Page 18 of The Maxwell Brothers

I straightened up, gesturing for her to walk in front of me as I opened the door to the cellar. "After you, Ms. Langley."

What was it about this woman that made me laugh so often? The things she said were always so unexpected that I couldn't help myself. She was right. I needed to laugh more. And when I was with her, I felt happy.

The lighting was dim in the staircase, but then it abruptly turned dark. I tried a nearby switch, but the light didn’t turn back on.

“Something’s wrong with the electric circuit down here.”

"Should we go back upstairs and grab a flashlight?" Lexi asked.

I took out my smartphone from my pocket, turning on the little flashlight button. "It's okay. We have enough light with this."

"That's true. I left my phone upstairs, but this will work. I'm going to focus on the fact that there is wine; otherwise, I'd feel a bit like we were in a horror movie."

"Are you afraid of the dark, Lexi?"

She shivered. Fuck, I was close enough to feel the goose bumps on her arm.

"Not tonight," she whispered as we stopped in front of the shelves. "Wow. This is amazing. You know how most people would love to see a real-life version of the bookcases inBeauty and the Beast?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

She turned her head sideways at me. I tipped my head and was so close that my lips almost brushed hers. "You have a young daughter."

"I know, but my brain always blocks out whatever she wants us to watch."

"Understandable. Well, anyway, there's a scene in which there's a huge library, and people are always like, 'Oh, I want this to happen in real life.'" She pointed at the wine bottles. "But this is what I've always wanted to see."

I chuckled. "You're always welcome here, Lexi. Tell me, what kind of wine do you like? Describe it as best as you can."

"I love white wine. I want it to be fruity but not sweet. Light, with a hint of smokiness."

"I have what you need. Come on. Let's pick it out together from the shelf." Instinct overpowered rational thought again. I put a hand on her waist. She moved, knocking my phone out of my hand, disengaging the light when it fell so it was completely dark.

"Oh, shit. I'm sorry," she said.

"No problem. I'll get it." Bending down, I brushed my hand around the floor and picked it up. Pressing the bottom of the screen, I managed to turn the light on again.

“Can you find the bottle?” Lexi asked.

I had to laugh at the apprehension in her voice. She was legitimately worried about not getting wine. I liked this woman more and more.

“It was the fifth bottle from the floor.” Taking it out, I held it to her, jokingly asking, “Want to keep it to make sure I don’t drop it or anything?”

“Oh, no. I trust you with wine more than I trust myself. Although… youdiddrop the phone, so give it here. I’ll keep it safe.”

She clasped the bottle, laughing.

I put a hand on her arm, resting my fingers on her bare skin. She squirmed against me. I heard her suck in a breath. She was so sensitive to me that it drove me insane.

"So, you like wine? Tell me more. What else do you like?"

"Your delicious cooking," she said.

"I meant in general, not about me, but since we're on that slippery slope, please do say what else you like about me."

We reached the staircase and stopped.

"Tate," she whispered. Her breath landed on my neck, and it was all I could do not to pin her against the wall. I wouldn't stop just at kissing her. I knew that. If my lips ever touched hers, it wouldn't end with a kiss. It would end with me sinking inside her and making her mine. And I couldn’t risk that.