A Very Merry Bromance (Bromance Book Club, #5)

by Lyssa Kay Adams

Colton stepped in front of her and gripped her shoulders. “Hold up. What’s going on here?” “I’m leaving. I have a lot to do today.” “When can I see you again?” She blinked. Well, this was a first. “I—I can see you again, right?”

“Wait. Just wait. Can we start this over, please? I feel like I’ve screwed something up, but I have no idea what.” “You didn’t screw anything up. It’s me. I shouldn’t have done this. I’m sorry.” “Shouldn’t have done what?” “I started this. I shouldn’t have kissed you.” “I was a willing participant. More than willing.”

For the first time in his life, Colton Wheeler was someone’s dirty little secret.

Because Colton Wheeler had one job, and one job only. To make other people happy. Even if it killed him.

there would come a time when the realities of this industry would start to steal the shine from the promises of it.

It’s this never-ending cycle of bullshit and cruelty, and the only way to change it is to change the laws.”

He waited until she was seated before taking the opposite bench facing the stage. After setting her bag on the seat and slipping the coat from her shoulders, she lifted her whiskey in the air. “To cheating, stealing, fighting, and drinking.” Then she shot back the whiskey with the ease of a distiller. Colton stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed. He glanced at the bar and found Duff with the same expression. “What?” Gretchen said, setting her glass down. “It’s an old Irish toast that my grandfather used to say.” “If you’re here to propose to me, I accept.”

The problem with having such a close group of buddies is that they were unapologetic about calling you out on your bullshit.

“What’s wrong with having a rich, professional fiancé?”

committing the unforgivable sin of walking out on the Great Colton Wheeler. That must’ve been a serious blow to your ego, but I am not willing to prostitute myself for your self-esteem.”

“I mean, you must have millions of women who would give up a lung for a chance to go out with you—” He nodded. “I do. Sometimes they even toss their bras at me with their phone numbers written on them.” She tossed up her hands. “Great. Call one of them.” “I don’t want to. I want to go out with you.” “Why?” “Because I like you.”

“You hate Christmas. He’s basically Santa Claus.” “Exactly.” Liv snorted. “Which is why you’re perfect for each other.” “Right. Wait, what?”

“Do I meet with your approval?” “No. Those clothes look terrible on you.” His laughter bounced off the windshield and echoed throughout the car. “You should know, honey, that I’d rather be insulted by you than be fawned over by anyone else.”

“Don’t look at me like that.” “Like what?” “Like I was some kind of neglected child. I grew up in a mansion with more money than most people could ever even imagine.” “There are a lot of forms of neglect.”

They were a shared memory. A promise of something good. They were single-syllable truths in a conspiracy-theory world. They were heat and touch and faith and joy. They were a kite in the sky. A storm on the sea.

“Drive careful,” he said. “These roads get really dark, and the deer dart out before you can see them.” “Worried about your car?” she teased. “Worried about you.”

“Get in, loser. We’re going to meet my dysfunctional family.”

This was a house designed to show off to strangers, not for snuggling your loved ones. It was meant to impress, to intimidate, to create awe and envy. This wasn’t a house. It was a fucking museum. And she’d been a little girl here.

“Gretchen would never spend money on something so luxurious.” Colton rejoined her side. “That’s because she’s a better person than you and me. Got her priorities straight.”

They studied each other silently for a moment, like two boxers in the ring, circling and sizing each other up. Gretchen so rarely had anyone on her side in this particular prizefight other than Uncle Jack, but Colton was making it clear that he was most definitely in her corner.

“I don’t invite just anyone into my life,” Colton added. “They have to be someone I trust. They have to be someone special.” He was talking about her. If the words alone weren’t clear enough, the way he looked at her was. And everyone in the room knew it.

Knowing she could do that to him—turn this easygoing charmer into a groaning, swearing, desperate dom—was enough to make her womb clench.

“Tell me what to do,” she whispered, trailing a finger along the length of him. His eyes darkened, but still he didn’t move. “Just let me look at you for a minute.” “I get shy when I’m looked at too long.” “Well, you better get used to it, because I could lie here and look at you forever.” He ran his knuckles across her cheek. “I can’t believe you’re actually here.”

“She’s here for a reason, Colton.” “At the party?” “In Nashville.” Frustration laced his voice with impatience. “What’s your point?” “That maybe she doesn’t want to run away. Maybe she just wishes someone would ask her to stay.”

“You can’t make major life or career decisions because of me.” “Why not?” “Because we haven’t been dating long enough!” “We’ve been dating long enough for me to know that if I have to choose between you and the endorsement deal, that’s a no-brainer.”

You don’t have to prove anything to me. I’m in. All the way.

“You don’t have to go to D.C. or Michigan or even that damn tree house to run away from this family, Gretchen. You just have to stop wishing that people who will never appreciate you will someday wake up and beg you to stay. And if Colton is the person I think he is, then the only place you need to run to is him.”

“He’s so good with her.” “With all of them. They all just adore him.” “They must think it’s pretty cool to have a famous rock star as an uncle.” “I don’t think they are actually old enough to understand that he is famous. He’s just Uncle Colton to them.” Just Uncle Colton. The lump grew. He was just a man. A good, decent man who—for some unknown reason—wanted her. With all her flaws. All her insecurities.

“Do you think they’d mind if I borrow you tomorrow night?” “You don’t have to borrow me. You already own me.”

“Text me when you get home,” he said, stepping back. “Worried about the dark again?” “Worried about you.” In that moment, the final puzzle piece fell into place. He wasn’t Colton Wheeler to her either. He was just Colton. The man who made her swoon and melt. The man who made her want to know what Christmas morning could be like. The man who now held every single piece of her heart.

“Does it make me a bad person if I say I don’t really give a shit?” Did it make him a bad person? No. But it made him not him. “You hit my brother tonight, Colton. You. Who has never gotten in a fight in your entire life.” “And I’d do it again.” “That’s what scares me. That wasn’t you tonight. But this is what happens when you get involved with me. My family stains everything.” His jaw hardened. “If you’re about to say what I think you are, just stop.” “I have to say it.” She rose on an elbow. “I’m bad for you.” Colton suddenly rolled away from her and rose from bed. He towered over her, hands on his hips. “Let me make one thing very clear to you, because it obviously isn’t.” She gulped at the gravity in his tone and his eyes. “I am in love with you.” Her mouth fell open. She snapped it shut for fear her heart would leap clean out of it. “I am in love with you,” he said again, “and I would give up any amount of money for you. I would protect you a million times if necessary. All those horrible things your brother said, none of it was true. None of it. All I want to do is prove that to you. That you are worthy of love.” He returned to bed and covered her body with his. “Just let me in, Gretchen. Let me show you how I feel.” So she did. She let him show her what love was like. She let his hands and his mouth and his body teach her what it meant to be cherished.

Their presence had nothing to do with saving his career and everything to do with her. They were going to try to pull some book club shenanigans.

“The rest of you, meet us at the airport in two hours. Bring the girls too.” “You want all of us to go?” Noah asked. “Gretchen needs to see that her entire family wants her to come home. And you are all her family.”

Until a voice intruded. “Christ, it’s about fucking time.” Gretchen’s eyes flew open. “Seriously?” Colton laughed quietly and then turned in his chair just enough so she could see around him. Her eyes widened. How . . . how had she not even noticed them? Mack and Liv. Noah and Alexis. Elena and Vlad. In a Santa suit. Standing apart was Jack. Colton slid his hand down her back. “Your family is here to bring you home, Gretchen.”