“This place
is amazing, Josh.”
My chest
swelled with pride as Brianna’s widened eyes darted around the shop. Maybe it
wasn’t really my place, but Uncle
Billy trusted me enough to run it on my own. I hired the employees, handled the
books, and met with customers. He depended on me instead of waiting for me to
fuck up. The local troublemaker came back and made good, but that wasn’t such
an easy sell for everyone. Good thing I didn’t give a shit about everyone. The
only opinion that ever mattered stood in front of me, beaming with pride.
My mouth
split in a wide grin. “Thanks. It’s getting there. Hoping things pick up a
little after the holidays. No one wants a new bike when there’s an inch of ice
on the ground.” I laughed until Brianna’s face fell.
“Can I ask
you something?” She slid into the chair in my office as her lips pursed.
“Of
course.” I leaned my hip against the edge of my desk and crossed my arms.
“What’s up, Cupcake?”
“Did . . .
did you really have a new client in Manhattan last week, when you drove me to
work?”
I took in a
deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Why would you ask that?”
“Scott and I—”
She shook her head and waved her hand. “It’s nothing. Don’t mind me.”
“No.” I
nudged her ankle with my foot. “Let me guess. Scott isn’t too happy about me
hanging around so much.” I raised an eyebrow.
Brianna
reluctantly nodded. “It’s a guy thing, I guess.” She chuckled to herself. “They
get territorial if someone else tries to play with their toys.” She laughed
until she realized what she said and then covered her mouth with her eyes huge.
She was so fucking cute I couldn’t stand it. “I didn’t mean play, I meant . . .” She dropped her
head into her hands, and I couldn’t hold in a laugh anymore.
“C’mon,
Bri. I’m dying to know.” I peeled her fingers away from her face and crouched
in front of her. “What did you mean? Scott thinks I want to play with you? Don’t tell him about the
GI Joe and Barbie castle we made when we were kids. He’ll flip the fuck out.”
Her cheeks flushed as she nudged my shoulder.
I caught
her hand and held it in both of mine. As our gazes locked, laughter stopped.
There was no way in hell what I was feeling was only one-sided. I doubted it
ever was.
We didn’t
talk about it, but I remembered every moment of that night at my apartment.
Brianna rushing over to take care of me, the tortured look on her face when I
asked her to get into bed with me. It wasn’t my finest hour, but I needed her.
My soul cried out for her that night and she came, like she always did. She may
have ignored my wimpy confession, but when she said she loved me, I knew she
didn’t mean as only her best friend.
“Josh,”
Brianna pleaded on a whisper. “Don’t, please.”
“Don’t
please what, Bri?” Feeling brazen, I tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and
cupped her cheek. I ran my thumb along the delicate curve of her jaw. Her eyes
fluttered, urging me on. “Don’t touch you?” I let my finger drift over her full
bottom lip. “Don’t kiss you?” I whispered with a husky rasp. Our faces were so
close, our lips brushed. Brianna’s mouth parted, and I uttered a curse under my
breath. We were so damn close. All we had to do was close that distance. Her
hand drifted up my shoulder and clutched the back of my neck.
“Josh,”
Brianna sighed as she rested her forehead against mine. “We . . . We can’t.”
Her hand drifted down my jaw. Her hooded eyes and flushed cheeks disagreed with
the words sputtering from her mouth. I caught her hand and pressed a soft kiss
to her palm. It trembled as she took in a quick gasp.
“Yes, we
can, Bri,” I whispered as I leaned in. “You’re so damn beautiful.” Shit, I almost tasted her. She stilled
as I cupped her neck and inched closer.
