Page 40 of Big Girl Panties

A raindrop smacked me right in the forehead. "Well, looks like you might get to show me this magic."

As the sprinkle turned into a downpour, I made a split-second decision that would either be the most romantic thing I'd ever done or land me in the hospital with pneumonia.

I took her hand and spun her under my arm as the rain started falling harder. She lifted her face to the sky, eyes closed, letting the raindrops kiss her cheeks, and I swear my heart stopped beating for a full ten seconds.

She was stunning.

I pulled her closer, my hand finding the small of her back as we swayed together on the empty sidewalk, no music except for the rain and distant thunder. We were completely soaked, and it was perfect in a way that had nothing to do with planning or expectations.

Her hand pressed against my chest, right over my racing heart, and our eyes locked. The rest of the world just… disappeared. I leaned down, she tilted her chin up, and our lips barely brushed.

CRACK. Lightning split the sky, followed by thunder that sounded like the universe clearing its throat.

"Shit," I muttered, grabbing her hand. "Inside. Now."

We ran, laughing and stumbling, to her building's tiny awning. We were both drenched, her usually perfect hair hanging in dark waves around her face, my clothes plastered to my skin.

She fumbled with her keys, her hands shaking, whether from cold or nerves, I couldn't tell. I stepped closer, officially to shield her from the rain, but really just because I needed to be near her.

She looked up at me, raindrops clinging to her eyelashes like tiny diamonds. Kiss her, my brain screamed.

Kiss her right now.

Instead, I cleared my throat like a nervous teenager. "Great night."

"Yeah," she murmured. Then, quietly: "Want to come in? Dry off? Wait out the storm?"

Did I want to come in? Was she kidding? I wanted to follow her anywhere she'd let me go.

"Yes," I said, probably too quickly.

She pushed open the door and I followed her up three flights of stairs, trying not to notice how perfectly her dress clung to her curves or how her wet hair smelled like vanilla and rain.

"I'll grab some towels." Brooke pushed open the door to her apartment and disappeared down the hallway.

I stood dripping in her entryway, suddenly very aware that my wet shirt was clinging to everything. When she came back, her eyes went wide, gaze trailing over me before she caught herself.

I couldn't hide my grin.

"Here." She handed me a towel, our fingers brushing in a way that sent electricity straight through me.

She wrapped a towel around her shoulders, fidgeting. "I could put your clothes in the dryer if you want. This storm doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon."

I raised an eyebrow, unable to resist. "Are you trying to get me naked, Brooke?"

She burst into laughter, cheeks flaming. "I guess it does sound like that."

I held up the towel, waggling my eyebrows. "Tell you what, you go change, I'll wrap up in this towel like some kind of Roman senator."

"I think I have sweatpants that might fit you," she said, then caught my expression and quickly added, "They were my brother's. He was built like you."

Were. Past tense. "Your brother?"

Her smile turned soft and sad. "He died a few years ago. Car accident."

Shit. "Brooke, I'm so sorry…"

She straightened, visibly shaking it off. "It's okay. I'll go get them."