A second before she kissed him, his hands clamped onto her hips. He held her immobile, fingers digging in.
She liked the bite of his fingertips and wondered if he’d leave his mark. She hoped so.
His gaze darkened. “I should go find Kristi and her father.” Several seconds passed with their mouths inches apart. Her holding him. Him holding her. Then he stepped back, his fingertips scraping off the denim of her skirt. Like he could hardly bear to let her go? Her hands dropped off his shoulders. He walked past and out the door, slamming it, like he couldn’t get away fast enough.
The rejection stung. Her heart throbbed with the pain of coming so close and not getting her chance to prove to Cody how much she loved him.
This was the first time she’d gotten that close to what she wanted and he’d touched her in a way that wasn’t friendly and innocent. That grip he had on her…the way he looked at her…it felt like he’d been holding himself back.
Why? Couldn’t he see how good they could be together?
No. Not if he walked away like that.
Maybe it was time to grow up and face reality.
If she didn’t stop throwing herself at him, she might end up losing him.
What was the point anyway when he kept walking away?
Cody didn’t know what happened. One minute Brooke was teasing him that she’d been right about throwing the party even if it brought up too many memories for him about his father, the next she was so close he could smell her favorite strawberries on her breath and the coconut sunscreen she used to keep her pale skin from burning. The cocktail of her scent went right to his head. His hands shot out and gripped her hips. The feel of her under his hands made him hold tighter. He was probably hurting her, but he couldn’t seem to release his hold. And another part of him liked the feel of her too much to even think of the consequences. His dick perked up. It wasn’t the first time in the last month since Brooke had been home from college that he’d looked at her and his body stirred with a desire he shouldn’t feel or want.
Did she have to come down to breakfast every morning in nothing but flannel shorts and a tank top? When did her jeans start molding to her perfect ass like that? Why did seeing her smile make him think of other things she could do with those full lips?
When did she stop being just Brooke and start being a temptation?
Why the fuck had he said those things to her about wanting something and someone real, who’d stay even when things got hard?
You certainly are. For her.
But he’d meant it.
Brooke was the one person he knew would never turn her back on him or leave. She would always be there for him no matter what.
That meant everything to him.
She was his friend. Probably the best one he’d ever have.
Off-limits to the sensual thoughts he was having about her.
She was too young. Too inexperienced. Too naïve. Too lost in the puppy love she’d had for him for years to see that she had no idea what it would really mean if Cody gave in and gave her what she thought she wanted.
She was too important—too special—to fuck it all up with…well, fucking her.
Because if he did…he feared he’d lose her.
That could not happen. He needed her. Without her…his life was…dull. Faded. She brought the light and fun into his life.
She wanted and deserved a fairy tale happy-ever-after kind of thing. He was too cynical. He had far more life experience than the girl he’d watched grow up before his eyes, who’d never even had a serious boyfriend.
He didn’t want to think about the guys she probably dated at college.
None of his damn business, even if he kept a close eye on her.
Thinking of her showering all her affection and joy on some other guy made him feel too raging bull and possessive.
There needed to be a line between them.
His father had asked him to continue to look out for her before he died. He made Cody the executor of the estate and in charge of Brooke’s inheritance until she came of age.
