Page 78 of I'd Never Date my Brother's Best Friend

Sean puts his hand on my cheek and looks into my eyes. “I love you, Jessica Stewart. I love you so much.”

I’m going to melt at his feet. “I—I can’t believe this,” I say, flustered.

Sean grins. “Cat got your tongue?” He throws back at me, and I pull my hand away from his and hit him on his shoulder.

“Shut up, Sean. I’m trying to process this.”

“Process what?” He asks. “That I love you? I know you think because I’m sexy, talented, and—”

“Oh my goodness.” I roll my eyes and start to leave the couch, but Sean pulls me onto his lap and wraps his arms around my waist.

“I love your grumpiness,” he whispers. “I love your attitude, your determination, everything. Jessica, I love everything about you.”

I can’t seem to make myself relax as I sit stiffly, afraid to cross a boundary. Sean tips my chin toward him and gazes pointedly into my eyes.

“Jess,” There’s no trace of laughter, and that tingle down my spine is back. “You don’t have to say anything,” he says seriously. “I’m not trying to rush you. But I’ve got to tell you how I feel. I can’t stand another day going by without you knowing it.”

I open my mouth, but Sean beats me to it. “I told you I love you because I need you to know, not because I think you owe it to me to—”

“Sean.” I touch a finger to his lips. “Can you please be quiet?”

His eyes light with that teasing glint that I’ve adored forever. “I will go on an official date with you and I will go because I love you too.”

The smile that spreads across his face takes my breath away, and in the next second, he crushes me in a hug that really does steal my breath. I let out a laugh.

He pulls away, and his eyes narrow. “You love me?”

“In spite of my better judgment, yes.” He growls at me. “Although I’ve been fighting it for a while now.”

His eyes widen. “You are so hard headed! But that is just another thing I love about you.” He laughs with shining eyes. “I am so grateful you are mine, and I’m never letting you go. No matter how stubborn or grumpy you get. I will always be here. Always.”

Tears prick the back of my eyes. I am so overwhelmed with happiness. Sean’s gaze falls to my lips and my breath catches. I’ve always wondered what it would be like to kiss him, and it looks like I’m finally about to find out. This moment feels surreal.

Sean just told me he loves me and now he is so close to me that I can feel his breath on my face.

“Jess,” he whispers, as his gaze meets mine. “May I kiss you?”

I put my hand on each side of his face and touch my lips to his. At first the touch is easy and soft, then I hear Sean groan and he draws me closer so that there is no space between us. He takes over the kiss and it is better than I could’ve ever imagined. Filled with longing, love, and sweet promises of a beautiful future together.

“That was better than I imagined it would be,” he says as he rests his forehead against mine.

“So much better,” I say slightly breathless. “Everything feels unreal.”

“For me too,” he agrees. “I feel like I might wake up any moment now only to find that I’ve been dreaming.”

“Evelyn will be so shocked to hear this,” I say, thinking about how I walked out of Evelyn’s office because she’d told me Sean liked me. Now, it’s happening!

“Apparently,” Sean plants a kiss on my cheek. “Everyone knows.”

“Knows what?”

“What we feel for each other,” he says, making me confused.

“I don’t understand you, Sean.”

“After I met you outside earlier this morning, I went to Jamie.”

At the mention of my brother’s name, I sit up. Sean smiles like he knows what’s going through my mind. “I told him how I felt about you, there’s nothing to worry about.”

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