Page 32 of Friends With Benefits

“You two look very sophisticated tonight,” she told them, giving them big hugs, which they returned. “Are you enjoying the party?”

“It’s cool, Aunt Kerri! And I love your yoga studio,” Claire said.

“Thank you.”

Sela’s husband, Doug, appeared and put his arm around his wife.

“I don’t know how you do it,” he told her admiringly. Sela smiled happily and reached out to smooth a lock of hair off her younger daughter’s cheek.

Sela’s daughter Jasmine snorted. “Dad! Last night you told her she was a controlling b—”

“Oh, Jasmine, never mind that.” Sela said with a light laugh. “Why don’t you and Claire go find your brother?”

“But…” Jasmine started to protest, but Sela was shepherding everyone across the room for an impromptu tour.

Kerri watched them all disappear, left alone. She could have gone with them, but all the fun had been sucked out of the evening. She sighed. Much as she wished she could just leave, she was stuck there for the duration. Time for another glass of wine.

As she waited for her drink, Mitch appeared beside her. He leaned his elbows on the bar, beer bottle clasped between his hands, head bowed.

“Are you having fun?” he asked.

“No.”

“Me neither.” He looked at her. “I hate this, Kerri.”

Her heart tightened painfully. “Me, too,” she whispered.

“What do I have to do to fix things? Just tell me.”

She tilted her head up to look at him, and laughed humorlessly. “Hell if I know.”

He put an arm around her, hand on her waist, and pulled her closer to his side.

She tried to pull away. “I don’t think this is going to fix things.” He pulled her back. “Seriously, Mitch.”

“What?” he murmured.

She stepped away from him, but it was difficult. Heat flared in her at his touch. His hand drifted across her back and found bare skin where her dress was cut low, sending shivers through her that were not unpleasant. Her breasts felt full and heavy and her heart pumped wildly. She bit back a moan.

“Tell me, Kerri,” he murmured, again pulling her closer. This time she softened, savored the warmth of his body, the comfort of feeling someone big and strong close to her. Oh, no. No, no, no.

“Tell you what?”

“How to fix things. How to fix us. ’Cause I don’t have a hot clue. I know I screwed up, but I apologized and I’ve been trying to act like it never happened.”

“You act like you hate me,” she whispered, staring at the glass of wine in front of her.

“God, no! Of course I don’t hate you. You’re the one who’s acting likeyouhateme.”

“Should we fight over that, too?” Humor tugged the corners of her mouth as she raised her eyes to his. He smiled and his amber eyes were warm as they turned to face each other, bodies brushing together. Electricity sizzled and their eyes joined like lasers, each of them unable to look away. Again, her breasts swelled, nipples tingling agonizingly, and she melted, a slow liquid heat deep inside her. Her lips parted a little and when his eyes dropped to her mouth, she grew hotter. Her mouth actually watered, wanting to open and feel his mouth on hers, his tongue inside her.

“We can’t do this,” she whispered, trying to fight the sensations swirling through her, trying to be sensible.

“Maybe this is how we fix things,” he murmured, gaze still locked on her mouth.

She shook her head. “No,” she choked out. “We’re just making things worse.”

Suddenly, they both became aware they were in a crowded room. Kerri glanced around and damned if Miguel and Hailey weren’t across the room, watching them stand there as if they were about to kiss.

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