Page 24 of The One With The Secret Crushes

"Areyougoing to talk tome?"

"Obviously."

"Good."

"Well now that that's settled," a familiar arm snaked between us to pluck another book off the shelf, "I say we read a romance next. I want something spicy." Aunt Sharon wiggled her shoulders.

I swear that woman could sneak up on a tiger and it wouldn't even know until it was too late. How much she heard, I had no idea, but if she knew what was best for everyone involved, she'd keep that knowledge to herself. I watched her flip the pages as her words finally sank in.

"Wait, This Book Club Is My Alibi only reads murder mysteries."

She grinned. "And you don't like it very much so we're starting a second book club. We're calling it Read What You Love," she made an arc through the air with her hand. "And we'll read through several genres. It just has to be something one of us really loves. I'm picking first, naturally."

"Naturally."

"And the opposite of death is Romance," she said matter-of-factly.

"Let's read this one." Joanne held up the book she was demolishing in her hands.

"Is it spicy?" Maeve joined us.

"Her books usually are, yes."

"Perfect!" She plucked the other copy off the shelf. "Next month we'll read a historical. My pick!"

I shook my head and laughed. "You two just run around however you want to."

"Of course we do, dear." Aunt Sharon smiled sweetly. "That's how you get what you want."

And it was right then that I realized why Scott and Sharon had a love-hate relationship. They went about life in their own ways, but they attacked it with the same absolute certainty.

Eight

Scott

You're just more emotionally constipated than I am.

I didn't mind followingMackenzie up the steep trail. Not one bit. It was still fairly chilly, especially at the higher elevation, so she wore thick leggings that gave me an unprecedented view of her magnificent ass. I wanted to bite it but managed to keep my teeth in my mouth and my hands to myself.

But I was only human. I could only resist for so long.

Between this incredible view and the full smile she greeted me with this morning, I was done for.

"The rhododendrons are looking good."

Not as good as you.I cleared my throat. "Uh, yeah. They are."

The ground leveled off and she stopped for a second to catch her breath when a bevy of deer decided to crash our date. "Well look at them." I stood behind Mackenzie, wanting to put my hands on her and justfeel.

"I used to ask my mom if I could keep one as a pet."

Mackenzie rarely talked about her mother without an edge to her voice, so it caught my attention. She seemed wistful instead of sad. "And what would she say to that?"

"That deer were too big for the house."

"Very practical." The animals watched us but mostly stayed busy with their food, nibbling away at the vegetation.

To my complete shock and utter satisfaction, sheleaned backagainst me. Her shoulder on my chest, her head on my shoulder. I squeezed my eyes shut because this was it. The kiss had been huge, but this was everything. I tentatively put my hands on her hips. "Is this okay?"

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