Friends With Benefits Read Free Page B

made love so she could meet the man behind the romantic letters.
    She was no closer in knowing who he was than she’d been when she woke that morning.
    She had a good mental image of his physical characteristics. She made a quick list in her mind. She didn’t want to forget any detail that could help in the question, “Who was he?”
    He had thick hair. And silky. His hands were large. He’d held her wrists easily and his long fingers had given her deep gratification. His scent lingered on her skin. She didn’t think it was cologne, but something else. It reminded her of something, but what?
    She gave up.
    She’d guess he was tall, and built for gratification. Naughty thoughts teased her. She had rubbed her foot across his zipper, considering touching had been forbidden, checking his size through his jeans. She wouldn’t have been disappointed, not in the least.
    How could a man she’d never met feel so familiar? There’d been something she recognized in his touch, in his smell, and in his movement.
    Sebastian? Could it be possible?
    Would her best friend go to such lengths? Could he still love her?
    No way.
    Maybe?
    The idea wasn’t that ridiculous. He’d always been protective of her. He did have the tendency to flirt with her, but he never let it go beyond that. And she’d noticed he hadn’t been dating anyone for almost a year.
    Wouldn’t she know, though? He couldn’t hide something like this from her.
    If Sebastian was her lover, she had a mind to–to what? She couldn’t deny she found the thought a little exciting. However, it didn’t seem likely he could be her secret admirer. He only had to tell her how he felt.
    With that last thought, she buried her face into the pillow and moaned.
    She hoped she’d see him, whoever he was, again soon.
    * * * *
    The sun came up bright and early the next morning. After tossing and turning most of the night, Cassie wasn’t looking forward to a long day in the shop.
    She got dressed and trudged turtle-slow down the stairs into the coffee shop. Sebastian was already in the kitchen pulling pans of homemade cinnamon rolls from the Roto-Flex oven.
    “Those smell yummy,” Cassie said through a yawn.
    He looked up. She saw his narrowed expression through the steam rolling off the confection. “You’re late.”
    She rubbed her eyes with the backs of her knuckles. “I’m sorry. You’re a better baker than I am anyway.” She grabbed her apron off the hook on the wall and tugged it on.
    “But it’s your day to make the rolls.”
    She glanced at him from her position across the room, hand suspended as she reached for the coffee maker. His jaw ticked and his hair looked messy, like he’d had a sleepless night too. His agitation oozed over his expression. He’d covered for her on plenty of occasions, and vice versa. What could be the problem now? “Care to share?”
    “Share?”
    “What’s eating you?”
    He practically threw the pans of rolls onto wire racks to cool. “No.”
    She blew out a breath through tight lips. Tired, she wasn’t up to coddling anyone, especially before coffee, but being his best friend, she didn’t like it when a wall came between them. “I overslept. I’m sorry. I just don’t think your foul mood has anything to do with me sleeping in.”
    He tossed the dirty pans into the sink. The metal hitting the stainless steel made a loud, dinging sound. Wiping his hands in jerky motions, he finally turned all his attention on her. His chocolate eyes were steely but one corner of his mouth lifted into a beginning of a smile. “I’m not angry.”
    “If you say so.” She grabbed the necessary items to make coffee and placed them on the counter while breathing slowly. She felt his eyes on her. She scooped the granules into the coffee maker. The chicory smell made her salivate. She immediately got a sensory buzz. She needed a cup–now. “I’ll take my shift early tomorrow and you can sleep in,” she offered, hoping that would resolve the