Page 4 of Moments in Ink

I shook my head, grinning. “I will never feel sorry for the day that I forced you to read Derek Craven’s book.”

“Forced me?” Aaron asked, laughing.

“Okay, so I left it lying around, and you picked it up. But you kept reading. It makes me happy.”

“I’ve learned a lot about women by reading what I do. And I get to lord it over my brothers. That’s the best reason to keep doing it.”

“That is true. Although, you make your brothers sound larger than life.”

“You’re too late to meet any of them and marry into the family. They’re all taken. Even my sister.”

I grinned. “You and I went on asingledate, realized we weren’t suited for each other—even after we slept together, and it was pretty hot,” I said, and he rolled his eyes.

“Only pretty hot?”

“I mean, we were laughing the entire time. Though it was fun. And hot. And amazing. We’re still totally better as friends.”

“Fine, and I guess I wouldn’t have wanted you to date any of my family members because that’s just weird.”

“Even if they were still single, I would never date any of your brothers. Or your sister. I don’t play in the same sandbox where I’ve already been, so to speak.”

“That’s a picture, and good to know. Although Bristol is probably your type, now that I think about it.”

I frowned. “Wait. Bristol. I know that name.”

“You know it because I’ve mentioned her before most likely.”

Aaron and I were friends of a sort, had dated at one time, and did talk books. I was also his accountant, not that tonight was really about work. But I didn’t speak to him about personal things all the time. He might’ve mentioned his sister before, but admittedly, I was terrible with names.

“I think my neighbor mentioned a Bristol. At least, what I overheard. Bristol is a popular name nowadays, so it’s probably not the same person.”

“Your neighbor? Oh, right, you moved into that new home of yours. Good on you for already meeting the neighbors.”

I imagined those very dusky pink nipples peeking through the pale cream lacy bra she’d worn and swallowed hard, grateful that I wasn’t drinking any of my martini at the moment.

“Uh, yep. Just the one. I don’t know if anybody else lives there. But, oh, yes, I met her.”

“Her?” Aaron asked, waggling his brows.

“Yeah. Her. Anyway, I don’t know if I’ll see much of her.”

Not any more than I already have.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I don’t plan on spending a lot of time hanging out with my neighbors. I want to be at home to breathe.”

“I get that.” Aaron frowned. “I know it’s been a hell of a long time since you and I talked books, and even longer since you and I met up, but if you want to talk about it, I’m always here for you. I promise.”

He didn’t reach out and touch my hand or try to console me. He was merely nice.

And maybe I needed that, but I didn’t feel much like it just then.

“It’s not a big deal. I’m okay.”

And I was. Or at least I was learning what okay meant to me.

“Speak of the devil,” Aaron said and looked over my shoulder. He grinned, and I looked in the direction of this gaze and froze. My whole body warmed, almost as if the heat surrounding me wouldn’t let me breathe.

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