Darkest Desire by Tawny Taylor

chuckled. “Don’t care for that descriptive? Would you prefer friend?”
    â€œYes. No. Maybe.” At least friends could sleep together. At least friends could be attracted to each other.
    She smiled and his heart lurched. “You are so cute when you’re not being a bossy brute.”
    â€œI’m not ‘cute.’ ”
    â€œThat wasn’t meant as an insult. I love how you didn’t take offense to the bossy brute part, only the cute reference.”
    â€œI cede to the bossy comment. No denying that. On the other hand, puppies and kittens are cute. Grown men aren’t. I’m not.”
    â€œI guess we’ll have to agree to disagree, then.”
    No, he’d have to prove he wasn’t cute.
    And he wasn’t brotherly.
    That was going to be fun.

5
    â€œM arry me,” Malek blurted.
    He instantly regretted it. What the hell was he doing?
    You dumbass, do you want to scare the hell out of her?
    Lei’s eyes widened. Then she started laughing. And she didn’t stop. Not for at least five minutes. Or maybe five hours. “Thank you for the laugh. I needed it today. It’s been a rough one.”
    He wasn’t sure what kind of reaction he’d been expecting. But this . . . ? Hysterical laughter? His pride was feeling a little bruised. Really, was it that funny? “I wasn’t joking.”
    She started to laugh again, but the guffaw was cut off abruptly. She scrunched her eyebrows and tipped her head. “Why would you ask me that?” Looking confused, dazed, she shook her head. “I don’t understand. Did you get the impression I was looking for a husband somehow?”
    â€œNo, not ‘looking’ for a husband.”
    Now appearing bewildered and maybe a little scared, she studied him. “I’m . . . speechless.” She shoved away from the table. Stood. Sat back down. Looked at him. Opened her mouth but didn’t say anything. Snapped it shut and stood again. “My sister married your brother because she needed the money. I don’t need money. I mean, sure, money is nice, and I don’t have much...I don’t have any. But... but...” Her face turned the shade of a fish’s belly. “Marriage isn’t for me. I’m sorry.” She turned to walk away, then spun back around. “But thank you.” Once again, she turned away. She took one, two, three steps, then did another one-eighty. “Did my sister put you up to this?”
    â€œNobody ‘put me’ up to anything.”
    â€œOkay.” She started toward the stairs once more. This time she made it as far as the hallway before she turned around to face him again. “It’s nothing against you. I’m just... not ready, will probably never be ready to get married. To anyone.”
    â€œI understand. We’re good.”
    â€œGood.” She gave him a semi-smile. “I’d still like to be friends.”
    â€œSure. Friends.” Friends. Shit.
    â€œThanks for dinner.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.”
    She didn’t leave. Instead, she chewed on her lip. Then she took a step in the right direction, toward him. He didn’t say anything because he was one hundred percent sure he’d scare her off if he did. Instead, he waited while she returned to the table and picked up her plate. “What am I thinking, making you clean up after me?”
    â€œIt’s okay.” Standing beside her, Malek set his silverware on his empty plate. “How many times have you tidied up after me and Talen?”
    Her eyes sparkled as some of the tension left her face. “Good point.” Dirty plate in one hand, both wineglasses in the other, she headed for the counter.
    He was right behind her. Set his plate down. Then, ignoring the nagging temptation to linger near her, he went back to the table to finish clearing it. Meanwhile, he watched her rinse her dish and load it in the dishwasher. Her