I Choose You by Lopez, Bethany (most romantic novels .txt) 📕

              Kent’s arms came tightly around her and he pulled her in for a hug. She breathed in the scent of him and closed her eyes as she let the pleasure course through her.

              “Hey, Nic,” Kent said into her ear. “Did you just get back?”

              She pulled back and nodded up at him. His eyes were drawn immediately to her cleavage. Since she was still pulled up against him, she could feel the reaction his body had to the sight of her exposed breasts, and she couldn’t help the thrill that started at her toes and raced upwards.

              Kent cleared his throat and backed up a step. “It’s good to see you. Did you have fun?”

              Nicole couldn’t stop but smile at his attempt to get space. “Yes, it was great. Bree and Colin are just wonderful.” She answered as she closed the gap between them and put her arms around his neck.

              “I missed you,” She said softly as she stood on her tip toes and pressed her lips to his.

              Kent slowly smiled at her and admitted, “I missed you too.”

              Nicole beamed at that and said, “Good.”

              Kent chuckled at her, then looked up at the sound of his sister calling his name.

              Roni was waving at them from her booth, so they walked over to join her.

              “Sheesh, I was beginning to wonder if you guys were going to stand over there and make out all night, or if you were going to join me for dinner.” Roni gestured at the food that was waiting at the table, but she smiled to soften her words, as she jumped out of the booth and grabbed Nicole in a hug.

              “Welcome back. Was it great? Are they happy? Do they have a great place?” Roni shot the questions out, causing Nicole to laugh as she sat down next to Kent in the booth.

              Nicole put her hand on Kent’s leg and squeezed before leaving it there to rest. She was acutely aware of the heat generating from them as she answered Roni.

              “Yes, it was great. They are totally happy, and their apartment is awesome. They have a gym and a pool and it’s just a walk away from all of the restaurants and bars downtown. You will definitely have to come next time.”

              “Definitely,” Roni agreed. “Here have half of mine; you know I’ll never be able to eat it all.”

              “Okay, thanks,” Nicole said as Roni began splitting her BLT and fries.

              “So, did anything fun happen while I was gone?” Nicole asked as she picked up her sandwich.

              Roni grinned and winked at her brother. “Kent had poker night.”

              “Oh,” Nicole began as she noticed the dirty look that Kent shot Roni. “Did something happen there?”

              Kent looked at her and shook his head, before shooting another dirty look at Roni, who just giggled.

              “No, it was no big deal, just poker night.”

              Nicole decided to let it go for now.

              Kent took a bite of his burger, and when Nicole reached a finger up to brush a bit of mustard from the corner of his mouth, he turned his intense gaze on her.

              She smiled saucily up at him and touched her finger to her lips, letting her tongue dart out to lick the mustard off of her finger.

              He cleared his throat, his eyes never leaving her mouth, and she felt heat run through her, making her wonder who she was trying to drive crazy him, or herself?

              “Hello???” Roni said loudly. “Sister slash roommate is still right here in the booth with you, trying to eat her dinner. I’d hate to see you two after a week apart.”

              Nicole flushed with embarrassment, but Kent just grinned at Roni.

              “Don’t be jealous, Roni.” He teased. “Rich will be home before you know it.”

              Roni rolled her eyes and said, “Please. Rich is the last guy I’d be interested in.”

              Nicole smiled as the twins bantered back and forth. She finished her food and placed her hand on her stomach to try and calm the nerves there.

              She took a deep breath and smiled up at Kent through her eyelashes. “You have any plans for the rest of the night?”

              He looked over at her, a wary expression on his face. “No, why?”

              She picked her hand up and ran it through her hair, watching him as he tracked her progress. “Well, I haven’t seen your place yet,” She began. “I was hoping to get an invitation.”

              “You mean just the two of us?” Kent asked, glancing at Roni, who just shook her head at him.

              “Of course just the two of you, you Dolt,” Roni said in exasperation. “I’m not tagging along to watch the two of you paw at each other.”

              Nicole couldn’t help but laugh at Kent’s reaction to Roni’s words. It was almost as if he was afraid to be alone with her.

              She couldn’t help but tease him, “Chicken?”

              Kent looked down at his plate, then back into Nicole’s eyes. “I can handle it if you can.”

              Nicole smiled at him, but she couldn’t help but hope that he was right. That they would both be able to handle what she had planned for them that night.

Chapter Fourteen

              They dropped Roni off and took the short trip just outside of town to Kent’s house.

              It was a nice house, well-maintained, with a well-manicured lawn. Nicole took in the large tree in the front yard, the wrap-around porch, and the wooden Adirondack chairs poised around the porch.

              She loved his house immediately.

              It had a comfortable, cozy look, and looked like a wonderful place to just be.

              Kent seemed nervous as they walked up to the front door, which was uncharacteristic of him. She wasn’t sure if he was nervous to show her his house, or nervous to be alone with her, but Nicole couldn’t help but feel a little pleased at