Because I wanted him to see me as a woman and not just Shayla’s daughter.
I wanted him to want me the way I wanted him.
The thought made my chest ache.
Declan lowered his head and took a step back. “You’re right. I overstepped. I’m sorry.”
I nodded. “It’s fine. I get it.” It wasn’t fine, but who cared?
I said what needed to be said to move past the awkwardness.
The four of us stood there with snow falling outside, the world gone gray as everything that had been building for weeks threatened to come spilling out of me.
Ronan rasped a hand down his jaw. “So, just how bad was it? Kissing Finn?”
Finn’s head jerked up. “Excuse me?”
“Well, she thought it was a dream.” Ronan’s gray eyes glinted. “Can’t have been that memorable. Maybe it was really a nightmare.”
“She didn’t seem to mind at the time.” Finn pressed his chest into my palm. “I seem to remember you liked it quite a bit.”
Declan let out a snort loud enough to rattle the walls. “She was too hammered to walk up the steps. Can’t exactly hold her responsible for her decisions that night.”
“I could kiss her again.” Finn leaned in harder, making my elbow weaken from the pressure.
I should have dropped my arm as soon as Declan took a step back, but I couldn’t move.
The conversation went on without me.
Finn’s easy grin slid into place. “I could give you a chance to really assess my talents. Sober this time.”
My skin prickled, heat gliding through my veins and settling in my stomach.
Declan’s expression darkened. “You don’t get to go around kissing Bree whenever you feel like it.”
“Why not?” Finn waved a hand toward me. “She’s the one who gets to decide who kisses her. Not you. I didn’t say she had to. I gave her the option.”
“Not while the rest of us have to sit by and watch.” Ronan spoke so low I almost missed it, but when the words registered, my knees went weak.
Holyyyy shit. The rest of us.
My heart tried to escape my chest as it kicked hard enough to drive black spots into my vision.
They all wanted to kiss me.
All. Three.
I had to be dreaming this time.
Fuck.
I should be panicked. I should tell all of them to get lost.
Instead, heat pooled low in my belly.
“Maybe you should have a kissing contest.” The words shot out before I had a chance to think them through. “Make it fair for all three of you.”
They went so still they reminded me of Nana’s statues.
