Letting My Brother's Best Friend Take My V-Card

COMPROMISED

JESS

The restaurant buzzed with laughter and clinking silverware, but I was barely paying attention. Josh and Laura were across from me, deep in conversation about something or other, but I couldn't shake the nagging feeling in the back of my mind. "Hey, Josh," I said, interrupting whatever he was rambling about. "Where's Luke?"

He blinked at me, confused. "What do you mean? He said he was picking up Italian and meeting you at home."

My stomach dropped. "Shit. I forgot to text him and tell him I was feeling better and decided to join you guys."

Laura winced sympathetically. "Oops."

"It's fine," I said quickly, grabbing my purse. "I'll just head back and meet him there."

Josh gave me a look like he wanted to say something smart, but Laura nudged him under the table, and he wisely kept his mouth shut.

The drive home was short, thankfully, and I pulled into the driveway with a sigh of relief. My hands rested on my belly for a moment before I climbed out. "You're lucky your dad is the forgiving type," I murmured to the baby, knowing full well Luke was going to give me hell for leaving him in the dark,

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COMPROMISED

The moment l'opened the front door, the rich aroma of carbs hit me. My lips curved into a smile. Pasta. My heart melted a little at the thought of Luke going out of his way to grab my favorite. God, I loved that man. But he wasn't in the kitchen.

The containers were still sealed on the counter, the oven keeping everything warm.

I paused, listening.

From upstairs, I heard the faint creak of a door opening.

He was probably in the shower. That man loved to work himself to the bone and then take forever in the bathroom.

the stairs, my feet dragging a little because this baby had officially claimed my bladder as its personal trampoline. Seriously,

was dimly lit, and I was halfway to the bathroom when the bedroom

out, "What the

Luke, his voice low and sharp as he

I said, offering him a

snapping back like someone had jabbed a

frowning as

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I decided to go to dinner after

me like he was trying to process my words, but the tension in his

sound of the bedroom door creaking open drew

as Sarah stepped out, her damp blond hair clinging

froze too, his hands dropping from his hair to his sides as he stared at her,

sheesh," she said, crossing her arms. "There wasn't any water downstairs, that's

with the situation. For a fleeting second, I could have suspected

be pregnant, but I'm

a tight smile. "Luke Jooks like he's just seen a

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COMPROMISED

having people walk

lifting

words. I could practically hear the cogwheels turning

tone dripping with faux sincerity. "I should've locked the door. But, I mean, to be fair, now we know everyone in this hallway likes a

the statement with a wink

would've been satisfying. A good one too, right to that smirking face of hers. But no, I couldn't

to steady myself and partly to make a statement-and led him into

another word.