Page 6 of Beach Cottage Kisses
She took a step back. To the side. Seemed to be focused on his nose. “I’m sorry, too.”
Wait. Why was she apologizing?
She didn’t appear at all affronted, accosted or defensive.
Just seemed…about as uncomfortable as he was.
“We don’t do this,” he said then, to be clear.
She looked him in the eye. “No, we don’t,” she said, her tone unequivocal.
And the prosecutor in him had to tell the story to the court. To get it officially established. “It was a strange-as-hell day. The wedding. All the kissing. We’ve been thrown together as a couple. Neither of us had dates. And…it’s Sage. She was one of us, and now…she’s not.”
One of the single-for-life residents on Ocean Breeze. There weren’t all that many of them. There had been three. Only two left.
“Yes, that’s all it was.” Iris was nodding. Vigorously. To the point that, for a second there, Scott was put out. His ego taking a hit that she found the idea of sex with him so abhorrent.
Until his brain kicked in and relief soon followed.
Iris took another step back, then, looking straight at him, said, “I value you more than just about anyone else on earth.”
Mixed signals! Stepping back. But confessing…what? Iris had feelings for him?
Panic returned, in triplicate. Attacking his mind. His body. His emotions. Consuming him.
“Sex isn’t something I can offer, Scott. But the thought of losing your friendship scares me even more…”
Wait. What? She didn’t want sex, but she’d be willing to have it to keep his friendship? Scott’s body came out of panic mode first. Appreciating the gorgeous woman with her long auburn hair loose and curling around her shoulders,those vivid green eyes and a body to die for.
His heart followed next. She didn’t want sex. She did wantthem.
And his mind skidded in. “Our friendship means the world to me, too,” he said. Taking a step closer to her. Meeting her eye to eye. “Seriously, Iris. You, us…as we’ve been these past three years…it’s all Icando. It’s the only way I can have someone to come home to.” The words came out without forethought. Or even fore-realization.
And rang so true, he couldn’t look away from her.
She nodded. Smiled. And as he started to breathe again, she said, “I come home to you, too.”
His face split into a huge grin.
It was almost like they’d just done their version of a wedding.
“So we’re good?” he asked.
She nodded toward the bench as she spoke. “As long as we don’t do that again, we sure are.”
“Deal.” He held out his hand.
She took it.
They shook.
And headed in their own directions as they walked back inside. The bride and groom had left. Iris had end-of-the-night bridesmaid chores.
He had to take care of the final bar tab. Added a drink to it, and sat there, consuming slowly. Until he saw Iris get on the elevator.
Then, leaving his half-empty glass sitting there, Scott paid the tab.
And took the stairs.
