Page 1 of Holiday Friend Zones
Snowed In With My Best Friend
BY CARRIE ANN RYAN
A Montgomery Ink Legacy Romance
ChapterOne
CULLEN
If there was one thing I knew about attending a Montgomery holiday party—or rather any of their events—it was that bringing cheese to the occasion would smooth the way of any awkward introductions or personalities.
Mostly because Iwasthe awkward personality.
I looked down at the basket of cheese in my hand, and then at the red wine the lady behind the counter had said would match nicely with it.“Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting it to have a different outcome.”
“Are you talking to the cheese and wine or yourself?”
I looked over at my friend and boss, Lexington Wilder Montgomery, and snorted.“Which would be the gentlest answer for you?”
Lex held out his hand and took the wine before giving me one of those deep hugs that we gave one-handed.“Good to see you, Cullen.I wasn’t sure you were going to be able to make it.”
I shrugged, feeling awkward once again.It was practically stamped on my forehead at this time.“I don’t leave until tomorrow for my parents’ house.And it’s not like I had other invites.”
“I don’t know how I’m supposed to take that,” Lex said with a laugh as we walked into the large home his parents had built.We were up in Fort Collins, rather than in Denver where I worked now, but honestly, with I-25 the way it was, everything was one big city.
I had started working for the family over twelve years ago now.Which seemed insane because I had to be only twenty-one, right?At least, that’s what I told myself whenever I said I had plenty of time to settle down and figure out what I wanted for the rest of my life.Except I wasn’t sure that was going to happen anytime soon.Not with the person I had on my mind, nor with anyone else for that matter.
A woman with a kind smile and bright eyes leaned forward.“Oh, you brought cheese, that’s fantastic, thank you.Did you talk with Jessa at The Market?”
I didn’t know which Montgomery had spoken other than I thought it was one of Lexington’s aunts on the Fort Collins Montgomery side, but I still needed them to all wear name tags.It didn’t help that a large number of the family members each held businesses of their own and invited their employees.So there had to be over a hundred people milling about inside and out, all laughing and eating and drinking and acting as if this was a normal occurrence.
Except with the Montgomerys it was.
I shouldn’t feel too out of my element though, considering I had eight brothers and sisters.I was also the oldest and hadn’t settled down yet.
Hence the next day’s long drive up to the family ranch.
I cleared my throat.“You’re welcome.Thank you for inviting me.And yes.I love the Market.”
The older woman smiled, laughter in her eyes.I had to wonder if she could read the confusion on my face.“I’m Annabelle, by the way, Lexington’s aunt.Not all of the siblings and cousins are here, so you don’t have to be worried about being too overwhelmed.”
“This is Cullen, Aunt Annabelle, you do realize that he has more siblings than you?”
She grinned then, her eyes brightening.“Oh yes, I remember that.We’ve met a few of them, right?”
I nodded, sticking my hands in my dark jeans pockets since I didn’t know what to do with them.
I wasn’t usually this antsy.In fact, I was usually the easygoing guy, who was good with his hands, could make any conversation, and was just the good guy.However, somebody that I was trying to keep off my mind was going to be here tonight, and I had to pretend that I was clearly not falling in love with her.
Because that made sense.After all, we were just friends, and I was fine with that.And I wasn’t sure I’d be able to push down those feelings any longer.But I wasn’t going to do anything to force her to want me.She didn’t, and that was just going to have to be it.I would get over my feelings eventually.
“Cullen?”Annabelle asked.“Is everything okay?”
I cleared my throat.“Sorry.Wool gathering.”
Understanding filled her gaze, though she was the only one who understood.I sure didn’t.“Well, let’s get you a drink and something to eat, then you can mill about.Do you know a few people?Or I can introduce you?”
Lex squeezed my shoulders.“It’s okay, Aunt Annabelle, I can help Cullen here.”
