Page 76 of Tempt Thy Neighbor

I glare at them while they crack up at my expense.

The worst part? My denial sounded weak even to me.

“I’m not in love with him,” I try again.

Nope. Still weak.

Caroline smiles warmly at me, then bends to finish my dress. “It’s okay if you are. We all found love where we weren’t expecting it either.”

“I was not expecting to fall for your brother, that’s for damn sure.”

“And I wasn’t looking to fall for my best friend,” Caroline says.

Maya nods. “Yeah, and falling for the guy who is anti-kid when I’m a mom? So not part of the plan.”

“But I’m not in love with him.”

“It happens,” River says like I never spoke. “And it usually sneaks up on you out of nowhere too. I didn’t think I was in love with Dean until he moved back to his apartment and I was completely miserable without him.”

“And I had no idea how deep my love for Cooper was until we took our friendship to the next level.”

“With Nolan, I didn’t know until I realized how whole my life felt with him in it. Now it’s hard to believe he was ever not a part of it,” Maya says.

“But I’m not…”

The rebuttal never comes.

I’m too stunned by the realization.

“Here.” River produces a bottle of whiskey from under the counter and pours a healthy bit into my Diet Coke can. “We’ve seen that look before. You need a drink.”

I happily accept the alcohol-laced soda and chug it back, because I think they might be right.

And worst of all, I don’t think I’m falling in love with Sutton Barnes. I think I already have.

“I can’t believeI’m doing this.”

Dean gives me a pointed look. “For me. You’re doing it forme, your favorite older brother. And I love you for it.”

He’s the only person I’m doing it for.

I’m certainly not doing it for my parents or myself.

“If it makes you feel any better,” Sutton says lowly in my ear as he slips my coat from my shoulders, “I know of a place we can sneak off to if we get too bored.”

I stiffen with the reminder of how many times we’ve done that in the past and just what it led to.

This time would be different, right? We’re different, aren’t we?

The sudden urge to ask him slams into me, but I know now isn’t the time or place.

So I swallow it down and force a calm and collected smile.

He tips his chin down, not buying my grin. “You okay?”

I force myself to smile wider. “Yeah. Just nerves.”

“Worried about seeing your parents?”

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