Opening the door, I’m greeted by my brother, his wife, and my little nephew. Will looks up from gazing at the pumpkin on my parents’ porch to grin at me.
“Auntie Chloe!” he says, leaping forward to hug my legs.
“Hi, cutie,” I say, laughing at his enthusiasm. As soon as he lets go, I give both my brother and sister-in-law hugs.
“Hey guys,” I say. “Happy Thanksgiving.”
“Happy Thanksgiving, Chloe,” says Denise, smiling warmly. Then, seeing William about to grab something, she rushes off to stop him. Rob steps into the house and starts to take off his coat.
Finally, I bring myself to look at the last person standing in the doorway. Austin.
And he’s no longer just my older brother’s cute best friend. Now he’s my older brother’shot-as-hellbest friend.
I swallow. I feel my knees quiver. I force myself to smile as naturally as possible.
“Hi Austin,” I say. “It’s nice to see you.”
Chapter Three
Austin
Uh…that crazy, talkative, annoying little sister of my best friend?
She’sgorgeousnow.
Those big, pretty eyes, those plump lips of hers, those curves—good God, thosecurves. I’ve got a feeling she looks incredible no matter what she’s wearing, but in that little fuzzy sweater she’s got on, the way it’s hugging her body…
Okay. I really need to stop gaping at her.
“It’s nice to see you, too, Chloe,” I say. “It’s been a while.”
“Yeah,” she says. Something trembles lightly in her voice. Are these feelings mutual? “It has.”
“Where’s Mom and Dad?” Rob asks, taking off his shoes.
“Mom’s upstairs getting the guest room ready,” says Chloe, pulling her gaze away from me. “Dad’s messing around with his guitar.”
“Should have known,” says Rob. He glances over at me. “I forgot to mention. It’s a Thanksgiving tradition for our dad to play music post-meal.”
“Oh, nice,” I say. God, I really hope Rob can’t see my lust for his sister in my face. “Hey, can I use your bathroom?”
Rob snort-laughs. “You don’t have to ask. You know where it is.”
I nod and excuse myself, navigating on my own to the bathroom. I haven’t been in this house since high school, but the place is still familiar to me, of course. The layout of the house, the feel of the hardwood floors beneath my feet…even the temperature of the rooms feels nostalgic.
In the bathroom, I shut myself into the small space and heft a sigh. I steady my palms on the edge of the sink, shut my eyes, and breathe.
Okay. Chloe’s hot. I’m crazy attracted to her. And I’m pretty much in the worst scenario possible right now, having to spend two nights under the same roof as her.
But I’m a thirty-four-year-old man. I can control myself. I have nochoicebut to control myself. She’s Rob’s little sister. Mybest friend’slittle sister. Mybusiness partner’slittle sister.
I’d never want to do anything to put strain on that relationship.
That in itself is a pretty damn good reason to keep my feelings under check. But I remind myself that it’s not the only reason. Even if she weren’t my best friend’s little sister…she’s too young for me. She’s, what, twenty? Twenty-one? I have no business going after someone over a decade younger than me. Nothing good would come from making a move.
This is lust. That’s all it is. It’s fucked up, badly-timed lust.
And I can deal with it.
