Free Friends With Benefits by Rhonda Lee Carver Page A

look of warning. He could have at least feigned interest. “Stop before the lecture starts.” She wagged an accusing finger.
    He shrugged a wide shoulder under his red polo. “I’m not going to preach, not tonight.”
    She didn’t believe him. “Sure. I saw the sermon building in your expression.”
    He relaxed against the professional-sized refrigerator and crossed his arms over his chest. His dark eyes steadied on her. He looked daunting. “Cass, I meant only to say–”
    “That if this guy really cared for me, he’d end all of the secrecy and introduce himself.” She rolled her eyes. She knew Sebastian had a protective spot for her. She saw the brotherly emotion in his features. “Shall I remind you when I first started getting the letters from Mr. Mystery, you encouraged it?”
    He slid his fingers through his hair and locks of curls awakened. He seemed to think her words over carefully. “You’re right. But at the time I thought you deserved a little fun. Don’t you want more than to just sit around waiting for the next love letter to pop up?”
    She made an effort to bite back the smile tickling the corners of her mouth. It was no use. “I find your concern chivalrous. But I find Mr. Mystery exciting. He writes such passionate words.”
    With the back of his shoe, Sebastian closed the open cabinet door on his right. “Are you falling for this guy?”
    How should she answer? She shrugged and stared down at the letter she still clutched in her hand, loosened her grip and sighed. “Would it be so bad for me to fall for him?”
    “You don’t know him.”
    Cassie brought her gaze up and narrowed it on him. “There’s a connection, Seb, one I can’t explain.”
    He pushed himself away from the counter. The smile on his face didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Then I should be happy for you.” He covered the distance between them in three short strides.
    She dropped her head back to look up at him.
    He reached out and cupped her cheek in his palm. What had gotten into him?
    Time seemed to stop as his sincere, heated gaze held hers. Did he have something to say? This seemed like the intimate look a man gave a woman before he kissed her. Her heart raced. Her mind slowed to idle as the breath held in her chest.
    Question was, why didn’t she end it before it happened?
    “You deserve pleasure.” His eyes twinkled, then he pulled away.
    Swallowing the cotton ball feeling lodged in her throat, Cassie took a good thirty seconds to recover from the menacing mix of emotions spreading through her veins.
    Sebastian picked up the note and handed it back to her.
    She hadn’t even realized she’d dropped it.
    She finally managed to say, “I appreciate you thinking of my parts–I mean, pleasure.” Her cheeks must’ve turned crimson. “Thank you, for always being there.”
    “No problem. See you tomorrow, babe. You can tell me all about the letter then.” He winked and disappeared.
    Cassie stared at the large metal doors until they stopped swinging. What just happened? Confusion clouded her brain. And why did she tingle all over?
    At eighteen, she and Sebastian had tried the boyfriend-girlfriend thing, and learned they were better as friends. Sebastian hadn’t been ready to settle down. He’d needed to sow some wild oats. Fact was, she’d also needed to experience life before she dedicated herself to one person. So, she had broken it off while they still liked one another.
    Luckily, they’d become the best of friends.
    They’d even opened the corner coffee shop, Whipped Dream, as partners five years ago. Not once in all those years since they’d broken up had he initiated anything intimate with her.
    Tonight, when he’d looked into her eyes, she’d felt something. His touch had held promise. It also seemed like he’d stopped from doing what he’d wanted.
    Cassie couldn’t deny she’d wondered a time or two why they never took their relationship a step further, like friends with benefits. They’d