Anna winced. The bridesmaids and the bride had gone drinking last weekend, and she had gotten outrageously drunk. That’s why Nina knew about her feelings for Brett in the first place. Give her a few drinks, and she would confess every little detail of her pathetic love life to anyone listening, and boy, had she done that. “No, we already went out. We’re just going to be drinking some champagne and watching a few chick flicks tonight. Are you going to a strip club?”
“I’m not sure.” He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “But I hope not.”
She arched a brow. “Why not? Men love those places.”
“Some men.” He focused on her, his eyes intense and dark. “Not me.”
She didn’t really know what to say to that. Good for you? Or maybe: Glad to hear it? Or: Thank God? None of them seemed to fit, so she just sat there looking like an idiot…which was quite fitting. “Oh.”
“Why aren’t you dancing tonight, Twinkletoes?”
She looked down at her feet. The only person she really wanted to dance with was right here, but she didn’t want to admit that, thank you very much. “I don’t know. Why aren’t you dancing?”
“I don’t dance.”
“You did with me,” she said softly. “All those years ago.”
“That was different.”
She lifted her head. “Why?”
“It was with you,” he said, his voice so quiet she had to strain her ears to make out the words. “And I was younger back then.”
“So was I.” She folded her hands in her lap. “I’m different now, too, you know.”
He approached and held out his hand. “Hopefully not so different that you’ll reject a dance with me?”
God, was he trying to kill her? This was just a show of friendship from him, but to her…it was everything. He was everything to her. And he’d never understand that.
His jaw flexed at her silence. “Dance with me, Anna.”
It wasn’t really a question. It was more of a…command. She liked the authoritative tone in his voice more than she cared to admit. She bit her lower lip, her stomach clenching tight at the heated possession in his eyes.
She should say no.
But something in his eyes, combined with the terse lines around his mouth, refused to let her push him away this time. He looked…like this meant more to him than a stupid dance. She slid her hand into his and stood. “I guess one dance for old time’s sake wouldn’t hurt.”
Idiot. You have no one to blame but yourself.
He closed his arms around her, pulling her against his chest. She let her lids drift shut for a second, simply breathing him in, and pretended this meant as much to him as it did to her. He smelled like dreams, love, man, and cigar. She wished there were a candle of his scent. She would burn it every time she thought of him, when the empty, aching hole in her chest throbbed for him…which was way too freaking often to admit.
He rested his jaw on her temple. “Thank you for dancing with me. I know I haven’t been the best of friends lately, and I’m sorry for that. I keep thinking that one of these days, you’ll realize how much of an asshole I am and send me packing for good.”
She shook her head. “I’ll always be your friend. I’ll never send you away.”
“I doubt that.” His voice sounded gruff. “It’s only a matter of time. I’ve accepted it, and so should you. We’re on borrowed time, Twinkletoes. We all are. But until then…remember when we used to do this?” He swung her in a circle, lifting her off her feet. She clung to his shoulders, a surprised laugh escaping her. “And then I’d do this.” He dipped her backward. He leaned down close to her face, his nose practically touching hers. The smile on his face melted away, and his hands tightened on her as his green eyes darkened seductively. “Shit. I forget what comes next.”
“For starters?” She dug her nails into his jacket, her heart racing faster than ever before and the world spinning around them. “You never looked at me like that.”
“Sure I did. I just hid it better.” He stared at her lips, his gaze darkening. “Much fucking better.”
Her breath escaped her, and the world spun around them. “Brett—”
“What are you two doing out here?” Cole asked from the French doors.
Brett clenched his jaw and didn’t move. Just kept holding her in his arms. “I’m dancing with your sister, Einstein. Go away.”
She blinked up at him in surprise. He always backed off when one of her brothers came in between them and let go of her faster than a vampire with a cross.