Always Mine: Romantic Short Stories to Fall in Love With

By PB Brown

A collection of a dozen endearing Romance stories to fall in love with. Some are short and sweet, while others are perfect to read while relaxing in the evening. Included in Always Mine is Starlight and Dreams; a tale of love and chance encounters, and Attitude; a story of finding the right man for the job. Ten more heartfelt stories of romantic encounters round out the dozen. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: PB Brown
• Release date: Sep 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781540108197

PB Brown

PB Brown is the author of over one hundred short stories of love and romance. She enjoys creating real, yet quirky characters and has a passion for writing romance stories to make you laugh, cry and dream. 

Book preview

Always Mine

STARING FROM ACROSS the crowded room, Adam closed his eyes for a second, unable to believe what he had just seen. Were her arms really wrapped around Kirk’s neck and were her soft lips really pressed onto his? Adam blinked open his eyes and his stomach clenched as he watched her pull back and smile at the man holding her in his arms.

Fine. If that’s who she wants to be with... He muttered resignedly to himself. Setting his mouth in a tight line, Adam ambled over as calmly as he could, and laid a hand on her shoulder.

I’m ready to head out. Will you be alright here?

Kat leaned back and slipped an arm casually around Adam’s waist and gave him a quick peck on the side of his mouth. The two of them had been friends for so long that their touches were close and intimate. But Kat was convinced Adam had never been interested in her as more than just a friend. That had hurt her at first because he was such an amazing guy. He was fun and handsome and smart and just the kind of man she had always wanted to be with. But Kat had finally forced herself to get past those feelings for him and now their friendship was warm and real and trusting. What more could she ask for?

Yeah, Adam. I’m good here. See you tomorrow? She smiled up into Adam’s dark eyes.

Adam had promised to make the trip into town to have breakfast with Kat the following morning. He didn’t like to be away from his aging parents for long, but she had begged and pleaded and he finally said yes. His mother had given birth to him after ten years of trying and after four miscarriages. He was their only child and their bond was tight. Her time alone with Adam was always precious and wonderful. The best times with him where when Kat had him all to herself and when he would be relaxed enough to talk about anything with her.

Yes. He replied with a lift of his eyebrow. See you then. Be careful. He warned with a quick glance to the man still holding Kat around the waist. This guy looks a little shady if you ask me. Adam deadpanned as Kat laughed out loud.

Kat was being sweetly seduced by a mutual friend and someone Adam had known longer than he had known her. Hooking up with his friend Kirk came as a surprise to everyone, but it felt good to Kat and it felt...right.

Don’t worry, Adam. I’ll take very good care of her. Kirk promised and gave her hip a soft pat that made Kat laugh and swing her head back to his.

You’d better. Adam’s smile made it seem like a joke, but his tone was serious.

The knock on the door roused Kat from a deep sleep. Her dreams had been fitful and she didn’t feel rested at all. Enjoying the warmth from the morning sunlight streaming through the bedroom window, Kat snagged her robe from the back of the chair. Wrapping it loosely around her, she padded quickly to the front door.

Hey. She said sleepily as Adam walked through the door. He slipped off his jacket and held it out for Kat to take. His look was questioning.

What? Kat challenged with a frown and shoved at his hand holding the jacket. Go throw it on the bed like you always do.

I wasn’t sure the bed would be empty.

Adam tossed his words at Kat as he walked into the small bedroom and threw his jacket on the bed. By the time he returned, Kat was fully angry.

So you just assumed I was going to sleep with Kirk? Kat tried to keep her voice from rising but she couldn’t believe that was what he thought. As long as they’d known each other and he assumed that she’d jump into bed with a guy that fast? 

I don’t know what I thought. Forget it. Never mind. He walked over to the small stool tucked under the kitchen counter and pulled it out. Kat knew he was angry when he sat down and kept his back to her. Plucking a paper napkin from the stack on the counter, he restlessly began to fold the paper in half, then half again, trying to regain his calm. As Kat stood with her arms folded over her chest, ready to give Adam a piece of her mind, it suddenly occurred to her why he might be so upset. Kat walked over and slid her arms around his neck and laid her head on his shoulder.

I’m sorry, Adam. Her heart softened as Kat thought she finally understood what was going on and she wanted to ease his mind. I know you see me as a friend and a sister and you’ve always been very protective of me. She felt Adam stiffen slightly under her touch but he continued. She wanted him to know she understood. Seeing me with Kirk would be like watching your baby sister with a guy, right?

Adam stood up slowly and unwound her arms from his neck. He turned and looked closely at her, his eyes tight. But Kat only smiled and nodded her head knowingly.

Right. He smiled back tightly.

I get that, Adam. And I’ll be careful. But as much as I appreciate you being my big brother, I’d much rather have you as a friend.

Her words earned Kat a gentle kiss on the forehead from Adam who then sat back down on the stool, once again turning his back to her. Glad that was settled, Kat put Adam to work grating cheese for their breakfast omelets while she hurried to the bedroom for a quick shower.

Twenty minutes later, fresh and clean and fully dressed, Kat returned to the kitchen. The smells of cooking bacon and eggs caused her stomach to growl so loudly that Adam laughed and gestured at her belly with the wooden spoon in his hand.

We’d better get you fed before that wild animal gets loose.

Thanks for cooking, Adam. You really are a good friend. Kat gave him a quick squeeze and then turned her attention to setting the table.

Yeah. Adam muttered too low for Kat to hear. I’m a great friend.

Answering the knock on her front door the next day, Kat was surprised to see Adam standing on her porch, a slight smile on his face. The two of them had spent a full day together the day before but Kat had thought he had already left town heading back to his parents’ home the next town over. 

I’m so sorry Adam. She apologized as he stood with his head tilted down to hers. I didn’t know you’d be back in town. I made plans with Kirk for today.

The sudden frown lines on Adam’s forehead surprised her. Just one day earlier, the two of them had spent hours laughing and talking about everything that was important to both of them. The subject of Kirk had come up of course, and Kat had talked about him, too. Adam had stayed silent as Kat described in detail her date with Kirk and her budding feelings for him. He had proved to be such a good listener that Kat had even complimented him!

But as Kat watched Adam’s face as she told him about her second date with Kirk, it was clear that something was wrong.

I know that look. She took his hand and pulled him behind her into the small living room.

His hand was cold in hers and it occurred to Kat that before then, his touch had always been warm. So warm in fact that sometimes she had to ask him to move away from her a little because he put out so much heat. On the heels of that thought, Kat realized how often Adam sat really close to her and how often his hand would find hers as they walked side by side. Before Kat could pursue that thought further, Adam sighed heavily. He dropped down on the couch and pulled his hand from hers. He rubbed his forehead with a finger as if he could rub away the frown, but when he moved his hand away, the frown was still there.

It seems like you guys might be moving kind of fast. His deep voice was full of concern.

Well... Kat began, not really sure where the conversation was going. Not fast, but yeah. Things are moving along.

Kat leaned back on the sofa and crossed her arms over her chest. For some reason the conversation was starting to make her nervous. Adam could sometimes be blunt and direct with his words. Kat was dreading the sharp comments she was sure would come next.

I owe you an apology. Adam said, looking her in the eye.

That was the last thing Kat expected Adam to say and it made her eyebrows lift in surprise.

For what?

For not telling you before you started things with Kirk how much I love you and want to be with you.

In the silence that enveloped the room, Kat heard only the lazy crackling of the dying embers in the fireplace. She struggled to make sense of his words and her mind flew back to every word he had ever spoken to her and every gesture he had made and she was suddenly so angry at all the lost time and lost opportunities that she flew up from the couch and rounded on Adam.