Isn't It Bromantic (Bromance Book Club #4) by Lyssa Kay Adams

            They stood just inches apart now. “Especially from me?”

            “I’ve stopped caring what most people think of me, but I care what you think.”

            His eyes held hers, and she felt it—that quiver in her belly that she thought she’d never feel again, the low tug of awareness and need that only Jack had ever evoked inside her. Until she met Tony.

            “You’re the bravest person I’ve ever known.” His voice was as taut and tense as she felt. “My admiration for you exceeds all others.”

            Her lips quirked up in a sad smile. “Spoken like a true newsman.”

            “I don’t possess poetry in my verbal arsenal.”

            “I don’t need poetry. I just need honesty.”

            Longing ebbed and flowed between them. Not like the one time he’d kissed her. That was a passion borne of extraordinary circumstances, a spontaneous expression of joy at having survived. This was different. This was the tension of wanting someone, needing someone.

            Tony’s rough hand scraped along the curve of her jaw. Like a cold, lost kitten seeking heat and comfort, she leaned her cheek into his touch. “Anna . . .” Her name was torn from his lips on an agonized breath.

            But whatever he’d been thinking about doing, he thought better of it, because he suddenly backed away.

            “Go to sleep.”





CHAPTER NINE





“What the fuck, man? Why didn’t he kiss her?”

            Wednesday afternoon, Vlad realized he’d made a horrible mistake. He and the guys were gathered at Colton’s palatial estate outside Nashville to work on his book, and it was clear they were taking it very, very seriously. Colton had set up a classroom-size whiteboard in the middle of his living room, and Yan arrived with a backpack full of how-to-write books.

            “I’ve been studying,” Yan said, turning his backpack upside down to let his entire library fall out. “This shit is great. They have all these books to teach you how to write a novel. Have you read any of these?”

            In his mind, Vlad rose from the couch and sucker punched Yan. In reality, he simply smiled like every writer who has had to deal with tips of nonwriters. “Yes, I have many of those books.”

            That wasn’t the only thing bothering him, though. Elena had been distant ever since she hugged him yesterday. He’d been so surprised that all he could do at first was stand rigidly in place, breath locked in his lungs. But then he’d found his voice, and she leaned into him, and it took all his willpower not to drop his crutches and wrap both of his arms clear around her. Instead, he’d turned his face into her hair and inhaled deeply.

            And it had been weird since then. She’d thrown herself into party planning, almost as if she was using it as an excuse to avoid long stretches of time with him. Part of him realized it was maybe for the best that they spend as little time together as possible. The other part of him already missed her and wanted to sniff her hair again.

            He’d been looking forward to this little book-plotting session with the guys for that very reason. Until now.

            “It’s not the right time for him to kiss her,” Vlad finally said, answering Colton’s question.

            “Uh, it’s always the right time for kissing,” Colton snorted.

            Mack nodded. “It’s true, man. Nothing beats the first-kiss scene.”

            Yan clutched his hands to his chest. “Especially if it’s one of those passionate, almost angry kinds of kisses, like they just can’t control themselves kinds of kisses.”

            Mack nodded. “Fuck yeah. I love a good spontaneous angry kiss in a book.” He made a little growl noise and shuddered. “Gets me all worked up.”

            Del sighed. “I’m sorry, but nothing beats the soft, tender forehead kiss. It’s like, the real feelings are coming out then. Gets you right here, every time.” He pressed his hand to his breastbone.

            “Okay, but what about the almost-kiss,” Gavin said. “I love an almost-kiss.”

            Noah got a dreamy look on his face. “The staring-at-the-lips thing? Damn. Sexy as hell. Tony should have at least stared at her lips or something.”