“These five overprotective brothers of yours, would they mind if we spent tomorrow together?”
She took a step back and raked her eyes down his body. “That depends. Do serial killers ask women on dates?”
He laughed. “I don’t have enough experience with serial killers to answer that.”
Emily’s phone vibrated in her pocket.
“Maybe that’s one of them. You can ask.”
Emily pulled her phone out of her pocket and read a text. She trapped her lower lip between her teeth and raised her eyes to his, then held up her index finger before responding.
“Christ, you’re not really asking your brother—are you?”
She shook her head, and her hair tumbled forward. “Soon-to-be sister-in-law. Daisy. She’s marrying my brother Luke the weekend after I go home.”
Dae scrubbed his hand down his face at the prospect of her asking her soon-to-be sister-in-law about going on a date with him. “Great.” He didn’t even try to mask his sarcasm.
Her phone vibrated again, and her long lashes fluttered as she read the text.
“Well? What does Daisy say?”
“Um…” She lowered the phone and held it behind her back with a coy smile.
Dae rolled his eyes. So much for their date. The words stranger danger came to mind. “It was nice getting to know you tonight, Emily.”
Her smile was replaced with tight lips and a wrinkled brow as he took a step away. “What? That’s it? I haven’t answered you yet.”
He closed the distance between them, so their thighs touched. Their lips were a breath apart, and her eyes held a seductive challenge. It took all of his focus for him not to lean down and wipe that smug look off her face with a kiss.
“I assumed…”
“Assumed?” Her voice turned low and sexy. “What happened to Mr. Hand or Arm? Wow, you’re not quite the man I thought you were if you give up that easy.” She touched his chest, nearly doing him in.
Dae clenched his jaw at the challenge. “I’m trying to be respectful. You’re the one who gave me the big-brother lecture earlier.”
“Oh, yeah.” She wrinkled her nose, and her eyes held a hint of regret.
She was so damn cute that he wanted to take care of her as much as he wanted to kiss her. “Yeah.” He leaned down and pressed his cheek to hers, then wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her against him. “I honestly don’t give a rat’s ass what Daisy said,” he whispered.
Emily nibbled on her lower lip.
Their bedrooms were located on more of a balcony than a hallway, with wrought-iron railings overlooking the great room below. The villa was silent, save for the sound of their heavy breathing.
“It’s your answer I want, not hers.”
He leaned back and gazed into her eyes, hoping she’d take a chance on the desire he could see lingering in them.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Great, and just for the record, I’d have kept you safe even if I didn’t have sisters, but I can assure you that my feelings toward you are not brotherly.”
Emily’s eyes widened.
“And I wouldn’t mind if you didn’t act sisterly toward me, either.”
“I—”
“Good night, Emily.”
(End of Sneak Peek)