Page 62 of Booked for the Holidays
“What? Why? I thought you were skiing with friends.”
“Got kicked out of the cabin rental in Park City. Don’t ask.”
“Of course you did.” I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose. That’s Beck. Charming enough to talk himself into trouble and just reckless enough to never bother talking himself out of it.
Beside me, Juniper hums along with “Last Christmas” playing softly through the speakers, blissfully unaware of the storm about to roll in…my brother.
“Is that Juniper?” Beck perks up, his grin practically radiating through the line. “Tell her I said hi. And that if you screw this up again, I’m taking my shot.”
My grip on the phone tightens until my knuckles crack. Beck’s always had a way of pushing my buttons. It’s practically a sibling sport for him. But tossing out jokes about Juniper while I’m trying to win her back? Not funny. Not for me.
“Over my dead body.”
I catch Juniper glancing at me, brows raised in that soft, curious way she has. She doesn’t know how many times Beck has managed to wedge himself between my plans just because he can. And she definitely doesn’t know how many times I’ve had to clean up his messes without letting him see it bothered me.
“Everything okay?” she asks gently.
“Just peachy.” I force a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes.
Beck chuckles on the other end, clearly delighted by my reaction. “Save me a beer, big brother. And tell Juniper I think she’s too good for you.”
I hang up on him mid-laugh, my jaw clenching tight. She is too good for me but she’s still mine. And Beck’s timing could not be worse.
TWENTY
JUNIPER
I openthe door to find a younger, slightly scruffier version of Liam standing there with a duffel slung over his shoulder and absolutely no shame radiating off him.
“Hi,” he says, flashing a grin that could short-circuit small appliances. “You must be Juniper.”
“And you must be Beck,” I say, stepping aside so he can enter my apartment.
Liam is right behind me, greeting his brother with an embrace that is warm yet givingI might kill you while you sleepenergy.
Beck drops his bag on the floor like he owns the place, eyes immediately finding the stitches above Liam’s eyebrow.
“Well, look at you,” Beck says, feigning shock. “Usually I’m the one coming home with stitches, not my brilliant older brother. Snowmobile accident, huh? Was this all part of the plan to impress a certain redhead?” He throws me a wink over Liam’s shoulder.
Liam rubs at the area lightly and scowls. “If it was, you showing up just ruined it.”
I try not to laugh at the banter between them. “Is showing up unannounced and expecting a place to stay genetic?” I ask, shooting Liam a look.
Beck grins. “You’re fun.”
“Don’t get your hopes up, Firefly,” Liam cuts in before I can respond. “This isn’t one of your ‘why choose’ novels.”
I raise a brow and smirk, just to mess with him because I’m starting to realize it’s a lot of fun to mess with Liam. “There was this really hot one with two brothers…”
Liam groans. “I’m going to regret letting him sleep here, aren’t I?”
Ignoring our back and forth, Beck starts to tour my apartment.
“Ooh,” Beck says, glancing around. “So this is where the magic happens.”
I arch a brow.
“I meant the advent calendar, obviously,” Beck adds, deadpan.
