Page 27 of Sweet Twins For My Brother's Best Friend

“I think it’s good?” Her opinion comes out like a question, with a tiny shrug to accompany it. It’s cute to see her unsure of herself, looking to me for answers.

I join her, moving close to her body, only a bowl between us, and dip my finger into it. “It tastes good to me.”

I can feel her body emanating heat, and I see that her chest is moving rapidly, shallowly, a thing of flight. “Don’t doubt yourself. Have confidence in your choices.”

Her eyes meet mine, inches away, inches close, and she stumbles backward and bumps into the pan that I left on the hot burner.

It clatters to the ground, and Hannah instinctively moves to catch it. I grab her hand to pull her away before she can burn herself and pull her body into mine, swiftly taking the bowl out of her hand as I wrap my other arm around her waist. Tucking her head into my naked chest, she chuckles, “Thank you.”

Flutters wave through my stomach. “You’re welcome.” I snake my arm off her waist. “A couple of rules of the kitchen – don’t catch a falling knife and don’t catch a hot pan.”

Taking a step back, Hannah covers her eyes before ruffling her bangs. Sighing resolutely, she slaps her thighs with both of her palms.

“I’m going to let you do the rest.”

Before she can walk away, just as she pivots her hips away from me, I catch her by the hand and pull her back, smiling at her.

“No, no, don’t give up. Pick it up and let’s keep going, Hannah Jackson.” I pick the bowl back up and push it against her chest.

Chapter Eleven

Hannah

Chris turns on the oven and hands me a pair of tongs. Using the knife he cut the bok choy with, he pushes the slices off into the bowl and says, “Mix it gently so you don’t tear the leaves, okay? You’ve got this.”

My mind races with the moment we shared earlier.What was that? Was he going to kiss me? Why wouldChriskiss me? And why did I want him to?

Because I did want him to. I’ve kissed men before. Not many, but I have kissed them. The thing is that when I go on dates, they always lean in for the kiss, and I pull away, afraid of what comes after the kiss.

Whatdoescome after the kiss, I wonder, as I absentmindedly stir the bok choy.

“What are you thinking about over there?” Chris asks me as he cuts a chicken. I’m grateful that he doesn’t ask me to help him with that. He seems aware of his audience.

Kissing you. What comes after a kiss.

“I need to use the restroom," I blurt out.

Looking confused, Chris tells me, “Okay, you’re allowed. Right down there.”

He uses his knife to point to a door visible down the hallway.

Embarrassed by my earlier admission, I nod and set the bowl down then walk calmly to the door, so that it doesn’t appear that I’m about to burst.

Once in there, I close the door of the bathroom and lean against it with both hands, holding it shut as though barricading it, as though Chris might break the door down and tell me that he knows I’m thinking about him romantically.

And I am, right? I’m thinking about Chris romantically?I’m having fun and thinking about having fun like this every day for the rest of my life…well, it doesn’t have to be Chris.

It could be fun to build a life with a man, and for the first time, I see that. I see how easy it would be to cook dinner together and giggle and…well, anyway, it doesn’t have to be Chris.

Just a man. If Tyler can find a good man just by accidentally being his roommate, maybe I could purposefully find love.

My breathing returning to normal, I turn and survey the bathroom for the first time, unfurling my eyes from their anxiously squeezed position.

I realize, not the first time, that Chris hasmoney.

You know someone has money when they miss the theft of over $120,00 a year from their business. He lives very well and his apartment is to die for.

His appliances are high end stainless steel, with a sub-zero frig and a Wolf range. The beautiful carved wood trim in his home is painted a deep forest green.

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