Always(Time for Love Book 4)(5)
But Ash was facing the built-in wardrobe. And it had mirror sliding doors. So nothing was hidden from her. Nothing.
She couldn’t look away.
Because Ash had taken off his boxer briefs.
And. She. Could. See. Everything.
Holy hell. He was stunning.
Her breathing shallowed as moisture pooled between her legs. She’d seen Ash without a shirt on a few times before, but this was the first she’d seen him fully naked.
Damn it, she was getting hot and bothered. And right now she wanted to lick his...
Brenna!
She shook her head vigorously to stop her lustful thoughts. But her eyes had other ideas. They didn’t want to stop roving Ash’s body. Gosh, he was seriously well hung.
Ash finished wiping himself dry with a towel, then he put on a new shirt—presumably one of Connor’s. The bottom part of his top must have gotten wet too. Then he stepped into a pair of denim jeans. He was going commando! Oh no, how could she face him during lunch knowing that? Without wanting to undo his fly and reach in? Especially when she’d love to see him hard...
Argh! Brenna! Stop it!
She shut her eyes and tried to normalise her breathing, but opened them again when she heard a rustling sound. Ash was stuffing his wet clothes in a plastic bag, and then he left the room.
Exhaling gustily, she turned around and leaned back on the wall. She almost laughed out loud when she caught sight of herself in the mirror. Her mouth was hanging open, her eyes dreamy. Yes, she looked aroused. Oh Lord, what should she do now?
*****
Brenna swallowed her frustration as the conversation among the group got funnier. Not that she wasn’t enjoying herself, but she and the girls hadn’t had the chance to talk in private yet. Connor and Jeff didn’t seem to want to let their fiancées out of their sights, and Amanda and Sarah seemed happy to either sit on their men’s laps, or cuddle with them. It made her envious, of course, and the fact that Ash seemed to be avoiding her since getting back from the beach was starting to upset her.
If Ash had noticed her reaction to him, or had overheard her conversation with the girls earlier, it could be bad news. It could mean he didn’t want to encourage her.
Disappointment zipped through her at the thought. It was so acute she had to get up and escape for a few minutes.
“Coffee or tea, anyone?” she asked. “I’m happy to make them.”
“I’ll help you,” Amanda said, rising from her seat.
“Stay here, Amanda,” Gemma said. “This is your little party. I’ll help Bren.”
The two took everyone’s orders and headed to the kitchen.
“Oh, I’ve got ice cream in the fridge, too!” Amanda called out.
“In that case, I’ll help them scoop,” Sarah said, following Brenna and Gemma.
In the kitchen, Brenna found herself in front of two inquisitive faces.
“So let’s talk about you and Ash, Bren,” Sarah said.
Brenna breathed deeply. “Okay. But have you noticed that he seems to be avoiding even looking at me? Do you think he noticed something and he’s uncomfortable with it because he couldn’t imagine the two of us together?”
“So you’re imagining the two of you together?” Gemma asked, eyes wide.
“Even I am surprised by this, but for the last hour, the idea just keeps playing in my mind,” she said with candour, wondering for the umpteenth time what had gotten into her. She kept her mouth shut about seeing Ash naked, though. That was only for herself, no one else.
Gemma and Sarah glanced at each other.
“What if Ash thinks you see him as a brother, and he’s uncomfortable because he feels something, but thinks you don’t?” Gemma suggested.
Brenna’s eyes grew wide as the possibility hit her square in the chest. “You think he might be interested in me?” she whispered.
“Well, I don’t really know. I’ve suspected for a long time that he might be, but I haven’t really asked him.”
“Yeah, same here,” Sarah murmured.
Brenna’s brows furrowed. “Really?”
“Oh, Bren. You’re the one who always brings up the ‘brother’ thing with Ash. And you never notice his hurt look when you do so,” Sarah said.
“Oh my God,” Brenna said, her hand flying to her mouth. “Since when?”
Sarah sighed. “Well, I first noticed Ash looking at you differently when we were in our late teens. When guys came to hang around with us, he seemed to chase off your admirers first before he dealt with the others. I know he made it out as if it was a protective big-brotherly thing to do, but like I said, somehow it seemed different with you. When you started dating seriously, I thought Ash started spending less time with us.”
“I thought it was because he was busy dating other women himself,” Brenna answered, her heart galloping in her chest.
“I noticed what Sarah noticed, too,” Gemma said. “But you were oblivious to the whole thing, Bren. When you started going out with Darren and gushed about him, telling all of us how in love you were with him, I thought Ash looked crestfallen. I resolved then that I wouldn’t mention my suspicions to anyone—because it might wreck your whole relationship. If you didn’t feel the same, I couldn’t see the point of bringing it up. I thought it would hurt him more.”