Page 42 of If You Were Mine

I did not like what that other woman saw, but I ignored her as I followed Harper to the back. “You can take your break, I need to work on the next set of brownies.”

“Take a seat, Wellesley. You should actually put your feet up.”

She just laughed. “I will later. At least after I pick Lucky up from Dog Gone It.”

I blinked. “Is that the name of the doggie daycare thing?”

“Yes. And it doesn’t have Cage in the name.”

“Shocking.”

I leaned against the wall, arms crossed over my chest as I watched her work.

I wasn’t about to step in and help because I would just fuck it up, but I really liked watching her work.

And that was a problem.

“I’m sorry,” I said after a moment.

She stopped in the act of cutting out brownies and blinked. “Sorry for what?”

“For kissing you.”

I hadn’t quite meant to say it like that, but there was no coming back from that.

Her face fell, and I hated myself. But this was for the best.

She set down the knife and wiped her hands on a towel before heading towards the sink. Without another word, she washed her hands, wiped them on another towel, and let out a breath.

“Because it was wrong?” she asked, not looking at me.

“Yes. No. Fuck. I don’t know, Wellesley. I’m just sorry.”

“Okay.” She turned and looked at me then, chin lifted. I loved the way that she always stood up to me. Even when we had been younger. “Did you want to kiss me?”

Yes.

No.

Fuck yes.

“I shouldn’t.”

“That’s not what I asked,” she whispered.

“When did you get so good at this?” I asked softly.

“Good at what? Speaking up for myself? Dorian, I’m not a little girl.”

I snorted. “You’re not. But you’re still too young.”

“No. I’m not. I’m younger than you, but I’m not too young.”

“You are.”

“I wasn’t too young for you to kiss me back last night.” She tilted her head as she stared at me defiantly. I hated that I liked that look.

I hadn’t even realized I had moved forward, so now there were only a few steps between us.