Page 56 of Sweet Harmony

It was true, hehad been acting weird and shit. She’d had supper with Grace lastnight and, without telling her what happened on Saturday, asked herwhat Connor’s mood was like.

“Terrible,”Grace had sighed. “He’s been a real bear all week. Why? Did you twohave a fight?”

She’d brushedoff the question and although she could tell that Grace wasn’tbuying any of her excuses, she didn’t question Kira further.

She stared ather message, rereading it quickly.

Hey. Mybrother wants us to come over for dinner at his place tomorrownight around six. Are you available? Fair warning, he’s even moresuspicious because I couldn’t tell him where you lived.

She hit sendand then hesitated before typing some more and sending it.

Hope your kneeis better. Are we even still fake dating?

She didn’t haveto wait long for a response. Her phone dinged and she scanned histext a little too eagerly.

Hi. Yes, we’restill fake dating and yes, I’m available for dinner tomorrow. I’llpick you up at quarter to six.

She slumped inher chair. That was it?

What wereyou expecting?Her inner voice sounded grumpy.

She didn’tknow, she supposed. It’s not like he would tell her he missed heror something. Or that, like her, he’d slept terribly the last fournights with weird sex-dreams that left him cranky and sexuallyfrustrated.

She rubbed herforehead before leaving her phone on the table and heading upstairsto draw a bath. Maybe the combination of a hot bath and – hercheeks flushed – some dedicated time spent masturbating would helpher actually sleep tonight.

* * *

Worried hisknee was still bothering him, she was waiting on the porch when hepulled into the driveway the next night. She hurried down thestairs and climbed into the car, giving him a tentative smile.“Hey.”

“Hi, Kira.”

“Thanks fordoing this.”

“Ofcourse.”

“My brotherlives on Wilshire Avenue.” She put her seatbelt on as he pulled outof the driveway.

“Allright.”

There wassilence and hating the awkwardness between them, she said, “Connor,I -”

“Kira, Ishouldn’t -”

They bothstopped and she smiled at him. “Go ahead.”

“I shouldn’thave acted the way I did on Saturday. I’m sorry. I was wondering ifwe could just, I don’t know, forget the fight and start over? I wasin pain and being an idiot.”

“Yeah, I’m - Imean, I wasn’t exactly acting mature, so, I’m sorry too.”

“So, truce?”His dimple deepened when he smiled at her and a healthy dose oflust washed over her.

“Truce.” Shesilently thanked God she’d had the foresight to wear a tank top,t-shirt and a thick sweatshirt to hide her traitorous nipples.She’d discovered over the last few days that justthinkingabout Connor and his perfect mouth, made her nipples go hard.Seeing his mouth in person, with that stupidly adorable dimple,proved she didn’t stand a chance.

The idea thather brother might realize she was horny was too horrifying to evenproperly comprehend.

“So, uh, howwas work this week?” she asked.

“Good, busy.How about you?”

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