Not Just Friends (Brookfield)

by Wolfe, Lacey

  “Is that so?”

  “You’re reading her book.”

  He laughed. “Ah, then if I love it, I’ll have to be at her book signing. Do you get many signings at your store?”

  “This is the first, actually. I hope it’s a hit and I can get more authors to visit.”

  “I’m sure it will be.”

  The butterflies started to swarm in her belly. It meant so much to her that he had the confidence he did in her and her store. She wasn’t sure what to think about it. But she didn’t have time to dwell on it as the server arrived with their appetizer.

  Connor had ordered some type of bread that went with a dip in the middle. After the server set a small plate in front of her, Alyssa placed her napkin in her lap. When she looked up, she noticed Connor held his hand out.

  “Can I have your plate?”

  Alyssa picked it up, handed it to him, and watched as he put a spoonful of dip on it and a few slices of the bread before handing it back to her. She took it from him and set it down. Had he really just made her plate for her? Was it sweet or controlling?

  She took a bite of the bread and moaned. It was good…really good.

  “I take it you like it?” Connor smirked.

  “I do. It’s very flavorful.” Her tongue darted out and she licked what was left from her lips. Her gaze caught Connor’s and his was locked on her mouth. Her cheeks heated and her heart sped up.

  Connor looked away and took a bite of his own food. She let out a sigh and returned to the bread. Not too long after that, the server returned with their meal. Alyssa stared at the chicken in front of her. For the price, she had expected a plate full of food, but instead, saw the smallest portions she’d ever been served. A dollop of rice was placed next to a small medley of vegetables. The chicken wasn’t a very large breast. It smelled good and hopefully it tasted that way as well.

  Alyssa glanced at Connor and saw his plate wasn’t any fuller.

  “They give you a lot, huh?” He chuckled. “I promise it’s good though.”

  “The appetizer was delicious. I’m sure this will be as well.” As she cut into the chicken, she looked out the window, seeing that they were, in fact, at a different location than when they’d sat. “Nice view.”

  “It certainly is.” His gaze was on her though, not the cityscape.

  Was he talking about her? No, not possible. She’d been reading way too many romances and she was beginning to think she was in her own.

  As they ate, they chatted about their childhoods. She enjoyed hearing about Connor’s. He was an only child, so he was certainly spoiled. She had a sister and a brother. Her sister had left town and her brother worked as a local police officer.

  Alyssa declined dessert, surprised that she was actually full. The bread from the appetizer most likely helped with that filling effect. After he signed the receipt, Alyssa realized it was time to leave. And the romantic evening would be ending.

  Would she get a kiss?

  * * * *

  Connor pulled up to Alyssa’s shop. His palms were sticky from the sweat pouring out of them. He’d never been more nervous around a woman than he was with Alyssa. And when she put on the shy side of her, it did wonders to his ego. He loved knowing he made her stutter and forget her train of thought. The feeling was mutual. Normally when he dated a woman, she was confident and knew just what she wanted. But with Alyssa, he had no idea.

  Should he kiss her goodnight or wait until next Friday? The thought of waiting sucked, but for her, he’d wait a lifetime. Well, maybe not, but he was willing to wait until she was ready. He just hoped she would be soon.

  Connor climbed out of the car and quickly made it over to her door to open it. He held his hand out to her and when she took it, pulled her closer. He’d loved to yank her to him, let their bodies mold together, dip her back, and taste her. But once again, he reminded himself he had to take this slow.

  “I had a lovely time,” he said as they ascended the stairs to her apartment.

  “I did too.” She turned at the door. “I didn’t put the book in my purse. Want me to go get it, or do you want to come in for a minute?”

  “Do you want me to come in?”

  She bit her bottom lip and he could see the wheels turning. “Sure. It’s not like you haven’t been in here before.”

  Only this time, he wanted to take her to bed.

  Alyssa unlocked the door and he followed her into the dark apartment. She turned the light on. He walked in and stood near the couch. Alyssa was at her bookshelf. She pulled a paperback from her collection then joined him with a flirty smile.

  “Here. I think you’ll like it.”

  He took the book and looked at the cover. He couldn’t help but grin as he stared at the model with her dress halfway off her shoulders, eyes closed, mouth parted, and a fan in hand. These covers were so dramatic. He couldn’t take this one to work to read, not unless he found a book cover.

  “I’m sure I will if you did.” He flipped the book over and saw there was a content warning on it. “Does this say ‘graphic sex’?”

  Alyssa laughed. “The love scenes get a little detailed.”

  “How detailed?”

  “Read it and find out.”

  This was definitely not a book to read at work.

  “I had a good time. Don’t expect next week’s dinner to be so elaborate,” she warned.

  “I’d be happy eating fast food with you.”

  Alyssa’s tongue darted out again, licking her lips. Did she want him to kiss her? Her eyes were locked on his. He noticed her breathing had quickened. She did want him to kiss her. He moistened his own lips and took a step toward her.

  Alyssa also moved closer. Connor reached out and placed a hand on her tiny waist. Her mouth parted and his heart rate sped up. To kiss Alyssa would be memorable. He inhaled her flowery scent and panic set in. He couldn’t kiss her, not yet. He was too scared and he’d never been scared to kiss a woman.

  Releasing her waist, he stepped back. “I need to get going. I had a great time and I’ll be in touch this week.”

  “Oh, okay.” He could see the concern on her face.

  “Have a great evening, Alyssa.” He turned and left, not believing that he didn’t have the nerve to kiss her. What was happening to him?

  Chapter Five

  The weather outside was dreary, matching Alyssa’s mood. She was glad it was almost time for her to close shop. The pounding rain had made for a boring day and the rejection haunted her.

  Connor had been so close to kissing her. What happened? She’d been wracking her mind since. She didn’t think her breath had stunk and she’d checked her teeth for food after he left. No loose piece of barley lingered. So why had he not kissed her?

  Sitting on the barstool behind the counter, she knew why. He didn’t like her that way and she had to face it. It was time to get over this little Connor fantasy she’d been having all these years. Connor would never like her that way. And she had misread several things last evening. No wonder he’d hightailed it out of there. He hadn’t wanted to hurt her feelings.

  There was no use staying open. She was in a crappy mood and the rain wasn’t going to stop anytime soon. With the sun starting to set, it was going to get nasty out on the roads with the melting snow. She left her stool and locked up.

  Normally she walked through the store and made sure everything was in order. But tonight, she didn’t care. She flipped the light switch down and headed up stairs.

  Alyssa entered her apartment and Zoe greeted her right away, like usual. She scooped the kitty up and the furball purred in appreciation. “You always know when momma needs you.” She nuzzled her face into the fur.

  Like most cats, Zoe only stayed in her arms for a moment before she jumped out and led Alyssa to the food bowl. After Alyssa filled the bowl, she opened the freezer and took out another frozen dinner. Just as she was about to pull the lid back, a knock sounded on her door.

  She opened it to find her bro
ther Cody.

  “What are you doing here?” She stepped back so he could enter.

  “I was driving by and saw you closed early. I wanted to check on you.”

  Alyssa returned to her meal, pulling the lid back. “We were dead from the weather. So I closed early.” Placing the meal in the microwave, she turned to Cody. “Want one?”

  “Hell, no. How do you eat that crap?”

  She laughed. “It beats fast food.”

  “You really need to get out more and away. You have an assistant. Put her on the schedule more and get a life.”

  Alyssa rolled her eyes. Her brother was one to talk. His life was pretty boring as well. “If you’re here to lecture, leave. I’ve had a bad day.”

  Cody leaned against the counter. “Yeah, I heard you had a date last night. Didn’t go well?”

  “Who told you?”

  “Hot Ava told her husband, Seth, my boss. And, well, he told me.”

  The joys of a small town. “Like I told her, it wasn’t a date. We’re just friends.”

  “When she said it was Connor Phillips, I about spit my drink out. He’s a bit out of your league and a player, from what I’ve heard. How do you know him anyway?”

  The microwave dinged. Alyssa removed her meal. After grabbing a fork, she sat down at her kitchen table. “He likes to read. So he’s in the shop a lot.”

  Cody took a seat next to her. “It worries me.”

  “What?”

  “That you’re going to get involved with him and get hurt.”

  “But isn’t it my choice?”

  “To get hurt? I guess so, but as your big brother, I don’t want to see you heartbroken.”

  She swallowed a noodle and set her fork down. “Connor and I are friends. That’s it.”

  “Where did he take you last night?”

  “The Sun House.” She attempted to say it as though it was no big deal, but she knew there was a slight squeal in her tone.

  Cody groaned. “You don’t take friends to The Sun House.”

  “It’s nothing more. Besides, I gave him a chance to kiss me and he didn’t. He’s not interested in me that way.”

  “What do you mean you gave him a chance?” Cody raked his hands through his hair. “And then the guy doesn’t even take it. You’re a real catch, you know.”

  Alyssa laughed. “Yeah and you’re bipolar. One minute you don’t want him near me and the next you’re upset he rejected me.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t like hearing that you wanted him to kiss you. Friends don’t kiss.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Can we stop talking about this?”

  “I think we should.”

  Alyssa returned to her meal. Cody mainly gave her small talk after that, but she had a feeling he was fuming over this Connor thing. That’s what big brothers were for, she supposed.

  * * * *

  Connor’s eyes were wide and his mouth was open. Had he really just read that? Did that woman really just drop to her knees and pleasure that man? And had the author really gone into such detail? Wow, women were kinkier than he thought!

  Connor set the book Alyssa had loaned him aside, needing a break and a cold shower. Scenes like that didn’t happen in the books he usually read. He wondered…if Alyssa was reading books like that, she must get turned on, and since she lived alone, that only meant one thing.

  He groaned as his erection grew. The thought of her pleasuring herself was going to throw him over. His hands ached to touch himself.

  Fifteen minutes later Connor returned to his living room after a shower to help soothe his needs. He couldn’t believe how turned on he’d gotten from a book and images of Alyssa in his head. He wasn’t sure he could finish the novel without going to her and having his way. Take things slow…did she know what she was doing to him, giving him a book like this?

  Porn was visual, but this was detailed. He picked up his cell phone and sent her a message.

  I’m going to lose this bet. I don’t think I can finish the book.

  He sat down on the couch and waited for her response.

  Aw, how come? –A

  He grinned and couldn’t believe what he was about to type.

  It’s too graphic for me.

  You’re kidding, right? – A

  Man, he wished he was. No. He imagined she was sitting at her house laughing at him, but he didn’t care. Looks like dinner will be on me again.

  No, it’s okay. You tried, so I’ll still treat you. – A

  Connor shook his head. There was no way he was going to let her pay for dinner. But for now he’d let her think he was.

  * * * *

  It was Friday and once again Alyssa stood in front of her mirror. Only this time she was already dressed in a pair of jeans and a light pink sweater. Underneath, she wore her sexy panties, feeling silly for it.

  Connor had been very active in her life all week. She hadn’t seen him, but he texted her daily. She did her best not to get her hopes up, but it was hard. She was feeling a little less rejected by him. But the talk between them never went toward a relationship. It was friendly. Right now they had something in common: books. And that was it. They didn’t talk about much else. And there was no going bet for dinner after this week. Which meant next Friday night, they probably wouldn’t be dining together.

  Alyssa wasn’t going to let it bother her. Tonight would be fun. And as long as she kept her feelings for him suppressed, she wasn’t going to get hurt.

  She left her room and Zoe was on her heels, like usual. The cat rubbed its body against her and meowed at her. Alyssa rolled her eyes and picked up her pet, placing her on a pink fleece blanket left upon the couch. The cat was satisfied with that and began kneading her paws in the blanket before burrowing herself in its folds.

  Alyssa gathered her purse and decided to wait outside for Connor. As she stepped off the last stair, she noticed a familiar red sedan parked there. Connor drove a black Mercedes. She walked closer to the car and covered her mouth when the driver turned to look at her.

  Matt. What was he doing there?

  The door to the sedan opened and Matt climbed out. He still looked as handsome as ever. He had light blond hair and blue eyes. He was more muscular than the last time she’d seem him. But then a painful memory flashed through her mind. He’d been kissing her sister.

  “Alyssa,” he said.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, still not believing her eyes.

  “I came to see you and apologize.”

  She shook her head. “It’s over. The past is the past, after all.”

  “I realize the mistake I made and I want to make things right.”

  What? Was he here to get her back? The nerve! “Are you wanting to get my forgiveness or something? Because you can have it. Like I said, it happened over a year ago. I’ve gotten over it by now.”

  Matt closed the space between them. “I’m happy about that. But I want more. I want us again. I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately and I want another chance.”

  Another chance? Matt had been her boyfriend for over a year. She’d thought she was going to marry him, but there was always something that delayed an engagement. She took that now as a sign it wasn’t meant to be. That they would just be settling for one another. And then he kissed her sister. Diane hadn’t been sorry. She’d done it because they had recently had a fight over something stupid, as usual, but for Matt to do that after all their time together, that was what had hurt.

  “I don’t think so,” she finally said.

  “Oh, come on. I see you have your purse. Let’s go out.”

  “She’s going out with me.” Alyssa turned to see Connor. She froze, wondering what he thought. But as he walked closer, he put his hand out to Matt. “I’m Connor Phillips, and I’ll be escorting this lovely lady out for the evening.”

  “Are you seeing him?” Matt asked, not shaking Connor’s hand.

  Oh God, what a question. What was she supposed to say?

  �
��Yes, she is,” Connor answered. “And we have reservations we don’t want to be late for.” He took Alyssa’s hand. “Are you ready?”

  She nodded. “I’ll see you around, Matt.”

  She squeezed Connor’s hand and felt courage she never had before as he led her toward his car and away from her past. She still couldn’t help but wonder why was Matt there? But for now, she’d worry about that later.

  Chapter Six

  Connor sat across from Alyssa at the steak house she had chosen. She was as beautiful as ever. She wore her hair down as she usually did and the pink sweater was the perfect shade to make her face glow. But tonight he could tell something was off and he had a feeling it had to do with the man he’d found her talking to. He thought about asking her about it but decided to leave it alone for now.

  “Did you ever finish the book?” she asked.

  “I tried. The storyline was good, but I couldn’t make it through the intimate scenes without…” He stopped himself, realizing he was about to say something he didn’t want to.

  “What?” She grinned.

  Connor wasn’t about to tell her that he thought about her. “You know.” He hoped she’d take the hint.

  Before she had time to speak, the waitress arrived with their drinks and bread. He sliced into the loaf and then buttered the bread before handing her a piece. She took it from him, but he could see the hesitation on her face.

  “Does it bother you that I take care of your bread for you?”

  “It’s just weird. No one’s ever done it before.”

  Connor set his own bread down and wiped his hands on his napkin. “I grew up with my dad always doing it for my mom. She did so much for us, that he did little things to try and make things easier for her.”

  “That’s nice.”

  “I don’t do it for everyone.” He locked his gaze on hers and watched as her cheeks turned a light shade of red. He wanted her to have no doubt that this was a real date. “I have to ask, who was the guy from earlier?”

  “An ex,” she answered in a quiet tone.

  Connor reached out and gripped her hand, giving it a slight squeeze. “It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We all have exes.” He released her hand and took a bite of bread. “What went wrong?”