“Brian, did you hear me?” Janet’s slight southern accent barely penetrated my psyche.
I loosened my tie a little more, keeping my heated gaze on Grace. “Sorry.”
“You’re head over heels for her.”
“That would imply love, and I can assure you that I’m not. She’s my best friend’s sister.”
Janet snorted. “Let me rephrase. You have feelings for her. Your daughter once told me that she would love to see you and Grace together.”
I knew Fran wanted Grace to come to the banquet to share in the festivities. But I was starting to believe my daughter’s ulterior motive was getting Grace and me together.
Grace and Fran glided over to us.
“Dad, look who made it after all,” Fran gushed.
I was bursting with happiness as well that Grace had come for Fran’s sake. I was as ecstatic as my daughter for selfish reasons, though.
Grace and Janet exchanged pleasantries, having met each other at Dillon’s annual charity gala for the shelter last November.
Then Grace placed her hand on my chest. “Brian”—she pecked me on the cheek—“you’re looking as handsome as ever.”
I was itching to devour her lips, strip her of that dress, and make love to her until the sun came up. “You look beautiful.”
She blushed, flashing her sparkling brown eyes at me.
Janet gave me one of those looks that saidI told you so. Then she addressed Grace. “Fran tells me that you’re about to graduate from BU.”
I hated small talk, and if I stood there any longer drinking in Grace’s beauty, I might self-combust.
I checked my watch. We still had about twenty minutes before dinner, so I excused myself and headed outside.
The brisk night air swept over me, a welcome relief on my heated skin. Taking in several deep breaths, I found a spot under the portico.
Snow was falling at a steady rate. Barely an inch had fallen yesterday, but from the looks of it now, it appeared that the weather gurus were right about several inches of accumulation.
Footsteps clamored behind me, and a vanilla scent announced Grace’s arrival. For a moment, my muscles loosened, only to tense up again. I wasn’t one to run from anyone, but I wasn’t sure I could keep my hands to myself or my lips off hers.
Stop fighting. You deserve as much happiness as Duke.
“What are you doing out here?” Grace shivered and hugged herself. “Running from me?” Her tone was light, but underneath was nothing but bite.
I took off my suit jacket and draped it around her shoulders.
“Are you going to answer me?”
“What do you want me to say, Grace? That I want to kiss you again, only this time take it to the next level? That I want to touch you in places that are off-limits? That I’m going insane because I can’t get you out of my head? That I’ve had a thing for you for thirty-nine months?” I’d been counting. “That I can’t act on my urges without losing a friend?”
She hugged herself. “Screw my brother and the damn bro code. Don’t you think you deserve happiness? I know I do. And why not talk to him?”
I chuckled. “Because Duke is too pissed right now to see anything clearly. You know how he is. And to be honest, I got the sense in the gym that day that you came on to me because you needed my help.”
She rubbed her lips together. “Since we’re speaking truths, in a way I did. I didn’t fully realize that until Duke pointed it out. But I’ve had a crush on you since I was twelve. I never thought in a million years you would look at me as a woman you could be with rather than the little girl you met on a rainy day who was stuffing her face with vanilla ice cream.”
I clutched the jacket around her shoulders and lowered my head, our mouths barely a thread apart. “Which was why I called you vanilla bean.”
“I like ‘baby girl’ better.” Her tongue darted out to lick her lips.
I groaned, my cock bursting at the seams.Should I kiss her or not?
