Tempting (Inked Hearts 1)

"I thought about this. More than I should have." She looks up at me. "All the guys you know are from work or school. All except the guys at Inked Hearts."

"Maybe."

"So, if it's not someone from work or school, it's Walker, Ryan, Dean, or Brendon." She cringes as her brother's name falls off her lips.

"It's not going to happen. It doesn't matter."

"It is. And it does."

I finish rinsing her hair. Move on to shampoo.

"Why... why don't you want to tell me?"

I press my lips together. Rub Emma's scalp a little harder. Avoid her attempts to look me in the eyes.

"You'd tell me if you were into my brother."

"Don't be ridiculous, Em."

"Is it though? You guys have been hanging out a lot."

"Because he's always here."

"You're different around him. Nervous. Giggly."

"I don't giggle."

"You do. You... I mean, I get that he's hot. You're not the first person who's said that."

"They're all hot."

"True. But you look at him in this way. Not like he's your brother."

"He's not my brother. He's your brother. He's my..." Well, he's my nothing right now. "He's my friend." I grab the shower head and bring it to her hairline. "Close your eyes."

She does. "You keep insisting he's hot and not annoying."

"I take the latter back."

"You can tell me, Kay. I won't be pissed you like him. It's not like you'd ever act on it."

Right. It's not like I'd kiss him in the middle of the night.

I try to focus on rinsing Emma's hair. On anything but the feelings whirring around my gut.

There. She's done.

I turn the shower head off. "You want to do this now." I motion to the bottle of Special Effects dye sitting on the bathroom counter.

"Let's air dry a little first." She sits up. Gathers her hair in one hand and squeezes. "Whatever it is that's bugging you, you can tell me." Her voice is soft. Earnest. Hurt.

She thinks I'm locking her out.

God, the way she's looking at me like I don't trust her anymore.

I can't take it.

I can't lose Em too.