Chapter 2

He quickly pulls his hand back from my face and looks away, but there’s no denying the hungry look I saw.

He holds the plate of food out to me. “I thought you might be hungry.”

I notice he’s prepared the burger exactly how I like it—cheese, mustard, and extra pickles—and given me a generous helping of the potatoes.

“Thanks.” I take the plate and dig in while he sits down on the bed and pets Daisy.

“I’m really sorry about Raquel,” he finally says.

“Why are you with such a horrible woman?” I ask in between bites.

He sighs and runs a hand through his thick, dark hair. “I know her from the gym. She keeps hitting on me, and she kind of cornered me today and pretty much invited herself along. Your parents said they didn’t mind if I brought her. I think they’re really hoping I’ve found the one.” He gives an exaggerated groan making it obvious that she is clearly not the one.

I hesitate for a second, then say, “Please don’t sleep with her, Brian.”

His eyes widen in shock before he lets out a startled laugh. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”

“I’m not a kid anymore. I am aware of sex.” I take a big bite of hamburger to keep my mouth full so I won’t say anything stupid like, And I’d really like to try having it with you.

“I know you’re an adult now, and don’t worry, I’m not doing anything with her.” He reaches down and gives Daisy’s head a pat. “How could I do anything with a woman who hates Daisy?”

“Good point,” I mumble around my food.

While I continue to eat and try not to think about how close he is to me or the fact that he’s sitting on my bed, he reaches over and grabs the framed photo on my nightstand. It’s a photo of Brian and me from last year when he took me to the fair. Our faces are pressed close together so we could both fit into the selfie I was taking. I remember it like it was yesterday, the feel of his stubble pressed against my cheek, the intoxicating smell of his cologne, the feel of his hard body against mine, the way my whole body lit on fire the second we touched.

“We going again this year?” he asks, holding the framed photo up.

“That depends,” I say, setting my plate of food down.

“On?”

“If we’re going alone or not.”

The fair is our special time. Brian has been taking me for as long as I can remember. There’s no way in hell I’m going to go if it means he’s bringing someone else along, someone like the nauseating Raquel.

He studies my face for a second, and I try to read his dark brown eyes, but it’s impossible to know what he’s thinking right now.

“Why on earth would I do that?” he finally says. “Then there would be three of us, which makes no sense because most of the rides are for two people. Plus, we’d have another person trying to eat our funnel cake, and

you know we can’t stand for that kinda shit.”

I smile at him and lean my head against his shoulder.

I’m surprised when he adds, “The fair is our time, Mandy. I don’t want to share it with anyone else.”

“I don’t either,” I say, forcing myself to not crawl in his lap.

With a sigh, he gives my knee a quick pat and stands up. “I should be going. I just wanted to make sure you got some supper and to apologize for the dog-hating monster downstairs.”

I give a small laugh. “Good luck getting rid of her. She looked quite possessive earlier with the way she was grabbing onto your arm. For one horrible moment, I thought you two were a couple.”

“God no,” he says with a groan. “She’s in for a rude awakening when I dump her off at her house without so much as a friendly handshake.”

He gently places the framed photo back on my nightstand. “Text me that photo when you get a sec. I really like it.”

A huge grin spreads across my face. “Okay, I will.”

He leans down and kisses my forehead, letting his hand cup the side of my face. The feel of his warm, soft lips on my skin makes my breath catch in my throat. I let out a soft sigh and grip his wrist with my hand, keeping him pressed close to me. We stay like that way longer than appropriate. He always gives me a hug and a kiss goodbye, but it’s never been like this.

Neither one of us wants to be the first to break away, and it isn’t until we hear the muffled sounds of my parents and Raquel heading to the front door that he pulls away. I look up into his gorgeous face, noticing the heat in his gaze and the way his lips are still slightly parted, and I want so badly to throw myself in his arms and kiss him.

His hand is still resting against my face, and he lets his thumb stroke my cheek before pulling it away. I feel that touch all the way down to my pussy, and a small moan escapes before I can stop it. Judging by the way his eyes darken, I’m guessing he heard it.

“Pick you up Friday at 8 for the fair?” he asks, never taking his eyes from mine.

“Yes,” I say in a voice I barely recognize as my own.

He gives me a sexy grin before giving Daisy one last pat. As he’s walking out my door, he calls over his shoulder, “Don’t forget to text me that photo.”

I lay back on my bed with a huge smile on my face. The memory of his lips on my forehead and his hand on my cheek is one that I’ll never forget. It instantly makes me want more, though. Small touches like that will never be enough, but it’s a start.