Worth The Shot (The Bannister Brothers #2) Read Online Free

like we forgot. It was always crazy, us kids laughing, and my mom getting all mad.”
    She was starting to see where his comfortable teasing nature came from.
    “But eventually we get all the ornaments on the tree, and Mom always gets to put the angel on top. Then we turn out all the lights in the living room, except for the ones on the tree, and we have a Christmas picnic and eat supper in front of the tree. We all razz our mom about it, but it’s pretty cool.”
    “That sounds like a great tradition. I’ll bet your mom is really sweet.”
    He grinned. “My mom is the best. She put up with so much crap from my brothers and me. She’s got the best sense of humor and just makes everything more fun. I’d do anything for my mom.” A sad look crossed his face, as if he had somehow disappointed her or hadn’t lived up to her expectation.
    What was that about? Before she could ask, another bout of turbulence rocked the plane. He gripped her arm, squeezing it as his face paled.
    She had to admit, she hated the turbulence, too. But more for the queasy feeling it caused in her stomach. With him, she could tell it was more than that. It was outright fear.
    She needed a new tack. Something different to take his mind off the rough flight.
    Hating to do it, she pulled her hand from his and reached for her purse under the seat. Pulling out a pack of gum, she offered him a piece. “It helps prevent your ears from popping.” She also grabbed a pair of earbuds then set her bag back under the seat.
    “Let’s try some music. You pick a playlist you like.” After calling up her music on her phone, she handed it to him to scroll through. Music choices were so personal and could reveal a lot about someone. Having him look through her playlists was surprisingly intimate, like she was letting him have a glimpse into her personality, or a peek into her sock drawer.
    “This one.” He pointed to the list of “ Feel Good Tunes. ”
    “Good choice.” She unraveled the headphones, plugged them into the jack on her phone, and handed him one earbud. Leaning in toward each other, they each put an earbud into their ear.
    The sweet, haunting melody of Lana Del Rey filled her ear, and she shivered.
    He noticed. Reaching across her, he grabbed the blanket that she’d tucked into the side of her seat. His arm brushed her stomach as he pulled the blanket free, and her heart raced in her chest.
    Shaking out the fold, he spread the blanket across both of them and tipped his head toward hers. “I like this song.” 
    Even in the dim light, she could see the sincerity in his eyes.
    What was happening? It felt surreal. Like they were plucked out of a moment in time. A moment where chemistry flew, and their attraction zapped like sparks in the air.
    The dark cabin, the intimate space, the other passengers asleep around them—all combined to give the illusion that they were alone. That the two of them—in this moment—were the only two people that existed. That she was alive, sizzling with energy, waiting for this one instant, waiting a million years, for this moment—when they would meet.
    His head bent forward, his forehead almost touching hers. Her forearm burned from the pressure of his hand resting lightly on it. She felt connected to him, emotionally, through their shared experience, but also physically, as they were tethered together by the headphone cord.
    She swallowed, looking up at him from beneath her lashes. “I like this song, too.”
    He reached up, the back of his fingers gently brushing her cheek. “I like you.” Leaning in, a fraction closer, his lips so close to hers—she caught her breath—closer still. All she had to do was push him away. Or pull back.
    But she didn’t. She couldn’t. Because she wanted this. Wanted him.
    It didn’t make sense. It was probably a stupid, impulsive decision. But she desired him. Beyond reason. Beyond control.
    He tipped a little closer, his lips a mere whisper from hers. She sat