Page 43 of Next Time We'll Fall

“And what are you going to tell them?”

“I’m going to tell them you want to be my dating coach.”

“Because that’s what you said, right?”

“Uh-huh.”

“And when they ask why I’m sleeping in your bed?”

“They are twenty-first-century women,” she says, laughing. “They won’t care if you’re in my bed.”

“That has nothing to do with you being on the reality dating show.” I want to tell her that she needs to turn down the offer and leave the show. I want her to tell me she no longer wants to be on the show. I want her to tell me that she only wants me.

“I’m a modern woman. I can do what I want.” She shrugs and the movement makes my heart ache.

“And I’m a modern man,” I say. “Let’s have some fun.” Maybe my actions will convince her of things that my words can’t. Maybe my love language is through touch. Maybe being with me will tell her all the things my tongue can’t verbalize. Maybe the beat of my heart will be like morse code and she can decipher just how much she means to me.

Chapter 12

JUNIPER

“Do not think this is an invitation to act like a fool, Rafe Bishop,” I say as I close my bedroom door.

He stands there, looking tall and handsome, and I swallow hard. I have no idea what I’m doing. I have no idea how I’ve ended up in this situation, but Rafe is here, in my room, and he’s spending the night. I feel like all my childhood dreams have come true, and yet I feel panicked as all get-out.

“Rosie and Sage didn’t seem surprised to see me,” he says with a smirk as he heads toward my bed.

“Well, probably because you keep showing up.”

“Yeah, but that’s normal, seeing as I am the brother of your best friend.”

“Yeah, but just because you’re the brother of my best friend doesn’t mean you’re going to scoop me off the stage.”

“And are you still mad at me for helping you escape from the wet T-shirt competition? Did you really want to show your tits that badly?”

I blush at his question. “Maybe I did.”

“We can re-create it right now if you really want to,” he says, licking his lips.

All of a sudden, he’s standing next to me, and I realize just how tall and muscular he is. His six-foot-two stature makes me feel tiny all of a sudden, and at five-eight, I’m no shrinking wallflower.

I stare into his deep blue eyes, at his dark hair, the way his skin glows under the light, and I shiver.

“I’m not going to give you a private show, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Pity,” he says, reaching down and touching the side of my face.

“What are you doing?”

“How many times are you going to ask me that question? What do you think I’m doing?”

“I think you’re trying to seduce me,” I say quickly.

He bursts out laughing, and I watch as he pulls off his dark leather shoes and then takes a seat on my bed.

“Comfortable,” he says as he leans back, making himself at home, like he belongs there.

“Are you going to sleep in your pants and shirt?” I ask him in surprise. I still feel like I’m in a dream.