Page 15 of Say It Isn't Snow
Oh, wonderful. My best friend’s brother is shirtless.
Bleary-eyed and sleep mussed, he’s still the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.
My heart skips a beat as my gaze trails from his tousled brown hair to his amazing jawline covered in stubble. I can’t stop, following his bobbing Adam’s apple to the expanse of his broad shoulders. I lose myself in admiring his bare chest and forget how to breathe for a second.
Damn it. Caleb is still frustratingly attractive and it’s impossible to ignore. He’s tormenting me with those gray sweatpants hanging low on his hips, impressive dickprint fully on display.
I do not want to climb him like a tree. I do not want to climb him like a tree. I absolutelydo notwant to climb Caleb fucking Adler like a sexy mountain man tree and find out if my eyes are deceiving me, or if that bulge in his slutty gray sweatpants is bigger than I remember.
“Hi,” I stammer, hoping he doesn’t notice I’m practically drooling over him.
Keep cool, Holly. Chill. Like a cheesecake. Or rum custard. Great, now I’m turned onandhungry.
“Wha’ssit?” He yawns, scratching his abdomen where dark hair leads down into the slouched waistband of his pants.
I blurt the first thing that springs to mind. “You’re shirtless. I mean—It’s morning.”
“Morning,” he repeats drowsily. “Stubbed my damn toe getting up. Forgot about the legs on the nightstand. Always gets me.”
I nod in sympathy, too stunned by the sight of his chiseled physique to form a snappy response. “Bastard furniture.”
He hums in agreement, casually bracing an arm overhead in the doorway. My mouth goes completely dry.
Oh my god. I’m screaming inside.
Was he always this hot?
Always so generously toned and—I can’t believe I’m admitting this even in my head—so tempting?
He wasn’t, right? He couldn’t possibly have been this fit the last time I saw him when we were in college.
I’d pinch myself to see if I’m in one of the pesky dreams featuring him, but having his hooded green gaze focused intently on me is making it hard to think. He draws in a deep breath, releasing it with a pleased rumbling exhale before leaning in like he’s going to kiss me.
“Caleb.” I stop whatever he’s trying to pull with a hand on his firm stomach.
He covers it with his palm, holding my touch against his skin. His body is so much warmer than my cold fingers, and he smells incredible. The rich, earthy aroma blended with pine makes my knees weak.
“Caleb.” His name comes out a bit breathless this time.
He stills, clearing his throat as he releases his grasp. “Sorry. Takes me a minute to fully wake up. Can’t get used to it, even after all the morning skates on my schedule.”
I recall how his mom would send me, Layla, and our friend Hana into his room on the weekends to make sure he didn’t sleep all day. It took forever to pull him from slumber deeper than the dead.
“I remember.” Ignoring how nice his muscles felt, I back down the hall. “I’m making coffee. Come down if you want some.”
“Sounds good. I’m going to shower, then I’ll join you.”
Once his door closes, I haul ass to the first floor. I don’t stop until I brace my hands on the sink, taking several breaths to calm my racing heart. If I hadn’t stopped him, I’m certain he was going to kiss me.
A warm flutter stirs in my stomach.
I don’t want to admit to myself whether or not I would’ve let him.
If I did, I’d only get hurt again. I have to stay strong.
Once a heartbreaker, always a heartbreaker. There’s no second chances for us. Especially not for Christmas.
CHAPTER 7
