Hunter hoped Cassidy and Emma wouldn’t think him overstepping by temporarily commandeering their guest room, but for now he had more important things to worry about.

“What the hell was that?” he asked, looking at Brit.

“What was what?”

“I thought we talked about the eyelash-fluttering thing. It doesn’t work.”

Her mouth dropped open. “Seriously? Don’t be an ass. And you know what, I don’t plan to flutter my eyelashes. Maybe that’s just how I blink!”

“It’s how you flirt,” he clarified, crossing his arms.

“So!” she shouted. “Maybe it is. It’s not like I’ve made a secret that I want to meet someone. And let me remind you, you’re supposed to be helping me through this whole awful dating process, not just berating me.”

She was right. She was completely right. He’d said he would tell her how to get guys to see her as girlfriend material.

He could tell her that she didn’t need any help right now. That Mitchell’s friend had been eating up whatever she was feeding him.

That she was the hottest woman in the room, especially with—

“What did you do to your hair?”

“What did I—” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “You know what? You’re in a mood, and you’re being insulting. You want to be a jerk, go for it, but I’m not going to stay here and listen to it.”

She tried to push past him, but Hunter blocked her way. “I didn’t mean to be insulting. I like the hair.”

“I’m so glad,” she said sarcastically. “But I wasn’t doing it for you.”

“For who, then? The guy you just met?”

“For me, you ass.” She pushed at his shoulders. “What is wrong with you, Hunter?”

God, he wished he knew. He felt . . . out of control. Crazed.

Jealous.

He was jealous of that guy out there, who was probably perfectly decent. Possibly perfect for Brit. And instead of rooting for her, instead of doing as he’d promised and helping her get a date with the guy, Hunter wanted . . .

What?

What did he want?

“Nothing. Nothing’s wrong,” he said quietly. “Long week, I guess. Sorry for being a dick.” Long week because I tried damn hard to stay away from you.

She shrugged in acceptance of his apology, starting to move around him once more, and once more he stepped in front of her. Not ready to let her leave.

“So, what’s the plan?” he said.

“What plan?” She looked up.

“With this guy. Seems as good as any to practice on.” He tried to keep his voice light and friendly. To regain the easy footing they’d always had around each other.

She took a deep breath and seemed willing to meet him halfway and put the argument behind them because she smiled before responding.

“Actually, I think I’m doing okay on my own,” she said cautiously. “Maybe you were right all along. Maybe it’s simply a confidence thing. Before when I saw a cute guy, I’d be so focused on getting him to like me that I think I must have somehow given off sisterly vibes or something.”

“No sisterly vibes with this guy, huh?”

“Too soon to tell,” she said with another smile, a little softer this time. “But I doubt I’m going to figure it out hiding in Cassidy’s guest room with you.”

“Right. No, probably not.”

“Right. So . . .” She jokingly extended her arms and mimed the gesture of moving him aside.

He didn’t move.

“Hunter,” Brit said with a laugh. This time she put her hands on his arms and actually tried to move him aside.

He still didn’t move.

She looked up, her expression confused. “Hunter?”

He stared down at her. Don’t do it. Don’t do it, man.

Fuck it.

Hunter bent down and captured her mouth with his.

Brit gasped against his mouth but otherwise went perfectly still.

Hunter waited another moment, giving her a chance to push him away. Praying that she wouldn’t.

Slowly, his hands lifted to her face and his lips moved against hers. Slowly, he explored her mouth.

God, she tasted good.

Better than he’d hoped. Better than he’d imagined.

Better than he’d ever experienced before.

Brit sighed softly against his mouth and he coaxed her lips apart, his tongue finding hers as he tilted her head slightly to deepen the kiss.

Her hands lifted, her fingers wrapping around his wrists as she began to kiss him back. Hesitantly at first, and then matching his increasing need as her arms went around his neck and her body pressed against him.

Hunter groaned, a hand going to her back, pressing her even closer, but it wasn’t enough. He slipped his hand beneath the hem of her shirt, palming the bare skin of her back as he devoured her mouth.

Brit. He was kissing his best friend.

The thought should have sent him pulling away in horror, but instead it made him greedier, more desperate to know more of her. To know all of her.

His hand slid to the side of her waist, skating up along her rib cage until his fingers skimmed the edge of her bra, so close to—

The door opened, and Brit reared back so quickly, he barely got his hand out from beneath her shirt without tearing it.

“I—oh. Oh! Oh dear.”

Hunter closed his eyes at the interruption. Emma or Daisy’s voice. Hard to tell sometimes, since they were identical twins.

Hunter turned toward the door. It was both of them, Daisy wide-eyed and stunned, Emma thoroughly bemused.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Brit lift a hand to her swollen mouth. She looked a little shaky. No, a lot shaky, and he wanted to wrap his arms around her, to tell their friends to get the hell out and give them a minute to sort out what had happened.

“Was just showing Dais the new paint color in here,” Emma said in a mild tone. “But it can wait.”

“No,” Brit blurted out, her voice a little too loud. “No, it’s your home, we were just . . .”

“Yes, what were you just?” Daisy said with a teasing smile.

Hell if I know, Hunter thought.

And Brit apparently didn’t either, because she didn’t answer the question.

Instead, she gave a quick shake of her head and moved toward the door. “I’ve got to go,” she whispered.

“Wait, Brit.” He tried to grab her hand, but she pulled away. “Don’t. Please.”

“Sorry,” she said quietly to Daisy and Emma as she passed them. “I . . . I can’t right now.”

“Are you okay?” Daisy asked in alarm as Brit moved down the hallway toward the front door.

“Obviously not,” Emma murmured as Brit pushed through the partygoers and opened the front door of the apartment, stopping only long enough to pick up her purse from the assortment of handbags on the console table. “She forgot her coat.”

“I’ll get it and bring it to her,” Daisy said, starting for the door.

Hunter touched Daisy’s arm. “I’ll do it.”

She gave him a skeptical look. “Are you sure that’s a good idea? She didn’t seem all that excited to talk to you.”

“Well, that’s just too damn bad,” he muttered. “Because I have every intention of talking to her.”