Page 1 of Forbidden Love

CHAPTER 1

TYLER

I tugged on my tie, uncomfortable wearing a suit to represent my family’s business, Fletcher & Sons Contracting at the Wilde Ski Resort. The Wilde family was hosting a charity event tonight, spearheaded by their youngest child and only daughter, Kylie Wilde, or as I liked to call her when we were kids, Baby Wilde.

It was a good cause. She was collecting new or gently used athletic gear for use on the ski hills and monetary donations for kids that couldn’t afford lessons or the lift ticket.

I’d been content staying on the outskirts of the crowd, nursing a drink at the bar. When Kylie crossed the room in a black, form-fitting dress with stiletto heels, my gaze went to the curve of her hip and that delectable ass I wanted to squeeze. When she came closer, I noticed how her hair curled around her shoulders, touching the bare skin I wanted to be intimately familiar with.

When we were growing up, she’d been a tomboy, forever chasing after her brothers, trying to keep up with their antics. They thwarted her at every turn, so she became sneakier. We’d have epic hide-and-seek games in the lodge, and she’d hide, only to jump out at us. Her brothers were annoyed by her, calling her a pest. I’d thought so too, but as she got older, she filled out, lost the leanness from youth, and became harder to ignore.

Her brothers made it clear to their friends that she was off-limits. There were a few times we found ourselves alone during hide-and-seek, and I’d like to say I kept my hands to myself, but that last time, I didn’t. I’d always been impulsive and a little reckless, and I’d been the same with Kylie.

I felt guilty about it over the years. I’d betrayed my best friends with their sister. But Kylie left after high school and hadn’t returned, other than for short visits—until now. Her being home was difficult because that pesky attraction I’d always felt for her hadn’t gone away.

I should have been focused on business. Usually, Mac or my dad would attend community events and fundraisers, but I’d been tasked with attending this one since Dad was doing less these days, and Mac spent more time with Natalie and her daughter, Delaney. Sam had a daughter, Maggie, so I was the only single one without a life.

This was my chance to prove that I was responsible and could take on more tasks surrounding the business. I couldn’t get distracted by the Wilde brothers’ younger sister, who looked a lot like temptation on a stick.

My goal for the evening was to talk to Kylie about the possibility of us working together on a sports charity. Mac came up with the idea after talking to other contracting businesses about their fundraising projects. We’d settled on sports since we’d all played baseball growing up, and Kylie seemed well-versed in the fundraising aspect.

I needed to talk to her, but she was already speaking to a man in a suit who was in his thirties and looked all too happy to touch her bare shoulder and lean in close.

My jaw clenched as she tipped her head back and laughed.

I clenched my hands into fists, uncomfortable with the tightening sensation in my chest. When we were younger, I listened to her complain about her brothers, but I didn’t realize until she was older that we had a connection. One that wasn’t friendly.

Xander approached me and followed my gaze to his sister. “As much as I like having her home, she’s trouble.”

“Kylie?” I asked nonchalantly, as if he hadn’t caught me eyeing her from across the room.

He shook his head in disgust. “I don’t like the way he’s touching her.”

Me either, but I wasn’t saying that to her brother. Because I was having the same naughty thoughts that the other guy was having, and I was positive Xander wouldn’t appreciate it.

Xander shifted so that I couldn’t see Kylie and the man anymore. “Apparently, he has deep pockets, and Kylie wants her little charity to be successful.”

“Little charity?” It sounded like Kylie’s brothers didn’t respect her any more than they had when we were kids, even though she’d grown up, worked on her own in Europe, and returned home.

Xander braced one hand on the bar while he signaled to the bartender that he wanted a drink. He shifted and leaned an elbow on the bar top. “I want her to stay, and if running this side thing is what she wants, I’ll let her.”

“You’ll let me?” Kylie asked, her eyes spitting fire, and one hand moved to her hip.

I shouldn’t be thinking about what she was wearing under that form-fitting dress. Not when her brother, who was my best friend, stood next to me.

“You know that’s not what I meant. I love having you back.” Xander pulled her into a hug.

I remembered Kylie complaining that they didn’t take her seriously. It appeared that not much had changed from when we were kids.

I understood when she left. She’d felt stifled by her family’s lodge and this small town, but now that she was back, I was dying to know why.

Kylie’s cool gaze moved to mine. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for Fletcher & Sons.”

“Doesn’t your father usually do that, or even Mac?” Xavier asked.

“Dad’s taking a step back. He wants us to take on more of the responsibility, and both of my brothers have kids now.”

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