Rogue Devil (The Rourkes #11) - Kylie Gilmore Page 0,63

palace is my natural habitat.”

“Natural habitat,” I echo.

“Mmm-hmm.”

I face front, blinking a few times. Finally, I ask, “Are we friends again?”

He gives me a sideways look. “We’ll talk once we’ve reached our cruising altitude. I want to be sure you’re not going anywhere.”

I gulp. Why does he think I’m going to flee the scene? What’s he going to say to me that would make me want to flee? Doesn’t he know I’m barely hanging on by a thread here?

“You look tired,” he says.

“I didn’t sleep much last night. Or the night before.”

“Rest your eyes a bit.”

I stare at him. “I don’t think that’s possible. I’m in too much shock.”

He leans his head back and closes his eyes. “Shock and awe. Yup. I have that effect on people.”

My brain hurts, trying to figure out what he’s up to, and then the jet starts taxiing down the runway, the white noise making me drowsy.

I wake with the chime that indicates we can take our seatbelt off. I take mine off and shift to face Brendan, feeling more alert with my catnap. “Okay, talk. What’s going on? Why are you here? What do you plan to do in Villroy for a week? Are we friends or not?”

“I’m here because I decided we’ll keep being best friends like you wanted.” He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, drawing close, his breath hot over my lips. “I’ll be your best friend and your lover.” He kisses me and draws back, his eyes intent on mine.

My lips part, enthralled for a moment, and then I scowl. “That is not a thing! Best friend and a lover. You can’t be both.”

“Chloe, it’s called a husband.”

My jaw drops, my heart racing. My mind flashes back to Michael proposing just last year, but this time’s different. Instead of everything in me retreating at the thought, I long to be able to say yes. But I can’t. He’ll be miserable tied to me. I won’t be able to give him what he deserves. He’ll lose too much.

My throat clogs with emotion. “You don’t mean that. Take it back.”

He eyes me. “This right here—” he gestures between us “—this is love. I feel it, and I know you do too. It might not be perfect timing, but…” He shrugs. “It’s the real deal.”

My world is tilting under me. “Suddenly you’re the relationship expert.”

He leans close. “It’s been building all summer. Why am I your best friend?”

I take in his warm eyes, his handsome face, always ready for a smile, his solid strength. “Because I can’t wait to tell you everything that happened in my day and share everything I’m planning and dreaming for the future. And I love to hear everything going on with you too.”

He smooths my hair back and cradles my jaw. “And I like hearing it and telling you stuff. I look forward to dinner with you and talking and just watching TV together, yelling at the screen. We’re very compatible.”

“I thought we were opposites.” He’s the fun one. I’m not.

One corner of his mouth tilts up. “Maybe you have a little devil in you, and I have a little serious student in me.”

“What are you a student of?”

He kisses me. “You. Every little fact I file away, every expression, every emotion you express. I eat it up. You’ve become my favorite person in the world.”

A surge of affection rushes through me, my chest warming. That means a lot because he has so many awesome people in his life. “You’re my favorite person too.”

“Thanks.”

“It’s not tough competition, though. I only have my sister, my roommate, and my study group.”

He pulls me into his lap, wrapping his arms around me. I know I should move away, but it feels so good to be back in his arms. Besides, where would I go? We’re on a jet thousands of miles in the air. Smart man, waiting for us to be flying. Now I have to stay here, tucked close.

He shifts to meet my eyes, his voice low. “This summer with you was the longest I’ve ever been with a woman before we had sex. We’ve built something here, beyond the physical. You understand? This love isn’t going anywhere.”

My breath catches, a tiny bubble of hope rising in me. Still, it won’t be easy. “I need you to understand what you’re getting with me. I need to focus on my studies. I need to be a medical researcher. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, to give back in a significant