Page 27 of My Heart Belongs to You

“Bitter because I was slightly attracted to you for like two seconds.” She held up two fingers, emphasizing her point. “After getting to know you and seeing how easily we connected as friends, the crush ended. We met at a point in my life where I needed a friend like you. That’s the sweet part.”

I couldn’t help the smile on my face.

“You didn’t have any ulterior motives behind helping me start Brie & Bordeaux. We respect each other’s boundaries. With you, I'm safe. I don’t have to be anyone other than me.”

I nodded at her succinct explanation of our friendship. “I feel safe with you too.”

She lowered her head just as her cheeks flushed. I took a swig of my drink. This one was stronger than before. The mix of pineapple bitters and the tequila was a little tangy, but I liked it.

“And now?” When her eyebrows furrowed, I continued, “The timing?”

“Neither of us wants a relationship, and you aren’t dating, so…” she hummed.

“Let’s say I changed my mind about dating, then what?” I chuckled, then waited for an answer.

After taking a long sip of her drink, she smiled softly. “I’ve answered enough questions.”

I stepped closer to her, the space between us lessened as my eyes met hers. “You haven’t asked me anything about the topic.”

She placed her glass on the counter, bracing herself for when our bodies collided. Drawing her bottom lip between her teeth, Robyn shook her head.

“I don’t have anything to ask,” she breathed.

“Because you already know the answers?” I grabbed her by the waist.

My chest tightened at the curiosity dancing in her eyes. Now I was the one biting my lip, fighting the temptation to kiss her. I knew she wasn’t ready for that, so I settled for a chaste kiss on her forehead. She sucked in a breath, then pushed me away at the sound of her phone ringing.

“I need to get that,” she told me.

I nodded, then stepped back to give her space to grab her phone from the dining area.

“Hey, my shining Star.” She beamed, sounding differently than she had moments ago. “Nadir and I are trying the recipes now.”

Our eyes locked briefly before she looked away. “I’m making the third one now. The strawberries needed to soak.”

While she talked to her brother, I finished my drink then unpacked our food. I unbagged the items and set them on the table. She glanced my way before pouring the strawberries into the mixer. The call was on speakerphone now and I could hear Starling’s plans for the recipes he’d sent her. She quickly listed her critiques and they fell into a brainstorming session. I looked from my seat as she poured the strawberry margarita into the salt-rimmed glasses.

“Nadir didn’t come over here to listen to us talk,” she told him minutes later.

He chuckled, then replied, “Call me later. And don’t skip the mezcal margaritas, lightweight.”

“I’m not a lightweight,” she shot back, sounding like a whiny little sister.

Our eyes met and an innocent smile formed on her lips.

She was indeed a lightweight and had no intentions of making all the drinks tonight. Starling knew it too because he laughed harder, making her groan.

The conversation with her brother was coming to an end and she knew I’d want to pick up where we left off. Starling mentioning her low tolerance reminded me why I’d raised the topic in the first place. I wanted to see if she was ready to admit what we shared was more than friendship.

“Aight, princesa. We’ll see,” Starling said moments later.

Robyn’s eyes were on me when she replied, “Bye, Starling.”

I broke eye contact first then ate a Korean steak taco. When I looked up from my plate, she was still staring. My eyebrows hiked and my mouth curved into a grin.

“Ready to pick up where we left off?”

She sauntered over to me; mischief danced in her eyes. “Neither of us are ready for that conversation.”