“…afterward, Rose?” Courtney is saying to me. “You really deserve a break.”
“Sorry,” I say, turning back to her. “I spaced out there for a second. What were you saying?”
She shakes her head and laughs. “I was saying that you and I need to go on a girls’ weekend soon. You deserve a break.”
“Sure. That sounds great.” As I meet her eyes and smile, fresh guilt runs through me. Shit. What am I doing, letting myself think about her brother? Courtney would never approve. And I especially can’t let anything happen on her wedding weekend, of all weekends.
No. I could never do anything to jeopardize my relationship with her. She’s been my best friend since middle school.
You don’t throw something like that away.
“We’ll make plans when you’re back from your honeymoon,” I tell her. Courtney and Leon are staying in Hawaii for another two weeks after the wedding, spreading out their stay across all the islands. “That is, if I can peel you two away from each other.”
Both Courtney and Leon laugh, and when they look at each other, they look giddy in love all over again.
I can’t wait to have that, too—someday, that is. At twenty-six, I’m not too worried about finding a husband yet, but I don’t not think about it, either. With all the wedding planning I do, it’s impossible to avoid having thoughts about what my own wedding and marriage will be like someday. I love the idea of having a partner in life, and of having a family with that person. It would make the good parts of life sweeter and the tough parts a little easier.
Right now, though, I need to stay focused on Courtney’s wedding and not my own imaginary one. And so I bring my attention back to the rehearsal dinner. The rest of it flies by, and before I know it, I’m saying goodnight to the last of the guests. Needing a moment of rest, I hang back in the lobby and plop down on a bench.
God, my feet are aching. These heels are going to be the death of me.
I cross one leg over the other, slip off my shoe, and knead the sole of my foot. I’ve just let out a sigh of relief when someone approaches.
When I look up, Evan is standing right in front of me.
“Mind if I take a seat?”
“Um…sure. Go ahead.”
He sits down on the bench beside me. “You’ve been working hard, taking care of everyone.”
“Part of the job,” I say, shrugging lightly. “I enjoy it.”
“But who takes care of you?”
“Oh, I don’t need…” My words choke off when he reaches out and brushes a strand of hair from my face. For a fraction of a second, his hand cups my cheek, and my heart thrums in my chest. I stare at him in disbelief as his eyes drop to the leg I have crossed over the other. Jesus. He’s making me tingle. Making me…wet.
“Can I?”
I swallow. “Can you what?”
“I saw you rubbing your foot. They must hurt.”
The thought of his hands massaging my feet sends another wave of lust between my legs.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Evan.”
“Having someone take care of you isn’t a good idea?”
“You and I aren’t a good idea. You’re my best friend’s brother.”
“And?”
I stand up. “I’m sorry. I need to go check on something.”
“What exactly do you need to check on?”
Fuck. He’s called my bluff.
“Just…something.” I turn and start to walk away before I do something I’ll regret.
“Rose, wait.”
When he reaches out and grabs my hand, I don’t resist. I let him turn me. I let him pull me into a little side hallway where we can be alone.
He’s so close to me now that I can smell the piney scent of his soap.
“I’m sorry,” he says, his expression serious. “It’s just that you do something to me. Ever since I saw you this morning, I can’t stop thinking about you.”
My heart stops. For a second, I swear, it just stops.
“I keep thinking about you too,” I say, my voice almost a whisper. His closeness is tangling my tongue and twisting all the thoughts in my brain. I want to tell him Courtney will be angry with us, that she warned me about him, but all I want is him. I want his hands and his lips on me.
And I must give that away in my face, because suddenly his lips are on mine and his hands are spread over my hips, inching my dress upward. His knee is between my legs, pushing my thighs apart.
I’m in very real danger of coming right here, in this hallway, before Evan’s fingers ever reach my panties.
A door slams somewhere nearby and the sound yanks me out of my lust-filled haze. I tear my lips away from Evan’s and press my hands firmly against his chest, struggling not to pull him in again.
“Did I hurt you?” Evan says, his voice deep with concern.
“No. But we can’t, Evan. Not this weekend. Not ever.”
And then I slide out from between Evan and the wall and rush away.
Chapter Four
Evan
Rose’s words are still stinging in my chest when I wake up the next morning. We can’t, Evan. Not this weekend. Not ever.
I almost went after her again after she walked away from me last night. Almost told her that after kissing her sweet lips, I now know she’s the one. But I stopped myself because I knew she needed some space, and I was still processing the realization myself.
She is the one, though. She’s the only woman for me. I’ve never known anything with so much certainty.
Now I just have to prove to her that I’m the man for her.
I push the blankets off and sit up on the edge of the hotel bed, scrubbing my hands across my sleep-creased face. After a quick shower, I head down to the dining room to find some breakfast.
She’s there, of course. Looking just as gorgeous as yesterday as she stands in front of the buffet trying to decide which breakfast pastry to pick.
“Good morning,” I say as I walk up beside her.
There’s a flash of something in her eyes as she looks up at me. “Morning.”
“The cinnamon rolls look good.”
“Yeah. They do. But I really shouldn’t…” She looks down at the plate in her hand, which has fruit and scrambled eggs on it. “I’ve been trying to watch my diet.”
“Why? You’re perfect.”
I love the flush that crawls up her neck and over her cheeks.
“Come sit with me,” I say.
“Evan, I don’t think—”
“I’ll be good. Won’t try to kiss you. Scout’s honor.”
She presses her lips together, considering my promise, then helps herself to one of the cinnamon rolls.
“Okay,” she says. “Lead the way.”
We walk over to a corner table with a beach view. As she gets settled, I go pour us each a coffee. When I return to our table and dig a handful of creamers and sugar packets out of my pocket, Rose laughs.
“What?” I say, smiling as I sit down. “I didn’t know how you take your coffee.”
“I just like a little cream.”
“I’ll remember that for next time.”