Was this a dream? If not, it was as though the universe had conspired to give him the perfect opening. He licked his lips. Dream or not, it was now or never.
“I’m in awe of you. You’re a superhero.” Leaning in, his hand cupped her cheek as he thumbed away the moisture there. “Rosie, I’d … I’d really like to … I’d-really-like-to-kiss-you.” He pushed the last sentence out in a rush, as he started to lose his nerve. But he was desperate to kiss her pain away.
Her jaw dropped, and he gulped. Sweat broke out on his forehead as he swept a few loose tendrils of hair from her face. So beautiful. Miraculously, she nodded, perhaps struck dumb by his forwardness. His pulse pounded in his ears as he threaded his fingers through her hair and lowered his lips gently onto hers. So soft. So supple. He could taste the saline of her grief. Closing his eyes, Matt poured all his years of longing into that one languid kiss. It was everything he’d ever dreamed of, and if he never got another at least he’d have this memory for the rest of his life.
Then, her lips began to move under his. A shaky hand snaked its way around his neck. Encouraged, Matt’s hands roamed over her back as the kiss stretched on and on. Finally, he had to come up for air, slightly lightheaded. The dazed expression on Rosie’s face told him he wasn’t the only one.
She danced her fingers over her mouth, watching his face, and Matt wondered if her lips were tingling, too. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips and she spoke only one word, “Why?”
Matt sighed. It was confession time. “I’ve had a crush on you foryears.”
She blinked at him. “You have?” Rosie slid off his lap, and he reluctantly let her go. “I had no idea.” She stood before him; her brows drawn together.
“Honestly, no one knew. Not even Liv. Mia only figured it out recently.”
She pressed her hand to her heart. “How long?”
Heat rose to his cheeks. “Since I saw you reading aStar Warsnovel at Liv’s pool party when I was seventeen.” At her gasp, he took her free hand in his. “I’m grown now, we can’t get into trouble anymore.”
“That’s not my worry.” She was nibbling on her lower lip, and he stared. “What will Olivia say?”
“I don’t care.” He grasped her hand in both of his as she started to pull away. “Rosie,” he implored, deciding to make the most of his confession, “please let me take you out to dinner. Get to know me without my sister around. Liv doesn’t have any say in what we do, we’re adults.”
“But, she’s myfriend. She’d never approve. I can’t lose her. And you never will, you’re her brother.”
He refused to move his gaze from hers even as he bent to kiss the hand he held. “Believe me, if it were a choice between us, she’d choose you. Please, just give me a chance.”
She sighed and her face softened. “Matt, you know how my schedule is.”
“My restaurant shifts are the same way. We don’t have to go out on a Friday! There’s no set date night. It’s whatever we say it is.” He stood and drew her back into his arms. One taste and suddenly he understood how people became addicted to drugs. “Please?”
“What if the squad sees us and tells her?”
“How about I just beat them to the punch? I’ll tell her myself and let her yell at me.” If that kiss was any indication, she was attracted to him, too. And she wasn’t saying she didn’twantto go out with him. If that was the case, he wouldn’t push. But her objections had nothing to do with what she wanted, and he’d wasted enough time already. Matt tucked a strand of brown silk behind her ear and pressed his forehead to hers. “Like you said, I won’t lose her because we’re related. So let me tell her. Let her blame me. After all, Iamthe one asking.” A fact he was going to be celebrating today for sure. “Are you working tonight?”
“Yeah, but I’m off tomorrow night.”
“How about a brunch date? Or will you be too tired after your shift?”
She was quiet for a moment, considering it. “I’d like that.”
The sun burst in his chest and filled him with rays of hope. “What time should I pick you up?”
She swatted at his chest and laughed. “Pick me up? We live in the same building!”
“That doesn’t mean I can’t pick you up at your apartment.”
“Is eight-thirty okay? I’d rather not go out in my scrubs.”
He lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers once more. She kissed him back more passionately, but when he pulled away, he could see the events of the night catching up to her again, and she swayed on her feet. “Sounds perfect. Let me worry about my sister. Why don’t I walk you home so you can get some rest?”
“I’ll be fine, Matt, but thank you. I think I can handle one flight of stairs.” Rosie chuckled, then gathered her purse that had been unceremoniously dumped on the floor and went to the door. “Thank you, Matt.”
“What for?”Shewas thankinghim? He should be thanking her for knocking on his door at all.
“For being here. And for reminding me that we save more than we lose.” She wiped at her eye again.
“Hey.” Matt grasped her shoulders and turned her to face him. “It’s okay to grieve them. They deserved to live, too.”
