Page 65 of Best Kept Secret

“You look alike,” she said, enjoying his body heat against her back.

“We can look at family pictures later,” he said, and he slipped his arms around her.

She gently replaced the frame and turned to face him. “Good idea.”

“I’ve been waiting for this all day,” he said, tugging her closer.

“I’ve been waiting even longer than that,” she blurted out. So much for subtlety!

He brought a hand up and cupped her cheek. Brushing his thumb back and forth, he said, “How long?”

Risking sounding like a teenager with a crush, she said, “I’ve been attracted to you since the first time we met.”

“I’m glad I wasn’t the only one.”

A wave of relief washed over her, and she pressed her body closer, anxious to feel every inch of him.

“I dreamt about this a lot,” she said, feeling freer than she had in a long time.

“Me too. Probably more than I should have.”

She leaned into his warm palm and smiled up at him. “I’m not some innocent little girl, you know.”

“I know. It’s just…”

“Just what?”

“I always thought you were too good for me.”

Her eyes went wide. “I hope I didn’t make you feel that way.” She was appalled at the thought of it.

“No. It wasn’t you.”

She’d always thought he seemed so confident, so in control, and she was surprised by his vulnerability. Sliding her hands up his chest, she looped them around his neck.

“Was it my brother, then?”

He shook his head and averted his eyes. “It’s…complicated.”

Rather than get into a deep discussion that was obviously making him uncomfortable, she decided to distract him.

“Maybe we should just stop talking for a while. What do you think?”

“I think that’s the best idea you’ve had since the patriotic cupcakes.”

She laughed, feeling light and airy again.

“Sit down with me?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He led her to the bed, and they perched on the edge of it, eyeing each other hungrily.

“It’s kind of stuffy in here,” she said, trying to nudge him along.

“I could turn up the air conditioning.” He started to rise, but she placed a hand on his shoulder to keep him there.

“Or we could take some clothes off.”