The Merger Read online

  Pete moved to her so they were nearly pressed together. “Avery, what are you saying?”

  “I don’t want to be alone.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m here.”

  Avery stepped to him and rested her hands on his chest. “You’re always here.”

  Pete nodded. Here was where he always wanted to be.

  She slid her hands up and around his neck. Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her.

  “Pete, we’ve never kissed.”

  “Sure we…”

  “Not like a real kiss.”

  Pete licked his lips because his mouth had suddenly gone dry. “Friends don’t kiss like that.”

  “Some do. Tiffany and Spencer did.”

  She mentioned her cousin and his friend with benefits. That was until he fell in love with Julie.

  “You and I are different. We don’t want that to come between us,” he reminded her.

  Avery’s fingers were playing in his hair and suddenly the three o’clock hour must be messing with them. They seriously weren’t caressing each other in the kitchen were they, and talking about kissing?

  Not that there was any space between them. She had closed it and now their bodies were pressed together.

  “Everyone has been reminding me lately that you and I have been inseparable since we were little.” Her fingers were now caressing his ear.

  “That’s what the title of best friends means,” he said, swallowing hard because he’d always wanted to be more.

  “Pete,” her voice trailed off as she gazed up at him. “Kiss me one time as if we were a couple—as if you loved me.”

  He hesitated because he wasn’t sure he could do this just once. The problem was his feelings for her had been stirring since he was that young boy. If he kissed her now, he wouldn’t want to stop with just one kiss. He couldn’t give her what she wanted.

  “Avery…”

  “Shhh,” she pressed her finger to his lips. “Just kiss me.”

  He’d never denied Avery anything in all the years they’d known each other. Certainly, he wasn’t going to start disappointing her now.

  Pete lifted his hand to her cheek and drew her in.

  The moment their lips touched. that spark he knew which burned inside of him exploded in a brilliant white light behind his eyelids. The feel of her, the taste of her was more wonderful than he’d ever dreamed—and he had dreamed of it.

  Her tongue slipped through his lips and danced with his as her arms tightened around him and his around her.

  The moan that escaped her throat had him yearning to continue this simple request forever.

  Meet the Author

  Bestselling Author Bernadette Marie is known for building families readers want to be part of. Her series The Keller Family has graced bestseller charts since its release in 2011, along with her other series and single title books. The married mother of five sons promises Happily Ever After—always. She says she can write it, because she lives it.

  When not writing, Bernadette Marie is shuffling her sons to their many events—mostly hockey—and enjoying the beautiful views of the Colorado Rocky Mountains from her front step. She is also an accomplished martial artist with a second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do.

  A chronic entrepreneur, Bernadette Marie opened her own publishing house in 2011, 5 Prince Publishing, so that she could publish the books she liked to write and help make the dreams of other aspiring authors come true too.

  You can connect with Bernadette Marie:

  www.bernadettemarie.com

  www.5princebooks.com

  Books from 5 Prince Publishing

  www.5princebooks.com

  The Merger Bernadette Marie

  Braving the Darkness Melynda Price

  The Calling Jim Hanley

  The Christmas Tree Guy Railyn Stone

  The Copper Rebellion Jessica Dall

  On Orders of the Commandant Mark Williams

  Christmas Presence Lisa J. Hobman

  Lessons From a Two-Year-Old Pete Abela

  Vivian Bernadette Marie

  How to Have a Happy Marriage Lindsay Harper

  A Gift for Chloe Susan Lohrer

  Penelope Bernadette Marie

  Bridge of Hope Lisa J. Hobman

  A Painted Room Pete Abela

  Amelia Bernadette Marie

  Lilac Lane Ann Swann

  Crisis of Serenity Denise Moncrief

  The Porcelain Child Jessica Dall

  The Acceptance Bernadette Marie

  Serpent Priestess of the Annunaki Katrina Sisowath

  The Letter Drawer Sarah Galloway

  How to Have an Amicable Divorce Lindsay Harper

  Ice Goddess Hannelore Moore

  Indomitable Spirit Bernadette Marie

  A Heart Forever Wild Sara Barnard

  Desperado Sara Barnard

  The Copper Witch Jessica Dall

  Home Run Bernadette Marie

  Blissful Tragedy Amy L Gale

  How to Have an Affair Lindsay Harper

  The Soul of Jesus Doug Simpson