First

Fine. All of Dallas Miller is distracting.

But judging by his scowl, he isn’t of the same opinion about me. ‘Don’t give me that look, brown eyes, it’s not going to happen.’

I narrow those brown eyes and lean over the counter. ‘Pussy.’

That does it.

He sets the apple and paring knife down and closes the distance across from me. The muscles of his arms cord when he mimics me and leans in. He’s smirking and his voice is soft, but I hear the smug confidence under his words. ‘I dare you to call me that again.’

I lean further, breathlessly aware how close I’m getting to him. His trimmed beard only makes his teeth whiter and his smirk more attractive, even though it has the same predatory promise of a shark. His dark eyes are focused on mine.

‘Pu-ssy,’ I repeat, drawing out the word.

If it were anyone but Dally, the tension between us would explode and we’d end up kissing all Notebook-style while clawing each other’s clothes off

as we found the nearest soft surface.

Too bad he’s my brother’s roommate and best friend. The one who views me as having the same sexual allure of a floor lamp or potholder.

Instead of ravishing me, Dally cracks up, pulling back and retrieving the apple and knife. He’s still chuckling at me when he cuts off another slice and holds it out. A peace offering. I accept it begrudgingly and move onto one of the stools as I nibble. Maybe the added height will make me more intimidating.

‘You can’t expect me to believe you didn’t consider it,’ I argue. ‘Just for one second?’

His incredulity really sucks.

‘Half a second?’

‘I’m not fucking you, Cat.’

I throw up my hands in exasperation. ‘I didn’t say that, Dally. I asked you to—’

‘De-virginise you, I believe was the technical term.’

‘I don’t know what else to call it,’ I mutter, reaching for the box of dried cereal my brother left out a few days ago when he headed off for his training.

God, Dally’s grin is sinful. ‘Want me to give you a list?’

‘No. I don’t need you to lord your sexual prowess over me after you’ve just refused to help.’

He snorts. ‘And again I state, I am not helping Jake’s little sister lose her virginity. Why would you ask in the first place?’ he asks as he turns back to the sink.

I eye him surreptitiously. Why did I ask him? Because he is, without any doubt, the hottest man I have ever seen in my life. Leave it to me to figure it out this late in the game. I blame it on my late sexual awakening.

This year I actually managed to engage in some fairly hot second base action at one of the parties my friend Maya dragged me to. After said action, I went home and had the strangest, strongest erotic dreams I didn’t even know were possible … with Dally as the star. Ever since then, I haven’t been able to stop obsessing about him in that way.

‘Umm …’

He glances back over his shoulder. ‘What’s “umm” mean? I’m serious, Cat, do you know how crazy Jake would be if he knew we were having this conversation?’

My brother would not be crazy. He’d be homicidal. He would probably try to castrate Dally and then lock me in a tower far, far away in a magical forest. Only he wouldn’t be stupid and he’d make sure to give me regular haircuts.

Jake’s not a bad guy. But since our parents died back when I was still in high school, his role of protective brother has kind of taken over his life. He’s freaking out even more now. It’s the tail end of my finals week and he’s gone for captain’s training. He knows he’ll be back in time for commencement, but I think he’s less worried about missing the ceremony and more worried about my becoming a free adult.

‘For the record, I would never mention this plan to Jake,’ I tell Dally, munching some of the cereal.

‘So you’re not suicidal,’ Dally snarks.

I stick out my tongue at him. He flips me off. We grin at each other across the island and both go back to eating. I’m always amazed at how simple it is to talk to Dally. He’s twenty-seven, five years older than me and the same age as Jake. He and my brother have been best friends since high school. Growing up, Dally was a fixture in our house. I never really thought about him not being part of our lives, even when he and Jake graduated.