Page 78 of My Brother's Best Friends

I draw a slow breath, weighing the fallout.

Secrets hurt people long before they ever come to light. If we’re serious about building something lasting with Makayla, we need truth and transparency. The options are few—and none of them are comfortable.

“We should talk to Bryan and Makayla,” I say with a heavy sigh. “Loop them both in, whether Kay likes it or not.”

“This is turning out even messier than I feared,” Alex mutters.

I give him a half-smile. “I know. But it will get worse if we don’t get a handle on it.”

“I’m done being afraid of Melanie,” Kellan scoffs. “She won’t stop until we stop her—and the only way is to take away her weapons.”

Easier said than done, because I have no idea how we’re going to address this with Bryan. It might be even worse with Makayla.

24

MAKAYLA

“Hi, I’m here for my full-body massage,” I tell the blue-eyed receptionist at the resort’s sleek, outrageously luxurious spa. “Makayla Dwyer.”

“Sure, let me confirm,” she says with a warm smile, then taps at her screen. “The ninety-minute session. Excellent choice, by the way. You’ll love it.”

I smile back. “Glad to hear that.”

I’m still hazy from last night—not from the champagne but from hours of steamy lovemaking that left a sweet ache in every muscle. A massage feels like the perfect finishing touch.

“Right this way,” the receptionist says, guiding me into a private room. “You can undress here. Fresh towels are behind the privacy panel, and the masseuse will be with you shortly, Miss Dwyer.”

“Thank you.”

I shuck off my clothes, leaving only my panties, and settle facedown on the table. Moments later, a no-nonsense youngwoman arrives and efficiently preps the room. She cues up soft lounge music—little more than a whisper—then dims the lights.

“Just let your mind wander,” the masseuse says at one point.

“Oh, it’s wandering,” I giggle, already putty in her capable hands.

With a deep sigh, I melt into exquisite bliss as she glides down the length of my back, kneading away every knot of stress. My mind starts to drift, settling on the winery. I even fill her in, the words sliding out as effortlessly as the strokes of her hands.

“It’s an ambitious plan,” she says, her soft accent curling around each word. “Not easy for a woman to do on her own…”

“Honestly, I’m lucky to have the support of some truly amazing people. Granted, I bring plenty of know-how to the table—but there’s still a lot to learn. As for the business side, though, I’m far from alone.”

Alex, Kellan, and Oscar have thrown their full support behind me. It only makes me fall even harder for them, even though I probably shouldn’t. But we were always friends first. What came after now feels like a natural progression.

“Good. You need all the help you can get,” the masseuse says. “I do admire your ambition. Most people would just settle for a regular job…”

“Life’s too short, you know? It was heartbreaking to see all those acres left to weeds and who-knows-what.”

“And California—especially wine country—is breathtaking.”

“I can’t wait to get out there and take a look,” I tell her. “There’s an old house on the property—maybe something I can fix up soI can live on-site. I hope I’ll be able to see the rolling hills from there.”

“And someday, hopefully soon, you will see the grapes hanging, too…”

I hum softly as I slip deeper into my daydream. Tessa, my masseuse, tells me about her college experience overseas. I respond automatically, so relaxed in her skillful grip that I doubt I’m adding anything useful to the conversation.

The massage is over before I can even blink. “That was incredible. Thank you, Tessa.”

“You are most welcome,” she says, helping me sit up.

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