Page 54 of I'd Never Date my Best Friend's Brother

“I was starting to wonder if you would ever find the courage to ask her out, Jamie.” Mark slaps his son on the shoulder.

“Right?” My dad grins. “I don’t think we could’ve handled you looking at Evie like a love sick puppy much longer."

I feel heat creep up my face just as Jamie tucks his head in my shoulder.

“I’m gonna die of embarrassment,” he mumbles, his breath on my neck sending little tingles through my body.

I shake my head and giggle at his reaction. It just hits me that this is the first time Jamie is bringing someone ‘home’.

“This is what you get for never dating anyone seriously.”

“Hey,” he scoffs at me and rubs his chin on the side of my neck, tickling me. “Maybe I was just waiting for the moment you realized you were in love with me.”

I freeze at his words, and he rests his chin against my neck and I can feel his steady, warm breath on my skin. I turn in his arms and move my hands up his chest and around his neck. “How long have you been in love with me?”

The intensity in his eyes has my knees buckle and my stomach swoop. If he wasn’t holding me up, I’m pretty sure I’d melt into the floor. He slowly leans his head toward mine and whispers. “Maybe my whole life?”

“Maybe your whole life?” I gasp, pulling my head back.

“Maybe.” He nods, cupping my cheeks with his hands and pulling my face closer to his.

Just as his lips are about to touch mine, I hear Sean scoff.

“No maybe about it.”

I can feel Jamie’s laughter just as he places his lips on mine, warmth spreads throughout my body and just for a moment everyone fades away. I lean my body into him and let myself enjoy being kissed by the man I love.

“Are we ever going to start decorating this tree, or are we just going to watch Jamie and Evie kiss?” I feel my lips lift and a chuckle escape as I hear my dad’s pointed question.

Everyone laughs, but right before I let go of Jamie, I lean in, kiss him on the cheek and whisper. “Thank you for waiting.”

Before I can walk away, he whispers in my ear. “I thought I would be waiting forever.”

I go to smack him on the arm, but before I can, he pulls me into his arms and kisses me soundly.

Chapter 26

Jamie

“Please tell me that you didn’t put mistletoe out again tonight?” Liam shouts at Sean and Jessica as he comes out of the kitchen carrying a tray of cookies, followed by Tex, his emotional support dog. “Otherwise, I’m not sure we’ll be able to get anything done without Evie and Jamie sneaking away.”

“I seem to remember a time, not too long ago, when you and Penny were doing a lot of kissing, yourselves.” Evie chuckles, moving out of my arms to chastise her brother. “I don’t recall anyone heckling you this much.”

“That’s because Penny and I did the majority of our kissing on hikes,” he says matter of factly as he places the cookie tray on the table.

“Liam!” Penny screeches. Her face turns a brilliant shade of pink, and laughter rings throughout the room.

Tex and Liam run over to Penny, but Tex gets there first and licks her hand to help comfort her. By the time Liam reaches Penny, she’s sticking her hands out to keep him away. He ignores her and wraps his arms around her, pulling her close and giving her little pecks all over her face.

“Liam, stop.” Penny giggles.

“Did you just say that we wouldn’t be able to get anything done because of Jamie and Evie?” Sean stops stringing the popcorn garland. He shakes his head and snorts at his brother. “How about you and Penny take this into the kitchen, pop some popcorn, and grab the rest of the cranberries.”

Liam, with a big grin on his face, stretches his hand out to Penny, and together, they head into the kitchen with Tex following.

An image of Liam when he first came home from the military a little over a year ago flashes in my mind. He was completely withdrawn and somber, nothing like the Liam I remember as a kid. It’s so good to see him smiling, laughing, and enjoying life again.

I know he still has some challenges but for the most part he seems back to his happy-go-lucky self.

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