Hearing the front door open, I spun around in the threshold of the kitchen, startled. At first, when I realized it was just Bronson, I relaxed knowing there was no threat. Then my gazeroamed the eye-candy in front of me and I became aware that the threat was very real.
To my lady bits as Capri had called them at the party.
A tingling sensation began and then turned into a full-fledged throbbing as my panties dampened with desire. He was beautiful. If he could read my mind, he as a man would probably want me to use a description much more manly and Lord knows I could come up with a million ways to describe how sexy he was, but he was beautiful to me so he’d have to live with that. If I ever told him so.
Bronson, however, might like to hear how he was affecting me, yet something in his eyes told me he knew it without me uttering a word.
He stood, his hulking frame taking up the entryway, clad in only a pair of basketball shorts, his smooth bronzed skin shining as bright as the morning sun at his back. Sculpted abs, muscular arms, and tattoos begged my lips to run over them and not let up until I finished kissing every inch of his perfect body. And don’t get me started on his bare feet again. Why they did it for me I had no clue, but damn my heart was pumping hard just looking at them.
My gaze traveled back up the work of art that if painted, could probably sell for more money than the original Mona Lisa, to meet Bronson’s stare. He raised a brow and flashed me a mischievous smirk that emphasized the light stubble on his face.
What would that feel like against my—
“If you go there this thing between us is going to be moving a whole lot faster than it has been, sweetheart.” He rubbed his hand over his chin which only made my mind go right back to where it had been before he interrupted the beginning of my fantasy. “You can’t eye-fuck me like that and expect me not to reciprocate.”
Holy cheeseballs, he did not just say that.
“Only it won’t just be my eyes doing the work.” He ran his gaze up and down my body. “You can bet my mouth will cover every inch of your lush body and my cock will have you screaming my name.”
Yup, he said all that.
Where was my sweet best friend and who was this dirty talking sex god?
When he said cock, it was like a beacon in the night and my orbs snapped to his impressive package that tented his shorts, making my mouth water. My tongue with a mind of its own peeked out, sliding across my lips.
“You’re playing with fire, Cupcake.”
That was all he got out before a pitter-patter of feet sounded against the hardwood floor and Stormi called out.
“Where is Bronson?”
All the desire fled from his handsome face, replaced by panic, and the man himself turned, fleeing fast, my laughter following him out. Bronson was a born athlete. As quarterback of the football team in high school and captain of the basketball team as well, he was quick on his feet, but I’d never seen him run like he did just then, with the hounds of hell chomping at his heels.
I knew it wouldn’t have been good for my daughter to catch him in the state he was in right then. A very impressive state that was for sure, but not one Stormi needed to see. I still couldn’t help the laughter bubbling inside me at his facial expression. It was something I would tease him immensely about for a long time to come.
Hopefullyforever.
Floatingon the lake with Bronson brought back so many memories.
Stormi was eating up all his attention as he and she fished off the small boat while she chattered on faster than the birds happily chirping from the trees around us. It was almost a replica of summer days with Bronson and me, except for one thing.
My daughter didn’t cry her eyes out or try to throw the fish she caught back in the lake. She happily put it in the bucket and played a new game of twenty questions, asking how they cook it. I shivered at the thought, attempting to not look at the poor wiggling little creature. When my gaze landed on Bronson a knowing look twinkled in his eyes.
And he took pity on me.
Somehow with ease, because this was Bronson and my child adored him, he convinced her to let the fish go. I would have never asked her to do that, she needed her own experiences and to find her likes as well as dislikes. They didn’t have to be the same as me. I wanted my beautiful girl to be her own person and explore anything her heart desired.
Well, within reason that was.
Bronson turned and gave me a wink and my insides turned to goo. He’d done that for me just like he had so many times before and my heart turned at the thought that maybe, just maybe, it was truly possible we not only had our friendship back but could be something more.
Yet, all thewhat ifsstill played on repeat in my head, worried I’d get hurt again.
“Mom, look!”
Turning to Stormi, I followed the line of her finger as she pointed at something.
“It’s your best friend’s house. Let's go look and see if he’s home yet.” She looked at me, dropping her hand, a hopeful, butempathetic expression on her face. “Then you won’t be sad he’s gone anymore.”
