Page 29 of Henley

“Yeah, I did, and there is a small bag on the counter with a snack for me to eat so I can take my next dose. Would you mind getting it for me?”

“Sure,” I told her and set her overnight case down to collect the other bag. As I walked away, I heard her hissing in a low voice toward her brother, and I decided that she sent me this way so she could have words with him. I took my time, and it wasn’t until I heard the door close with a bang that I grabbed the small cooler bag and returned.

“I’m sorry about that,” she said as soon as I joined her.

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault that he’s an ass.”

She chuckled. “He is.” She put a hand on my arm. “And I appreciate the fact that you see him for what he is.”

I smiled down at her. “It’s okay. I get it. I really do. We should get going.” I went to step around her, and she grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop.

I quirked a brow at her, and she bit her bottom lip. “Can we try that again?”

“Try what again?”

“That thing that we were about to do upstairs.”

A slow smile spread over my lips as I turned fully toward her. “You mean the kiss that I was about to give you?”

She nodded.

“You want me to kiss you?”

“Yes, please,” she said on a breathy sigh.

I chuckled as I set her snack bag next to her other one and turned back to her, stepping closer. For a few heartbeats, we stared at one another, and I was glad that she’d asked for this. Since Wednesday I had been thinking about what it would be like to kiss her and had been very disappointed that we’d been interrupted.

I cupped her cheek, brushing my thumb slowly over her soft skin, and leaned forward. Our lips touched tenderly, then again as she placed her hands on my chest. I tilted my head slightly to deepen it, hoping she would accept it. Her palms slipped up my chest and around my neck as she held me tightly to her.

Chapter Eleven

Roxanne

Ihad literally pictured just this scene before he arrived. Lee being the sweet man he was, on his knees, helping me put my feet into my shoes. Him helping me stand and then slowly leaning down to kiss me. It was exactly like I had imagined until my stupid brother showed up.

I knew that the only reason Roman had come over was to get in the way and try to be a he-man. I was so thankful that Lee didn’t seem to be bothered by his obnoxious display. After asking him to get my snack bag, I spun on my brother.

“You are an ass!” I hissed at him softly. “How dare you come over here and try to intimidate Lee. Get out of my house and don’t come back until you can behave.”

“Roxanne, I’m just looking out for you.”

“Don’t!” I snapped. “I can take care of myself. Now go away, Roman. I mean it.”

“Fine, whatever. I don’t know why I even bother. When he breaks your heart, don’t come crying to me.”

Since when had I ever gone crying to him about someone breaking my heart? What a moron. I kept my mouth closed and was thankful that Lee had given me a moment to deal with this. As soon as the door was closed, I heard Lee coming back down the hallway.

I didn’t want to think about my brother. I wanted to go back to where we had been before Roman had shown up. Would Lee still want to kiss me? Had he only tried to kiss me because we’d gotten caught up in the moment upstairs? I didn’t think so—I hoped that wasn’t the case.

I had a feeling that Lee was as interested in me as I was in him, and when he tenderly kissed me, I knew I was right. His touch was so gentle, so caring, and it immediately made me feel better.

After a few moments, we pulled apart, but instead of stepping away, he rested his forehead to mine. “Thank you.”

“Thank you?” I chuckled softly.

“Yes.” His blue eyes gazed into mine as he pulled back. “Thank you for being you, and for that.”

“I think it is me that should be thanking you. I wasn’t sure you would be interested in kissing me after that dramatic display from my brother.”

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