Page 19 of Thanking Her Brother's Best Friends

"I love ’em too. I'd never lie. But I don't do relationships. I feel it's best to just go into everything being as open-minded as you can be. And sometimes, relationships take away from the better things in life."

I nodded. This should have comforted me because I wasn't looking for a relationship either.

At the most, I could do a long summer fling—hell, a very long one for someone this hot. But somewhere, his words struck me. It was that age-old aching spirit coming alive inside me, telling me, "Look, you've found your next project."

I needed to sit down with that spirit and tell them that every unavailable and single man did not need to become a project. That I could do without needing them to fall in love with me.

Maybe this was life's way of teaching me to grow up.

Adulting at thirty-two. Sounded nice enough. Better late than never, at least.

"I get that. I'm at a place in my life where the idea of a long-term thing freaks me out too. I think I have room for only Ollie and Ben in the long run of things."

"Well, I gotta admit that stings a little," he replied, his tone teasing me. "But good for you, Selene. You deserve to get out there and explore life, have fun, and play."

He moved closer, and suddenly, his hand was on mine, and he was looking straight into my eyes. "You've had a tough run. A very long one too. Maybe you should let some guys into your life, guys who can tease and torment, ease that little wildcat out of you."

It wasn't what he said so much as thewayhe said it. The rich baritone of his voice enveloped my skin. It made my fingers tremble as he ran his thumb over my knuckles.

He was saying things that should have made me run, but all I wanted was to kiss him.

He was human and flawed, but so was I. This was no recipe that I could perfect, no dish that could be made a certain way.

As if he'd read my mind, his mouth moved closer, so close I could smell the mint on his aftershave and feel the hot air between us graze the open skin of my shoulders.

I instinctively arched against his lips, wishing he'd get closer.

"The tastiest of dishes happen because the chefs trust their gut and the moment," he whispered. "Nothing exciting comes out of routine, Selene."

"You're being inappropriate," I said, but my tone meant something else. It was whispery, quiet, and laced with how much I wanted him to touch me.

"Am I?"

"This isn't normal."

"Isn't it amusing that we're all trying so hard to be normal when we could be fucking fascinating instead?"

"I—"

"Don't you want..."

He let the unfinished sentence hang in the air like a loose thread. I wanted to snatch at it.

Yes,the Chloe-like voice inside my head told me.Kiss him. Turn around so he can kiss you.

God damn it, I thought to myself.

But then, Aiden paused seconds shy of his lips touching my neck and let out a low rumble of laughter that sent chills up my spine. "Come on, let me take you to the kitchens. That's where the real magic happens."

I half-stumbled into his arms, almost wanting him to carry me into the kitchen. I told myself I hadn't fallen to the point where I had to become a damsel in distress just because Aiden was so unfairly hot and squared my shoulders.

His smile remained intact as if he were teasing me, wanting to see how far I could take it before succumbing to his bad-boy charm. Ugh.

"I'm coming," I told him, and he just chuckled.

"That sounds like a very welcome proposition for another time."

I blushed harder, wondering whether he had this uncanny ability to make everything I said sound deliciously dirty.

---