Even though they’d left the warm cocoon of the bar, her ears still seemed to vibrate from the music. It reminded her of riding home from the beach as a little girl, after spending hours playing in the waves, and still being able to feel the churning of the surf. Maybe it was the alcohol. She probably shouldn’t have had that second drink, but she had wanted an excuse to stay.

They passed the burger joint again, where the air smelled of French fries, and Brandon glanced at her.

“Hungry?”

She tried to read him. Was he trying to prolong their evening?

She shook her head. “What about you?”

Thunder rumbled, and he glanced up.

“Nah, I’m good,” he said. “We’d better hurry.”

Leigh checked her watch. Almost ten. Peak bar hours, but the sidewalks were clearing as the light rain became a steady drizzle. In wordless agreement, they picked up their pace, stepping over rivulets of water and newly formed puddles. Taxis and Ubers stopped to pick up passengers, and pedestrians ducked indoors as the rain began to thrum.

“Come on,” Brandon said, reaching for her.

She felt a little rush as his warm hand surrounded hers. They strode together, deftly weaving around people and obstacles. Looking north through the rain, she spotted the sign for his street two stoplights ahead.

Leigh’s heel snagged, and she pitched forward. Brandon caught her arm, hauling her upright before she hit the ground.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

A taxi sped by, hitting a pothole and sending up a spray of water. Brandon jerked Leigh against him, cursing as the taxi sailed through the intersection.

Leigh stared after it in shock as cold water seeped into her boots.

“He get you?” Brandon looked down at her legs. “Ah, shit.”

She barked out a laugh. “Who cares? I’m soaked already.”

She glanced down at her sodden jeans as Brandon tugged her forward. Wind whipped through her sweater, and she looked and felt like a wet street rat.

Brandon pulled her into a doorway, and she glanced up.

“What—”

Her words vanished as he kissed her.

His mouth was warm and firm. After a moment of shock, she parted her lips and felt the hot glide of his tongue. Heat rippled through her as she got her first taste of him—sharp and male and musky, and she pulled his head closer and wanted to drink him in. His arms wrapped around her as she slid her fingers into the damp softness of his hair, and he pulled her against the solid wall of his body. His arms tightened again, and she felt herself being lifted off her feet and turned, then eased back against something hard and flat.