Page 100 of This Broken Heart

This is a small miracle by itself, but then I get a good look at the dress Erin is wearing and that’s an entirely different kind of miracle. Tension immediately fills my body.

It’s two pieces. The top cuts off right below her chest, exposing a tempting inch of skin. The skirt sits right on the small of her waist, the exact place where I like to put my hands. She told me this morning that the Florida humidity is turning her hair into a frizz ball, but I think it makes her curls look like a soft cloud.

Judging by the devious looks on my sisters’ faces and the way they’re staring right at me, this dress was for my benefit. They are laughing at me, of course, and maybe I should be annoyed or embarrassed, but all I can think about is how badly I want to run my fingers along Erin’s exposed skin.

“What do you think of Erin’s dress?” Parker asks.

She doesn’t speak up very often, so when she does, I give her my full attention. I look her in the eyes and smile. “It’s beautiful.”

She grins. “I picked it out.”

“You did a great job.”

“Blech.” Charlie says, to no one in particular. She picks up mom’s drink and sniffs it. “What are you drinking?”

Mom grabs it out of her hands. “Nothing you can have. You’re still a minor.”

“Are those mimosas?” Reese asks.

Mom nods. “Champagne’s in the kitchen.”

When Charlie sneaks in with Reese and Parker, mom narrows her eyes and hops up to follow them.

Capitalizing on the fact that we’re alone, I reach out and snag Erin’s wrist, tugging her closer. “You look gorgeous.”

She blushes a little—a fascinating flush of pink warms her cheeks. “I wouldn’t normally show this much skin.”

Throwing caution to the wind, I pull her down onto my lap. My thumb glides along the skin exposed on her back. “Why not? You’re not usually afraid to take risks with fashion.”

She pretends to frown at me. “Not sure if that’s a compliment or an insult.”

I laugh. “I like the way you dress. And Ireallylike this.”

I slip my fingers under the back of her shirt. She casts a nervous glance towards the kitchen, but the girls are out of sight and thoroughly distracted. We can hear Charlie making a case for why she needs a real mimosa.

She leans forward, brushing her lips against mine. I brace my hand on her back, fingers stretching out over her soft skin.

Lust ripples through me. I’m nearly overcome with the heady, hazy pull of desire. If it weren’t for my family being just feet away, I would happily throw her down on the table and fuck her right there on the patio.

I have never felt a hunger this strong in all of my life.

The blaze of desire is like a comet, but it comes with a tail. Guilt.

Ana and I had a sweet relationship. We were two clumsy, horny teenage kids. But our love life never really developed past that. And while I loved her, so fucking much, I neverwantedher the way I want Erin right now.

And that makes me feel… like I’m cheating.

You can’t cheat on someone who isn’t here anymore, but that’s how I feel.

It’s enough to put a bit of a drag on my lust. Which is a good thing. It was well on its way to getting me into a very awkward situation.

Charlie can be heard singing the cha-cha, which would insinuate she got her way. Erin pulls out of my arms and is sitting across the table with a very serene expression on her face by the time my sisters return.

Reese hands her a glass. “Get your suit on, darling. We’re going swimming.”

67.

Erin

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