Her Best Friend's Brother by T. J. Dell Page B

was going to be Libby’s date and just imagine how it felt when he realized Libby already had a date.
    “New York is great Libby; I just remember how excited you were about Florida. You even had me thinking of spending some time down there in the sunshine.” Libby was confused, but undeterred. Tonight was their night she was sure of it. She scooted a little closer to him and moved her hand to his thigh. “I want to come to New York. You are in New York.” Going al out, Libby wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his mouth. She hadn’t kissed Tony in a year and a half. Not since his cousin’s wedding. She was not disappointed.
    Any chil she had been feeling earlier in the evening disappeared immediately. Her skin was on fire.
    His mouth was insistent and firm on her own, his tongue was sliding against hers, and unlike the kisses of her memory she no longer felt he was holding back. Tony wrapped one arm around her waist and dragged her closer to him. Groaning into her mouth at the feel of her breasts crushed against his chest, he tunneled his other hand into the hair at the nape of chest, he tunneled his other hand into the hair at the nape of her neck tilting her face for a deeper kiss. Encouraged by his reaction Libby dragged her hands between their bodies and with shaking fingers she began to undo his shirt buttons.
    Al she could think of was touching him, feeling his skin beneath her fingers, tracing those muscles she had spent years studying. His hands joined hers and for one fleeting moment she thought he was going to help her find that skin she was so desperate to feel. But then he closed his fists over her wrists, and puled out of their kiss so abruptly that Libby was pretty sure she whimpered her protest.
    “Libby. Stop. What are you doing?”
    “I told you. I want to be with you.” Libby tried to lean in again and resume the kiss, but Tony held her in place.
    “We can’t do this Lib. Not now. Not like this.” Tony tried to keep his voice calm; al the while his body was screaming its objections.
    Libby recoiled from him. Humiliation settling in her chest. “You don’t want me? You don’t want to be with me?”
    “Of course I want you! Where were you three seconds ago? You are so beautiful. You are the most stunning thing I have ever seen. Dressed the way you are tonight every man at this party wants you—I can’t help but want you, but that isn’t to say … we aren’t… together...” Tony stumbled trying to explain. He had a plan. Why was she messing with the plan? Why wouldn’t his brain pul it together so he could make sense out of al this? Only, he knew why— it was because most of his blood had drained southward the moment she had touched his leg.
    “But that’s it? That was just your physical reaction to the way I look?” Libby scooted further away snatching her hands back.
    “Christ, Libby! It isn’t like that.” Frustrated in more than one way Tony dragged his hand through his hair.
    “You’re seventeen!”
    “Eighteen.” Libby chewed on her lip.
    Tony’s eyes narrowed on her. “Mel is seventeen.”
    “My birthday is in January, hers is in December. I am almost a year older.” Libby’s whisper was barely audible, because it took al her remaining energy to keep from crying. Had she ever felt so smal?
    Tony nodded. He knew that—he just hadn’t been thinking clearly. “Eighteen. Okay, but you stil just graduated high school. I don’t know if the actual number makes a difference. And— not now Libby. I can’t do this with you.”
    Libby nodded. She couldn’t trust her voice.
    “What about Parker? For crying out loud Lib
    —you are here with someone else. I am not about to snake another man’s date.” Now Tony was just talking. He thought if he could keep talking than he could take the pain out of her eyes. If he could keep talking he just might be able to convince himself he was doing the right thing.
    “It isn’t like that.” Libby’s voice