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have anything to do with the wedding. How’s that for honesty, James?”
    I toasted my sister with the last of my juice, leaving my family to make excuses to the stuck-up lawyer who was going to marry her. Him I was glad to leave behind most of all.
    * * *
    I tried to drown my troubles in bathwater but my mind flitted between my unwanted pregnancy and my unwanted attraction to James. Pregnancy...James...baby...
    Babe .
    Oh God, I couldn’t do anything about being pregnant but I sure as hell wasn’t going to waste another second thinking about my sister’s snooty fiancé. I wished I could have got him back for his insults though, especially the one about my lack of intelligence. That had to be the only reason he was still occupying my thoughts.
    I pulled my bathrobe over my damp skin and walked out of the bathroom, coming to an abrupt halt when I saw James leaning against the opposite wall. His eyes swept over me, pausing briefly on my breasts before he averted his gaze. I swallowed nervously, my fingers clumsy as I finished tying my robe.
    We stared at each other, swirling currents rippling in the air between us. With one stride he was in front of me.
    “Excuse me,” he said stiffly, intending to brush past and go into the bathroom.
    I didn’t budge. “Where is everybody?”
    “Caroline took the Lamborghini to drop off your parents at the Radomskys’ for card games while I shower and change. We’re meeting up with her bridesmaids in town.”
    He looked just fine to me. The work tie had come off and a few of his shirt buttons were undone. His sleeves were rolled up and his face was slightly flushed from sitting in our stuffy kitchen. And his lips—
    Stop slobbering! my mind shouted.
    “I’m sorry James,” I said hurriedly, bowing my head and mustering all the sincerity I could. “I was acting like an idiot before dinner but I was just teasing. Honest. I didn’t mean what I said about your job either. You showed me I’m being irresponsible and lazy and I didn’t like it.”
    My eyes were level with his chest, counting the open buttons with a mind of their own. “I wish I had a brother like you, somebody to give me good advice.”
    James’s expression changed from guarded to friendly and he relaxed. His eyes warmed and out came that devastating smile. My breath caught at his loveliness. An odd description for a man, I know, and I couldn’t even blame the upper.
    I held out my hand and smiled tentatively. “Friends?”
    When I felt his warm clasp, the same little contact buzz ricocheted between us but we didn’t let go. I don’t think James noticed he was still holding my hand until I tugged it free. I’d almost forgotten about getting him back for his insults. Almost.
    My bottom lip trembled. “My rudeness forced me upstairs without even a kiss from Mum and Dad but never mind,” I said, sighing for good measure. “We’re rarely on good terms anyway and nobody even cares that it’s my birthday.”
    I heaved a longer, heavier sigh and turned away, shoulders hunched and face averted. I didn’t have to pretend the sadness but had I laid it on too thick? Something in my voice must have got to James because he pulled me back like I hoped he would.
    “Happy Birthday, Paisley.”
    He bent his head and aimed a brotherly kiss at my cheek but I saw it coming and turned my lips to his at the last minute. My intention was to give him a quick peck to put him on the spot and embarrass him, but kissing James was like nothing I’d ever felt before. His mouth was warm and masculine, yes, but electric, sparking a jet of instant pleasure that spread from my lips to the rest of my body like one of those forest fires you hear about in California.
    James gasped and pulled away. Without thinking I followed his upward move, clinging to his mouth. He froze and I took advantage, twining my tongue with his and stroking into him. He tasted of the expensive brandy he’d gifted my father. Heady and forbidden.
    A long shudder