Page 58 of The Deal Breaker
“You didn’t mess anything up, but…” Her mouth quirked. “In all the years I’ve known you, you’ve never kissed me goodbye. Why did you tonight?”
Dash shrugged. That wasn’t an answer, but the thought of saying the words aloud made him wish he hadn’t eaten so much tonight.
“Not good enough.” Her voice was firmer. “Use words.”
Talking to a conference room full of investors or tech-junkies was easier than standing in front of Iris. She deserved an answer. Still, he shifted his weight between his bare feet.
He took a breath. And another. “Sometimes I can’t believe you’re giving our friendship another go after what I did or didn’t do. I keep wanting to touch you to make sure you’re real. Here. Tonight, I kissed you because that’s what Henry does with you and you’re friends with him. Weird, huh?”
Her smile reached all the way to her eyes. “It’s sweet.”
“I want to do better with you. Though I’m not as smooth as Henry.”
Not even close, but Dash kept that to himself.
“You weren’t unsmooth if that helps,” she offered. “The problem was, I turned my head.”
“Yes, but that was like having second dessert.”
Iris laughed. “We never had a first one, but I know what you mean.”
Now, that was interesting and gave him an idea. “Do you mind?”
“What?”
He wanted to tread carefully around Iris. But he couldn’t deny wanting another kiss, even one as friends. The screen’s glow made her look more like a movie star from an old movie.
Beautiful.
But her looks weren’t her biggest appeal. It was her heart, one that gave and cared. One that had so much love to give to the right person. Dash swallowed.
“What did you mean?” she prompted.
“The touching, holding hand, kisses.” The words rushed from his mouth one after another like the water cascading from Multnomah Falls after snowmelt runoff.
“I’m not used to it, but Icouldget used to it, Dash.”
Good.He blew out the breath he’d been holding.
She eyed him warily. “How about you?”
“Same.” And this was where it got tricky, because he wouldn’t mind kissing her right now. Probably not a good idea. That didn’t stop him from taking a step closer to the side of her bed. “Do you think we need to add rules about those things? Like asking permission?”
That seemed a no-brainer so that he didn’t repeat what happened tonight.
Iris shrugged. “Holding hands isn’t a big deal.”
Except it felt like one to Dash.
“Henry doesn’t do that with his kisses,” she added. “If it’s just a greeting or farewell kiss between friends, that might be overkill.”
His throat constricted.
“If it was something else? Between friends?” Ugh. Dashhadsaid that aloud. “Hypothetically.”
Iris tilted her chin. “Hypothetically, asking would be polite if it was more than a casual hello or goodbye.”
“Makes sense.”
