Chapter Eleven

Leo

I couldn’t sleep.

Most nights I couldn’t.

I was lucky to get a couple of hours before I found myself wide awake, staring at the ceiling, my mind churning through thoughts. Tonight was no different. The house was quiet with the air still, but my brain wouldn’t shut off. I lay there for what felt like hours before finally giving up.

With a sigh, I threw back the covers and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The cold floorboards beneath my feet grounded me a little, but it didn’t quiet the restlessness inside. I pulled on a T-shirt, trying not to think about what was keeping me up, but that never worked.

I pushed open the bedroom door and stepped into the dark hallway. The wood creaked beneath my weight, the sound barely a whisper in the dead of night. I moved through the shadows, my hand skimming the wall out of habit as I made my way toward the staircase.

But as I passed Brynn’s room, I hesitated.

Her door was closed, the faint outline of light at the bottom telling me she was still awake. It wasn’t a surprise—Brynn had the weight of the world on her shoulders, too. This life made you restless, always thinking, never fully at ease. I stood there for a moment longer than I should have, staring at that door like I was waiting for something. For her to step out, for me to knock, for a reason to talk to her.

Anything.

After the meeting earlier, I’d been hoping for a chance to clear the air with her. There was so much we hadn’t said, so much still hanging between us like a weight neither of us knew how to lift. She’d kept her distance, though. Not avoiding me exactly, but she was always talking to someone else, wrapped up in conversations with Sig or one of the girls.

Dinner had been the usual affair—Bristol cooking up a feast of chicken skewers, rice pilaf, roasted vegetables, and that apple pie she was famous for. Everyone had eaten their fill, laughing and talking like they didn’t have a care in the world. The food was amazing, of course, but my mind hadn’t been on dinner.

It had been on Brynn.

She’d been right there, in the same room, but somehow miles away. I didn’t know if it was intentional or just how things were between us now, but the distance gnawed at me. She was in the same room as me, but she might as well have been back in South Carolina.

But now wasn’t the time to sort it all out. The middle of the night was not the time to drag out all the ghosts between us.

I exhaled sharply and tore my gaze away from her door. No point standing there like some lovesick fool. I forced myself to keep walking, leaving behind the temptation to knock.

The staircase creaked as I descended, each step familiar beneath my feet. The house was still, the heavy kind of silence that only came late at night. I’d always found it calming, the quiet. It was one of the few times I could hear myself think clearly.

When I reached the bottom, I turned toward my office. I knew the path by heart. It was where I always ended up on nights like this—where I poured myself a drink and tried to make sense of everything. Or tried to forget. Usually, it was a bit of both.

The door to the office was slightly ajar, and I nudged it open with my foot. The room was dark, but I didn’t bother with the lights. The soft glow from the lights outside was enough. I moved over to the bar cart and reached for the whiskey, my hand automatically finding the familiar bottle.

I poured a glass, the clink of the liquid hitting the crystal a small comfort in the silence except for the sound of my stomach growling. For a moment, I just stood there, staring out the window, watching the shadows play against the glass. The night stretched out in front of me, endless and heavy.

I took a sip, the burn of the whiskey sliding down my throat. It was a welcome distraction, but not strong enough to drown out the thoughts still swirling in my head.

Brynn.

She was everywhere. In my thoughts, in this house, in every room I walked through. There was no escaping her, not after everything we’d been through.

I took another sip and let the whiskey settle in my chest. The tension in my shoulders eased, but only slightly. I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or just the act of being there alone in the dark that made me feel like I had control over something.

My eyes drifted to the stack of papers on my desk—reports, contracts, intel on Candace and her movements. Business as usual, but none of it seemed important right now. Not compared to Brynn.

She was always in the back of my mind.

Always there.

I took another sip of my whiskey as my stomach growled again, louder this time. I wasn’t sure how it was possible after the feast Bristol had prepared, but I was hungry. At dinner, I’d filled my plate with chicken skewers, rice pilaf, and roasted vegetables, but it was the apple pie that lingered in my mind.

Bristol had mentioned there was plenty of pie leftover if anyone wanted some later.

Well, it was later.

With a sigh, I moved away from the window, grabbed my whiskey glass, and decided to track down a slice. I left my office, quietly padding down the hallway, heading toward the kitchen. The house was still, the kind of quiet you only get in the middle of the night, when everyone else is sound asleep.

When I rounded the corner and got the kitchen in sight, I froze.

The refrigerator door was open, casting a soft glow across the room. A figure stood in front of it, rummaging through the shelves.

I smirked, recognizing the curves before I saw her face. Brynn. Of course.

I moved into the kitchen, keeping quiet, watching her as she straightened slightly, her hand now holding something. I stopped just before the island, and before I could say anything, a low, satisfied moan escaped her lips. She was licking her fingers.

My lips twitched. “Looks like we had the same idea,” I drawled, breaking the silence.

Brynn jumped and spun around. The pie she was holding leapt from her hands, but somehow she managed to catch it at the last second before it hit the floor.

“Jesus Christ, Leo,” she hissed and clutched the pie before setting it down on the kitchen island with a hard thud. “Why did you scare me like that?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the expression on her face—part shock, part frustration, and maybe a hint of embarrassment. I took another sip of whiskey, letting the burn settle in my stomach. “I just came looking for pie,” I said, leaning against the island. “Didn’t know you were going to be here eating it all.”

She rolled her eyes, grabbing a dish towel to wipe the remnants of pie filling from her fingers. “I’m not eating it all. I just wanted a piece.”

“Right,” I said, my gaze drifting to the nearly demolished pie. “Doesn’t look like there’s much left.”

Brynn shot me a glare before grabbing two plates from the cabinet and sliding one in front of me. “This is what was left after dinner, and there’s enough for the two of us,” she muttered.

I couldn’t help but smile. She always had a way of getting defensive when I teased her, and for some reason, it never got old. While she cut two slices of pie, I grabbed forks from the drawer and set them on the island.

“Thought you were avoiding me,” I said casually and leaned against the island while watching her as she placed the pie on each plate.

She paused for a beat and her eyes flicked up to meet mine before she quickly looked away. She focused on wiping a bit of pie crust from the counter. “I wasn’t avoiding you,” she said, but her tone was unconvincing.

I raised an eyebrow. “Really? Because it seemed like you were talking to everyone but me at dinner.”

Brynn handed me a plate, finally turning to face me. She took a deep breath, then shrugged, trying to downplay it. “There were a lot of people around.”

“Yeah, and you still managed to avoid me.”

She didn’t respond immediately, instead picking up her own slice and taking a bite. I watched her for a moment before digging into mine.

We ate in silence for a while, both leaning against the island, and the kitchen light cast soft shadows around us. It wasn’t awkward, but there was definitely something hanging between us—something unspoken.

Eventually, Brynn broke the silence. “I wasn’t avoiding you on purpose,” she said quietly, still not meeting my eyes. “I just... I don’t know.”

I took another bite of the pie, giving her the space to gather her thoughts. I wasn’t going to push her—not yet, anyway. But there was so much between us, so many unresolved things, and at some point, we were going to have to talk about it.

“It’s complicated,” she finally said as she set her fork down and rubbed her temples with one hand. “All of this—us, the past, everything. I didn’t know how to act around you tonight. It felt like everyone was watching us to see what we were going to do.”

“You don’t have to figure it all out right now,” I said, my voice calm. “But you also don’t have to avoid me.”

Brynn finally looked up, her eyes locking with mine. There was something vulnerable in her gaze. Something that told me she wasn’t as sure of herself as she often tried to appear.

“I’m not avoiding you now,” she said softly.

I smiled back and took another sip of whiskey. “No, you’re not.”

As I scanned her face, my gaze caught on a smudge of apple pie just by her lips. I motioned to my own mouth, my voice teasing. “You’ve got a little something, baby.”

Her hand shot up to her face, frantically trying to wipe it away, but all she managed to do was smear it further. I chuckled softly; the sound echoed in the quiet kitchen. “Let me.”

I reached out, my fingers brushing lightly against her skin as I gently wiped the crumb from her face. The moment my fingertips made contact, everything else faded away—the kitchen, the lingering scent of pie, the whiskey in my glass. It was just us, suspended in time.

Her eyes widened slightly, and I felt a jolt of electricity pass between us. The heat radiated off her skin, igniting something deep within me—a desire that had never really gone away.

Brynn’s breath caught, her eyes locked onto mine, a spark of awareness igniting between us. I could see the way her pupils dilated, the way her lips parted just a little, as if she were about to say something but couldn’t find the words.

“I—” she started, but the sound fell away, replaced by a heavy silence that wrapped around us like a warm blanket.

The world outside faded even further as I leaned in closer, drawn to her in a way that felt both exhilarating and terrifying. I could sense the need radiating off her and it matched my own.

“Brynn,” I murmured.

The way she looked at me, wide-eyed and breathless, made my heart race. All I wanted was to close the remaining space between us and taste the sweetness of the pie still lingering on her lips. I held back, waiting as if she might pull away at any moment.

Instead, she leaned in, just slightly, and that little movement sent a rush of heat through me. “Leo,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

“Brynn,” I whispered, unable to contain the urgency that surged through me. The moment felt electric. “I’m going to kiss you.” It wasn’t a question, but I wanted to give her the chance to back away if she needed to. I’d respected her space for far too long.

But she didn’t do that. Instead, her eyes turned molten with desire. “Yes,” she whispered, the word hanging in the air like an invitation.

That single word shattered the last of my restraint. I set my glass down, and I leaned in to close the distance between us as our lips finally met. It was like coming home and being struck by lightning all at once. The kiss was fierce and immediate, igniting something deep within me that had been dormant for far too long.

Her lips were soft yet demanding, molding against mine with a hunger that mirrored my own. I could taste the sweetness of the apple pie mingling with the warmth of the whiskey on my tongue. It was intoxicating and overwhelming.

I pressed into her, deepening the kiss as I cupped her face with my hands.

A soft moan escaped her lips, and the sound reverberated through me, amplifying the heat pooling in my gut. It felt like a spark igniting a wildfire, spreading and consuming everything in its path. I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe; all that mattered was her, the taste of her lips intoxicating me.

The world outside faded away, the noise and chaos of our lives dimming into nothingness. It was just us, caught in this moment where nothing else existed. My fingers tangled in her hair, pulling her closer as if trying to merge our bodies into one.

But then, just as quickly as it had started, I felt a flicker of hesitation, a reminder of the complexities between us. I pulled back, our lips brushing softly as I searched her eyes. “Brynn,” I breathed, my heart racing, “are you sure about this?”

She looked up at me, her gaze fierce and unwavering. “I’ve never been surer of anything,” she said, her voice steady despite the rapid beat of our hearts.

With that, I leaned in again, capturing her lips with mine in a kiss that spoke of all the unfulfilled promises and buried desires. And this time, I didn’t hold back. The world could wait; for now, it was just us, lost in each other.

Brynn

Kissing Leo was addicting, and I was ready to be a full-blown addict. All I had wanted was a piece of pie when I came into the kitchen, but I had gotten a whole lot more than that.

Leo’s lips on mine, his hands roaming my body, and my heart beating a mile a minute—it was almost too much, but I didn’t want it to stop. Every second felt like a thrilling escape from reality. The taste of apple pie still lingered on my lips, mixing with the warmth of whiskey that radiated from him. I couldn’t believe how easily everything fell into place.

As I pulled back just a fraction, my breaths mingled with his. “Wow,” I whispered, feeling a bit dazed.

He chuckled, a low, rich sound that sent another rush of warmth through me. “Wow, indeed,” he replied, his eyes dark and intense. “You surprised me, Brynn.”

“Surprised you? I was the one who was surprised!” I shot back, still breathless. “I didn’t exactly come here looking for a kiss from you.”

“Really?” His eyebrow raised, the corner of his mouth lifting in a teasing smirk. “Because it looks like you’re ready to jump my bones.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to keep the lightness of the moment. “Please, I just wanted some pie. I didn’t know I’d find you half-dressed.”

“Half-dressed?” He laughed, glancing down at himself. “I’m wearing a T-shirt and sweats. Not exactly a fashion statement or half-dressed.”

“Your ‘half-dressed’ look is more appealing than you realize,” I said, biting my lip. “Especially when you’re leaning against the counter, looking like you just rolled out of bed.”

His expression shifted, turning serious. “You’re the one who was rummaging through the fridge like you own the place, looking all gorgeous with that confidence of yours. It’s impossible not to be drawn to you.”

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. “You’re just saying that because you just kissed me.”

“No,” he said, his tone sincere as he stepped a little closer again, the heat radiating from him making it hard to concentrate. “I mean it. I’ve always thought you were beautiful, Brynn. But right now? You’re captivating.”

The sincerity in his voice sent my heart racing again, but I forced myself to keep the playful banter alive. “Okay, enough with the flattery. I’m just a woman who was looking for some pie.”

“I think you’re much more than that,” he said softly, his gaze steady on mine.

I let out a breath, feeling the weight of what was hanging between us. The kiss had shifted something in the air, and now everything felt charged with potential. I wanted to lean back into him, to feel those hands exploring again, but part of me hesitated. “What are we doing, Leo?”

He opened his mouth to speak, but then paused. “I don’t know. But it feels good, doesn’t it?”

“Good is an understatement,” I admitted, my heart pounding with uncertainty and excitement. “But we have a lot going on. We shouldn’t get distracted.”

“Distraction can be good,” he countered, stepping even closer, his presence overwhelming me. “Sometimes you need a distraction to make sense of everything else.”

I let that sink in. Could I really let myself get lost in this? Just the thought of it sent a thrill coursing through me, but my mind raced with the complications. “What if this complicates things?”

“Everything between us is complicated,” he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. “But you know it will be worth it.”

His gaze locked onto mine, and I felt my resolve crumbling. I was standing on the edge, teetering between wanting to dive in and holding back. “Leo, you don’t know what you’re asking.”

“Or maybe I do,” he replied, his eyes never leaving mine. “I’m not going to pretend that this doesn’t matter to me. You matter to me. You always have.”

I swallowed hard, the gravity of his words sinking in. “But we have a history. A complicated one. One that ended with you pushing me away when things got hard.”

“I know,” he said, his thumb brushing gently against my cheek. “But maybe that history is what makes this even more important. We’ve both changed. We can redefine this.”

The way he looked at me made it hard to breathe. I could see the hope and sincerity in his eyes, and I wanted to believe him. But part of me was terrified of what would happen if I gave in. “What if we make things worse?”

“What if we don’t?” he countered, stepping even closer, his body almost brushing against mine. “I’m willing to take that risk if you are.”

My heart raced in my chest, caught between fear and exhilaration. I took a deep breath, searching Leo’s face for any signs of doubt. All I saw was certainty.

“So, what are you suggesting?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.

“Just let it happen,” he said, his voice deep and smooth. “Let’s stop overthinking everything and just enjoy the moment.”

I hesitated, my mind running a mile a minute. The pull between us was undeniable. I wanted to give in. I looked at him and realized I couldn’t let things go too far.

Not tonight.

Not yet.

I was ready to surrender to the heat, but part of me knew it was too soon.

“Okay, Leo,” I finally said, offering him a small smile. “Let’s enjoy the moment, but…” I paused, searching for the right words. “I think that’s enough for tonight. We can enjoy this, but we need to take it slow.”

His eyes flickered with disappointment, but he didn’t push. “Whatever you want, baby.”

The way he said baby sent a shiver down my spine. “I forgot you used to call me that,” I whispered, a hint of nostalgia tugging at me.

He reached up and gently brushed a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending a flush through me. “You’re my baby,” he said softly, the words tender and filled with so much unspoken history.

I felt a warmth spread through me, and it took all of my willpower not to lean into him again. I really wanted to kiss him more, to let this heat between us take over, but I knew if we went back to my bed, it would be too much, too fast. I needed time to process. “I should get some sleep. I’m assuming Candace will be contacting us tomorrow.”

At the mention of Candace, the reality of everything came crashing back. It was like someone had doused us both with a bucket of cold water.

Leo nodded and took a step back, his expression shifting as he grounded himself in the situation. “I’ll clean up if you want to head back to bed.”

I nodded, but before leaving, I stepped toward him to kiss his cheek quickly. The feel of his skin against my lips lingered. “Goodnight, Leo,” I whispered.

Without waiting for his response, I turned on my heel and fled the kitchen. The cool air of the hallway greeted me as I hurried away, my heart still pounding. I needed to calm down and to take a breath before I completely lost myself in this whirlwind of old emotions.

The house was quiet, and the darkness comforted me as I made my way up the stairs. The soft creak of the floorboards beneath my feet was the only sound in the stillness of the night. I kept walking and my steps grew slower as I reached my bedroom door.

I slipped inside and leaned against the closed door for a moment before letting out a long breath. What had just happened? My thoughts were a tangled mess, and the feel of Leo’s kiss still buzzed on my lips. Everything felt surreal, like we had bypassed years of unresolved issues and I knew that would come back to bite us. We needed to talk about the past—about what happened twenty years ago—but for now, I just needed to sleep.

I pushed off the door and flung myself onto the bed. The cool sheets were welcoming as I sank into them. My head hit the pillow, and I ran through everything that had just happened. Leo’s touch, his words, his kiss. It was like we had been pulled back into a world we once knew so well but now everything felt different and more intense. And still I couldn’t believe it. We couldn’t just skip over the past. It was going to catch up with us sooner or later.

I sighed and turned to my side while reaching for the lamp on my bedside table. The soft click of the light going off left me in the dark, but I could still feel the lingering tension in my chest. I climbed under the covers, the fabric cools against my skin, and stared up at the ceiling, trying to make sense of everything.

But no matter how much I tried to sort it all out, my thoughts kept drifting back to Leo. His face, his voice, his kiss. It was like the years between us had melted away in an instant, and all I wanted was to be back in that moment.

I closed my eyes and let the exhaustion finally take over. I slowly drifted off to sleep with Leo on my mind.