Attracted To My Sister’s Bestfriend

Not Allen

“I hate seeing her like this.” Lucy said as she drove the car home towards the house, then she looked in the rearview mirror to see she had her eyes closed.

God, he hated that man, but for some reason, Zara thought he walked on the moon. She was glad he ended things, but she was angry he did it on their anniversary, in a way to break her.

Allen to her had always been a pretender, but Zara never saw that.

This wasn’t the time for this though, Lucy needed to get Zara home on time before she had to prepare for her shift at the hospital. She was a nurse, and she was going to be late if care wasn’t taken.

She didn’t want to leave Zara alone like this, it was why she had invited her brother to come stay the night, that way, at least, she would know Zara was all right and not worry all through her shift.

Speaking of her brother, she glanced at him from where he sat at the passenger seat. “You know, I never thought you would be visiting at all since you never visit since you left.” Lucy said and Lennox looked at her.

“I’m not visiting, Lucy. I’m moving back. I’m tired of staying in London and so far away from home.” Lennox said and Lucy sighed.

“But why didn’t you tell anyone?” She asked him, raising her brows. “Mom is going to freak out when she sees you. She misses you a lot.” She said.

“What? And you don’t?” Lennox asked with a small smile, causing Lucy to roll her eyes.

“Whatever. We’ll talk better about this tomorrow.” She muttered.

Lucy pulled into the driveway, the car rumbling to a stop in front of their apartment; a row of modest, two-story blockhouses lining the quiet street. She stepped out, stretching her legs after the drive, and made her way around to the backseat where Zara sat slumped against the door, barely stirring.

“Come on, sweetheart,” Lucy murmured, leaning in to help her out. Zara groaned softly but didn’t resist as Lucy guided her upright.

Before Lucy could manage it on her own, Lennox appeared at her side. “I’ll carry her,” he said, already scooping Zara into his arms without waiting for a response.

“Thank you.” Lucy said, walking behind him as they headed to their apartment.

Inside, the air was warm and smelled faintly of lavender from a diffuser Zara must’ve left running before everything fell apart. Lennox lowered Zara onto the couch, his movements careful but deliberate, as though he thought she might shatter if handled too roughly.

She looked so fragile anyway. For a moment, he stood there with his hand of his hip, staring at her, studying her face. It had been years, but he still couldn’t believe he hadn’t recognized her until Lucy told him who she was.

Lucy’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. “I’m taking a quick shower,” she called over her shoulder, already heading down the hallway.

Lennox watched her disappear into the bathroom before turning his attention back to Zara. She stirred slightly, murmuring something he couldn’t quite catch, then fell silent again.

By the time Lucy came back, she was dressed in pale blue scrubs and with damp hair tied back, Lennox was still standing by the couch, looking at Zara.

“You’re going to work?” he asked, his tone sharp with disbelief.

Lucy shot him a glance as she tugged on her shoes. “I have to pay the bills, right?”

He frowned, his gaze shifting to Zara and back again. “But…”

“Fridge is stocked,” she cut him off, pointing toward the kitchen. “Warm something up if you’re hungry. Zara’s room is down the hall, last door on the right, so please take her there. She’s out cold, but she’ll be more comfortable in bed.”

Lucy walked to where Zara was lying down and she pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“And me?” Lennox asked from behind her.

Lucy shrugged, grabbing her bag. “Spare room’s mine, but you can crash there tonight. We’ll see tomorrow. I should be back by noon.” She said, and with that, she walked out of the apartment.

Lennox shook his head, then he stared at Zara, she was still lying there the way he had left her, but now, her hair was loosened from the bun she had it in, and her dress had shifted a bit up her leg.

He sighed, walking to her and grabbing her. He started to help her up when she muttered something. “You smell so good, Allen.” She said.

Allen? Who the hell was that?

Before he could do anything, she pushed her face into his neck and inhaled deeply.

Lennox knew helping a drunk Zara to bed would be a challenge, but he hadn't anticipated this. She was plastered to him like a second skin, her arms looped lazily around his neck, her cheek pressed against his chest as she mumbled incoherently.

"Allen," she slurred again, her voice thick with drink. "If I changed the way I dressed... would you take me back? I could wear tighter dresses... show more skin... if that's what you want."

Lennox froze for a second, his jaw clenching. Oh, so that was who Allen was; the i***t who had broken up with her. And here she was, drunk out of her mind, still hung up on him. He didn't know why it bothered him, but it did.

"Zara," he said firmly, gripping her waist to steady her as she swayed. "I'm not Allen."

She blinked up at him, her hazy gaze struggling to focus. "You're not?"

"No. Now let's get you to bed."

But Zara wasn't making things easy. Her small hands tangled in his shirt, and her body pressed even closer. Lennox bit back a groan as her warmth seeped into him, even through the oversized dress she was wearing. It wasn't tight or revealing, but somehow, just having her this close, her soft curves brushing against him, was wreaking havoc on his self-control.

He was aroused.

Get a grip, L.J., he scolded himself. You're not a teenager. You're a grown man. But even as he repeated the mantra, his body refused to cooperate. She was older than him, sure, but that didn't mean he was a kid.

By the time he managed to maneuver her into her bedroom, he felt like he had run a marathon. The air in her room hit him like a wall; a heady mix of her perfume and something softer, uniquely Zara. It was clean and tidy, save for the pile of clothes on the bed.

He shifted her slowly, intending to lay her down and retreat before he lost his damn mind. But just as he leaned over the bed, Zara tilted her face up and pressed a kiss to his jaw.

It would have been pressed against his mouth if he hadn't turned his head when he did, even though that wasn't planned.

The world tilted.

"Zara," he ground out, but the next thing he knew, they were tumbling onto the bed together.

Her soft body was beneath him, warm and pliant, her fingers curling into his shirt as a quiet moan escaped her lips.

Lennox's breath hitched. His body reacted instinctively, his heart thundering in his chest as her scent and the feel of her overwhelmed his senses.

For a brief, blinding moment, he wanted to forget the boundaries, the rules, everything. But then her hazy gaze met his, and clarity slammed into him like a bucket of cold water.

He wasn't Allen. He wasn't the guy who had hurt her, and he sure as hell wasn't going to take advantage of her when she was in this state.

With a Herculean effort, Lennox pushed himself off her, rolling to the side and standing up. "Goodnight, Zara," he said, his voice rough as he turned and walked out of the room without a backward glance.

Once in the safety of the living room, he let out a shaky breath, scrubbing a hand down his face.

“Oh damn. She's going to be the death of me.” he muttered.