Page 60 of Starry Skies, Stolen Kisses, and My Best Friend's Brother

Her head finally turns my way.“You look good without a shirt on.”

I raise one eyebrow.“Mae, what’s going on?”

She stops her pacing and throws her hands in the air.“He was a wuss.I mean, he was very nice and very good-looking, but he had zero confidence with me, and it was such a turnoff.It doesn’t make sense, because he was all alpha male when he had to protect Abi, but then it all went away.”

“Wait, what do you mean protect Abi?”

“Oh, her date was an asshole, and Jonathan nearly punched the guy.She’s fine.Nothing happened.”

I don’t know if I should pursue the Abi thing or not.But if she’s okay now, I can ask her about it in the morning, and if needed, Mark, Ethan, and I can pay the guy a visit.

“So why are you here instead of his cabin?”I ask casually, hoping that was never even an option.

She gives me a look.“Like I would’ve slept with him.I’m not that kind of girl.But I was hoping for a kiss.You know, just to see if it would stir up any feelings.But he was just so insecure.Do you know he asked me three times if he could kiss me?Three.And even though I said yes three times, he still hesitated.So I left.”

“You’re a gorgeous and confident woman.When I was his age, I might have hesitated as well.”

A grin forms over her lips.“No, you wouldn’t have.You probably wouldn’t have even asked.”

“This is true.I’m pretty good at reading the signs.And in those times when I read the signs wrong, I totally back off.I respect the no, in all forms.”

I approach her, wondering if I’m reading her signs correctly.She’s still worked up, had been talking a mile a minute with her arms flailing.It’s adorable and somehow sexy at the same time.But maybe I just think everything she does is sexy.

She pokes me in the chest.“Is it too much to ask for a guy to just kiss me when I clearly want him to?I don’t want a man who’s too scared to take what he wants.I want confidence and initiative.”

I chuckle and grab her hand that keeps poking me.“You sound like you’re looking for a job candidate.Maybe you should’ve gone into HR.”

She rolls her eyes, but then I reach out my other hand and pull her into me.She gasps, and those eyes widen.She starts to say something else, but I put a finger over her lips and press her up against the wall.“You shouldn’t have come here.My self-control goes out the window after midnight.And when a beautiful girl comes into my cabin whining that she didn’t get a proper kiss, I feel obligated to rectify that.”

My heart pounds with a fierce intensity as I lean in toward her, my body consumed by a longing that has been building for what feels like an eternity.Finally, our lips meet in a fiery embrace, igniting a spark of electricity that shoots through my entire being.The heat and desire between us is palpable as our tongues dance and our bodies press against each other in an intoxicating rhythm.

Her fingers slide up to grip my shoulders tightly, drawing me closer to her as the intensity of our kiss grows even stronger.Every touch, every taste, sends shivers down my spine and leaves me craving more of her.

As we pull apart, our breaths are heavy, and our gazes lock in a haze of lust.I can feel her heartbeat racing against mine as she looks at me with a playful grin, leaving me yearning for more of her touch.Mae has captured my heart and soul with that kiss, leaving me completely under her spell.

She glances at the stairs.“I could stay the night.”

“You could.”But then I step away because I’m clearly an idiot.“Let’s not rush things.I don’t want the memory of our first kiss to be overshadowed.”

She grins.“I see.You tease.”She runs a finger down my chest.“I’ll go home tonight, but tomorrow, I’m spending the night.”

Neither of us move.We can’t stop staring at each other.Before I know it, she’s up on her tiptoes, pressing her lips against mine.I’m powerless to stop her.I draw her close and have no idea how long we stand next to the door, lost in each other’s embrace.

I’ve kissed a lot of women over the years, and this is the first time I’ve ever hoped to never have another first kiss again.

I want her to be my one and only.

But she’s completely off-limits.

She breaks it off too quickly and quietly slips out the door.

It’s time to call David.I should’ve done it right after Noah reminded me I have a friend who’s a damn good attorney.However, I’ve been too busy.If anyone can find a loophole in that contract Keith has, he can.Getting our hands on it will be tricky, but I imagine it’s filed away in some government building somewhere.Mae will be mine one way or another, and I don’t want to wait another six months to a year.

I’ve been waffling on whether to stay in West Virginia.Mae wants to be here, and to be honest, this place is growing on me.Maybe I’m wrong to associate living here with poverty and unhappiness.Maybe it’s possible to be here and still have everything I want.

I felt so trapped as a teenager, and I managed to get out, but I’m still chasing happiness.My shoes and suits make me feel secure, but they don’t make me happy.

I lay my head back against the wall and close my eyes for a second.Mae’s face swims into my thoughts, and I wonder what life would be like with her.I try to come up with other reasons why I shouldn’t be with her, but I can’t think of anything.She makes me smile in ways I haven’t been able to without the influence of alcohol.

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