Page 91 of Bridesmaid for Hire
He shakes his head. “Nah, I was there.”
“Oh…”
“Either way, you take the chances I don’t think I’d take, and they always work out for you.”
“Well, I don’t know about that,” I say. “I’ve taken plenty of chances and have failed miserably.”
“Yeah?” he asks. “What kind of chances?”
Not sure if it’s the mai tai in me or the way that he seems so authentic in this moment, but before I can stop myself, I say, “Like kissing you at Gary’s wedding.”
He keeps his eyes turned down as he picks up another carrot and swirls it in the hummus. After a few torturous seconds during which I second-guess everything, he says, “You didn’t fail that night. I did.”
“Brody—”
“I did.” He looks up at me. “I failed miserably. I should have…hell, I should have explained things to you.”
Uh…what now?“Explain what…?” I ask. And then an awful thought pops in my head. “Oh my God, were you seeing someone? Is that why you stopped so abruptly?”
“What?” He shakes his head. “No. I’d never do that. I might have kissed my way around college, but I’d never cheat, ever.”
“Oh.” I twist my lips to the side. I hate cheaters. I was only cheated on once, and I knew it was ahim thingand not ame thing, but I still hate them. And if I’m honest, I know that Brody would never cheat. I mean, look at how faithful he’s been to my brother all these years.Oh, there I go putting my brother down again. Maggie…If there wasn’t another woman on Brody’s mind, then I’ve been right all along. “So then…it was just me.”
He brings his hand to my bare thigh and slides it along my skin, drawing my attention to his gaze as he leans in. “It was not you. It was me.”
“That’s what everyone says when they don’t want to hurt the other person’s feelings.”
“This is not the case. It was all me. I was in my head. And instead of walking away, I should have told you that.” He squeezes my thigh, and it sends a bolt of lust straight to my core as his thumb slowly slides over my skin. “I’m sorry, Maggie.”
Well, I will say this, if there’s one thing Brody is good at, it’s giving an apology.
He’s apologized twice to me now and both times have left me breathless.
He looks me in the eye.
His voice is sincere.
And he has no qualms about saying those two simple words:I’m sorry.
The man knows how to swallow his pride and that makes him exponentially more attractive.
Which is not good because I already consider him incredibly attractive.
“Thank you,” I say. He gives me a soft smile, and I’m filled with the need to apologize to him as well. “I’m sorry, too.”
His brows pull together as he keeps his hand on my thigh, staying close, as if we truly are dating. “What are you sorry for?”
“I feel like I haven’t been the best partner for you in this endeavor. I probably should have been more helpful, and I’ve made it worse.”
He shakes his head. “Nah, you’ve been good. I’ve been the idiot who can’t seem to get his shit together.” He stares up at the thatched ceiling. “Should have never worn that linen suit the first night. It was bad luck.”
That makes me chuckle. “Linen was not made for a man like you.”
“A man like me?” he asks as his thumb rubs over my inner thigh. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I swallow the nerves that bloom in my stomach as I stare at his handsome face. “You’re just tall and broad. You know…muscly. I don’t think men like you are supposed to pull off a linen suit.”
He smirks and picks up his drink. “Muscly, huh?”
