Prologue
Two Years Ago
“There they go.” Brant turned and smiled at me from the driver’s seat of his truck.
Oh, that smile. I felt it from my head to my toes, but I knew it wasn’t mine to keep. That was something I had to remind myself of often. However, sometimes . . . sometimes I thought, Maybe. Maybe he had feelings for me that went beyond being a pseudo–big brother or friend. Although, even if he did, it wouldn’t matter. He was meant for someone else. Why, then, did my heart always say something different?
I did my best to shake off the tingles his smile always invoked, and disengaged from those deep-blue, let-me-own-your-body-and-soul eyes he possessed. Instead of getting lost in him like I normally did, I watched my big sister, Ariana, drive off with the love of her life, Jonah. I silently sent a wish out into the universe that she would finally give Jonah a real chance. After all, the man had moved across the country to be near her even though she’d pushed him away nine years ago. I wondered how it would feel to be loved like that. Most importantly, though, I wished that Ariana would allow herself to believe she deserved the love Jonah was offering her. That she would finally find the peace and happiness she’d been searching for, with or without Jonah.
“I hope they have fun tonight and she doesn’t kill us for tricking her. She’s still a little upset with us for throwing away all her holey and stained clothes.” I smiled back at Brant.
Brant laughed. “You did a good thing there. And I have a feeling tonight will be a good one for them.”
I was glad someone was going to have a good night. Admittedly, I was more than disappointed Brant and I wouldn’t be spending more time together since we weren’t playing car hide-and-go-seek as we normally did after Thanksgiving dinner. Ariana had started the tradition several years ago. This year, however, Jonah was hijacking the game—unbeknownst to Ariana—and taking her to the drive-in for a private screening of his favorite movie, Rocky IV. I wasn’t sure how he’d managed it since the drive-in was closed this time of year, but it was romantic, and I was a little jealous.
With a small sigh I hadn’t meant to let out, I reached for the passenger door handle of his truck, preparing to leave, despite it being the last thing I wanted to do. I drew in a deep breath one more time so I could enjoy his clean citrus scent which lingered in the air. “I hope you have a good night. Happy Thanksgiving.” I did my best to keep my voice light and cheery.
“You’re leaving me?” he teased.
I turned back toward him, keeping one hand on the door, and was struck by how beautiful he looked in the dim light of his truck. From his always perfectly-styled dark hair that was longer on the top and cut short on the sides, to his strong jawline covered with a fine layer of stubble, to his superbly fitted clothing. He always dressed impeccably, even when wearing jeans and a sweater like he was now. It had to be the designer labels he wore. Although I think he could make a garbage bag look good.
“We can’t play hide-and-go-seek with only the two of us against my grandparents,” I reminded him.
Dani, my other big sister, best friend, and protector, had already left with Brock, Brant’s identical twin. Dani and Brock had a weird relationship—best of friends, though always dancing on the edge of being lovers. Maybe tonight they, too, would finally take the plunge. Odds weren’t in their favor. And I knew Brant was part of the reason why. Both Holland twins had some feelings for Dani. Although Brock’s obviously ran deeper. I couldn’t blame either of them. She was an exotic beauty with her dark luxurious hair, olive skin, and mysterious gray eyes that captivated every man who came in contact with her. I wasn’t jealous of her. I couldn’t be. From the time I was twelve, when we came to live with Grandma Kay and Grandpa Sam fresh out of a group home, she’d taken care of me. For as tough as she had been, to me she had been the gentle voice in the middle of the night soothing me as I cried and telling me it would all be okay, that she would make it all right for me no matter what. She had been, and was to this day, true to her word. She’d seen me through everything, beginning with the dark first days following my parents’ death when I had been left alone with no one in the world, all the way to my first heartbreak, then to cheering me on as I pursued owning my own restaurant.