At the mention of her name I’m reminded of last night and my body immediately reacts.

  “She’s already considering driving herself instead of riding with us, which has been the plan all along. She’s in a mood today and acting all sketchy and weird."

  I smile to myself remembering her actions, her words, and how she sauntered right up and kissed me like she didn’t have a shy bone in her body. A body that I’ve noticed before but until last night never craved to the point of aching. Not to mention in my dreams I may have relived that kiss with many more to follow. I woke up even more frustrated than when I fell asleep, I also knew she and I would have to eventually talk about what happened.

  We can’t afford to be awkward around one another, we share all the same friends, and we are in the same wedding this weekend. We will be forced to share the same space for days to come, so this situation will have to be rectified.

  “Give me twenty,” I sit up and drag my hand over my face, scratching at the scruff along my jaw. “I need to jump in the shower.”

  “Make it fast. I’m just fueling up. I’ll be home in ten,” Liam didn’t wait for my response before hanging up, leaving me chuckling. It seems someone has a case of Bridezilla’s, and it surely isn’t the bride.

  CHAPTER

  THREE

  Amara

  Embarrassment and pure horror consumes me as I walk down the sidewalk toward Liam’s awaiting vehicle. I can’t look up, the fear of seeing the man in the passenger seat is crippling. I’m horrified.

  I woke this morning to Claire’s beady eyes, and a smirk. She sipped her coffee and watched me as if I was some kind of circus show.

  “You’re a creep.” I grumble and roll away from her.

  “I’m not the creep who pawed Tyler in the middle of the bar, and practically sucked his lips off his face.”

  It only took seconds for her words to sink in, and a horrible flashback of the previous night's events hit me like a freight train. I feel physically ill.

  “Oh fuck my life!” I know I only mumbled the words but by her giggling echoing around the room I knew she heard them.

  “I thought it was a dream.”

  “Or a nightmare,” Claire chirps.

  It took hours for me to calm down, and then another couple hours to build up the courage to call Liam, fearing he already knew of my advances toward Tyler.

  When he acted as though he knew nothing I was relieved, yet he wouldn’t agree to allow me to drive myself to the resort.

  Nope, because being trapped in a car with my cousin, who just so happens to be a firefighter right alongside the firefighter I happened to molest the night before, is just the embarrassing way my life tends to work out.

  So here I am about to face the awkwardness I created for myself, with the courage of way too many shots. I blame it all on the alcohol because never in my life have I ever had the nerve to walk up to any man and just kiss them. Or paw them and all the other things Claire felt the need to describe to me in great detail all while I walked around my apartment feeling sick to my stomach.

  “We’re late because Tyler spends more time getting ready than most females.” Liam grabs my bags and tosses them in the back.

  “This hair takes maintenance,” Ty says from my left and the deep rumble of his voice makes my body instantly react. “It’s a process to keep it this soft and shiny,” he leans in closer and near my ear whispers. “Go ahead and run your fingers through it, I know you want to.”

  I swallow hard and hold my breath, looking up at Liam who doesn’t seem to notice.

  “Nope, I’m good,” I say in a rush and hurry away leaving Tyler chuckling behind me.

  “I’ll ride in the backseat,” He hollers out as I am opening up the back door.

  “Already claimed it,” I am not about to spend the entire drive feeling like I can’t look anywhere but straight ahead. At least in the back I can cover my face with the book I have stashed in my handbag, or I can curl into the blanket I brought and pretend to sleep.

  I hear him and Liam exchange words but to be honest I can’t seem to focus on anything more than my racing heartbeat pounding loudly in my own ears.

  The ride to the resort is filled with chatter about Linc and how he had work to finish up before he drives down with his best man, Spencer, later this afternoon. Irritation fills me as I think of how disrespectful my workaholic cousin is being to his fiancée Audrey. She is much too understanding, but from the anger and frustration rolling off Liam, I’d say there isn’t much more room for anyone else to be pissed, Liam has that covered.

  A huge part of me wants to corner the younger West son and ask him why he seems more into this upcoming wedding than the actual groom. But then I fear opening a huge can of worms that may be hard to contain. I have my suspicions though and I don’t think I’m the only one.

  “Wow,” I stare ahead as I scan over the beautiful landscape and sprawling resort grounds before me. I’d seen brochures and Audrey has described it to all of us in great detail over the last several weeks. But nothing compares to actually seeing it.

  It’s perfect and incredibly romantic.

  “You plan on ignoring me this entire weekend?” My entire body goes rigid from the sound of Ty’s voice just over my left shoulder. I hold my breath, trying not to bolt which is what my head is screaming for me to do.

  “May be a little hard to do considering we have a long line of wedding events that we both have to take part in.”

  “I’m not avoiding you.” I am totally trying to avoid him.

  “Call it what you want, but we need to talk about what happened at the bar.”

  I wrinkle my brows and glance back at him, hoping he doesn’t notice how panicked I feel.

  He chuckles and I know my lame attempt at pretending I’m oblivious has failed. “The kiss,” he adds and the corner of his mouth tips up in a smile.

  “There was no kiss,” I am failing miserably. This is only making things worse, I’m making more of a mess of this than I would if I pulled my big girl panties up, and faced this head on.

  “You’re right,” Tyler states and I turn around to face him, holding my bag close to my body to form a barrier between us. “There were several, and some touching, a few sweet little moans too. And... the mention of hands wanting to fist my hair and tug on the ends.” My stomach drops when he says these words and steps closer. “However you want to lay it out, it happened, and I think that warrants a discussion.”

  This is the opportunity to face my fears and tell Tyler how I feel, and have felt for longer than I can pinpoint. This is my chance to lay everything out before us and hope for the best. But it’s also the one moment that could make or break everything and the fear of that is too much. Ruining the weekend that is meant for Audrey and Linc is at stake, and I refuse to be that person, so I take the cowards way out.

  “You've never acted a fool after having one too many drinks.” I shrug it off as if it’s nothing, but my nervous energy is screaming the opposite.

  Ty holds my stare; movement is taking place all around us but the two of us simply remain where we are. His eyes locked on mine and his mouth lax triggering my heart to race faster. I feel lightheaded.

  “Okay you want to pretend,” he shrugs and takes a step back, “I can play too.”

  I watch as he walks up the path to the entrance of the resort, taking the opportunity to really watch the way he moves. Such confidence and manliness, which does nothing to help the way my body wants him and has more frequently with each passing day.

  When he reaches the doors, he stops and looks back at me, again holding my stare with his own.

  Something passes between our mutual stare, an acceptance, and it makes my stomach do somersaults. This is Tyler, a guy I grew up around. The same guy that I’ve witnessed grow from a boy and into a man. I’ve spent years watching and aching every time he dated or showed interest in another woman. Sitting back pretending to be just one of the gang, a long-time buddy, when I’ve actually fought an ache so deep it's been hard to breathe at times.

  “You want me to tell Audrey and the girls that you’re hiding outside because you kissed me and are too afraid to admit it meant something? Or are you coming in?”

  My mouth falls open in shock and I look around to see if anyone is around to hear his words. When I realize we are the only two outside I glance back at him to find him grinning wide.

  This is the only confirmation I need to know that he has no intention of simply letting this slide by.

  I grip the strap on my bag a little tighter and start to walk toward the entrance. With each step my pulse quickens, and my legs shake even more. I am the one that created this current uncomfortable situation, so I have no choice but to face it.

  I have a feeling this weekend is going to be the most tense weekend of my life, and I can’t run away from it, though I really really want to.

  CHAPTER

  FOUR

  Tyler

  The guys and I are all sitting at the restaurant in the Belisa Beach Resort, enjoying some appetizers and drinks when the ladies finally join us at the table.

  I scan over each of them until I lock eyes with Amara only to have her quickly look away. I can’t help but smile at how she is doing everything she can, in order to avoid me. I’m not blind to the way she tenses when I’m near, the way her throat bobs when she swallows, and the way she worries her lower lip with her teeth.

  Leaning back in my chair I lift my drink to my lips and wait for them to sit down.

  Spencer starts his hassling of Charlie, Audrey’s sister almost immediately and I lift my hand to hide my smirk. The two of them seem to get beneath each other's skin so quickly, but anyone who watches close enough can sense the attraction they share.

  Both Charlie and Spencer are strong willed and determined to remain annoyed, instead of admitting their true feelings.

  When we are all seated at the table I can’t help the satisfaction I feel when I glance to my right to find Amara fiddling with her napkin and doing anything she can to keep from looking at me.

  I lean my body in a little closer and try to be as discreet as possible, but when I get a whiff of her sweet perfume, I have to take a moment and rein in, the instant impulse I have to kiss the side of her neck.

  When I feel like I have gained back my sense of control, I whisper so that only she can hear me.

  “I told you that you’d have a hard time hiding.”

  “And I told you I’m not hiding.” She counters back quickly, and that’s when I know she’s already had a couple drinks. Placing my arm over the back of her chair, her long wavy blonde hair tickles my arm as I lean in closer. Again she swallows hard, and she leans her body away from me and rests her arms on the table.

  I could give up and stop pushing her, but to be honest it irritates me a bit that she wants to chalk up our kiss to nothing more than a drunken blunder. Letting her off that easily isn’t in my nature, so I push a little more.

  “Why can’t you look at me?”

  I watch and wait as her chest rises and then falls from a few deep breaths, before she finally gives in and looks at me. “You really are making a much bigger deal about this than you need to.”

  I hold her stare as I wait for her to falter. I know she won’t be able to hold onto it long.

  The waiter picks that moment to place her glass of wine before her. She doesn’t even wait for him to pull back his arm completely before she picks up the glass and drains half the contents.

  “It was nothing.” She adds, averting her stare when I arch my brow.

  “Is that so?” I say with a chuckle, and she flashes me a narrow-eyed look. “See you’re only brave enough to admit your true feelings after you have several drinks?”

  Amara closes her eyes and allows herself a moment.

  The laughter and conversation of the others around us interrupts the moment and I turn to Spencer as he gives a quick toast to the bride and purposely avoids mentioning anything about the groom who is still MIA.

  I’m not the marrying type, I’ve never imagined my life with one woman, settled with kids and a white picket fence. I’ve always enjoyed my freedom and the detachment of no one to hold me back. Being a bit of an adrenaline junky, always looking for the next adventure leaves little time for long term relationships. But I assume if I ever did choose that path I’d at least be present at the events. Lincoln still hasn’t arrived at the resort, and it doesn’t take much to pick up on the worry and sadness in Audrey’s eyes from his absence.

  To say it doesn’t piss me off, would be a lie. This should be a happy time for her, and though she puts on a brave face I sense her anxiety.

  Dinner becomes real interesting as the drinks flow and the conversation and story time kicks in. Laughter flows and I decide to lay off and allow Amara to relax without pushing her.

  Instead I quietly observe her and begin to see her slowly unwind. Always so high strung and to the book, she rarely relaxes and lets her hair down.

  Amara is always so far inside her own head, but after a few glasses of wine she lets go and actually begins to enjoy herself. The woman I saw at the bar, the one that marched right up to me and kissed me, is slowly resurfacing.

  When dinner is over, and everyone starts to stand I reach out and place my hand on Amara’s lower back. I half expect her to pull away from me, but instead she leans into my side, and I guide her away from the table, following in line with everyone else.

  “Ladies, we’ll walk you back to your suite,” Liam announces. Audrey insists it's not necessary, but we all continue on anyway choosing to ignore her protest. I’m thankful, the time is giving me a few extra minutes with Amara, who still hasn’t clammed up and shrugged me away yet.

  I notice the look I get from Jasper, while he looks down to the place my hand still rests on Amara and how she is holding onto my side. Ignoring his curious stare, I continue on, I know I’ll be questioned later. The thing is, I’m not even sure what this thing is that is taking place between Amara and me.

  I’m not sure what I want it to be.

  I was raised by my aunt and uncle. I didn’t have a shit life; I wasn’t mistreated leading to a fear of commitment. It’s nothing like that. I did have amazing parents that chose to care for me and gave me all they ever could. They raised me to be respectful and strong, but there is still the hollow fear inside of me that lingers when I think of having a family of my own.

  My biological mother was young when she got pregnant with me, she was wild and crazy. I guess I’m thankful for her, admitting that she wasn’t ready to take care of a child. My own mother being a later in life surprise baby, ensured there was a several year age gap between her and her older brother. My uncle didn’t hesitate to step in and adopt me. Aunt Cheryl never once made me feel like she herself didn’t carry me and Uncle Matt, he was born to be a father. Unable to have children of their own, I was raised as an only child. I couldn’t have asked for two better people to mold me into the man I’ve become.

  Though everyone tried to get answers, my biological mother never disclosed who my real father was. I guess a part of me wonders if I’ll be a shit parent, because I had two biological ones of my own. So avoiding that was the option I chose.

  Settling down was something I never even considered, but Amara has me wondering what if. It’s messing with my head and yeah, a little with my heart. She isn’t just some girl I randomly met. Amara is familiar, she is someone I’ve known for years, she is comfortable, someone I care for and these newfound feelings that are surfacing are a surprise, but something I don’t find myself running away from.

  When we finally make it to the door of the suite the ladies are staying in, part of me wants to ask Amara to take a walk with me. I want to take advantage of the relaxed mood she’s in and get her to admit that the kiss meant something. Maybe even have another one or ten.

  But before I have the chance to even suggest it, Lorelei tugs her forward and she is gone.

  Stepping forward, I stop myself quickly, reminding myself I have an audience.

  “Goodnight guys,” Charlie offers a wave before slowly closing the door and when it clicks my chest grows tight.

  “What in the hell was that?” Jasper shoves at my shoulder and I turn quickly, starting to walk away. Liam, Spencer, and Jasper following close behind, I can practically feel each of their eyes boring holes in my back.

  “Hello?” Jasper prods a little more and I spin around walking backwards a few steps.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Your obvious interest in my cousin,” Liam responds, and I feel myself grow a little uneasy. “That’s what he’s talking about.”

  “Just making sure she made it back to her room.”

  “That was a little more than a friendly guide.”

  Ignoring them I hurry to our room and use my keycard to enter. Going straight for the bar I start to make myself a drink when they all join me, watching me closely.

  “She kissed me,” the moment the words leave my mouth I regret them.

  “Amara?” I sense the disbelief in Spencer’s voice. “Quiet, sweet, Amara, kissed you?”

  “I think we all would have noticed her kissing you.” Jasper chuckles, sitting on one of the barstools looking at me like I’ve lost my damn mind.

  “Not tonight,” I clarify. “It was back home in a bar,” taking a drink of the whiskey I’d poured. I wait for the burn to settle before I continue. “She was tipsy and walked right up to me, grabbed hold and kissed me. She said a few things, her friend pulled her away and now here we are.”

  “Here we are,” Liam mocks my confession, his protective, brother-like relationship with Amara shining through.

  “Yeah, here we are,” I finish my whiskey. “She says it was nothing, I think it was something and I’m stuck between me wanting to figure it out and her pretending it never happened.”

  “Amara is too sweet for your crazy.” I want to lock Spencer in a closet because his comments aren’t helping. Liam already looks unhappy. “She’s not a one-or two-night kind of girl,” Spencer adds. “Even I know that, and I barely know her.”