Page 47 of That Time I Kissed The Groomsman Grump
“See? That’s what you do these days. Instead of making jokes, you grunt, or you get quiet, or you just leave the room completely. But that makes sense now. You’re not mad. You’re just… protecting yourself.”
“Hmm.” I shift on the couch.
“I rest my case,” Natalie says. “You’ve made a job out of not dealing with any real emotions.”
I run a hand over the back of my neck. “New subject, please.”
“All right.” Her smile is wry. “You want to go back to talking about how no man has ever loved me?”
My eyes flash. “You’re so wrong about that.”
“Ha! My dad and Beau don’t count,” she says.
My stomach lurches. How can Natalie not realize how tempting she is? “You’re going to find someone,” I say, and the truth of this statement is a knife in my gut. Still, I manage a half smile to match hers. “Trust me. Once you’re in LA, legions of men will be falling at your feet.”
She taps her chin. “I think I likedrovesbetter.”
“Then droves it is,” I say. But my ribs feel too tight now. I prefernomen falling at Natalie’s feet. Not even one. Not if it can’t be me.
In the silence that follows, her stomach rumbles. It’s just a tiny growl, but her face turns bright red.
“That’s it,” I say. “We need to get you fed.” I haul myself off of the couch, pulling my phone from my pocket. “I’ll call Patrick for an ETA. They’re taking way too long with that pizza.”
“They were so busy,” she says. “Let me check my phone again first.” When she makes a move to stand, I offer her my hand. My only goal is to help her up, but our fingers entwine, and heat shoots through my body.
Natalie gazes at me, then she takes a step closer. “Brady.” She says my name softly—on an exhale—and I’m flooded with desire. I wanted to kiss her six months ago. I want to kiss her now. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. But if she’s waiting for me to make the first move, we’ll be here all night. Anything that happens has to be on her terms.
“What do you want?” My question sounds like it’s been dragged over sandpaper.
“I don’t know,” she says. “But I trust you.” As soon as the words are out, I reach for her, placing my hands on her waist. Then I tug her toward me, widening my stance. I leave just enough room for her to get even nearer to me if she wants to.
Apparently, she wants to.
Moving into the space I made for her, Natalie tips her head up, parting her lips. I feel like I could stare at her all day. Like I could kiss her senseless. Like I need to make her mine. But I wait. I brought us to this point. The rest is up to her now.
She lifts both her hands and lays one palm on my cheek, feathering the other along my jaw. I haven’t shaved in days, and her fingertips scrape the roughness. I reach up and drag my thumb over her knuckles, slowly, one finger at a time. Then I move my thumb over to her lower lip, drawing it along the base of her mouth. She’s so soft. Sweet and ready. I’m on fire for this woman. Nothing but bones and blood and desire. It’s going to take every ounce of strength to hold back. To control myself.
Only for her.
“Is this a mistake?” she whispers.
“Probably,” I admit. I’ve never hated three syllables more.
She moves half an inch closer, and our eyes lock.
“I don’t mess around, Nat. I’m not that kind of guy.”
“I believe you.” Her sentence ends on the softest of sighs, and she stretches her neck until her lips fall just short of brushing mine. In this moment, I’d do anything for her. In all the moments. Whatever she needs.
“Natalie.” I murmur her name. My heart is a mallet, pounding me to dust. Except it’s not actually my heart that’s pounding.
Someone’s knocking on the door.
ChapterNineteen
NATALIE
As Brady pulls away, I gather his scrubs in my fists and cling to him. “Noooo,” I moan, burying my face in his chest.
