A Heart Not Easily Broken (The Butterfly Memoirs) by M. J. Kane

replied.
    God, I loved to hear him say my name.
    “Sure, come in. She’ll be down in a minute.” The door closed. “Take care of my girl.”
    “I will.”
    When I heard her coming up the steps, I counted to ten and composed myself.
    She stopped at my doorway and winked. “He’s a keeper. Nice lips.” She laughed and disappeared into her room.
    Brian’s back was to me when I walked down the stairs. He appeared relaxed with his thumbs hooked in the pockets of his jeans. He had the same black sneakers and a deep blue shirt that was the same shade as his eyes. Blue was fast becoming my favorite color. His blond curls with dark undertones were shorter than when I last saw him.
     “Hi,” I said upon reaching the bottom step.
    He turned around and his eyes traveled over my outfit. “Damn.”
    I wore a floral print halter-top accented with red lace trim that molded to my waist and breasts perfectly. The tan background complimented my skin and the floor-length skirt fit like a glove. A long, sexy slit ran from the hem to the middle of my thigh and gave him an eyeful every time I moved my leg.
    “You look,” he cleared his throat, “amazing.”
     So did he. Besides cutting his hair, he’d grown a sexy five o’clock shadow. I couldn’t decide whether to stare at his mouth or his eyes.
    I closed the distance between us without saying a word. My heels didn’t bring us eye-to-eye, but I was close enough. I took his face between my hands, slid my fingertips into his hair, and drew his head down until his lips met mine. After talking about the kiss we’d shared, I was anxious to do it again.
    Without hesitation, Brian’s mouth opened. Enjoying the firmness of his lips, I slipped my tongue in-between. His hands came out of his pockets, around my waist, and pulled me close.
    My breath caught. I pressed against him, willing myself to mold to the shape of his body. There was no denying the attraction either of us felt. After days of not seeing each other, we definitely had the same thing in mind.
    “Um, excuse me. I kinda need to get through here. It’s the only way to the kitchen.”
    We stopped kissing, but neither of us released our hold. I couldn’t believe I was in the living room with Brian, damn near ready to make out. I slipped my hands out of his hair and satisfied my need to touch him by running a hand over his chest. “Sorry,” I told Kaitlyn. “Brian, this is my other roommate, Kaitlyn.”
    She glanced from me and over at Brian. Her arms were loaded down with grocery bags.
    “Hi. I’d love to stay and chat, but I’ve been standin’ here for forever waitin’ for ya’ll lovebirds to come up for air. This stuff is heavy.”
    “Let me help you,” Brian let go of me and reached for the bags.
    “No, I’ve got this. Do ya mind grabbin’ the box out of the trunk?”
    “Sure.”
    We watched him disappear out the front door.
    “Holy crap!” she whispered. “That’s the guy from the club?”
    I grinned, slipped a few bags from her hands, and headed for the kitchen.
    “He’s hot! Does he have a brother?”
    I laughed. “Kaity, didn’t you just find a man?”
    “Yeah, so?” She put the remaining bags down before punching my shoulder. “And you’ve been holdin’ out.”
    “I know, I know. Yasmine already fussed. I’ll fill you guys in with the details when I get home.”
    “After a kiss like that you’re plannin’ on comin’ home?” She shook her head. “You show up tonight, and I’m calling the crazy police to turn you in.”
     
    ***
     
    The band practiced at one of the members’ houses. Fortunately, the garage had an air conditioning unit installed, so it was quite comfortable.
    To my surprise, I wasn’t the only female there. I sat against a wall on an old bench seat, which appeared to have come from a truck. Jessica, the fiancée of the band’s drummer, sat beside me. Brian and I shared a private laugh when he introduced me. Besides knowing Derrick was engaged, looking back at