Page 39 of Stunner (Whiskey Dolls 3)

I ran my hands up her back, across her shoulders, and down her arms, unable to stop touching her now that I’d started. I spanned her waist with my palms, loving how delicate she felt against me.

“Because I’m a fucking idiot,” I answered, refusing to sugarcoat it. Lies and half-truths wouldn’t work. I saw that in the way she’d showed up at my door, demanding answers before it had even been fully opened. “I’m so sorry. I wish I had something better to say than that, but it’s all I’ve got. I’m so fucking sorry.”

She pulled in a deep breath, her chest rising as her lungs expanded. “Did you...” Her tongue peeked out to swipe across her pink, kiss-swollen lip, and I felt a shot of male pride streakthrough me, knowing I was the one who’d made those lush lips plumper. “Did you tell Jackson we were sleeping together?”

My jaw worked back and forth grinding my molars together at the sound of that asshole’s name. The same spike of rage that caused me to smash his nose with my fist returned, but I shoved it back down, refusing to let Asher see that side of me. I inhaled through my nose and searched for my calm as I asked, “Did he tell you I said that? Because I never—”

She shook her head, cutting me off. “No, he didn’t. He just said he wasn’t stupid, and he knew... well, he knew you’d always had a thing for me, so he wasn’t surprised you’d make a move with him out of the picture.”

Her eyes were sparkling as she looked up at me and braced her hands on my chest. “Is that true?” Her voice dropped to a whisper as she finished with, “Have you always had a thing for me?”

“Since that very first night at the bar,” I confessed while tucking a strand of that long, silky hair behind her ear. Unable to stop myself, I leaned in to taste her mouth again. The kiss was short and sweet, but seeing as it was her, it still packed a serious punch.

She smiled and warmth infused every single inch of my body, filling me up so completely it was a wonder beams of light didn’t come shooting out of my goddamn fingertips. Christ, she really was the most stunning woman I’d ever laid eyes on. It nearly hurt to look at her smile, it was that beautiful. Like looking into the sun.

“I honestly thought you weren’t interested. I tried talking to you a couple times, but all I got were one-word answers and a few grunts here and there. You were so aloof, I just figured you weren’t into me the way I was into you.”

My chin jerked back in shock. “You were into me?”

“Yeah.” She shook her head good naturedly on a low, smoky chuckle. “I noticed you the moment you walked in. I pulled out every girly card in the playbook to try and get your attention, but you didn’t seem to notice so I decided to cut my losses.”

“Jesus Christ, sweetheart,” I grunted as my fingers pressed harder into my waist. Closing my eyes, I gave my head a shake to try and clear the aching drumbeat that had started up behind my temples. “I can’t fucking believe this.”

“What? What’s wrong,” she asked, her eyes widening with worry.

Unable to hold it back for another second, I started to laugh at the complete and utter absurdity that was the very first night we’d met.

“I wasn’t being aloof, Ash, I was trying to get up the nerve to ask you out.”

“What?” she squeaked in surprise. “No way!”

My lips curved up in a huge smile. “Yeah, really.” I slid my hands down her rounded hips and back up again. She just felt too damn good. “It’s always taken me longer to work up the nerve to talk to a woman I’m interested in. I was kind of a geek growing up.”

Her gaze traveled down to where my T-shirt was stretching across my broad chest. “No way.”

“I was scrawny and had bad skin and preferred video games over interacting with real people.”

Her hands caressed the muscles I’d worked to hone since high school. “I don’t buy it. I bet nerdy Owen was cute as a button.”

“Not even close,” I said flatly. “But while I was building up the nerve, Jackson swooped in there.”The son of a bitch. “I’d suspected he knew from that very first night how I felt about you, but I didn’t know for sure until he showed up here a few days agoand practically confessed to making a move on you first as some kind of twisted competition.”

The humor that had been shining in her expression dried up instantly. “That’s really sick.”

I nodded in agreement. She had no idea. “He’s been like that for as long as I can remember. Everything was a contest. There had to be a winner and a loser, and if he wasn’t the one on the winning end, shit could get bad.”

I let out a sigh, my shoulders drooping as I reached up to caress the sides of her neck. “Jesus, it feels like so much wasted time.”

Her brows slowly lifted higher on her forehead until they were nearly kissing her hairline as she stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. “I can see why you’d feel that way. What I don’t understand is why you’d possibly waste even more these past few days.”

I hated the distance she’d just put between us almost as much as I hated the conversation we were about to have. At least if I’d been able to hold her while I gave her the truth, I could hold on tight on the off-chance she’d get pissed and try to bail.

“Have you had dinner yet?” I asked as I grabbed her hand and led her to the kitchen. “My sister brought a pizza when she came to pick up Hazel.” I flipped open the box, knowing the smell would entice her. “It’s sausage and onion.”

She chewed her bottom lip as she stared longingly at the pizza. Finally, she shifted her focus back to me. “Yes, I want a slice, because IloveJunior’s pizza. But I won’t eat it if you’re using this as a diversion to keep from talking to me.”

She was too goddamn cute for her own good. I let out a chuckle as I plated up two slices for her and put them in the microwave for a few seconds to get the cheese nice and melty. “Not a diversion, baby. It’s just that time, so I figured I’d offer. We can still talk while you eat.”

I waved her to the small table while pulling the plate from dinging microwave. I took the seat beside her and put the plate on the table. She looked at the food adoringly before turning to me. “What about you?”

---