Page 16 of Wanting Happily Ever After

“I thought maybe he’d come in for a nightcap.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Isn’t that how dates go?”

“Is it?” She put her glass of water down and jumped up to sit on the kitchen island. Her bare legs dangled over the edge. “I guess I wouldn’t know,” she continued. “That’s the first date I’ve been on since I was seventeen.” She tipped her head and winked at him. “Did I do it wrong?”

Was she flirting with him?

Every part of him was on high alert. A low vibration started to thrum through his body. “No,” he said slowly. “I think you did it just right.”

“By sending him home?” She leaned back on her arms, which had the very desirable effect of pushing her breasts out against the thin material of her sundress.Damn.“That was the right dating protocol?”

She was definitely flirting with him.

Brody had to swallow back a low growl that threatened to escape from deep inside him. Before he could answer her, she lifted an eyebrow in the direction of his sponge and the counter he was still scrubbing at. “Did you make a mess of things?”

She had no idea.

“You could say that.” His voice was low and rough. Brody tossed the sponge aside and crossed the short distance to stand in front of Sarah. He’d had way too much of the distance between them. And maybe he was reading things wrong. Maybe he’d always been reading things wrong. But he didn’t care. If sitting around in her house while she went out on a date had taught him anything, it was that he knew exactly what he wanted. And it was his best friend.

And he hoped like hell she wanted him too.

He reached out to brush her long, dark hair from her bare shoulder. The touch of her skin sent a shock through him, and he didn’t miss the way her body shuddered, ever so slightly. “I’ve made a huge mess of things.” He lowered his voice as he let his thumb gently stroke her cheek. Her eyes closed and a small sigh escaped her lips before she once more looked at him. When their eyes locked, he knew he hadn’t misread a thing. “But it’s nothing I can’t fix.” He spoke the words as he took his chance and leaned in.

He was going to kiss her.

Brody was going to kiss her.

Sarah’s entire body went into full alert.

It also went into full betrayal mode by lighting up like a freakin’ Christmas tree at the prospect.

Her body wanted his lips on hers.

Her brain…well…hell.

Right before his lips touched hers, she scooted to the side of the counter and hopped down. “I’m hungry.” She opened the fridge and stuck her head inside, using the cool air to calm her and give her a minute to think. “The salads at the Knot are never any good.”

“Sarah?”

She ignored him and took another breath.

“Sarah, I didn’t…well…I’m—”

She grabbed a container of yogurt and spun around in time to stop him from apologizing. “Don’t,” she said. “Please don’t apologize for…well, for whatever it was that was just about to happen.”

“A kiss.”

He took a step toward her, but thankfully kept his distance. She didn’t know whether she was going to be able to stay strong if he came any closer becausedamndid he ever smell good and every single cell in her body was screaming out to reverse time and let his lips press to hers. It had been so long since she’d been kissed.So long.

“A kiss was about to happen,” he continued. “And I think I really should apologize. I…” He ran a hand through his thick hair and it took up in all different adorable angles. He chuckled a little. “I guess I just read that situation wrong. I thought maybe you—”

“I do. I mean, I did. I mean…I don’t know what I mean.” She held the yogurt in her hands and stared at it. “I’m so confused,” she said honestly.

“About yogurt?” He teased. “It’s just a snack. Not a life-or-death decision.”

She couldn’t help it; Sarah smiled and lifted her gaze. Brody was watching her with a kind smile.

---