The Mistake (Bad Bridesmaids #1) - Noelle Adams Page 0,36

of health.

They’d missed the rehearsal and this evening’s dinner, but they’d called to let the bride and groom know what had happened. Amanda was determined to still make it to the wedding tomorrow, so he’d rented a car to finish the trip to Hilton Head. Amanda had dozed during the final leg of the journey, and they’d finally gotten to the hotel at ten in the evening.

Amanda’s room was down the hall from his. He’d carried her luggage into the room for her and then stood for a minute, staring at her and fighting the impulse to ask if he could stay.

He hadn’t wanted to leave her. And it wasn’t just because he wanted to have sex with her.

He always wanted to have sex with her, but that wasn’t the most important thing right now. Mostly he wanted to be with her. Hold her. Listen to her breathe. He wanted it so much he’d barely been able to stop himself from suggesting it.

He’d never had that particular impulse before—to hold a woman outside of the context of sex, without even the promise of sex in the future. He wasn’t sure what was happening to him.

But he had his suspicions.

Staring at his face in the mirror, he processed what he was looking at. Damp hair. Dark eyes. Thick eyebrows. Slightly stubbled jaw. High cheekbones. Prominent nose. A familiar face. Nothing different from normal except the scratches.

But he felt like he was looking at someone else.

Someone foolish enough to fall in love.

He’d spent so many years holding himself at a distance. Protecting himself from this very thing. Never giving up the parts of himself that were the most vulnerable. Not even letting other people see that those parts existed. And then he’d walked right into the trap willingly, as soon as it was laid, because he simply couldn’t resist Amanda’s sharp mind, hot body, and deep heart.

What the hell was he thinking?

There were still things he could do to protect himself and go back to the man he’d always been. He should start to pull back now. Erect a few barriers around his heart. Stop himself from tipping over the final ledge and free-falling into the dangerous unknown.

But who was he kidding? He was already falling. And soon he was going to hit the bottom.

Hard.

He was still trying to process that bleak thought when there was a knock on his door.

Frowning, he stepped out of the bathroom and looked out the peephole.

Amanda.

He swung the door open so fast the air whooshed. “Are you okay?”

She must have taken a shower like he had. Her hair wasn’t wet, but she smelled like soap and toothpaste. She wore soft lavender pajama shorts and a white tank top that did little to hide the shape of her breasts or the outline of her nipples.

He gulped and looked up at her face. “Is everything all right?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Everything’s fine.” She shifted position and looked down at the floor. “I... I... I don’t really know why I’m here.”

He stepped out of his doorway to let her come in. “What’s the matter, sunshine? Couldn’t you sleep?”

She shook her head. “I took a quick shower and then lay down. This day feels like it’s been forever, but I couldn’t go to sleep. Everything is just whirling behind my eyelids when I close my eyes.” She sighed. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have bothered you. Were you sleeping?”

“No. I just got out of the shower.” He reached over to lift her chin since she was hiding her expression behind her hair and it bothered him. “Tell me what’s the matter, Amanda.”

She let out her breath again. This time longer. Slower. Like she was giving up her resistance. “I don’t even know. I just feel... jittery. Upset. Rattled. It’s probably just the accident. I know it wasn’t serious, but it made me feel so out of control. Insecure. I... I... don’t want to be alone.”

His heart lurched. It actually lurched. Like it was trying to reach from his chest over to her.

He’d just been telling himself to protect himself. To keep his distance. To not let himself fall over the edge.

But there was a truth he knew now and had known when he was standing at the mirror. He’d fallen a long time ago. And trying to stop himself now would accomplish absolutely nothing—except it would hurt her.

Which was something he’d never do.

So he cleared his throat and murmured, “Then stay with me.”

Her eyes flew to his face quickly.

“Not for sex,” he