Page 5 of Falling for You (Balsam Cliffs #2)

“Fuck.” I hit my thumb with the hammer again. My mind is solidly on Emma and it’s drawing my attention away from what I’m supposed to be doing, and that is finishing this damn float for the Memorial Day Parade.

My phone buzzes in my pocket so I pull it out to make sure there aren’t any problems at the brewery. I had to leave Jasmine in charge so I could get this done. I might have some control issues and not want to let go of management to someone else.

Unknown: Is this Roman Thomas? Do you know Blair Ryan?

The amount of jilted husbands or boyfriend texts I get from the one night stand tourists is unreal. I lock my phone and slide it back in my pocket, making a mental note to remind my staff to not give out my personal cell if I’m not there. I thought we were over this and the rule was clear.

Especially because the only woman I’ve been with in almost a year is the woman I’m not supposed to be thinking about.

After she couldn’t answer me about where she wanted this to go, I had to let her go.

I was falling for her, hell, who am I kidding?

I fell fucking hard and I can’t be crushed when she doesn’t want anything we talked about.

And I risk losing the family I’ve come to love as my own, as well as my best friend.

“Hey, man!” I turn to see Hunter coming up to me.

“Hey, you’re not supposed to be here! You’re not supposed to be cheating and looking at my design.

” Hunter and I have a bet every year to see who wins the most money at the parade.

I lost last year but only because Hunter owns a construction business and has a whole crew of builders at his disposal. I have me and Clark.

“Relax. I already know I’m going to win. I have a different proposition today.” He smirks, and I never like that smirk.

That smirk usually ends with us getting into some shit, and once or twice it ended with us in the back of a cop car in high school.

Nathan Keaton was always worse than the cops, and they learned pretty quickly that we didn’t give a shit about being hauled in, but if they threatened to call Nathan at two in the morning, we practically cried begging them to just throw us in the drunk tank.

I narrow my eyes, “Whatever it is, no.”

“Come on, you don’t even know what it is yet.”

“I don’t. But I know that look. And that look is never good.”

He schools his features. “I don’t have a look.”

I throw my head back laughing, “Okay, man, you believe what you want.”

“Whatever. Listen, I was in Emerald Roasters this morning and Esther set me up on a date with a tourist. Annnndddd, that tourist has a friend.” He waggles his eyebrows at me.

“Like I said, no. Not just no this time, but hell no.”

I’m sure as shit not looking to date, but I know the tourists just want a fun time with the locals on their girls trips.

Usually it’s something I’m down for. But ever since Emma, I haven’t looked at another woman. I might have ended things with her because of the man in front of me, but I know that no other woman will compare to her.

“Are you dating someone?” He furrows his brow.

“What? No. Of course not. I’m just over the tourists,” I manage to get out without choking on my own lies.

He narrows his eyes, analyzing my facial expressions. “You’re lying. And the only reason you’d lie to me is if you were dating Ems. And I know that’s not fucking true because then you’d be six feet under. So spill it.”

My heart rate spikes. He doesn’t even know how close to the truth he is. “It’s no one. Nothing serious. Just a girl I met at Rebel’s. We aren’t dating, just fucking. It’s nothing.”

God that fucking kills me to say. Emma could never be just fucking. And if she ever heard me say that she’d rip my balls off herself.

“I still don’t believe you. But I’m letting it slide. I think you have it bad for whoever it is and I don’t know why it’s a secret. But, I’ll see you tonight either way. I’ll text you the address.” He walks off back over to the area designated for his float.

“No you won’t!” I yell at his back.

I’m totally screwed. I don’t want to go on a date. If I go on a date, Emma will see. If Emma sees, she’s going to be pissed and I’m going to chase after her, and if I do that, Hunter will kick my ass and I’ll lose my best friend.

Why did I let myself get into this mess?

Oh right, Emma’s ass was what originally got me into this mess.

I get to the cove for the first bonfire of the season at Balsam Cliffs Inn. Evelyn surprised us by coming home with her boyfriend Neil. Not such a great surprise but I miss my sister so I’ll take what I can get with her.

My eye immediately catches on the back of someone new with Gunnar’s girlfriend, Willow. Whoever it is has the best ass I’ve ever seen. One I’d like to see bouncing while I fuck her from behind.

Yeah, I know. I’m a dirty asshole. I own the playboy rep I’ve gotten around town and the constant flow of tourists doesn’t leave me with a shortage of willing women.

“Hey G, who’s the smokin’ hot friend of Willow’s?” I bite my lip, checking out that ass, admiring the way her slim waist flares out at her hips, giving her the perfect hourglass figure.

G swats the back of my head, “That’s fucking Emma, asshole. Stop looking at my sister.”

My eyes bulge open. “What? That’s Emma?”

This time Hunter hits me, “Yeah, so stop fucking looking.”

“Sorry guys, I didn’t… I mean… I can’t believe… I’m going to shut up now.” I walk away from them, needing to get my thoughts straight.

I can’t believe I had those fucking thoughts about my best friends’ baby sister. A sister who is seven years younger than me.

After a few too many beers and definitely way too much staring at Emma I find a quiet spot around the cliff, needing a minute to myself.

“Hey, handsome.” A quiet voice finds me in the corner of the cove.

I spin around to see Emma walking toward me.

“Hey yourself. Good to have you back for the summer.” I smile like a goofy teenager in love.

My eyes haven’t been able to leave her all night. And right now, I’ve had enough beer to not remember that I shouldn’t be thinking the thoughts that I’m thinking.

“It’s good to be back.” She sits next to me, her leg pressed against mine sending zings of heat straight to my balls.

I stare at her, and she stares back. My eyes drift to her lips. Plump full lips that I don’t ever think I’ve noticed before tonight.

As if her lips are pulling mine to hers, I slam my mouth onto the plump lips that taste like cherries.

That summer was the first time I had a taste of Emma Keaton.

And I was hooked. We started hooking up any time she’d come home on weekends and over the last year my feelings for her have grown.

I’ve fallen in love with my best friend’s sister.

But I can’t bring myself to tell him, or her for that matter.

She made it crystal clear when we started that this was purely a friends with benefits deal.

My phone vibrates again in my pocket. This time it’s my sister calling. A good reminder of how I’d feel if Hunter was the one in my situation and that I’d want to kill him myself then ask questions.

“Hey, baby sister,” I answer.

“I’m twenty-seven. Do we still need to call me that?” She sighs.

I pick up a nail and line it up where I need it. “We do. What’s going on? You don’t usually call me.”

“I just wanted to touch base about me coming home this weekend. I can still stay with you?” Evelyn lives in Portland, but she likes to stay with me for a weekend getaway here and there.

I don’t think she actually likes living in the city, she just followed Mom and Dad like the dutiful daughter she is.

“Of course! I’m excited to see you, but is Neil coming?” I groan. I love my sister but her boyfriend is a pretentious dick.

“He’s not. He has a work thing. But it wouldn’t kill you to be nice to him, Rome.”

“I think it actually might. What do you see in that guy, Evelyn? You deserve so much better than him.” I roll my eyes, I could never be nice to that guy.

I’ve seen his wandering eyes too much at the brewery to think he isn’t cheating on her back in Portland.

He’s just smart enough to not do it in my bar.

“He loves me. And he isn’t afraid to show it to the world.”

Loves her or controls her? I hate this guy and she’ll never convince me otherwise. I don’t like how she feels she needs to get defensive of him.

“I’m glad you’re coming home either way. And of course my house is yours. When will you be here?”

“Tonight! I’m leaving now. Is my favorite girl ready for some snugs?”

“You know she is. I’ll head home now and clean up for ya. I have to work but you have the key. And Fiona will be more than happy to see you.”

Sometimes I think Evelyn only comes home to see my dog, not her big brother.

At least now I have an excuse to avoid Hunter and his dates tonight.