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He leaned towardcloser still, he closed his lips over mine in a desperate, passionate kiss

I tasted the brandy on his tongue, felt the rough scratch of the stubble on his jaw, the press of his fingertips at my lower back, and waitedwaited to feel that spark The electricity The hunger

But I felt nothing

My blood didn’t race My head didn’t swim My heart didn’t pound And my sex certainly didn’t ache

It was only a kiss, and when it was over, I felt nothing but the lingering guilt of speaking up too late

He must have seen it in my eyes, because when he backed away, I could already see the hurt The understanding The sadness

"I’m so sorry, Cooper," I whispered In my heart, I prayed we could still be friends, but that was probably a long shot

"I’ot a date with the rest of this bottle of brandy," he e, I stepped out of the roo from head to toe

It was done I’d made my choice

Now all I had to do was live with the consequences

Chapter Eight

Gavin

I took a deep breath, glancing oneback inside the warm expanse of my brother’s apartment E on the couch, probably waiting forof coffee in his hands

"Want some?" he asked

I shook o?" he asked, and though there was no judgment in his voice, I could tellmy hand over my face, I shook my head "Not well for one of us"

"And you don’t knohich one of you it will be?"

I glanced away, then aze My fists tensed atwhite Have faith, Gavin

"Cooper will handle it better than I would have," I finally ad my hopes out loud for the first time to anyone but Emma

"I think so too," Quinn said, and I knew better than to be offended He wasthe truth "The two of you will be discreet while he heals?"

I nodded "Of course If it turns out to go my way"

"Good Then this should all work out fine"

"Just do o," I said, my heart still a little heavy in spite of what I hoped would be s to happen this way I’d never wanted to see my brother hurt After all, when it caot to know her, the ed not to fall head over heels

"You got it" Quinn took another sip of his coffee as a click sounded down the hall

Light footsteps announced E with unshed tears, and I squared my jaw

"Well?" I asked, not sure what else to say I could be wrong She could have chosen Cooper after all

But the way she looked at me, even with tears in her eyes, wiped every trace of doubt away

I crossed the room and pulled her todown her cheek "I just feel so awful I never wanted to hurt hi the tear aith my thumb, I leaned down and pressed ht"

I should have felt triumphant, but instead htened, taking a step back from me, and turned her attention to Quinn "I think I better head ho me Dinner was delicious, and your hooing to head to the library for sori pat on the shoulder before heading past us and down the hall

I squeezed her shoulders and brought ain Eet you home," I said

After I called Ben, we headed back to the elevators and onto the windy city street All the while, she was silent, her hands clenched into little fists, and I knew better than to press her Instead, I helped her into the car and held her hand, sitting quietly as the tears slid down her face Silently, I offered her a tissue and she took it gratefully, dabbing at her eyes before taking a long, shaky breath