Casanova(75)

“Maybe I should have told you too.” I placed my hand over his. “It doesn’t matter now. We can argue it until we’re blue in the face but it won’t change it.”

“You’re right.” A steely determination replaced the sadness in his eyes, and his jaw twitched as he dropped his gaze to my lips. “So I’m going to do what I should have done eight years ago, and if you punch me, then hey, I deserve it.”

“What?” My heart thumped as he closed his hand around the back of my neck.

“Lani, I’m in love with you,” he said and pressed his lips to mine.

I battled with myself for all of one whole second before I leaned down into the kiss. It was warm and simple, yet I felt it everywhere. It tingled over my skin, making little goosebumps pop up all over my arms.

It felt right.

For the first time, kissing him felt completely and utterly right.

“I’m amazed you didn’t punch me.”

I laughed and dropped my forehead to his shoulder. “I can’t,” I said through my laughter. “I’m too tired to punch you.”

He dropped his other hand from my face to my waist. “I really am sorry.”

“Stop.” I pressed two of my fingers to his lips. “I don’t want you to be sorry anymore.”

“Then what do you want?” he said against my fingertips.

I dropped my hand and hooked my fingers through the neck of his t-shirt. I tugged, bringing him closer to me, and when the tip of his nose touched mine, I closed my eyes. “I want you to make me fall in love with you.”

His hand, still at the back of my neck, twitched. “That’s a pretty risky question. I’m kind of irresistible.”

I pulled back, opening my eyes, and smiled at him. “Prove it.”

“All right, but don’t blame me when I romance you right out of your lacy panties.”

“I’m not sure if you’re making good progress already or not...”

He smirked, his little cocky side coming out to play. “I could skip the romance and just get you out of your lacy excuse for underwear.”

“Sex and romance aren’t the same thing, Brett.”

“Sure they are, as long as I tell you I love you while I fuck you.”

I blinked. “I’m not sure it works like that.”

His smirk turned sexy. “Can I convince you?”

“I think the order is flowers, food, and then fuck.” I pointed to the flowers. “You’re one third of the way there.”

“Can I make you a sandwich?”

I simply shook my head and sighed. “This is going to take a long time, isn’t it?”

He stepped back and threw his arms out to the sides. “All right, all right. I’ll take you on a date.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“I need a date for some charity dinner my mom is hosting for Hope Building tomorrow,” he admitted. “Black tie. Fancy shit. My mom is having a stylist bring dresses to the house later.”

I stared at him flatly. “That’s the most romantic way I’ve ever been asked out.”

Brett didn’t miss a beat. “I’ll pick you up at six tomorrow with flowers. Then I’ll feed you at dinner, and when it’s all over, I’ll take you to bed and fuck you blind. Okay?”

“That’s the best I’m going to get, isn’t it?”

“Look, I already told you that I’m in love with you. That’s as romantic as I can be.”

I smiled. “I suppose you win that one.”





CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO


BRETT



“This is ridiculous!” Lani yelled through the door.

“It’s just a dress!” I yelled right back.

She yanked the door to my sister’s bedroom open. She was back in her leggings and tank top. “No, it’s not just a dress. Is what you’re wearing just a suit?”

“Yeah. Is it supposed to be something more?”

“Aaaauuuugh!” She groaned and slammed the door shut again.

Did I say something wrong? When was a dress not just a dress? Weddings, obviously, but fuck me. This was just a charity function. I didn’t even know about it until this morning.

Hell, I wasn’t gonna go until Lani said I needed to do something romantic.

If only there were a manual on making someone fall in love with you. One that didn’t involve sex. Shit, if she’d just let me fuck her again... Hell, I didn’t need to fuck her. I could just eat her pussy and she’d be in love with me by the time she came in my mouth.

She knew it too. That’s why she was doing this to me.

Forgiven me my ass. She was torturing me.

Well...no, she had forgiven me. I could see it every time I looked at her. The shadows in her eyes were gone whenever she looked at me. There was no longer a lingering hint of hatred staring back at me. I had no idea what had prompted her to give me forgiveness I wasn’t sure I deserved, but I wasn’t going to turn it away.

I wasn’t going to lose her again.

If she wanted me to make her fall in love with me, then goddamn it, somehow I’d figure out how to do that.

“Lani?” I knocked on Cam’s bedroom door.

“No!” she shouted. “This is hell!”