Page 85 of Falling for my Brother's Best Friend

Twenty-Six

Liam

Ishouldn’t press my luck, but when Savannah slides into the front seat of my car, agreeing to leave her SUV behind and get it tomorrow, a question rattles around in my head. And I’m probably the world’s biggest dumbass for asking, because it could derail this entire thing, but I have to know.

“Hey, Sav?”

She’s grabbing the seatbelt, so she can’t see that I’m not moving to start the car yet. “Yeah?” After she fastens her seatbelt, she finally notices.

“Why the change of mind?” I insert the key into the ignition to get the air conditioning going but turn down the music.

She swivels in the leather seat, the pie sitting between us. Her heated gaze in my direction diminishes, and I grab her hand before she can run in the opposite direction. She doesn’t pull away and my heart catapults at the idea that she finally might feel what I do. What I have for so long. That there’s something here we need to explore.

“I want to be here. With you. These past few weeks, things have shifted. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been attracted to you for years, but I’ve used every available excuse as to why we wouldn’t work. You’re younger. You’re my brothers’ best friend. You’re easygoing and I’m uptight. But I’ve figured out that I never knew the real you. I thought I did, but I didn’t.”

“And?” I can’t keep the hope from my voice.

She smiles a bit. “I don’t have all the answers, if that’s what you’re looking for. All I know is I’m exhausted from fighting whatever is happening between us. My arm is weak from holding you back.”

I tighten my grip on her hand, bringing it up to my lips to kiss the inside of her wrist. “Okay.”

“Okay?”

I nod. If I’ve learned anything about Savannah, it’s that she can’t be pushed. It’s taken me months to get her here. I tried to strong-arm her into seeing it and that didn’t work. Who knew standing back and being her friend would change her opinion of us? Asking her to define what we are right now isn’t the way to win her long term.

“Yep, okay. There’s just one promise I need from you.”

Her back presses to the window, and she examines me. “What?”

“You can’t run out of my bed this time.”

Her lips tip up and she slides closer, her free hand reaching for my face. Her fingernails thread through my hair and a shiver runs along my spine. “You’ll have to kick me out.”

I’m dying to kiss her, but there’s no way in hell I’ll be able to control myself if I do, and I’m not screwing her in my car for our first time. Maybe the second time, but definitely not the first. “Hold on, because this is going to be the fastest ride home.”

She giggles and slides over, holding the pie in her lap.

“I don’t give a shit about that pie now.” I eye it, pulling out onto Main Street.

“It’ll make for a good post-orgasm snack.” I can hear the smile in her voice.

“Babe, you’re gonna need an entire pie after I’m done with you.”

She laughs, and her fingers slide along my hard thigh. I capture her hand and entwine our fingers.

This is what I’ve wanted for so long. Savannah in my bed, sure. But the two of us like this, comfortable and happy in each other’s presence. That’s what makes me feel like a fucking king right now.

We pull up behind a Cadillac and Savannah and I glance at one another, seeing a familiar blue-haired woman behind the wheel. Dori brakes hard, forcing me to brake hard. Savannah barely grabs the pie before it smashes into my console.

“Thank you for that.”

She smiles at me then looks back at Dori’s land yacht. “She’s not supposed to be driving.”

“I know.”

After stopping for a full minute at the stop sign, Dori accelerates as though the white flag just got waved and there’s only one lap left. We hit the next stop sign, and again she waits a full minute. I check the clock. Turns out it’s only thirty seconds, but still.

“My guess is she doesn’t check her rearview mirror,” I grumble.

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