Budding Attraction (Divorced Men's Club, #3)

by Saxon James

“Ah, thanks …” I shove the flowers at his chest. “I hope they like them.” He’s slow to take the bunch, thick, rough fingers brushing my own. “I’m confident they will.” “Great. Have a …” Fuck, what do I normally say?

So flustered so cute

“How does he make you feel?” Thinking of Orson, picturing his face and the way my cheeks hurt whenever we’re together, makes my entire body prickle with awareness. “Alive.”

I’m pretty go, go, go with anything fun, whereas Orson likes the soft moments. The quiet ones. Ones like we’re having right now. It warms my chest that he brought me here.

And this is why I’ve decided he’s special. This is why I’m cool to hang around, even if more isn’t on the cards for us—because Orson has a big heart. Hell, it’s why I’d even consider a more with him in the first place.

It’s not the kind of thing I’d jump into with just anyone—I’ve rarely ever had that itch to even try—but I know what I feel for Orson isn’t all about sex. I enjoy him. Our time, our jokes, our dates.

“I knew it. Men who turn down a date by saying they’re straight instead of no are always leaving that door open a teeny bit.”

There’s no tongue, no hunger, but it’s the type of kiss that takes my breath away.

I paid attention when you were around. There’s something about you that had my attention. Made me want to keep looking.” I crack a smile and lean in. “Did it ever occur to you, sweetheart, that you’ve been attracted to me this whole time?” “Not until I just finished talking.”

He’s their quiet, and I’m their chaos. My grin widens as I think of us like that. Two parts working together.

He’s the calming breath you take before a deep dive, the first gulp of water after a long run, the low rumble of a V8 engine right before it accelerates. Everything about him has set up camp in my chest and lit a warm fire that refuses to go out. If this isn’t love, I don’t think I’ll survive the real thing. It can’t get much better than this.

“There’s no competition. I loved her. I love him. Neither of them cancels out or lessens the other. She’s my past. And he’s my future.”

“This isn’t a proposal because I don’t think I want one of those, and I have no idea if you ever would again either, but this is me saying you’re it for me. I’m never changing my mind about you. I want to move in together and discover each other’s bad habits. I want you to burn dinner and for me to be too messy for your liking. I want to argue and disagree, but once that’s over, I want us to be stronger for it. Because nothing can change how I feel about you, and I want to work to make you mine for the rest of our lives.”