Anette turned her head and their faces were just inches apart. She should step back and create more distance between them but she found herself rooted in her spot. She wanted to be close to him. And heaven help her, she wanted him to kiss her again.
What was wrong with her? Had she not learned her lesson?
“Anette,” Roswell breathed as his eyes dropped to her lips. Why did hearing her name on his lips cause her heart to beat faster?
A clearing of a throat came from behind them.
They jumped back and Anette felt the warmth creep up her neck as she saw her brother standing in the doorway with an irate look on his face.
“I daresay that you two have an interesting way of speaking to one another,” Caleb said, his words firm.
Roswell ran a hand through his hair and looked visibly shaken. “I should depart.”
“Yes, you should,” Caleb agreed.
With a slight bow, Roswell said, “Anette, it has been a pleasure.”
She watched Roswell as he crossed the entry hall in a few strides and departed out the main door.
Her brother approached her with a stern look. “No.”
“No?”
Caleb stopped in front of her and crossed his arms over his chest. “You could have your pick of suitors,” he said. “Do not fall for Roswell.”
“I have not fallen for Roswell,” she lied.
“Haven’t you?” Caleb asked.
Anette placed a hand on her hip. “I am not going to have this conversation with you,” she said. “Roswell and I are just friends.”
“What I just witnessed did not look like you two were just friends.”
“You must have seen it wrong then,” she replied cheekily.
Caleb looked heavenward. “Stay away from Roswell. No good will come from you believing you have a future with him.”
“That is rather presumptuous of you, Brother.”
“I’m just giving you some advice.”
“Which is unsolicited,” she said, turning on her heel. She’d had just about enough of her brother. He had no right to dictate her actions. Besides, she wasn’t pining after Roswell. He had made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with her. So what had just transpired between them?
Roswell exited the townhouse and came to a stop on the pavement. He couldn’t believe what he had just done. He had almost kissed Anette. What had he been thinking? That was the problem- he wasn’t thinking. He wanted to kiss Anette, and the desire to do so was only increasing the more time he spent with her.
Why had he been so intolerably stupid as to fall in love with the one woman he could never have? She was his partner’s sister and he had promised he wouldn’t pursue her. Which was for the best. He didn’t want to put Anette in any danger by associating with her.
Yet his heart was not so easily convinced. It beat only for her.
He could hear the slamming of a door before Caleb’s disgruntled voice came from behind him. “I should challenge you to a duel for what I witnessed back there.”
Roswell turned to face his friend. “We both know that would be a terrible idea. I am a much better shot than you.”
“That is debatable,” Caleb said, coming to a stop in front of him. “You promised that you wouldn’t pursue Anette.”
“I’m not.”
Caleb narrowed his eyes, and his words grew accusatory. “You were just hoping to steal a kiss, then.”
