Three Bells, Two Bows and One Brother's Best Friend (Holiday Brothers, #2)

by Willa Nash

Why couldn’t I see Heath the way I saw Tobias? A friend, nothing more. They had the same dark hair. The same piercing blue eyes. The same soft lips and straight nose. Hell, Tobias had even grown a beard and I’d always thought beards were sexy. But did my face flame for that Holiday brother? No. Never. Not once. There was something different about Heath.

Heath was . . . Heath. A cute boy who’d grown into a ridiculously handsome man. He was the dream.

Stella Marten was one of the most beautiful women I’d ever seen. And my best friend’s sister. I don’t get to think she’s beautiful. I’d been reminding myself that for years.

It was like a lightbulb had turned on. Stella wasn’t Stella, my friend’s little sister and the tagalong. Stella was Stella. Beautiful. Smart. Charming. Sexy. I liked Stella.

Talking to her was like talking to my oldest friend. She knew me, understood me, arguably better than anyone else, including her brother. Stella was more insightful. Maybe it was just a female thing, but she asked the questions guys didn’t often ask.

🥹

Stella was focused on the Jensen file when I reached her office, a pen in her hand and a pencil between her lips. To be that pencil.

In my world of endless distraction, Stella made me stop and take pause.

She was off-limits. Why did that make me want her even more? Of all the women in the world, why was Stella the one who tempted me? Maybe she was right. I was cursed.

“Stop being beautiful. Stop dancing with other men. Just for tonight. Don’t dance with that guy. I’m trying to respect your wishes here, Stella. But tonight, it’s a struggle.”

No woman had ever made me feel so jealous. The only man she’d be dancing with tonight was me.

There was no woman as beautiful as Stella Marten. And I’d been a coward for too long. A fool for not acting sooner. Now she was fucking mine.

This was reckless. She was an employee. She was Guy’s sister. But she was Stella. My Stella.

“You’re something special, Stella Marten.”

🥹

“So what did you do tonight?” Your best friend.

“I saw them and had to get them. They made me think of you.” “You thought of me?” “Nonstop.”

“All of your midnight kisses are mine. New Year’s Eve or not. You’re mine.”

“How’s the jaw?” Heath shrugged. “Stella kissed it better.” Wendy, who’d been sipping her smoothie, choked on her drink, coughing and sputtering. “Oh, God, I love this. I’m so glad neither of you are taking it easy on him.”

“I love my sister.” “I know.” “I don’t want her to get hurt.” “I’m not going to hurt her.” There was such conviction in Heath’s voice. Guy heard it. So did Wendy. She leaned against my arm and swooned. “Good.” Guy nodded, then faced me. “Heath’s my best friend.” “I know.” “I don’t want him to get hurt either.”