Page 45 of Hideaway Reunion

“And they’ll forgive you,” he said. “However it goes.”

“Maybe. But if it backfires, they won’t trust me anytime soon.”

“Agree to disagree.” Brayden moved, his hands tucked behind him as he leaned against the door frame.

If she wanted to leave, she’d have to climb over his legs. And if she did that, she’d want to stay right here. “We should get back out there.”

“We will. One thing first.”

She swallowed. Did she even want to know? “What’s that?”

He swept her into a kiss so fast her head swam. His hand at the nape of her neck, he angled her mouth and dragged them both deeper. Her heart raced, and a sizzle shot straight to her toes, stopping at all the fascinating places in between.

She clung, delightfully overwhelmed and shamelessly focused on the immediate pleasure of the kiss. Of him. Everything about Brayden, about them together, seemed bigger and better than any other experience. It was wonderful and terrifying and incredible.

She didn’t want it to stop, ever.

“Hey—Oh. Whoops!”

She peeked over his shoulder just in time to see Nat scurrying away. “Wait!” But Brayden’s hands at her waist held her in place.

“Let her go,” he said with a shiver.

No. A suppressed laugh.

“You are laughing at me.”

He let loose then, his hilarity bouncing around the bathroom. “Not if you join in.” He tickled her, just above her hipbones. A weakness he’d discovered last night.

The absurdity of it finally hit and she laughed along with him, until she was breathless. “She’ll never let me live this down,” Roni lamented. “This will forever be the day I let everyone else work while I made out with you.”

“I can live with that.” He tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear, holding her gaze.

“Yeah. Me too,” she said. “You have the kindest eyes,” she murmured. “I’ve always loved that about you.” She pressed up on her toes and kissed him lightly. “I love you, Brayden.”

Apparently, she was doing this now. And why hold back? If she was going to be an emotional basket case, she might as well include the good emotions too.

His entire body seemed to freeze. “Like a friend.”

“That’s how it started.” She kissed him again. “But this is how it’s going.” She trailed her hands down his chest, slipping under his shirt to stroke his back. “I’m in love with you too.”

He started to speak, but she barreled on. “Not just because of last night.” She took a deep breath. “The attraction has been there for a while. Remember when I first saw you on the beach that day?”

“Yes.” Humor lit his eyes. “Were you ogling me, Veronica?”

“I was,” she confessed, hands skimming the solid muscles of his back. “And then I was all ashamed of myself when you turned around and I recognized it was you. Is that vulnerable enough for you?”

He nipped her earlobe. “You like me,” he teased in a silly voice he might’ve used back in high school.

“Yes.” She let her hands roam lower and squeezed his butt. “And I love you.”

He claimed her mouth with such a tender intensity, she wanted to cry again, but happy tears this time.

“Told you so.” Nat’s voice. Followed by Celeste’s gasping, “Ohmigosh!”

Roni yanked Brayden into the bathroom and he kicked the door closed behind them. She’d deal with her sisters in a minute. This moment, enjoying the newness of what it meant to be in love with her best friend, deserved her undivided attention.

CHAPTER 15