An Unexpected Attraction (Love Unexpected Book 3) by Delaney Diamond

she found out I was moving back to Atlanta, she was happy because there are a lot of quote, successful black men, unquote, here. She hopes I’ll find a good black man and finally get married.”
    Jay stopped tapping the furniture and his body grew very still. His gaze fixed on her. “Is that what you want?”
    “To get married? Sure.” She’d actually thought she would be married by now. Finding the right man was taking longer than she’d expected.
    “Does your husband have to be black?”
    She’d never really thought about it much, but the question was easy to answer. Nowadays, people had options and fewer concerns about societal approval, unlike the days when her neighbor, Mrs. Chen, had met and married her husband. “No, he doesn’t have to be black.”
    Jay resumed tapping the arm of the chair.
    “What about you?” Brenda asked. “Do you have a preference?”
    “No. I’d like to be married again, though.” His answer surprised her. She assumed Jay had so much fun dating, marriage was not a priority. “I don’t care what she looks like.”
    “So five hundred pounds, a unibrow, and a beard would work?”
    His shoulders shook with laughter. “That’s not really my type, but…”
    “But you’d give her a shot?”
    “I’d give anyone a shot.” She didn’t even want to examine why his response was a relief and why she breathed easier because of it. His choice of future wife had no bearing on her personal situation.
    He lifted his coffee and held it out toward her. “Here’s to finding happiness with someone. No matter what they look like or where they’re from.”
    She lifted her cup, too. “Agreed.”
    The toast signaled the end of their conversation. She finished her coffee and Jay removed the empty dishes to the kitchen before walking her out to the car. Standing beside the Jetta on the dark street, there were no lights on in most of the houses, and the neighborhood was quiet except for a dog barking several doors down.
    Brenda shifted the plastic bag with the goodies he’d given her from her left to right hand. “Guess I’ll be sleeping late tomorrow.” She faked a yawn, ready to break away before awkwardness descended between them.
    “Thank you for staying and all your help.” Jay pulled her into an unexpected, one-armed hug. “I had a good time,” he murmured. He held his mouth close to her ear, his beard brushing her skin.
    She froze, turning into a stiff column, even as heat and arousal merged between her thighs. She kept one hand between them so they didn’t get too close. “I had a good time, too,” she mumbled.
    She tried to withdraw, but his hold tightened by a fraction, enough to keep her in the embrace. His splayed out fingers ran up and down her spine, and her body became even more rigid. The way he brushed his hands over her back sent a wave of heat to wash down her body. This was a man touching a woman, not a friend touching a friend.
    Flattening her hand against his chest and gently pushing, she made an effort to break free again. This time he lifted his other hand to her arm. He had to know she was trying to get away from him, but she was at a mild disadvantage with one hand still holding the bag of brownies and wine.
    “Good night, Brenda.” He placed a soft kiss on her cheek. A chaste, innocent kiss that didn’t feel chaste, didn’t feel innocent coming from him. Not when his mouth was moist and the rough hairs of his beard scuffed her cheek and made her throb with want.
    She shoved hard against his chest and bounced half a car length away from him. Oddly enough, she missed the closeness and his touch, even while she acknowledged guilt for craving those things.
    “Why did you do that?” she demanded. Her pulse had elevated, beating fast at her temple and the base of her neck.
    “It was just a—”
    “Don’t act as if you don’t know what you did. As if it was nothing.”
    He shoved his fingers through his hair, chest visibly lifting with labored