Page 40 of Igniting Sparks

Even if I’m going to hate it.

I drum my thumbs against the desk. “She’s basically a virgin.”

Ash’s jaw slackens at my disclosure. “She is not.”

“She is. We were fooling around, and she told me she was afraid she wouldn’t be any good since she’d only had sex one other time.”

“Wow. I guess her whole innocent act isn’t an act, after all. Did you show her the ropes? God knows you’ve slept with enough women?—”

This isnotmaking me feel better.

“I told her we needed to stop.”

The look that crosses my brother’s face solidifies what I’ve feared since last night—that I did, in fact, make the wrong decision.

“How did Mina take it when you told her?”

I throw up my hands as the disgust coils low in my gut. “How do you think? I told her it should be special, right? Because she’s special. But she wasn’t hearing it. Even told me we should call off the whole fake engagement thing—said she realized it was a dumb idea.”

“What doyouthink about this dumb idea?”

“I want to help her. Mina has so much at stake, and she deserves this studio.”

“But is it only because of the studio, or is there something more to your situation?”

I don’t answer. I don’t have to. My brother is my best friend, and he knows me better than anyone.

Ash pounds out a quick rhythm on the desktop before standing. “That’s what I thought. So, your mission is twofold this weekend. Charm the shit out of pretentious Aunt Bitsy and then charm the pants off Miss Mina.”

“Sure. Because that will besofucking easy,” I mutter.

“You’re a good guy, Braden. Everyone knows it, including Mina. Maybe this whole virginity thing screwed you sideways, but just go with it, because you two make sense together, even if you don’t see it yet.”

Ash strolls out of the office, satisfied he’s offered his daily dose of brotherly advice.

He’s wrong about one thing, though.

I know how good Mina and I could be together.

Now I just have to convince her of that.

Chapter 9

Liking You Was Never the Problem

Braden

Mina is restocking the pastry shelves when I stroll into One More Page, her face intent as she repositions the cakes to her liking.

Even with the most mundane task, she’s thorough and exacting, which is why she’s theonlyproper candidate for the dance studio, no matter what brand of bullshit her aunt is peddling.

“Hey, you got a minute?”

Mina glances up, an artificial smile playing on her mouth. “What do you need? Coffee? Croissant?”

“Nothing, thanks. I spoke to Ash about this weekend.”

Her brow furrows. “You did?”