Read Online Friends With Benefits by Rhonda Lee Carver - Free Book Online Page A

you hole yourself in here watching old movies when you’re upset, I also know where you keep your spare key.” She dangled the key from her forefinger.
    “I expect you to put it back underneath the flowerpot on your way out.” He closed his eye, hoping she’d disappear.
    “We need to talk,” she said.
    He opened both eyes. Maybe they should just get the conversation over with. “Look, Cass, I’m not changing my mind about the bakery.”
    She sat down beside him and turned so her knee touched his. He’d have pulled away if it didn’t feel so damn good. “You’ll need an investor for a new restaurant. I have an idea.”
    He rubbed his forehead. “Yeah?”
    “Me.”
    “You?” He knew she had no interest in opening a sit down place. “Why you?”
    “Because as I see it, you and I have always been a team. That’s the way it should remain.”
    “It won’t work, sweetheart. In time maybe we can be friends again, but for now I think it’s best we separate.” Couldn’t she see as long as they worked side by side, and were best friends, neither of them could move on?
    “Are you still with Lila?” Cassie asked.
    He sighed. “No, I’m not. It’s not fair for her to be with me, not when I couldn’t offer her what she deserved.”
    Cassie pulled a crumpled piece of paper from her pocket. “Explain to me why a man hires a boy to deliver his letters of admiration?”
    His breath stilled. She knew. Denying the truth would be futile. He didn’t want to any longer. “I hired him months ago. I’d give him two letters at a time with a set schedule of delivery. The last time, I gave him three. I realized I had to stop them, but when I went to get the letters back, well, the kid didn’t tell me he’d moved. The last few times I’ve showed up to deter delivery, he’s beaten me to the punch. Damn, that kid has a talent for sneaking. I guess that’s the reason I hired him. However, he wasn’t so good at keeping the letters in order of how they were to be delivered.”
    “You were always asking me what the letters said. You needed to know to verify whether the right one, or the wrong one had been delivered.”
    He blew out a breath through tight lips. “Yes.”
    “And that’s why you came into the shop this evening? To attempt to get to the letter before me.”
    “Yes. That was my intention.”
    “You didn’t want to meet me? For me to know the truth?”
    He needed her to know everything. “No. You gotta understand, I started the letters because I hoped you would realize it was me. I know the whole secret admirer thing is stupid–”
    “Yes, you should have just told me.”
    “You’re right. I should have. At the time, though, I wasn’t sure how you felt about me. I didn’t want to say something that would ruin our friendship.”
    She laughed. “You’re an idiot.”
    He winced. “That’s harsh.”
    She held his gaze. “I’ve wanted more than friendship between us since I met you. I just always thought you weren’t interested. A big part of me believed you were my admirer, but I wasn’t totally sure. How could I be? You never made a move to take things to another level.”
    He scooted to the edge of the couch. “You seemed to always refer to us as ‘friends only.’” He lifted his hand and slid his fingers through her hair. He loved the silken texture against his palm. “I love you. I am in love with you. I can be stupid at times, but if you can forgive me, I’m now going to kiss the hell out of you.”
    “Please do.”
    He lowered his mouth to hers, tasting her sweetness. He’d craved her for so many nights, and now here she was. With him. But she hadn’t confessed her love. He pulled back. “Cass, tell me how you feel?”
    She blinked. “I’m in love with you, Sebastian. I’ve always been in love with you. I’ll never love another.”
    “Then be my wife.” He hadn’t planned the question, but it felt so right.
    With no hesitation, she answered, “I’m glad you asked,