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He meant it. A. J. stared into his eyes and knew that he meant it. Sean wasn’t lying to her. His hands held her firmly against him. She could feel his heartbeat racing against her. There was a vulnerability she couldn’t mistake. “Sean…”

She did it. She took the next step, the next risk. A. J. stretched up and pressed her lips against his.

This was for real.

She wouldn’t call what she felt for him love. Everything felt too new for that.

But there were some seriously deep feelings rushing through her at the moment. Feelings she owed to herself to explore more in detail.

And she wanted that. Wanted him. Trusted him.

Sean…Sean would never hurt her. Not deliberately.

A. J. pulled back, her gaze glued to his. “We don’t have to rush anything.”

“No. We don’t.”

But six years…that was a long time. She didn’t want to wait even a minute longer to find out what could be between them.

It had taken a tornado to knock her into his arms.

She wasn’t going to waste the opportunity when it presented itself.

One of her hands rose, almost of its own accord.

She toyed with the top button of the borrowed pajamas. His gaze followed the movement.

His breath caught. He trembled against her.

This man wanted her.

And she wanted him.

A. J. deliberately flicked open the top button. And then the next. And then he was grabbing for her, and she was grabbing for him.

They somehow ended up on his couch, in much the same position they’d been in beneath the rubble.

His lips were on hers. His hands made quick work of the pajamas.

A. J. wasn’t going anywhere.

Not for a long time.

Probably not for forever.

She was exactly where she wanted to be.

In the arms of her brother’s best friend. She couldn’t think of a more perfect place on earth.