Page 7 of Christmas with Brother's Best Friends

“Wow, they make strong drinks here,” Emma says from my right after sipping on her Cosmopolitan.

“It’s the top shelf liquor they make you shell out a bunch of money for,” I tell her as my eyes roam around the minimalist, white and oak themed bar. It’s overly fancy for my tastes, but Josh is a regular and can schmooze the bartenders for a dollar or two off per drink.

Not that we have to worry about money, but I don’t care if I’m rich or not. I don’t want to be screwed over for overpriced drinks.

“They’re good drinks, you grump,” Josh says from the other side of Emma.

“You know Ryan is a regular at the gym? Josh is a regular here at Eeden,” Max tells Emma from next to Josh.

Josh hits Max in the arm with his elbow. “You’re making it sound like I’m an alcoholic. I never come more than twice a week, and half of the time that I’m here I’m meeting with someone for business.”

“Rich friends,” I mutter under my breath before taking another drink, letting the whiskey soothe away some of my nerves.

I’m glad that Emma is back to help us. I was blown away by some of the projects included in her portfolio, and I could easily picture her helping us with SyncUp. It felt like I was meant to think of her for this update.

But now that she’s here…I can barely even look at her.

Not because I don’t like her or whatever.

Because I can’t tame my mind and all the messed up thoughts circling around in it. Like how sexy she looks in that skirt. Howwatching her lick the corner of her mouth makes me lose my damn breath.

This feels like some sort of sick joke. Andrew and Ethan are like my family, and thinking about her like that feels like I’m spitting in their faces. They’ve always been so insistent on looking out for their little sister. I’m sure they never thought they would have to watch out for me.

“We haven’t really caught up yet, Ryan,” Emma says as she turns toward me on the bar stool, her knee grazing mine.

I slowly move my eyes to hers, trying to ignore how her mere touch lights a fire within me. “Not too much to catch up on. I’ve just been working with these jackasses.”

“Yeah, we love you too, buddy,” Josh replies as he pats me on the back.

Emma smiles a little, but she doesn’t look all that satisfied by my answer. “Well, you look good.”

My heart rate picks up as I feel her eyes roam over me. “So do you. Where’s your coat?”

A sheepish look fills her face as she rubs her arms. “I forgot it at the office. I’ll grab it tomorrow.”

She’s cold. Her drink isn’t going to warm her up like my whiskey will, but my black coat will do. I peel it off and drape it over her shoulders before turning back to my drink.

“Thank you,” Emma says as she pulls it around her, nearly disappearing in the fabric. She smiles to herself before sipping on her drink and joining in on Josh’s and Max’s conversation about their favorite Christmas events in the city.

Holidays aren’t really a big deal to me, so I just listen and enjoy the sound of her laughter. That smile of hers rivals the sun too. I could just watch her all night, and I kind of do, pitching in to the conversation every once in a while, but mostly reveling in her warm company.

But good things are always ruined at some point.

“Josh! What the hell?”

“Oh, fuck,” I mutter under my breath before looking over my shoulder as none other than Stacy King strides through the bar in her red heels and white fur coat.

How the hell did she know that he was here?

“Did you invite her here?” I hiss at Josh.

Josh sighs and rubs his temples. “No. She might’ve asked around and found out that I was here.”

Stacy stops near Josh, not even bothering to look at the rest of us. “I haven’t heard from you all day. What have you been doing?”

Josh glances at Emma for a second, but that’s all it takes for Stacy to notice and react to the fact that another woman has his attention.

“Who is that?” Stacy questions him.