Page 59 of Forgotten Desires

“How did I save you?”

“You said hello,” I tell her honestly.

Brynn giggles and covers her mouth with her hand. “You don’t have to woo me, Crew. You already put a ring on it.”

“I’m not wooing you.”

“Fine,” she says, putting the flute down. “Seducing then. I’m not seducible.”

I throw back the champagne and place my glass beside hers. “No?”

“Nope.”

“Is that a challenge?”

Brynn smirks. “If I remember, our agreement was that you would not try to seduce me.”

I lean back, nodding slowly. “That’s correct. I said I would allow you to seduce me. So, I invite you to try.”

“Oh, please. You’d like that.”

“I would, actually.” I’d like that a whole hell of a lot. All day I’ve kissed her, touched her, held her in my fucking arms knowing that I couldn’t do more than that.

We put on the show of a lifetime, my whole family bought it, telling me how happy they were because watching me with Brynn explained it all. Like that wasn’t a kick in the fucking nuts.

“Anyway,” Brynn dismisses the talk of seduction, which is probably for the best. “We got some good gifts.”

I chuckle. “Yes, nothing says congratulations like the turkey platter my mother gave us.”

She swats at my chest. “Stop it. It was really nice.”

“Your brothers gave us the best gift,” I remind her.

“Oh, God. The three of them are so happy that I’m your problem now.”

I pull open the bill of sale that states no returns or exchanges with our names on the contract. “Seems there’s some fine print about returns.”

She grabs the note and tosses it behind her. “I hate them.”

“You don’t.”

“I know, I wish I did.”

“They seemed really happy for us today.” I drink some of the champagne and refill her glass with the cider.

“They were. It helps that two of my brothers work for you so they’ll always be nice.”

I chuckle. “You think that’s why?”

“No. They actually like you, heaven knows why.”

I pull her glass from her. “No more cider if you’re going to be snarky.”

She takes it back. “Please, I’m not even a little tipsy. Carbonation makes me tingle.”

“How many have you had?”

Brynn rolls her eyes and sighs. “I wish I could’ve had a drink. It would’ve made the glares from your friend a little easier. I couldn’t even hide behind a buzz.”

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