Page 16 of The Best Friend Problem
“Ah yes, I forgot for a moment I was watching with First Date Finn. Man who fears any commitment longer than the expiration date on his milk.”
Since the couch was so small, their thighs were pressed together. Pru could feel, quite clearly, the tensing of Finn’s muscles at her snipe. A small tendril of guilt wormed its way into her consciousness. They’d always teased each other, playfully of course, but that comment had been a little out of line. She knew the reason Finn never got serious with anyone had a lot to do with the dangers of his job.
“I’m sorry, Finn. That wasn’t fair. Must be the booze talking.”
His muscles relaxed a bit, the corner of his mouth lifting. “Oh, are we playing the blame it on the booze game now? Because if so, then can I say Easton is awesome and I’m glad he beat out Jayce?”
She gasped in mock horror. “You take that back.”
He lifted his hands, chuckling. “Hey, it was the booze talking.”
“You’re gonna regret picking Team Easton.”
Bruiser barked, a high-pitched yip, as Pru slid the dog off her lap and onto the floor before launching herself at Finn. She tackled him, slipping the ice she’d surreptitiously grabbed from her water glass down the back of his shirt. He shouted out a very creative four-letter word, jumping up and ripping his shirt off.
“Oh, you are going to pay for that, Prudence.”
She laughed, reaching again for her water cup, but he was quicker. Finn dove, easily grabbing her and flipping her onto her back. Pressing her into the couch as he loomed above her, holding her hands high above her head.
“I think it’s payback time.” He reached for her glass of water.
“Finn, no! Don’t you dare!” He raised the glass, condensation from the icy cold water running down in tiny rivulets on the outside. “Your couch! If you pour that water on me, it’ll soak your couch.”
One tattooed shoulder shrugged. “Couches dry.”
She struggled as the laughter escaped her, but his hold was firm. “I’m serious. I don’t want to get wet. I don’t have anything to change into.”
“We can always just hang out naked.”
At his statement, her laughter died. All the playfulness was sucked out of the room as that one word hung in the air between them. A big damn elephant in a tiny room.
In that moment, she took stock of everything. Finn, shirtless, hovering above her with a firm yet gentle hold on her wrists, pressing her into the soft cushions of his couch. To a casual observer, this might look like lovers’ foreplay. But they weren’t lovers. They were friends.
She didn’t want Finn.
So why was there heat pooling low in her belly?
Why did her breasts feel heavy and achy?
And why was there a trembling between her thighs?
Oh God. Did she want Finn? True, her best friend was attractive, but she’d never wanted to jump him. Not consciously anyway. So why now? Maybe it was the fertility drugs. Her doctor had mentioned they could affect her libido. Were the drugs making her see Finn in a new, sexually available light or was it the booze? There had to be some logical explanation for this sudden burning need, low in her gut, screaming for her to cross that forbidden line in their friendship.
“Shit, I’m sorry Pru.” Finn shook his head, breaking the spell. “Forget I said that. Must be the booze talking.”
He released her hands, lifting off her and heading toward the kitchen with her water, which he downed in one gulp.
“Bullshit.”
It wasn’t the alcohol. Yes, they were both a little drunk, but they weren’t wasted or anything. The alcohol may have loosened his tongue, but it didn’t plant the idea there in the first place.
“Look…” Finn tossed up his hands. “We’re best friends and all, but I’m still a guy and you’re beautiful, so yeah, I’ve thought about…you know, you and me naked a time or two, but I would never—”
“Wait, what?” Shock slammed into her, stealing her breath as his confession bounced around in her brain.
“Huh?”
She took a few steps forward. A few steps in Finn’s place meant she was practically toe-to-toe with him now.
