Brothers of Paradise Series

Lily, who my own uncle warned me to stay away from.

She thought I’d been angry when she arrived at Turner’s party, when that couldn’t be further from the truth. Seeing her was amazing-it always was-but it drove me to despair. How could we act within the finely set parameters of our friendship in that kind of environment?

She was too good for the good-for-nothings who went to those parties, with the alcohol and drugs and the closed bedroom doors. They were for people who wanted to escape, not for people with things worth fighting for.

Turner had always joked around about Lily, and Parker had taken it good-naturedly, but I knew he wasn’t just kidding. Any man with half a brain cell would see what a catch Lily Marchand was. And as for Turner, half a brain cell was exactly what he had.

Lily had been angry with me for pushing him away, angry at me treating her the way I know she hated to be treated. And then…

I try to stop my mind from going back there, to that hallway, to her body against mine, but it’s pointless. The feeling of her lips is imprinted in my memory. I wake to feel them against my own, dreams receding like the high tide, too fast for me to catch.

She’d been a living flame in my arms.

Auburn hair soft through my fingers, her body soft and inviting. It had been easy, far too easy, to be swept up in her sweetness. I could still feel the sigh she’d given against my lips, the soft sound of surrender, her trusting hands around my neck.

Hayden, she’d whispered.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

I knew I couldn’t go there. Couldn’t be what she wanted, give her what she needed. She might have a crush on me, but that would pass with time. All it would take was one good look at what I had to offer compared with everyone around her, and the illusion would shatter. She’d break my heart, and I’d break hers by not being more.

I had to save us both from that if I was to have any hope of keeping her in my life, even from a distance.

I cut through the garage to where Parker’s BMW is parked. The trunk is already open, his sports bag thrown in there. The engine is running and the driver’s door is open. I roll my eyes at his predictability and get into the passenger seat.

A minute later he comes running into the garage with a protein shake in hand.

He shoots me a grin as he gets into the driver’s seat. “Forgot breakfast.”

“I figured.”

“I’ve got to say, you’ve got the timing thing nailed down.” He presses the controller and we both watch as the garage door opens slowly. “It’s a bit creaky, by the way.”

“Oh.”

“The door, I mean.”

“Yeah.”

Parker looks sheepish. “Sorry. I meant… never mind.”

“I’ll ask Gary about it.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Don’t mention it.”

He cranks some old-school rock as we roll through the broad, tree-lined streets of Paradise Shores toward the marina. Working on one of the fishing boats that left from the marina, I was at sea for days at a time. It was hard work, but it paid well. Parker taught sailing at the yacht club, so we caught a ride together most days. It was a good summer job.

It also meant I didn’t have to see Lily.

Not that she hadn’t avoided me too, since the party. I’d tried nothing more than to catch her eye that first week, taking any opportunity to be where she might see me. Playing video games with Parker, just across the hall from her? Check. But she made it clear that she wanted space and I wanted her happy, so I left her alone.

It’s just that I figured she’d wanted a few days, a week tops. Not over a month. The sudden lack of her in my life feels like a black hole inside, swallowing all light.

Parker’s discussing the intricacies of fly-fishing when he suddenly goes quiet. “You’re not listening, are you?”

“Of course I am,” I say. “Place bait on the hook. Let it fly. Catch fish. See?”

He huffs out a laugh. “Sorry. I know this is boring. I just have to… Dad’s taking me next weekend and I’ve sort of become obsessed in preparation.”

“No worries,” I say. Each of the Marchand kids has their own complicated relationship with their dad. In some ways, Mr. Marchand is larger than life itself, with his cold eyes and calm, measured words. He invests millions at a time in building projects and is rarely home. And when he is… I know he’s impossible to impress.

So I know Parker wants to make a good impression. Must be a nice feeling, to have standards to live up to.

“Is something wrong between you and Lily, by the way?”

“What?”

“Look, I can’t say I haven’t noticed that the two of you barely speak anymore. That’s cool, you know. You’ve never exactly been friends, but I just wanted to check in.”

Despite myself, I want to laugh. Trust Parker to be a month late to the party, not to mention completely wrong in his assessment.

“No, we’re cool. Everything’s good. Don’t worry about it.”

“I’m not, mostly because I already spoke to her.”

“Oh?”

He shoots me an amused sideway glance, long enough that I feel like telling him to keep his eyes on the road. “Yeah. And she said the same thing. So I know you’ve had an argument or something. Your stories are too similar.”

“Maybe.”

Parker sighs. “Look, she’s my baby sister. Just watch yourself, all right? Even if she gets cranky or annoying, which she can be sometimes, you still have to be nice.”

I grit my teeth. “Sure. Noted.”

“Good.” He turns up the volume and starts whistling, brotherly duty done. Not for the first time, I hate him a little bit. For his privilege and ignorance and thoughtlessness. But it passes, as it always does. I owe him more than he can fathom for his friendship and acceptance. Not to mention, he’s right on the money, too.

I do have to watch myself around Lily. Even if the way things are looking, I might not be around her much at all.

I walk home from the marina later that day. It’s a long walk, and my body aches from the day spent hauling nets, but Parker finished early and already drove home. Besides, I don’t want him around for what I want to do next.

Lily’s eighteenth birthday party is in a week. It’s the massive event of the summer-the highlight of the Marchands’ social calendar. Eloise Marchand has rented a marquee, waiters, catering… the whole thing. Henry and Rhys are both coming back home for the summer and the house will be full.

Lily has been dreading it and looking forward to it in equal parts.

I’ve only dreaded it-the house filled to the brim with snobby family friends and relatives-but I know it’s important to her. To the family.

Paradise Shores doesn’t have much of a shopping center, but it does have a small jewelers store. Nothing too fancy, but I’d seen them sell bracelets with charms, everything from seashells to unicorns to little Eiffel Towers. I’m sure it’s something her mom or grandmother would call tacky.