He knew it. He hated it. But he couldn’t tell her that and make her think there could be more between them. Not after that moment they shared in his study. The one he couldn’t stop thinking about.
How about when you pulled her away from Brad and into your lap?
So fucking stupid. He should never have touched her. Because now, all he wanted to do was reach for her. Was her skin as soft as it looked? What would it feel like to have her body pressed up against his?
Stop! Danger!
It wasn’t that he’d never touched her. They hugged. He kissed her on the head sometimes. She kissed him on the cheek as often as he let her get away with it.
Yeah, because you’re an idiot.
It didn’t used to be anything more than a friendly hello. Now…it meant something it shouldn’t.
She’s going back to school. You have Kristi.
Still didn’t stop him from thinking dirty things about the woman in front of him. He forced himself not to adjust his raging hard-on.
Fuck. I’m so screwed.
He lost his train of thought.
Brooke stood abruptly, grabbing the bag that still held her tacos and her satchel. “I’ve taken up most of your lunch. Eat. When you have time, look over the information. I need an answer by the end of the weekend before I head back to school on Monday.”
“Wait. What? You’re not supposed to go back for a couple more weeks.”
She gave him a lopsided grin. “Mindy Sue and I have plans. I’ll be back at Christmas. In the meantime, if you okay the funds I need, we’ll correspond via email and text to finalize all the paperwork and finish the deals. I really appreciate your help with this, Cody. I promise you, I’ll work really hard to make the businesses a success. For Dad.”
He shook his head. “This is all you, Brooke. I’ll look over the stuff, but I know you can do this.”
For a moment, her gaze filled with all the love and adoration he used to see in her eyes all the time. He never wanted to see anything but that and joy.
“Thank you, Cody. That means a lot.”
His words had touched her.
And then, she headed for the door, leaving him feeling desperate to call her back.
He couldn’t let her leave like this. Like it was some business meeting and not…more. “Brooke, wait.” He rushed to her and pulled her into his arms. She stood there, unmoving at first, andthen it was like she gave herself permission to do what she’d never hesitated to do in the past and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tight. He inhaled her roses-and-honey sweet scent, feeling drunk on it as it invaded his system and he became aware of her body pressed down the length of his.
Fuck.This feels so good. Too good.
He couldn’t keep her this close. He stepped back and held her at arm’s length. “Everything is going to be okay.”
Are you saying that to her or yourself?
Right now, he didn’t know. He couldn’t even decide if it was the truth or not.
She stepped out of his reach. “If I don’t see you before I leave, I’ll see you at Christmas.”
He felt oddly adrift without her in his arms. “Don’t leave without saying goodbye.”
“I know you’re busy. I don’t want to be a nuisance.”
He stuffed his hands in his pockets so he didn’t pull her close again. “You’re not. Ever. And I’m sorry if I’ve sometimes made you think you are.” He meant it. “We’re friends.” He reminded her as much as himself. “That will never change.”
Something warm and tender washed over her eyes and made him yearn for more. “Then you know it’s never goodbye, just I’ll see you later.”
He wanted to say,please stay. Because these last thirty minutes had been confusing and somehow life altering. Something had changed. She had. And if he let her go, he knew they might not ever go back to the way things had always been.
