

He'd missed her.

"Hey," she said. "How're renovations going?"

"Great. Right on schedule, so I can reopen in a week."

"Impressive. And you got the Jeep?" she asked.

"I did. We're breaking it in today. How's the writing?"

"Good." She hesitated, lips pursed, but she didn't say anything else. "I may have pushed through a block."

Amusement cut through him. She seemed half in this world and half in the other. Brick figured there was one way to get her focused on the moment. "Aspen."

"Hmm?"

He slowly reached out, hooked his fingers into her belt loops, dragged her forward, then slid her sunglasses up to rest on top of her head.

Those golden-brown eyes were wide with surprise and a fiery heat that made satisfaction flow through him. "I didn't get my hello kiss."

She blinked. Her pupils dilated. A shaky breath escaped her pink lips. "Oh. Right." Hesitantly, she laid her hands on his chest, tilted her head, and waited.

He stared at her tempting mouth and enjoyed the slight tremble of her body against his. She was adorable, standing still for his kiss like a well-behaved pupil. That wouldn't fly. Aspen needed to be challenged on all fronts if she was to keep falling for him and keeping her engaged in his company was a priority.

Brick stayed silent, studying her now-confused expression.

"Well?" she asked.

His lip quirked. "Figured it'd be nice if you kissed me first."

She actually blushed, which only turned him on more. Drawing in a breath, she pressed her lips to his in a full-mouth, properly sweet kiss. "Hi."

He tamped down a laugh and frowned. "That wasn't very enthusiastic. Why don't you try again? This time, open your mouth so I can taste you."

Irritation stamped her features. "I don't need kissing lessons," she muttered.

"Then show me what you got," he challenged, drawing her up higher so she was on her tiptoes, thigh to thigh, hip to hip. The scent of orange blossoms filled his nostrils. "Would you write about a kiss like that for your readers?"

"No. But you're not one of my readers."

Brick flashed a grin. "I'm research, baby. And the man who'll be in your bed very soon."

Her nails dug into his muscles. "You're so arrogant," she ground out.

"I'm confident. Now kiss me like I've been on your mind for the past few days. Make me believe it."

A beat passed. The tension squeezed between them as their gazes locked. He was hard and aching to taste her, but damned if he'd move before she did. "Like I've been on yours?" The question mocked, but Brick sensed vulnerability underneath. She knew he was contracted to seduce her, after all. He needed to show her that their physical chemistry had nothing to do with their bargain. Then she'd begin to open up.

"You have, Aspen."

He absorbed the slight shudder and the flash of anger in her eyes. And then she reached up, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and kissed him.

Her soft lips felt like heaven, molded to his. He groaned as her tongue slipped through to touch his, growing more daring as she opened wider and tangled hers with his, allowing him to be pulled deeper into the kiss. He captured her sigh, sliding his hands to cup her denim-clad ass and drag her higher against him. The sun beat down, and he lost himself in her sweetness, enjoying how she clung tightly, surrendering completely to the embrace that held no games, no lies, and no more teasing.

He eased away slowly, nipping her bottom lip and savoring the last essence of her taste. A slow smile curved his lips. "Much better."

She half-snorted. "Didn't realize you were into PDA."

"Depends on my patience. Don't have any issues with people seeing how badly I want you. Ready to roll?"

She nodded, her cheeks hot. He took her hand and led her to the Jeep. The bright yellow was an eye catcher, with comfortable-sized seats and soft leather. "This is beautiful. How did you move so fast?" she asked, running a hand over the sleek hood.

He winced. "Had my eye on this exact model for months. My action plan has been ready to launch, I was just waiting on the funds. Losing two weeks of summer isn't ideal, but I'll be able to salvage the rest and have a cushion. Thanks to you."

"I'm glad we can help each other." He noticed that she seemed uneasy, whereas before, she was almost businesslike in her approach to hiring him. In a way, Brick admitted it was a good thing. Much easier to be distant when you didn't care. There were signs she was softening to him, which would automatically raise her defenses.

Was it wrong to feel regret that he'd promised to bring pain?

He shook off the disturbing thought. It was all worth it to save Grandpa Ziggy's dream. It wasn't as if he was doing anything to Aspen on purpose. He needed to keep his head in the game.

He got the Jeep ready, and she buckled in beside him. "Did you put on sunscreen?"

She smiled. "Yes. Even extra on my large nose."

Brick laughed and tugged on an escaped curl. "I like your nose. It has character."

She wrinkled the part in question. "Now I caught you in a lie. I was always jealous of Sierra's looks over mine. Typical sibling rivalry."

He pulled out onto the road. "I always wondered if women looked at beauty differently than men. Sure, there's a classic type the world recognizes. But mostly, it's about chemistry."

"Like when men say it's all about personality, then hit on the blonde bombshell at the bar?"

Brick grinned. "Yeah, that happens a lot. But most of the guys I hang with admit the real stuff is because of the connection. Take your sister. You would've been the one I'd hit on, not her."

She gave a feminine snort. "Riiight."

"I mean it. Sierra's beautiful, but you have an intensity I was drawn to. When you first approached me at the bar? I liked your directness and the way you looked at me."

"Like you pissed me off?" she teased.

"Like you wanted me."

He heard her sharp intake of breath. Brick remembered when he'd first touched her and how the ripple of awareness had taken him by surprise. The way her golden-brown eyes flashed fire and tempted him to linger, rather than try to save her from him.

"Sierra said she made a move on you, but you refused."

"I knew Sierra wanted a distraction. There was nothing real between us."

She chewed at that lower lip as she sifted through his words. "It's not real with us either."

"Yes, it is." He shot her a look. "Fact with fiction, remember? No way I can kiss you like that without real feelings. Just like you can't write a great book without true emotion."

Her obvious surprise satisfied him. Reading her work had granted him a deeper look into the places she only shared on the page. He wouldn't tell her that, though. He wanted to read Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover before he was ready to probe and lower some of her walls. It was the key to moving forward in their relationship.

They bumped up and over the dunes and the ocean came into view, wild and free under a blue umbrella sky. The salt air filled his lungs and took him down a few levels to an inner peace. This past year, Brick realized that each time he came out, another fragment of him settled. He wondered if those old dreams of making his mark in the business world would finally disintegrate and leave him free, like Grandpa Ziggy. Maybe it wasn't a bad life, after all.

Maybe it was the life he'd always needed.

The Jeep danced over the sand, and they came up to the protected barriers of the sea turtles. Judy was out, crouched over the markers. Brick neared her and called out. "Everything okay?"

The older woman had short, red hair with Irish skin, freckles, and serene green eyes. She was dressed in her usual uniform of a brightly colored T-shirt and cargo shorts. A fanny pack encircled her generous hips. "Hi, Brick. Ran into a snag. Had an issue with some of the eggs so need to watch them overnight. I'm short volunteers today and taking care of my granddaughter. Can't bring her with me since she's under the weather. Got a nasty cold."

He looked down at the sand covering the precious cargo. Judy's group worked tirelessly to keep the babies safe from predators. He scratched his head. "I can do it tonight."

Judy brightened. "Really? You're a lifesaver. Can you bring a partner with you?"

He turned to Aspen. "Wanna pull an all-nighter with me?" he asked in a sexy voice.

She laughed. "I'd love to help. As long as you know what to do."

"Brick knows the drill, but I like to have two at a time out here. Thanks again. Text me if you have any questions." She gave a low whistle. "Sorry, just noticed you're in a fancy new Jeep. Are you finally doing those renovations?"

"Yep. Should be done next week. I'm doing a blitz. Trying to drum up more business."

Sympathy flared in her green eyes. "I hear you. Local businesses can be tough. We're struggling lately with funding and volunteers, even though it's the height of summer."

"I'll put out the word."

"Thanks again, Brick."

He waved and continued down the beach. "I didn't know you helped out with the sea turtles," Aspen commented.

Brick shrugged. "I help out anywhere I'm needed. Locals try to stick together. Judy's been heading her nonprofit for years, but sometimes it's hard. Economy, tourism, what's hot and what's not in today's culture. We all take turns feeling the pinch."

"Must be nice to feel like part of a community who cares about one another."

"Yeah, it is." He'd been resentful since taking over Grandpa Ziggy's place, forced to live a life he hadn't planned. After the Anastasia debacle, he'd sunk deeper into his isolation, which only helped fuel gossip in the small town. But lately, Brick wondered if he'd been so focused on what he didn't get that he'd missed out on opportunities he could have. "Do you have a writer's group where you get support?"

She shook her head. "I'm a loner," she admitted. "My agent reads everything first, and I work with publicity teams and editors, but I'm not close with other writers." Shadows flickered over her face. She seemed to pick her next words carefully. "I didn't realize there was support out there if I'd just asked. I got used to pushing through alone."

"Sounds familiar."

Their gazes met and understanding passed between them. Brick longed to probe the secrets she hid. It was the first time he'd wanted to strip a woman emotionally in addition to physically. He wasn't sure how to handle the strange urge, so he broke away and focused on the twisty path leading to the beach houses.

Brick spotted the small band of horses pressed together, chomping sea grass, and pointed them out to Aspen. "Are they related?" she asked.

"No, but they're a makeshift family and just as tight. Some like the herd, and others like to be the lone wolf."

"Like Duncan?"

He grinned. "Absolutely. We'll circle back and find my friend to gauge his mood today."

Brick did the rounds through the dunes and pricey homes to play a game of Where's Waldo. Counting in his head, he made sure everything looked good and noticed the tracks were light today. Maleficent hadn't gone out, so this was the first round of the day. He squinted at the sun, which was high and clear, but weather was expected later.

He gave Aspen some additional background on the various horses as he searched. Duncan wasn't behind his favorite pillar, so he checked his usual haunts. After retracing his route, Brick's gut twinged with a warning. Where was Duncan?

"Has he disappeared before?" Aspen asked.

"Sure, but we've been to all the places he'd be. Unless he's under another garage. I'll circle back to the main dunes by the beach and see if he's taking a swim."

Duncan wasn't there.

"Should we call someone?" she asked hesitantly. "Who's in charge if something goes wrong?"

"I can call it in to the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, but I'd feel like an ass if Duncan just found a new resting spot. Let me do one more round. If you don't mind."

"Of course, not."

The Jeep climbed the dunes, and Brick went farther in, past the main houses and into the more isolated area where Duncan rarely went. His gaze swept expertly, probing all the spots the mustang would love and caught a flash of a brown mane. Slowing the vehicle, he squinted to make out the outline of a horse half hidden behind a column. "There. He's lying down." It was rare for the mustang to lie prone during the prime afternoon hours. Unless he craved deep sleep, Duncan preferred to stand. That same warning bell rose inside. "I'm going to check on him. Stay here."

He climbed out of the Jeep and approached carefully. As he got closer, he saw the horse was flat on his side, eyes open, breathing hard. Brick kept his distance, making sure he wasn't just interrupting dreamtime. "Hey, Duncan. How are you, boy? Everything good?" His voice was low and soothing as he knelt to study the magnificent wild creature. He rarely had an opportunity to be so close since he'd never encountered any trouble on his runs. But something felt different now.

And then he saw it.

Brick sucked in his breath and muttered a vicious curse. The rinds of a watermelon lay a few feet to the side of Duncan, obviously chewed up and ingested.

Fuck .

One of the most important rules drilled into tourists and guides was the danger of feeding the horses. They subsisted on a diet of wild foods, and anything like carrots, apples, or watermelons could seriously damage them.

Slowly, he eased closer to Duncan. The horse was panting but didn't seem to be choking. "It's okay, buddy. I'm gonna get you some help. Hang in there."

He grabbed his phone and dialed the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, explaining the problem. Snapping a few photos of the horse, he described Duncan's condition and forwarded them over. He was given permission to do some basic checks while he waited for the vet. Even trained guides were limited to touching and interacting with the mustangs, and Brick didn't want to make things worse.

He kept his energy calm, speaking to the horse as he completed a few simple first-aid tasks. Not wanting to leave Duncan, he texted Aspen and let her know the vet was coming and told her to stay in the vehicle.

Duncan managed a pissed-off snort. "Don't worry, buddy. I'm going to find the idiot who fed this to you and make sure it doesn't happen again." Their gazes met, and Brick's heart ached at the banked pain in the horse's big, brown eyes. He tamped down his anger, knowing the horse didn't need his negative energy right now, and talked to him until the vet arrived.

The doctor was brusque yet kind as she examined Duncan. "He doesn't have anything stuck in his throat, and that was my main worry. He's probably got some nausea from the food you found. I gave him some meds, but I think the best plan is to watch him carefully and wait it out. If he gets worse, I'll need to take him offsite, and Duncan won't be able to return."

Frustration coursed through him. Brick was always happy when a life was saved, but the horses were already at a limited number, and once they needed to transition for vet care, they couldn't come back home. Wild was wild. If Duncan left, he'd finish his years at a farm but could never be truly free again. "Understood. Can I stay and wait with him?"

The doctor nodded. "He seems comfortable with your presence. If we're lucky, he didn't eat much, and it will pass through him."

Brick prayed luck was on Duncan's side.

He returned to the Jeep and filled Aspen in. "I'll take you back so I can spend the rest of the day with Duncan."

She touched his arm, and his muscles jumped under her touch. "Will you call me as soon as you know?"

"Of course."

He was quiet on the ride to the office but found comfort in her hand over his. When she climbed out, a worried frown creased her brow. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No, but I promise to call. I'll confirm with Judy on what time tonight, if you're still up for it."

"Definitely." She stroked the hair from his brow in a gentle gesture. "Duncan's going to be okay. I feel it."

"Thanks."

She walked away, and Brick returned to the beach, hoping she was right.

Aspen walked into her sister's store. Flirt was situated in one of the small strips off the main road in Duck, squashed between a café and a toy store. The main boardwalk and shops that lined the water were across the street, but the location was still prime since many tourists walked the strip and could easily cross to check out the colorful window displays.

Aspen let out a breath as the warm, feminine energy swirled around her, the air scented with a faint hint of lavender. The shop was filled with unique clothing, jewelry, and accessories with a beach vibe. There were no cheap T-shirts or mugs here. Instead, shelves displayed delicate perfume bottles, jewelry boxes, and candles. Artwork by local artists was strategically placed on the walls. Everywhere she looked, something grabbed her eye, whether it was a bold color, a glittery stone, or something with quiet elegance. Each item had a place to serve a shopper's impulsive ways and wandering gaze. Sierra had always been a master at décor, and her store throbbed with her essence of classic beauty, craftmanship, and a dash of fun.

Aspen watched her sister chat with a customer, expertly guiding her to a rack of clothes to present a gorgeous blue beach dress embroidered with delicate lace. Plucking a few other items and putting them together, Sierra set the woman up in a fitting room, then caught sight of her.

"Hey. Thought you were writing today."

Aspen smiled and made her way to the counter. Immediately, a rack of beaded bracelets caught her eye, and she picked up a pale-pink one with a seashell in the center. "I just left Brick's, and I'm kind of freaking out. I wanted to see you before I tried to get in the headspace to write. How much is this?"

"You get a family discount, so ten bucks."

"Nice, put it aside for me."

Sierra dropped the jewelry into a little box. "Uh-oh, what happened? Did you fight? Or have sex?"

Aspen glared. "Neither. We went on a run to see the horses, and he found one that was sick. Duncan. It's his favorite horse."

Sierra looked stricken. "Do you know what was wrong?"

"Someone left a watermelon out for food. He didn't choke, but I guess he had a reaction."

"Tourist bastards," Sierra muttered. "Last year, we lost a foal who choked on an apple. We were in mourning for a while, and Brick took it hard. Those horses are part of our heritage here, and their numbers are decreasing. Did he call the foundation?"

She nodded. "The vet came right out. They don't want to take him away or he can't come back, so Brick's keeping watch to see if Duncan can rally. It's so damn sad."

"And frustrating. Good for Brick. He takes his job seriously. Once, he ran off a group of kids who were hiding apples and trying to get close. He probably saved some horses."

Aspen thought of his face when he came back from Duncan. Yes, there was worry, but it was the actual pain in his eyes that'd riveted her, the obvious love he had for the animals that were part of his job. She'd caught a hidden side to him that touched her. Hearing her sister's story confirmed he also had an assured confidence in handling emergencies. "He said he'd call with an update later. I'm supposed to meet him for a turtle watch tonight."

Sierra cocked her head. "Another Judy recruit, huh? Sometimes, she's a little protective with the eggs and likes to have all shifts covered. Bet you scored the midnight to four watch."

"I don't mind."

Sierra studied her face, then smiled. "Stay here. Take a look at the matching earrings, you may want them, too."

"You have no pride trying to profit from family."

"Correct. You made me buy your last book, and that was plain mean."

"I needed the extra sale." Sierra stalked off to check on her customer while Aspen grabbed the matching earrings and a cool scarf with smudged sunset colors melded together. Why did Brick keep throwing her off? Was this why women fell for him so quickly? The intriguing combination of male sexuality with a hidden, tender heart? And the way he'd gotten her to kiss him this morning? So. Hot. Her belly fluttered when she thought about those teasing blue eyes locked on hers, lips quirked as he waited for her to make the move.

Aspen admitted she was starting to fall. In only two weeks, he'd begun to haunt not only her dreams but also her thoughts. She looked forward to seeing him in a way that went beyond the physical. And writing this new book brought him to the forefront as she tried to gather clues he gave in their interactions to carry back to her story.

Aspen tried to remind herself that Brick was playing for high stakes. She'd literally banked her last book advance with plans for a lavish European trip, so she'd been able to skip a loan and pay for whatever he needed with cash. Brick had forwarded a meticulous spreadsheet with vendors, contacts, schedules, breakdowns of each cost, and final totals. The bulk went to the renovations and new Jeep, along with fixing up and detailing the second Jeep. The final portion was earmarked for marketing purposes, which he was still tweaking. It was straightforward, and though expensive, she respected the transparency and insistence on her knowledge of every step to show where the money was going.

Aspen was blessed to have a viral book. She'd made most of her money on the advances, though her second and third book hadn't earned out. Other than her apartment, health insurance, and retirement, she wasn't a huge spender. Plus, Brick insisted it was a loan, with interest. The deal she'd struck with him was fair. She wanted Ziggy's Tours to succeed.

And Brick.

Sierra popped back out, rang up the customer's purchase, and returned to Aspen. "Was going to invite you out with Brooklyn and Inez. They're dying for an update. How about tomorrow after your all-nighter? "

"Sure, I'd love to see them and hang out."

"So, how serious has it gotten with Brick? There's been kissing. Any under-the-clothes foreplay?"

Aspen groaned. "Not yet, Miss Nosy. Actually, I'm not even sure there's a place for us to have sex. I'm with you, and his friend moved in with him temporarily."

Her brow lifted. "Who's the friend?"

"I forgot his name. Hey, maybe he's cute and single."

"Worth a peek. I have a date Friday night. Some guy who wandered into the store looking for a surfboard. We did some flirting, and he asked me to go out for margaritas and Mexican. He was cute."

"Nice. I could never meet a man, even in a damn bookstore. You can close a deal in seconds anywhere."

"I never closed Brick."

She sighed. "I actually asked him about that. I think he liked and respected you, so he didn't want to muddy the waters with sex."

"A nice rejection, I guess. Usually, I'm good at first impressions but not staying power."

The pain was hidden, but Aspen caught it. She reached out and squeezed her hand. "You're meant to be with someone wonderful. And he'll be worthy of you and all you deserve. Okay?"

"Okay." They smiled at each other. "You know, I have this cute pink T-shirt that would look great with the matching bracelet and earrings."

"Bitch."

They laughed, and Aspen ended up buying the shirt.

A few hours later, she sat at her laptop and tried to write. She'd been making progress on the sequel, using Brick's POV as her main content for her fictional hero. Aspen liked to free write her first draft, not worried about the mess or inconsistencies since she believed in fixing that stuff later. Her plot was loose and allowed for surprises, which was her blueprint for writing. She always tried to counsel new writers not to worry about their process—too many worried about the right way to get to the end. Aspen believed in the no-rules philosophy, as long as you could get there. Knowing aspects of her personality had helped in the past, and she'd taken the Gallup Strengths test and worked with a counselor. Becca Syme was a genius in her field in helping writers understand their strengths and how to focus on them instead of the weaknesses. After Fifty Ways hit big, she'd struggled to find who she really was as a writer. Taking Becca's course Write Better, Write Faster had been a game changer.

Aspen figured her intellection strength was slowing her down, and she needed more time with Brick to dig deeper before she understood his character enough to write about it. Glancing at the clock, she worried about Duncan and hoped he was okay.

Abandoning her story, she turned to her happy place and took out her notepad. Falling easily into her Zany Zoo world, she composed a new story of Piggy and Purple Bunny taking a road trip and all the disasters that befell them. Sketching out the illustrations as she went, Aspen giggled as her pen flew like lightning over the pages. If only writing her book was this fun, she'd be so much more content.

She had over a dozen notebooks filled with stories and drawings she adored. It was like she took refuge in the characters, and the stories brought the joy she'd been missing over the past two books.

Her phone rang, and she snatched it up.

"Duncan's going to be okay."

Relief sagged her shoulders. "Brick, that's wonderful news. What happened?"

He sounded tired but pleased. "We probably got to him in time before he tried to finish the watermelon. Worked its way through his system, and now he's up and moving around again."

"You saved him."

"Nah, I got lucky. Any of the tour guides could have helped. I was just the one to find him first."

His humbleness was part of his nature, which she respected. "Are you still watching the turtles tonight? You must be exhausted."

"I'm good. Going to work with Sal in a bit and maybe grab a quick nap. Make sure you dress in layers and will be comfortable. Pick you up at midnight?"

"See you then."

She clicked off. She wondered when their nightly rendezvous would turn into more. More kissing. More touching. More…everything.

Aspen smiled and went back to work on Zany Zoo .