Finding Mr. Write (Business of Love #5) - Ali Parker Page 0,79

“I don’t know. Up until two weeks ago, I’ve always felt like I was settling.”

“The only settling you did out here was settling with those friends of yours.”

I hadn’t expected that.

Apparently, Wes hadn’t expected to say it, either. “I’m sorry, that was rude.”

“But not untrue.”

“Then why are you friends with them?”

“There aren’t many people in this town, Wes. And I grew up with them. They just… they want me to be content where they are. And I’m not. They never wanted me to leave. I think they’re secretly happy that things didn’t work out for me and I came home.”

Wes shook his head. “You’re made for more than this, Briar Sommerfield. I’m sure of it. And I’m going to do whatever it takes to make you realize that.”

I grinned and bit my bottom lip. “I love when you say things like that to me.”

“Then come here so I can say it a little closer to your ear.”

I giggled, let him wrap me up in his arms, and let his kiss sweep me away.

Chapter 34

Wes

Briar’s eyes were still closed when we broke apart from our kiss parked out front of her old family home. I took a moment to take a mental picture, capturing the way the street light above lit up her cheeks and cast shadows down her neck.

Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at me. “Let’s go get my stuff and book a hotel for the night.”

I didn’t need to be told twice. Briar and I put our seatbelts on and I wasted no time pulling away from the house. I caught her watching it disappear in her side mirror and slowed as I took the final corner so she could soak in another few seconds.

Once we left her street, she reached over and took my hand in hers.

We held hands for the duration of the drive, and unlike the drive from the apartment to the restaurant, this one was anything but quiet.

Briar pointed out all the places in town where she had memories and I reveled in a chance to get to know more intimate parts of her.

“You see that park bench there?” she asked as we stopped at a red light even though there were no other cars on the road.

I spied the park bench she was talking about in a square to our right. It sat across from a fountain that wasn’t running.

“I do,” I said.

“That’s where I had my first kiss. His name was Robert Macintosh, but everyone in school called him Mac. He was one of the cool kids, you know? Good looking. Athletic. And way out of my league.” She giggled and I could tell she was remembering that moment on the bench with him. “I couldn’t figure out why on earth he wanted anything to do with me. I was such a nerd in school and he always had a cheerleader or two hanging off his arm. I never did riddle that one out. But he was a good first kiss.”

We pulled away from the line. Up ahead, Briar pointed out an ice-cream parlor. “My friends and I used to walk here in the evenings during the summertime. I’d order pralines and cream. All my friends thought I was crazy. Nobody liked that flavor. Everyone always wanted chocolate or bubble gum.”

“The basics,” I said.

She nodded. “Exactly. But pralines and cream is my mom’s favorite and I grew up with it in the house, so it became my favorite too.”

“I like pistachio,” I said.

Briar’s head snapped to the side and she stared at me like I’d just slapped her. “No you don’t. No sane person would choose pistachio ice cream as their favorite. Take that back.”

“It’s true. I like it.”

Briar fake-gagged. “That’s such a turn off, Wes. Eww.”

I snickered. “I used to get it for free at restaurants all the time when I was a kid. I don’t know. It tastes like nostalgia.”

“I’m disappointed in you. You’re a cultured man. There has to be another flavor you like better.”

“Is this a deal breaker for you?”

Briar gave me a deadpan stare. “I didn’t realize it was until this moment.”

I laughed.

Briar cracked a smile.

We reached her apartment and she took off her seatbelt. “You can stay here. I’ll go up and break the news to the girls. They’ve probably been sitting up there talking about me since I left, so I doubt this will go over well.”

“Nonsense.” I got out of the car with her and straightened out my jacket. “I’ll be your backup.