Page 11 of Wish You Would

“Okay, got it, no breakfast.” I smile, and it occurs to me that I’ve done that a lot more than usual since Briar showed up. Maybe it’s the food or the way she looks in my kitchen—barefoot and comfortable, like she belongs here. I stand up and start to clear the dishes from the table, reminding myself that this is only temporary.

“I’ve got it, Holden.” Briar snatches my empty plate from my hand and my skin heats from the brief contact. Why the fuck am I having this reaction to her? I have to get this under control if I’m going to survive this roommate arrangement.

“How about I clean up the kitchen, and you stop bugging me about my eating habits?”

“You mean your disdain for breakfast.”

“Forget it,” she groans at me as she stacks our plates in the dishwasher. Those damn shorts. They rise up a little when she bends over.

“Fine, I won’t bug you, Bee.”

“But you’re calling me Bee. I think that could be considered bugging me.”

“You never stop. You earned the nickname. You’ve looked like a busy bee all morning buzzing around my kitchen.” I shrug. “But no more breakfast jokes, and I won’t fight you on the clean-up this time. Deal?”

She nods, then holds out her hand, intending for me to shake it. When my hand wraps around hers, the heat I felt earlier returns, skating up my spine. Briar’s eyes move to my mouth. Her gaze stays there, just for a second, but it’s long enough for me to notice.

Our hands stayed joined in the space between us for a long moment before I finally drop her hand and take a step back.Does she feel the attraction too? If I was a betting man, I’d say yes.

Not that long ago, I would have given into the temptation to kiss her, but I made a promise to myself, and I intend on keeping it. I will take care of the sexual frustration myself, like I’ve been doing for months. Since Aubrey.

So, I clear my throat, reluctantly taking another step back until there’s enough distance between us that I can’t smell her body wash. A scent that I want on my clothes, all over my sheets.

Fuck. More distance. Go to work. Now.

“I need to get going,” I say, grabbing my keys from the counter. “There’s a spare house key for you by the door.”

Briar blinks, drops her gaze to the floor before recovering. “Thank you.”

“I’ll see you when I get home from work. I’ll order dinner tonight. Nothing with eggs.”

Briar’s face lights up in amusement. “Sounds like a date.”

My heart stops. “It’s not a date, Briar. It’s we-both-have-to-eat-dinner-so-we-might-as-well-eat-together.”

She grins. “It’s a date.”

Fuck me. It’s hard to tell whether she’s being serious or not. She never seems to be serious about anything. So then why is Briar looking at me like that? Like she’s excited for ourdate.That is not happening.

Having breakfast with her was a mistake. No more meals with Briar Moore. I am not looking for a relationship and I can’t run the risk of leading her on. The only reason she’s even here is because I agreed to do Daisy and her a favor. End of story.

Ignoring the grin that is still plastered on her face, I turn and walk toward the front door as fast as I can. “Thanksagain for the breakfast,” I call as I slip into my shoes, which are placed neatly in the entryway.

“You’re welcome!” She stands in the center of my kitchen, right where I left her. And as fucked up as I feel about my morning with her, I can’t help but think that I really like the way she looks in my home.

FOUR

I’M PRETTY SURE HE HATES ME.

Briar

“So?”

“Soooo, what?”

“How has it been living with Holden?”

“Well, I’m pretty sure he hates me. So, not so great.”

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