Free Finaly My Heart's Desire (Meant for Me Book 2) by Brooke St. James

indescribable need to tell him the truth. "I had the biggest crush on you the whole time I was in middle school, basically. You were always at the YMCA, and I went there with a friend just to see you." I smiled shyly glancing down since I could no longer hold eye contact after that kind of confession. "I think you were a few years older than me," I continued, still looking at his shoulder, and his arm, and anything else that wasn't his face. "So you never noticed me or anything. It wasn't really a big deal. I was probably pretty dorky back then."
    "I thought you looked familiar when I saw you at the wedding."
    I shook my head, trying to let him off the hook. "I'm sure you don't remember me," I said. "I called the YMCA when I was 14 and asked to talk to you. I'd been trying to get your attention for forever and thought you'd know exactly who I was." I paused, feeling the blood rush to my cheeks. Why was I telling him all this? "I called up there to talk to you, but you had no idea who I was. You thought it was a prank call—someone named Isabel."
    Due to the embarrassing nature of my story, my eyes had been wandering again. Shane reached out and touched my cheek for a split second just to get me to look at him again, which I did. He stared at me with a pained expression.
    "I'm sorry," he said. "I don't know what to say other than I was obviously a big idiot." He sighed and gave me a regretful half-smile as he scanned me from head to toe. "Right about now, I'm thinking that might have been the worst mistake of my life." He paused before continuing, "Listen, I know you're engaged, and I don't mean to be inappropriate, but you should know I've never seen someone look as beautiful as you do in that red dress. I kissed those other girls' hands just so I could get away with kissing yours." He lifted his eyebrows and gave me a playful smile, which I returned with a shy one. "You're absolutely stunning, Emily," he said sincerely. "I'm sorry I didn't see it then. I was a fool."
    I couldn't tell if he was saying the words because he felt bad about not noticing me years ago, or if he actually meant them. He seemed earnest, but I didn't dare let myself believe it. My chest rose and fell as I tried desperately to regulate my breathing and remain stoic.
    "We were kids," I said with resignation.
    A piece of his damp hair had fallen forward and was hanging over his eyebrow. I reached up to smooth it back.
    "We should probably get back downsta—"
    My words were cut off by the sound of Robin clearing his throat. I glanced over to see him standing in the doorway with his arms crossed, staring at Shane and me as if wondering what in the world was going on.

 
    Chapter 9
     
     
    Robin scared the living daylights out of me when he cleared his throat. I was almost certain he'd seen me straighten Shane's hair, so I began stuttering excuses the second I realized he was there.
    "He, uh, hey Robin, I’m glad you're here. Your mom asked me to bring Shane up here and choose something from your closet for him to wear, but you're probably better suited for that type of thing." I smiled at Robin, who was looking us over with an appraising eye.
    "It looks like you did just fine," he said.
    "Okay, good," I said. "We were just headed back downstairs." I turned towards Shane and reached out to take the bundle he was carrying. "If you'll give me your valet ticket, I'll have someone bring this to your car."
    He handed the clothes to me before reaching in his pocket. "It's wet," he said, carefully handing me the small, soaked piece of cardstock.
    I took it with a smile and looked at Robin. "I'll take care of this if you want to deliver Mr. Rollins back to his brother and Micah."
    "I can find my own way down," Shane protested.
    "I don't mind," Robin said. "I know right where they are." He looked at me. "Meet me in the great room after you take care of that."
    I nodded and turned for the door without so much as a glance toward Shane. I was so shaken by the whole