Page 34 of Happily Ever Never

“I am so sorry for making you feel like crap.I promise I wasn’t trying to.”

“What were you trying to do, Leo? You kissed me. Then,suddenly, you were done. Was I not good enough?” I asked, bile settling over mytongue.

He cursed under his breath. “No, that is not at all whathappened.”

“Then what did happen, Leo?” I asked, my voice barely abovea whisper.

“When you came in that day, there was a spark between us.That weird moment where we simply looked at each other. Leif and the otherswere worried that I was going to sleep with you right then and there orsomething and hurt you.”

I blinked. “I’m going to need you to talk slower and runthat by me one more time.”

“I don’t do serious relationships. Which is probably theworst thing to say since I’m here on your doorstep trying to make thingsright.”

“You’re right; it’s not really working,” I said dryly.

“Okay. I suck. I know that. Like many of our mutual friends,I haven’t had a serious relationship. I treat women with respect, but I haven’tdated anybody long-term. It just hasn’t worked out. And Leif was afraid becauseof how I looked at you as soon as I saw you. He worried I would date you andscrew things up. Mess up whatever plans you had, or our friendship. Or theirfriendship with us. So, he warned me off you. But he really didn’t,” he addedquickly as I narrowed my gaze.

“Clarify what you meant just now,” I growled. “Because thatdoesn’t sound like the Leif I know.”

“Leif is protective of you. They all are. But I know theydon’t have any right to be. They aren’t your brothers or anything. They can’ttell you who to date.”

“If I had brothers, they wouldn’t be able to say that,either. You’re going to need to get to the point a little quicker, or I’m goingto slam the door in your face.”

“I’m not good at this.”

“You’re not,” I said with a laugh, melting a little bit. Hewas cute even though he was rambling, and I needed him to tell me what wasgoing on because I was beyond confused.

“The guys were afraid if I flirted with you or hit on you,things would get weird. That’s all they meant. In my head, I heard that Icouldn’t ask you out or want anything more because I would fuckit up. Because I’m pretty good at fucking things up.So, I’m sorry. I know you didn’t have any idea what was going on, and I treatedyou like crap after I kissed you, even though I toldmyself I wouldn’t.”

I held up a hand, praying for patience. “Are you kidding me?The guys said that? And you listened to them?”

“It’s part of the bro-code. Something that is completelyarchaic and ridiculous. And I misunderstood. I didn’t want to hurt yourfeelings. And honestly, I didn’t think you liked me back. So, I was giving youspace. And then I was all up in your business and couldn’t stop. I’m not goodwith signals. I need women to tell me what they want. And I didn’t want to fuck it up by asking you out. But I feel something. Don’t you?”

I looked at him, things clicking into place, even though Iwanted to scream. “Maybe? I’m not good at this. You know I’m not. You know mystring of bad dates and everything I do wrong. I cannot believe you wouldlisten to the others and think it was okay to let them dictate who you askedout.”

“But they didn’t. They just didn’t want me to make youuncomfortable. Because that’s what we do, make each other uncomfortable. I tookit too far because I was worried. Stressed out. You’re important, May. I didn’trealize how important until we were suddenly in each other’s lives somuch. I mean, Denver is a really big fucking city. Andwe kept bumping into each other in the most unexpected ways and places. I feellike that means something. Or, once again, maybe I’m overthinking and puttingtoo much on you. So, tell me to walk away, to shut up right now, and I will. But, May? I’m sorry. I’m sorry for hurting you. But I’m notsorry for kissing you.”

I pressed my lips together. “You want to kiss me again?” Mymind whirled.

“I do. If you’ll let me. Then maybe we can start over.Without misconceptions or rambling. Well, there will probably be rambling.” Hislips quirked into a smile, and I swallowed hard.

“Okay. I guess you can kiss me.”

He pressed his lips to mine, right there on my front porch,and I melted.

His beard was only slightly rough, just long enough that ithad grown soft. His lips were firm, but they softened beneath my touch. Handsran through my hair, and he kissed me harder, then backed away, looking down atme.

We were both breathless, staring at each other.

“I didn’t mean to accost you on your porch like that. ButI’m not going to apologize.”

I smiled. “Maybe we should start over.”

He smiled softly, his eyes brightened, and that same flashof heat and importance I felt when I’d first met him hit meagain. “Hi, I’m Leo. Tattoo artist and uncle to four—soon to be six—kids. Ilike Italian and Korean food. I read some, but mostly do audiobooks. I loveart, I have good friends, and sometimes I should listen to what my sister andfriends say rather than being inside my head.”

I let out a breath. “Hi, I’m May. I’m a nanny and educator,and I’m really bad at dating. So, I hope you know thatkiss right there? That might be the end of it.”

I winced, but he only grinned. “I think that’s a challenge.”