Page 55 of Clean Out of Luck

Wade throws his hands up in the air. “I’m sorry, Scarlett. I really am. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings—that’s the last thing I want.”

“Wade, I don’t want your pity, and I don’t want your overprotectiveness. I need you to get out.”Before I say something that will forever change the way he looks at me.

Now, he glares at me. “I am not pitying you. Good grief.”

“And I don’t want you to try to be a brother to me.”

Wade steps forward with a confusing smirk on his face. “Trust me, I don’t want to be a brother to you.”

“Good. Because I’m getting plenty mad at the way you’re interrupting every date I go on.” I wave a hand through the air. “I know tonight was warranted.”

“Pun intended?” Wade asks, the corners of his mouth tipping up a little.

“Of course. But you have been all up in my business, and I cannot take it another day.”

My tone is desperate, and something in it must reach through that dense skull of his.

Wade pulls back. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Ever since Phoenix left, you’ve been over here playing big brother. But you’re not my brother. And I’ve noticed that, but I don’t think you have.”

“Wait—I don’t know if I understand anything you just said,” he says softly.

“I’m spending more time thinking about you than the men I go out with,” I mumble, the words tumbling out before I have the good sense to stop them.

Wade’s eyes go wide. This is not good. I shocked him. The poor thing may never recover.

But then he does. He takes another step toward me. He reaches a hand out and touches my cheek. “You feel it too, don’t you?” he says softly.

Too?So I’m not the only one dealing with a racing heart every time we touch?

I don’t know what possesses me. But the words leave my mouth before I’ve even thought them.

“Wade Hendrix, you owe me a goodnight kiss.”

Chapter Seventeen

Wade

There must be sucha thing as magic, or angels, or some kind of force of utter happiness, because I’m pretty sure Scarlett just told me that I owe her a kiss.

Me.I didn’t think she even realized I existed beyond being here to annoy her.

She looks just as stunned by the admission, but I’m not one to let an opportunity slip by. Not when it comes to the woman who has been consuming my every waking and sleeping thought.

I take a quick step forward and wrap an arm around her waist, tugging her close against me. “Scarlett…I promised you a goodnight kiss. But I don’t think you know the kind of kiss I want.”

She tips her chin up in a challenge. “Oh, really?”

“I’m not talking about giving you a quick goodnight kiss on the cheek. If I kiss you goodnight, I’m going to take my time and make sure it’s a thorough goodnight kiss that you’ll never forget.”

Her eyes go wide as saucers at my words.

“Wade, I—” She swallows audibly. “Wade. I want to know.”

“I’ve felt this pull between us. Why do you think I can’t stay away? I’m not coming around here as a favor to your brother. I’m coming here for you, Scarlett. And if I kiss you goodnight tonight…it just might change things forever.”

She nods once. “We could just try it, and if we don’t like it, we could keep being friends.”

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