by Lily Kate
I nod, a whisper of a breeze running through his hair, standing it on end. He doesn’t notice.
“I don’t expect you to know what it’s like, but—”
“If someone took away my diner, I would understand,” I interrupt. “It’s what I’ve worked toward my whole life. I’ve put all my money into it, and spent the last few years trying to make it grow. I love it.”
His eyes flick toward me, size me up. “Yes.”
“And if it was taken away, and I was left with no job, no passion project, it would suck.”
“I’ve never been good enough for you, Lexi. Your brother made sure that I knew that, but he didn’t have to make it so clear.” He rubs his jaw, and I can picture my brother’s fist making its way there. “I’d always known you were too good for me even without Lucas’s help.”
“He shouldn’t have interfered—”
“Then, after my hockey career ended...” He raises his hands, offers a wry shrug. “What did I have left to give?”
I’m stunned, gaping like a fish. I can’t do much except stare at him.
“So, I did what any idiotic man would do, and I pushed you away. I’m not proud of it, I’m not saying it’s right, but there you have it. I’m sorry.”
“Wait. Backtrack for a second.” I gesture with my finger. “What did Lucas say to you?”
“Lucas?”
“You said he made sure you knew that you weren’t good enough for me.”
“I once mentioned that I was interested in you. He punched my lights out.”
My mouth opens and shuts a few times. “I’m going to kill him! I will strangle the man in his sleep!”
“This isn’t about him!” Brad reaches for me, holds my arms to my sides. “Don’t blame Lucas. It’s nothing I didn’t already know.”
“Well, then you knew wrong. Because that’s bullshit.”
“No—”
“And my brother has no say on my romantic interests! Wait until I throttle that man. He won’t even know what hit him.”
“Stop! Breathe. Lexi, calm down.”
“No! He ruined what could’ve started between us years ago. How old were you?”
“I don’t know...” He looks beyond me into the distance, a shy smile creeping over his face. “When do boys first start thinking girls are gorgeous?”
I roll my eyes to the sky. “You never asked me out again because some horny thirteen-year-old boy protected his sister from some other horny thirteen-year-old boy?” I throw my hands in the air. “Did you ever consider it might’ve been hormones talking at that age? You’ve had about fifteen years to try again.”
“That’s what I’m saying! At first it was the hormones talking, and frankly, your brother had every right to sock me for even asking. My thoughts were, uh... not about how intelligent and lovely your personality was.”
I laugh. I can’t help it. He looks almost miserable with embarrassment, and I give him credit for not backing down from the conversation.
“Then later, when I got a better handle on the hormones, I realized he’d been right,” Brad continues. “Maybe for the wrong reasons, but the end result was the same.”
“Which end result? Because whatever you thought was the end result clearly isn’t the end. At least, if we’re going by what happened here tonight.”
“You were all those things, Lexi. Beautiful and smart and funny. You were, and still are, the whole package. You’re the everything girl.”
“The everything girl?”
“You know, the girl in high school that could make any guy happy. I mean, what’s there not to like about you? Nothing! Not a damn thing.” He’s talking a little bit faster now, a bit of color to his cheeks as if he’s remembering high school like it was yesterday. “Why the hell do you think I asked you to every dance?”
“That’s a great question.” My voice is starting to rise now. “I’ve always wondered the same thing.”
“That’s not the point.”
“What is it, then?”
“I was looking out for you.”
“Out of pity.”
“Protectiveness.”
“And instead, you ruined me finding another date because you thought you needed to protect me from them!” I shake my head in disbelief. “Did it ever pop into your mind that I can take care of myself? Even back then? I didn’t have sex until I was twenty-two, Bradley. I know how to say no.”
“Holy shit.”
“Yeah.”
“Twenty-two?”
“And now you know why!” I poke my finger at his chest. “Because you cock-blocked me all my life.”
“For your best interests.”
“It’s not up to you to decide my best interests. That’s a choice only I can make.”
“Fine, then dammit that’s not why.”
We’re both breathing heavy, nose to nose. We’d been making out minutes before, and I can’t decide if we’re about to do it again, or if he’s about to storm out of my life for good. Talk about volatile emotions.
“Tell me why, then,” I practically hiss.
“I wanted to be close to you.” He leans in closer, closer still. The threat of a kiss hovers on the edge like a thundercloud. “I knew I could never have you, and in my idiotic teenage brain, that meant I didn’t want anyone else to have you, either.”
“You were always close to me. We were best friends.”
“I wanted an excuse to touch you.” To punctuate his words, he reaches for me. His hands grasp my hips, possessive and firm, and drag me to him. “I wanted to hold you. I wanted everyone else to think you were mine. To know that it was me who you talked to, me who you cried to, me who you loved.”
“Yet you didn’t take a chance and tell me any of this.”
“No.”
His fingers slide around, pressing into my lower back. His thumbs rest on the sensitive stomach zone just above my shorts. When he curls his fingers tight, digging his nails into my skin, the sensation is so startlingly erotic that I’m forced to reach out and hold onto him.
My own fingernails dig into his shoulders as we stand still, inches apart. Our eyes are locked, our breathing mixing. The tension between us crackles. One wrong move and we’ll burst into flames. One right move, and we’ll crumble into one another.
“I never wanted to go to a dance with anyone except you,” I find myself whispering. The confession slides out, unhindered. I can’t push the papers out of my mind, still clutched in my grasp against his back. “I’ve always wanted to be yours.”
I lean on my tiptoes, my heart thudding with nerves. I’d never thought there’d be a chance for me to confess how I truly feel to Brad. If I let the moment pass, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.
“I was pissed earlier when I stormed into your house,” I continue. “I thought you’d forgotten about our date. I tried to forget it, too, but I couldn’t. I wanted it so desperately I made a fool out of myself.”
“No, Lex, I did that a long time ago. His hands slide the rest of the way around my waist as he envelopes me into a hug. “I think it’s pretty clear I want to take you on a date, too.”
I laugh, pulling the papers back around between us. “This, here, is ridiculous.”
“I didn’t want to blow my chance with you.”
“No, I mean the fact that you printed things out. You know that’s what the internet is for, right?”
He groans.
“What is this talk about one chance?” I let my fingers trace along his collarbone. I’ve been dreaming of this for years. Aching for it, even. “There’s no such thing as one chance.”
“There was a lot of pressure when we hadn’t talked in three years, and it was all my fault. I had to make it up to you.”
“I’ve got a better idea.” I let my arms circle his neck, and for a moment, it’s like we’re slow dancing at prom. Sensual, fun, forbidden. The knowledge that nothing will happen—not yet—allows us to push the boundaries, knowing we both want something to happen
eventually.
“Does it involve spending the night at my place?” he whispers against my ear.
Shivers skitter down my spine, the thought a tempting one. Based on the way he’s made me feel with a few kisses, those caresses, I have no doubt that my mind would explode if we progressed to the bedroom tonight.
“Maybe it’s best to ease into things,” I tell him. “Build up the anticipation.”
“I’ve been anticipating having you my whole life,” he groans. “I’m so full of anticipation it’s unhealthy.”
We spin under the moon, smiling as we both sigh. We both know it’s right. We both know it’s best to wait.
“Let’s take things slow over the next couple of months and see how things go.”
“Slow?” Another slice of agony moves through his eyes.
“If we sleep together, things will change. Inevitably.” My arms sneak tighter around his neck. “Before we do, let’s make sure things are working.”
“I know they’ll work. Do you remember our kiss?”
“I have no doubt that part of things will go just fine.” I shake my head, stifling a smile. “It’s the rest I’m worried about. How can we go back to being just friends once we’ve been more?”
His eyes ice over. “No matter what happens over the next few months, promise me that we’ll end up as friends.”
“That’s the plan,” I say. “As long as you don’t quit talking to me again.”
“I promise.”
“You can start tomorrow,” I offer. “Come visit me at my diner. It’s long overdue.”
“I want to discuss one more point,” he says. “If these next few months go well, and we can’t keep our hands off each other...”
I lean up, certain my eyes have darkened with desire. I rest my forehead against his, my words whispering across his lips. “Then, finally, we can have each other.”
Chapter 11
LEXI
“Pizza’s gone,” Kitty announces as I float through the door.
“Wine’s gone too,” Sasha adds when I have no reaction.
“We burned your house down,” Kitty says. Then she stands, walks across the room to where I’ve shut the door and leaned my back against it, and waves a hand in front of my face. “Earth to Lexi! What happened up there? You were gone forever.”
I slide down to the floor, slowly landing with my arms around my knees. “I’m in love.”
“Hold the phone.” Sasha stands. “What?”
“I love him,” I murmur, smiling like an idiot. “Bradley Hamilton.”
Sasha and Kitty exchange a glance. “Get your cookies ready, sister,” Kitty says. “I knew this would happen. Under two months.”
Sasha’s jaw is open. “That’s not fair! She just hated him. How do things change so quickly?”
Kitty gives a shake of her head. “Welcome to the Monroe/Hamilton show. It’s been like this for the last hundred years.”
“Yeah, but what’d he say to change her mind up there?” Sasha snarls, likely annoyed at losing the bet before the ink dried.
“He has a magic penis,” Kitty says with a smirk at me. “Ain’t that right, sugar?”
Finally, Kitty has my attention, and I look up. “It’s not magic.”
Kitty turns to Sasha. “What’d I tell you? There’s no problem that can’t be cured by a good—”
“Stop.” I climb to my feet, shaking my head at Sasha. “Put your cookies away. Nothing happened.”
“Really?” Kitty leans over and picks a leaf out of my hair. “You always look this rumpled? And sweetie, your robe is tucked into your shorts.”
“Oh, crap.” I look down and, sure enough, my robe is tucked so far into my shorts it’s peeking out the other end. “Fine, we made out.”
“That’s it?” Sasha asks, hopeful. “I didn’t lose the bet!”
“Do you girls think I’m that easy? Three years without talking, and you all think I’ll just go up to the roof and have sex with the guy?”
Kitty shrugs. “Sex helps a lot of problems go away.”
“No, it doesn’t,” Sasha argues. “It sweeps them under the rug.”
“Well, I like my rugs,” Kitty says. “And I like my sex. So, it works out well for me. In fact, I’d argue the two go hand in hand.”
“Don’t listen to her,” Sasha says. “It’s not that simple. Sex complicates everything.”
“I know! I’m a grown woman, just like both of you.” I inhale, hold my breath, and let it out slowly. “We talked.”
“With your tongues,” Kitty says. “You tongue-talked.”
“And regular talked,” I say, not bothering to deny the tongue bit. “It turns out he’s been planning our date for the past month. He had a list of papers printed out with restaurants on it.”
“Does he know about the internet?” Sasha asks. “Why did he print them out?”
“It’s not about the papers,” Kitty says. “I think it’s romantic. He wanted to make things perfect.”
“Exactly,” I say. “He didn’t know how to make things just right. Said he didn’t want to screw up a chance with me.”
“Funny,” Kitty says. “Because you’re the easiest girl I know.”
“Oh, gee.” I spin to face her. “Thanks a lot.”
“Easy to please! In terms of restaurants,” Kitty says with an indulgent expression. “Come on, sweetie, you know it. You’d have been happy with pizza and a glass of wine.”
“That’s what I told him.”
“And?” Sasha asks. “What happened next?”
“We’re starting over.” I smile at them both. “We’ve agreed to take things slow!”
“In bed,” Kitty says.
“Nope!” I shake my head. “We’re not sleeping together until we decide whether or not a romantic relationship works for us.”
“Um...” Kitty pauses. “He has a magical penis. I think it’ll work just fine.”
“We’ve spent so long being friends, buddies, whatever we were, that this is new territory. Who knows if we’ll work as a couple?”
Kitty raises her hand. “I know.”
“Well, good for you,” Sasha snaps. “But let them figure it out on their own.”
“When are you seeing him next?” Kitty turns a smug smile at Sasha. “I’ll bet she sneaks out in the middle of the night for a glance at his magical—”
“Tomorrow,” I interrupt before Kitty continues with anatomy lessons. “He’s finally going to swing by the diner.”
“Well, look at that,” Kitty says. “It’s about damn time.”
“I’d like to make a reservation,” Sasha says. “I get a seat at the bar next to him.”
“Me too,” Kitty says.
“Don’t you ladies work? Ever?”
Finally, the two look at each other and agree on something.
Kitty answers for them both. “Priorities, darling.”
Chapter 12
BRADLEY
My phone rings the second I step into the shower.
I reach out through the steam, hoping it’s the photo of Lexi that pops up signifying she’s calling. She set it on my phone five years ago, and I haven’t changed it since. Back when we knew each other’s passwords, back when we hung out daily. Back when we... hell, when we acted like a couple.
Minus the romance.
This time around, I’ll be sure that changes.
“Hello?” I growl into the receiver. It wasn’t Lexi’s picture, so by default, this makes me annoyed. “What do you need?”
“Did I catch you at a bad time?” Bill’s voice comes through the line. “You sound pissed.”
“I’m not.”
“Okay, then. I found something for you.”
“Is that right?” I lose a little bit of the attitude. After all, I asked Bill to do a favor for me, not the other way around. “Thanks for looking into it. Where is it?”
“It’s not on the market yet,” he says. “But I can make it happen.”
“No.” I’m
firm on this. “I don’t like the sound of it. I don’t want anything complicated. Simple, straightforward—preferably cheap. Good location.”
“This is all of that, and I’m going to get you first dibs,” Bill says. “I know the landlord. He’s getting old, looking to retire. He’s got a couple of tenants in there paying peanuts in rent. I’ll throw in a nice retirement bump if he wants to sell early—I guarantee you’ll make it back. It’s worth it. Location is unbeatable.”
“Where is it?”
“I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Ten o’clock.”
“Great,” I tell him. “Thanks again, Bill.”
We hang up, and I’m feeling a bit shaky about the situation, and I don’t know why. Bill’s an old high school buddy—he tried out for the hockey team, but didn’t make the cut. We still ended up as friends. I don’t think Lexi knew him much at all—and even if she did, she wouldn’t doesn’t remember him now.
He’s a businessman and a shark, and he makes things happen. So, when I started thinking about opening my own gym, I ran the idea by him. Ever since, he’s been on the hunt, and I can’t complain. I don’t have the time to look, and he knows the business. He’ll get a cut of any sale. Win-win.
The hot water beats down on my back. I sigh under it, my thoughts drifting away from the real estate situation to something much more pleasant. Lexi Monroe. The way she looked at me tonight, the way she tasted.
I’ve been dreaming of tasting her for so long and, though it’d only been a brief kiss, she’d been everything more than I’d imagined. Soft and curvy, malleable under my hands.
Her body had trembled when I’d touched her, arching toward me. It’s like she’d ached for it just as much as I had. As I still am, I think, looking down.
These next few months might be painful. Exciting, completely worth every second of it, I know that already. I don’t foresee a lot of my blood working its way into my brain.
The thought of Lexi just across the hallway in her sexy little pajamas is enough to drive me wild. My hand rests hard against the shower wall as all thoughts vanish except for Lexi, her smile, her sweet scent.