Excerpt One:
“So…” she says quietly. “Can we talk?”

“Yeah.” I brace myself for what’s coming next.

The end. This is probably the last time I’ll ever see Astrid. My heart is breaking into a million pieces and I’m not sure how to stop her from…

Without thinking, I reach out and take her hand, comforted by how natural it feels. She doesn’t pull away, just flicks her eyes up to me and blinks rapidly. As if she’s trying to stop from crying. My heart thunders in my chest. She moves in closer.

Thu-thump.

Suddenly, her lips are on mine.

In the beginning, it’s a soft kiss. Tentative, as if she’s testing the waters. Then, it quickly deepens and I find myself pulling her flush against my chest. Instinctively, my arms wrap around her as I lose myself in the moment. She tastes like peaches and heaven.

When our lips finally part, our foreheads remain pressed together as we try to catch our breath.

“I didn’t mean to…” She clutches at my waist.

“Neither did I,” I mutter, though it’s a lie. If I could kiss Astrid forever, I would.

I planned to.

We stand there for a moment, holding each other. Neither of us willing to let go. The air between us is charged. Electric.

She gazes up at me, her eyes soft but guarded. “Thank you.”

“For what?” I’m genuinely confused.

“For being here tonight. I truly didn’t think you’d come” She takes in a huge breath and lets it out, like she’s nervous.

Considering the situation, I’m unsure how to respond. “Why wouldn’t I be here? It was important to you. To us.”

She smiles wistfully and tilts her head. “Brennan.”

“I… Uh…” I don’t know how to respond.

Astrid shoots me a look as if to say, shut the fuck up.

So, I don’t bother finishing the sentence. It’s pointless to bullshit her. I’m not capable of giving her what she needs and we both know it.

I’m utter crap at relationships. I don’t know how to nurture them. Prioritize them. Communicate properly. I never have. Probably never will.

Astrid should have been different. She’s everything I ever dreamed about. My ultimate fantasy. And I had her. Until I fucked up. 

Ruined us.

Astrid sucks in a breath. “So…turns out I’m pregnant.”

Wait, what?

Reality crashes down, unforgiving. Like a hundred million buckets of ice water.

If I can’t manage a romantic relationship with someone as perfect as Astrid…

How in the fuck can I be a good father?

Reality crashes down, unforgiving. Like a hundred million buckets of ice water.

If I can’t manage a romantic relationship with someone as perfect as Astrid…

How in the fuck can I be a good father?

 

Excerpt Two:
Half hour later, I get home to my townhouse—my parents built a compound years ago and gifted me and each of my brothers our own homes– pull out my phone and scroll through the messages from Astrid I’ve been ignoring. God, I feel guilty about, essentially, ghosting her.

I’ve got to get better.

Little does she know, I wireframed our idea the day after we met but it’s been pushed to the side as CognifyAI dominates every waking hour.

Or am I making excuses?

Fuck.

I’m trying not to hyper-focus on her but the truth is, I think Astrid might be someone I could care about. It’s hard for me to tell, with so little experience, but I think this situation is very different. What started out as a strange reconnection could be, at least, a friendship. One I didn’t expect.

The truth is, I like her.

I looked forward to getting together after our lunch. Then I got nervous. Aside from an apologetic text a few months ago, I haven’t made any effort.

Let’s be honest, it’s not because she’s done anything wrong. I’m fucking terrified of rejection. Petrified of misconstruing Astrid’s kindness as meaning something else.

It’s happened to me so many times.

“Brennan, you’re so awesome but…”

“Brennan, you’re so intense…”

“I’m so sorry, Brennan. I don’t think of you in a romantic way…”

I can’t hear those words from her. I can’t.

It’d be torture to be around her and, once again, pine like a loser when she friend-zones me. Or, worse, face the humiliation of her recoiling with horror if I had the guts to make a move.

Overthink much?

Have you met me?

On the other hand, she deserves basic courtesy. It’s fucking embarrassing she’s resorted to messaging me through my famous brother. Who the fuck do I think I am? I told her I’d help her with this project, and I’m a man of my word.

Before I can second-guess myself, I send her a text.

 

Excerpt Three:
God, she’s incredible.

Astrid has no idea I’m watching her. 

In the year we’ve been seeing each other, other than heating up leftovers, I’ve never actually seen her cook. So, when I woke up this morning, I didn’t expect to find her dancing to a Taylor Swift song wearing my oversized T-shirt and pulling out bacon from the oven.

“I’ve never seen anything so sexy in all my life.” I make my presence known as I pad down the stairs.

She turns and smiles as at me in a way that makes my heart stand still. “That’s disappointing, considering the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen is you eating me out for an hour straight.”

“To be fair.” I laugh as I saunter over to her and kiss her forehead. “I meant you generally, not the cooking part. Do I have time for a quick shower?”

“Sure.” Astrid kisses my cheek and makes a point of leaning over to retrieve a pan from the cupboard.

Fuck. I see a flash of bare pussy. Immediately, my dick is standing at full attention.

I move behind her, grip her hips and grind my erection against her ass. “I see what you’re up to. I’m game for a quick appetizer fuck.”

“Stop it. Go shower!” She laughs and deftly moves away. “I’m getting the eggs ready, so I need to concentrate.”

I do, in fact make it quick. I’m seated at her counter ten minutes later wearing nothing but a pair of boxer briefs, which showcase how hard I am for her. 

“Sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” She glances down at my protruding package. “I’ll have him for dessert.”

“You didn’t have to do all this.” I pull her against me and slant my mouth over hers to kiss her thoroughly.

She pulls back and pats my cheek lightly. “One track mind, B. Let’s eat then we can fuck.”

Astrid sets bacon, eggs, and coffee in front of me and takes the seat next to mine. “How are you feeling this morning? Ready for your big meeting?”

“Yeah. I’m alright. I think this is going to wrap up soon.” I take a bite of the eggs, which aren’t terrible. “Maybe the worst of this CognifyAI situation is over.”

“I hope so.” She licks a piece of bacon suggestively and I swear it makes me harder.

“Now who has a one-track mind?” I devour the rest of my breakfast so we can get to the sex stuff. “Maybe cooking is one of your hidden talents.”