The meet-cute...
Adrienne's POV:
I
checked on the sofa an hour later (still there), then grabbed more boxes from
my trunk. Being short, I couldn’t see well over the stack and tripped getting
into the elevator.
The
top box fell.
“Careful!”
A man’s voice.
He’d
caught the box.
I
looked up and he was tall.
At-least-a-foot-taller-than-me
tall.
“You
okay, ma’am? Which floor?”
“Two.
Yeah. Thanks.” I turned to face the door as he pressed the button. “I can take
my box back.”
“It’s
my floor, too. I think I’ll hold onto it and save you from the face-plant
risk.”
“Hey—”
“Kelly
Parrish.” He held up one large hand. “I’d offer a handshake, but…” The elevator
stopped and the doors opened. “Ladies first.”
“Put
the box back on top.”
He
chuckled. “As you wish.”
I
marched to my unit with as much dignity as I could muster in front of this
stranger. Until I realized I’d have to put the stack down to open my door.
I
kicked it. “Jenna! Kiki!”
Jenna
opened the door. “What—Oh.” Her eyes
shifted past my right. “Hello there.”
I
shoved the boxes into her arms and turned around.
Kelly
Parrish had followed me. He pointed at the door next to us. “Mine.”
I
took in his worn jeans, dusty t-shirt, and heavy five-o’clock-shadow at two in
the afternoon. “You’re my neighbor?”
“The
building isn’t much, but it’s safe. You would be…?” He offered the handshake I
couldn’t accept before.
I
clasped his hand firmly like my grandfather taught me. “Adrienne.”
“Good
to meet you, Adrienne.” He shook professionally, then tucked his hands into his
pockets. “Move-in day, huh?”
“Yeah…”
I shoved wisps of hair off my forehead. “It’s already been an adventure.”
His
eyes lit up with knowledge. “That’s your
sofa out front.”
I
nodded. “Asshole mover.”
He
checked his watch, then said, “I can help you get it up here.”
“I—”
“Give
me a few minutes and then we’ll take care of it.” He unlocked his door and went
inside his unit.
“Dree,”
Kiki called.
“What?”
I turned to my living room.
“You
couldn’t introduce us to your new hot neighbor?”
I
shut the door. “Hot? He smells like sawdust.”
Jenna
rolled her eyes. “There’s more to men than suits and ties.”
“I
like what I like. Ask him out if scruffy works for you.”
She
turned to Kiki. “She didn’t see it.”
“Nope.”
“See
what?” My gaze ping-ponged between the two.
“That
dude looked at you like you look at Triple Fudge Brownie ice cream,” Kiki said.
“Pfft. He didn’t flirt once. Guys that
want me aren’t shy about it. Now get back to work.”
“So
bossy. Where’s our pizza, slave driver?”
“I
promised dinner and it sure ain’t dinnertime now.”
The
knock on my door made me jump.
It
was Kelly Parrish, this time in clean clothes. “I didn’t want to get dust on
your upholstery. Come on.”
My
brows rose. “Excuse me?”
“You
want your sofa, right?”
“You
and I can’t carry that thing.”
He
gazed at me with infinite patience, a look I saw in my grandmother many times.
“Of course not. That’s why I called a friend.”
Two men, one me. “Jenna!” The buddy system was a safe system.
The Best Friend's Christmas Confession
Two lonely friends. One holiday movie. A little whiskey and wine.
It’s the recipe for truths and revelations that will change our lives forever.
Christmas is my favorite holiday and I love hosting my friends. This holiday is building to be as fun as always—until the last bit of family I have makes it clear I’m not wanted in the most callous way possible.
My first thought is to seek comfort from my next-door neighbor and best friend Kell, but I never expect to end the night in his bed with secret feelings laid bare. This could be an epic mistake, or the start of something amazing with a man I trust more than anyone else.
Have I unwrapped the best Christmas present a woman could ask for?
This story is intended for readers 18 and over due to adult language, sexual content, and adult situations.
The Best Friend's Christmas Confession:
*Next-door neighbors
*Friends to lovers
*Secret feelings
*He fell first
*Found family
*Holiday romance
*Steamy
*HEA
