Page 32 of Bragg's Match

“But my sweats are too warm,” he complains.

“Don’t you have any pajama bottoms?”

“I don’t usually wear pajamas. In fact,” he lowers his voice to a gentle rumble that does not make my knees knock. It doesn’t! “I usually sleep in the nude.”

Stupid knees are definitely knocking now. “You are not sleeping in the nude with me,” I say to draw attention away from my unstable knees.

“Thus, the boxers.”

“Go find something else to wear. For all I care, wear a pair of jeans. It doesn’t matter. But your legs will be appropriately covered.”

“Geez. I didn’t know you were such a prude. Aren’t Winter Falls natives supposed to be all laissez-faire about sex?”

He had to say the s-word, didn’t he? Great. Now I can’t stop imagining him naked above me and plunging into me.

I mentally slap myself upside the head.Enough, Soleil.Roommates. You are roommates. Nothing more.

“I’m showering,” I say as I stomp toward the bathroom. “If you want to sleep in a bed tonight, put on some pants.”

I slam the door behind me before collapsing against it. How am I going to survive sleeping in the same bed with Brody and not attacking him? He better have paid extra for expedited delivery when he bought the replacement bed.

Chapter 12

Has anyone in this town heard of the word privacy? ~ Message from Brody on the Winter Falls Facebook page

Ienter the courthouse building where the Winter Falls monthly business meetings are held and peek inside the meeting room to scan for Brody. Phew. He’s in the back with his brothers while my friends are sitting near the front of the room.

Good. I can avoid him.

It seems silly to avoid a man who’s staying in my house but I can’t chance the rest of Winter Falls finding out about how attracted I am to him. Everyone will jump on the bandwagon to push us together. Never mind howIdon’t want to be attracted to Brody.

I creep to where my friends are sitting while keeping one eye out for Brody.

“Why are you sneaking around?” Ashlyn asks loud enough for the people in White Bridge, a thirty-minute drive away, to hear.

“I’m not sneaking around,” I lie.

She barks out a laugh. “And I’m not horny.”

“You’re always horny,” Moon says.

Ashlyn smiles. “Exactly.”

“How does your husband keep up with you?” I ask.

Her smile becomes wicked. “Don’t you worry. Rowan has plenty of stamina. I’d recommend dating a former football player, but I think you’ve got your eye on a different man.”

I scowl. “I don’t have my eye on any man.”

Eden chuckles. “You heard it here first, folks. We’re still in the denial phase.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “I’m not in denial.”

Harmony elbows me. “There’s no sense fighting it. Love will win in the end.”

“Where’s Robin? I want my cuddles.” If I have to put up with my friends teasing me, I deserve a reward. And what better reward is there than cuddles from a baby?

Harmony points to the back of the room where Elder is holding their baby with the rest of his brothers gathered around him. Brody catches my gaze and waves. I ignore him and whirl around in my seat.

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