Page 36 of The Best Man Problem
“Well, um, thank you for letting me crush your feet.”
He wiggled his toes in his shoes. “Not a broken bone among them.” She smiled, and even though he knew the answer, he couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Need a ride home?”
Her teeth came out to worry her bottom lip. A move that hardened his body. Everywhere.
He wanted nothing more than to reach over and free that poor lip, soothe her tiny teeth marks with his tongue, and kiss her until she forgot all about wedding clients and lists and matching on paper. Until the only thing she remembered was how explosive they were together. How right it felt.
“I think…” She took a deep breath, exhaling with a shake of her head. “I think that would be a very bad idea.”
He shrugged. “Bad ideas can have great results.”
Her lips curled up in a wry smile. “I’m parked in the lot downstairs. They tow if you leave a car overnight. Better not risk it.”
“Ouch.” He placed a hand to his chest in mock pain. “I’m not good enough to risk a tow fee. Seems I need to work on my bedroom skills.”
She rolled her eyes, the smile growing wider. “Good night, Lincoln. Thank you for the dance.”
“Night, Lilly. The pleasure was mine.” And hers, he hoped.
She started to walk away.
“Lilly.” She turned at his call. “Just so you know. I totally would have made your night worth the towing fee.”
Her brow furrowed. She glanced around the room, but most everyone had left already. The teacher was at the sound system, fiddling with the playlist on her phone, and Kenneth had come back and was busy conversing with Rachel and Marie at the entrance to the large ballroom. He watched her take everything into account until a determined look settled on her face. Her gaze swung back to him, and she took a few forceful steps to stand in front of him. She stood toe to toe—thankfully not on them this time—and stared him directly in the eyes.
“You, Lincoln Reid, are a very bad idea…and totally worth any towing fee.”
Then she tilted her chin up and placed her soft lips over his. He didn’t even have time to react to the kiss before she pulled back. She pointed a finger in his face.
“This has to stop happening.”
He did not agree in any way with that statement. He hoped it kept happening. That and more.
“Ugh!”
She threw her hands in the air at his reply of a grin, turning and storming off, muttering something about a stupid, sexy man being impossible to resist. That was twice now she’d kissed him. Twice she fell victim to the chemistry she claimed to denounce. Dare he hope the third time would be the charm that led her back to his bed?
“Dude, did I just see what I thought I saw?”
He turned as Kenneth walked up to his side.
“Depends on what you thought you saw.”
“Looked like Lilly just planted one on you.”
He stared at the woman in question as she stopped by Marie’s side, asking her something. Marie smiled, shaking her head and grabbing Lilly in a fierce hug. He saw Lilly stiffen, awkwardly patting his friend on the back. The woman did not handle physical expression well.
Except with me.
True. She had no issue being relaxed in his arms.
“So, did I?” Kenneth prodded. “See you kiss my wedding planner?”
He shook his head. “I didn’t kiss her.” Technically the truth.
“But she kissed you?”
He stared at his best friend. The guy who was less like a pal and more like a brother. The man he usually told everything to. But not this. Lilly might not be able to deny the chemistry between them—she might be fighting a losing battle, and he might enjoy watching her struggle—but he’d be damned if he did anything to upset her. Revealing anything about their night together or any incident that happened since would hurt her. He knew this instinctively. She valued her professionalism, her business, and he would never do anything to put that in jeopardy. So he simply stared at his friend silently.
