We chatted through dinner, keeping the conversation light while we devoured the burgers along with the fry mountain, which was really just a big mess of fries piled high in the center of a plate.
When Candy came back to check in on a dessert order, Marissa shook her head. “I shouldn’t.”
“It’s Valentine’s Day. This is the one day of the year when youshould,” I told her.
I knew she was thinking about her weight. She’d always been self-conscious of it. You don’t know how badly I wanted to tell her that she was completely and totally fuckably gorgeous, and thatanyman would be lucky to share a bed with her.
But saying something like that felt like it would betray Matt. He’d made me swear years ago that I’dneverdate his sister.
And all these years later, I’d stayed true to my word. But,damn,it was getting tougher.
Especially knowing how lonely she was. I wanted to slide right into her life and be the man at her side, propping her up when she felt sad.
Glancing up at Candy, I asked, “What did you and Walker rustle up special for tonight?”
She leaned in close and in a conspiratorial whisper said, “Well, we have exactlyonecouple’s cake left for the night. It’s from Stephanie and Cory’s bakery. It’s a strawberry cake smothered in chocolate ganache.”
Grinning at Marissa, I rumbled, “Well, we better snatch it up then. One couple’s cake…” and then on impulse I added, “to go.”
Marissa’s eyes grew wide as Candy nodded and hustled away to prepare our order.
“To go?”
Fuck it. If I took her home tonight it didn’t mean I was going to sleep with her, right? We could just… cuddle. So that’s what I told her.
“Unless you have other plans. I put in a new deck last spring. I haven’t had anyone over to enjoy it yet. We could have our couple’s cake out there.”
She started laughing. “Sawyer, it’sfortydegrees outside.”
Nodding, I told her, “Yup. And that deck happens to have a built-in gas-run hot tub. And a fire pit right there on the deck. We should go skinny-dipping and eat our couple’s cake while you tell me more about this dirt you find so fascinating. Then afterwards we can cuddle.”
There was no mistaking the way her pupils dilated, or the flush of heat that landed on her cheeks.
She sucked in a breath. “What happened to Sawyer Reed? You’re not the same man I’ve known all these years.”
“I just think we need to end this Valentine’s Day on a high note. And here we both are, dateless, unlucky in love, and about to be in possession of the mostcovetedsweet treat on Red OakMountain.” I shrugged my shoulder. “I think it sounds like a perfect idea. But I get it if you’re not interested.”
She stammered out, “Okay. But we’re swinging by my place first so I can pick up my bathing suit. I amnotskinny-dipping with you tonight.”
My lips parted in a grin so wide my cheeks hurt. I’d take that as a win.
“We don’thaveto skinny-dip. It would just make it more fun,” I flirted back.
Marissa cocked her head to the side, a questioning look on her face. “And the cuddling?”
My cock went from half-mast to full, stretching my jeans uncomfortably.
I growled, “That will be fun, too.”
She didn’t say anything in response, but her mouth dropped open and I swear she looked like she wanted to eat me up right there on the spot.
We’d always been flirty and playful with each other, but I was taking it across the line tonight. And maybe I was having too much fun.
A jolt of unease shot through me. If I wasn’t careful, I was going to drag Matt’s little sister right into my bed and show herexactlywhat kind of attention I thought she deserved.
I’d wanted her so badly over so many years that the ache had turned into a part of me, my heart attuned in her direction, knowing I could never have her.
But… did that rule still exist?
