His Brother's Bride

“Sounds like dating to me.”

She shook her head. “It’s mostly platonic.”

“He’s gay?” Scott sounded so serious, Laurel laughed.

And was ridiculously flattered, too. As though a man couldn’t be with her and not want her in a romantic sense.

“No, he’s not gay,” she said.

“And he’s never tried anything?” He sounded as if such a thing weren’t even possible.

And Laurel liked that implication so much it scared her.

“He’s tried,” she said, struggling to think about Shane, not Scott. She knew what this thing with Scott was all about. They’d figured it out the night before. She was looking for solace. That was all.

“He’s even succeeded some.”

“And he wants more,” Scott guessed.

Laurel sailed higher, peaking for a second before coming down.

“It’s part of the reason I’m here,” she told him, once again being more open with him than was her way.

Things were changing. Within her. Around her. Nothing was making sense.

He pushed her a couple of times but said nothing. Each time she felt his hands on her back, she tingled with awareness. And was too needy to make him stop.

“Shane wants me to sleep with him.”

“That’s bold for a man you aren’t even dating.”

Even if she’d missed the sarcasm in his remark, Laurel couldn’t ignore the much harder push against her back. Scott disapproved.

Because of Paul?

Because Shane had asked her to sleep with him, not marry him?

She was grateful for the breeze that cooled her heated skin.

“It’s been more than three years,” she said, defending her actions—to herself as much as to him. “If I’m going to have any kind of life, I have to get over Paul. Move on.”

“That’s not reason enough to start sleeping with someone.”

That’s exactly what she’d been telling herself, but...

“Unless Paul is the only reason I’m hesitating.”

The swing was slowing as Scott’s pushes grew gentler. “Is he?”

“I don’t know.”

The swing had all but stopped. Scott sat down next to her.

“Do you think he is?”

She drew an arc in the sand with her foot. The rough grains filled her sandal, sliding uncomfortably between her toes. “I did.”

“Past tense?”