Total pages in book: 32
Estimated words: 30544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 153(@200wpm)___ 122(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
My heart thumps harder. “I was drawn to you too,” I confess. “I made a point of stopping in for an afternoon boost just so I could talk to you. You make it ridiculously easy, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know you.”
His lips are centimeters away, and it would be so easy to close the distance between us. But I have no idea if that would ruin this—us. Our budding friendship.
“When you started seeing my brother, I knew he wasn’t right for you. I hate saying that about my twin. He’s welcome to live his life however he sees fit, but I just…hated seeing him with you.” He shakes his head. “But who was I to meddle in your dating life? Maybe I was just projecting because…” He stops, then says, “Never mind. I just knew there was a chance I could be wrong.”
Obviously not. Though the idea of Nathan being here with me now no longer sits right in my gut. It’s like it needed to be Dawson all along.
“You helped me see things differently,” I murmur. “Figure out what I really want.”
I tremble when his fingers reach out and skim across my jaw. “And what’s that?”
“Someone like you,” I admit, nerves creating tension in my belly. “I…well…I don’t actually mean you.” Damn, that came out all wrong.
“Gee, thanks.” His laugh is hollow as his hand skirts away.
“I didn’t mean… I don’t want you to think I’m exchanging one twin for another,” I rush out, trying to explain myself. “It’s just, you’re such a good person, and you deserve—”
“Shhh…” He places a finger against my lips. “I understand what you’re trying to say.”
We stare at each other as the room grows quiet except for our quickening breaths. He glances from my eyes to my lips as my chest aches something fierce.
And just when I think he might possibly kiss me, he turns away. “Night, Briar.”
10
DAWSON
Two days later, I still can’t stop thinking about how badly I wish I’d kissed Briar the other night. I’ve thought about going for it numerous times since then, but the occasion never felt right, and he hasn’t tried to kiss me either. What kind of creep would I seem like, trying to make out with my twin’s ex-boyfriend?
Briar is still asleep beside me. It’s Christmas morning, and something has kept me up most of the night. Well, not something. Him. He’d said he wanted someone like me, then immediately qualified it by saying not me specifically. I’d thought maybe something was growing between us, but I can’t figure out if he feels the same. It was a blow to my ego, but what did I expect? He was right. It would be weird for us to end up together since he just broke up with my twin.
But the more time I spend with him, the more I want him. We would be a good fit, Briar and me. In the beginning it was a silly crush, me being attracted to the sexy man who kept coming into Sip and Savor, but now…now I feel like I really know Briar. Where he grew up and how much he loves his family. The little sleepy sounds he makes when he’s waking up. That he loves riding snowmobiles, and that he hates ketchup and puts hot sauce on everything. I know he wants a relationship like I do and hopes to settle down one day, that he cares about others and is always a helper in every situation. Briar is… God, I’m the most ridiculous man in the world. I’m one hundred percent obsessing.
And I’m so damn glad I’m here.
A soft moan comes from the sleeping body beside me, telling me Briar is waking up. I smile into the golden room, the sun surprising me by sneaking out from behind clouds and through the window. He shifts, and I turn onto my side, watching him. He mumbles something, moans again, and then his eyes flutter. He startles slightly when he notices me looking at him.
“I’m not being a creeper. I swear. I just like the sounds you make when you wake up in the morning.”
His nose scrunches up. “I make sounds in the morning?”
“Yes. You mumble and sigh like you don’t want to be pulled out of sleep. It’s adorable.” Don’t lean forward and kiss him, don’t lean forward and kiss him. “Has no one told you before?”
“No.” He shakes his head. “I don’t think anyone has ever paid enough attention to me to notice.”
That makes me frown. “Well, that’s a damn shame. They didn’t know what they had. Their loss, my gain.” Only, he’s not really mine, is he? “Merry Christmas,” I say, hoping he forgets my misstep.
“Merry Christmas, Dawson.”
I reach over, push some of the hair back from his forehead. He smells like soap from his shower last night, and damned if I don’t want to nuzzle into him. I also have to piss and have aching morning wood. Before I do or say something stupid, I joke, “I call the bathroom first.” Then scramble over him.