In Love with My Brother's Best Friend

Four

DENVER

I never meant to start looking at Eunice that way. Not once in the five years I’d known her.

She had always just been Paulo’s quiet, sweet little sister, trailing behind her cousins with shy smiles and soft greetings, treating me like another safe, overprotective big brother figure. Off-limits. Untouchable. End of story.

Then came last year's Valentine's party.

Paulo had texted me completely out of the blue: “Bro, can you drive Eunice and the girls? You’ve got the car, and you’re the only one I trust not to let anyone mess with them.”

I had laughed out loud at the irony. Me—the guy with the most notorious reputation on campus—being designated as the "trusted" driver. But I said yes without thinking much of it. What harm could it do?

Then she walked out of the house in that dress.

One single look, and something inside my brain broke wide open.

It was deep red, skin-tight, and hugged every single curve I’d somehow been completely blind to for years. Her hair was down, her lips painted, her dark eyes sharp and grown. She wasn't just Paulo's little sister anymore; she was stunning. Heat slammed into me so hard my jaw locked.

Half of me wanted to throw my denim jacket over her shoulders and shield her from every guy at that party—especially guys like me.

The other half wanted to drag her into the backseat, pull her close, and ruin her completely—make her forget every other guy in that room until she was only looking at me.

I shoved those thoughts down. Hard.

She only knew me as Paulo's reliable best friend. And Paulo? He'd throw hands if I ever crossed that line with her. The unwritten brother code plus best-friend loyalty was a non-negotiable rule.

So I played it completely cool the entire drive. I ignored the way the hem of her dress rode up her thighs when she sat in the passenger seat. I pretended I didn't see her stealing glances at me through the side mirror. I acted like my pulse wasn't hammering against my ribs every time she whispered my name.

I genuinely thought I could bury those thoughts forever.

Tonight proved me entirely wrong.

When Paulo mentioned everyone was hanging out at their house, I didn't hesitate for a second. I told myself I was just dropping by for the guys, but that was complete bullshit. I was there for her.

The moment I stepped inside and caught sight of her halfway down the staircase—wearing an oversized shirt, tiny shorts, no makeup, and her hair tossed up casually—she stole the air right out of my lungs.

She looked soft. Natural. Unbelievably gorgeous. She looked like she had just rolled out of bed, completely oblivious to the effect she was having on me.

If we weren't standing in Paulo's living room, if her brother wasn't ten feet away laughing with the rest of the guys, I would have pulled her into the quiet hallway, held her close, and kissed her until she forgot why she was trying so hard to avoid my eyes.

But I couldn't do that. Not in her family's house.

So I kept my hands shoved deep in my pockets, flashed that familiar easy smile like nothing was wrong, and casually chatted with the rest of the group.

On the inside, though, my mind was already scheming.

I needed to get her out of that house. I needed her somewhere I could look at her without having to hide it, somewhere where the leash on my self-control didn't feel so agonizingly tight.

That was when I made my move.

I turned toward the group, keeping my tone as casual as humanly possible. "Why crash here all night? Come over to my place. The pool's lit, my parents are out of town, and there's plenty of drinks. Much better vibe."

Paulo grinned immediately. "Hell yeah."

The cousins cheered in agreement.

I flicked a quick glance toward the top of the stairs. "Someone make sure Eunice comes along, too. Don't let her skip out."

They laughed, already pulling out their phones to text her.

I didn't even bother hiding my smirk when she finally walked down the front steps a few minutes later, her swim bag slung over her shoulder and her cheeks flushed pink like she'd put up a fight but lost.

Perfect.

She was coming with us.

The second I swung my leg over the back of her scooter, any lingering intention of holding back vanished into thin air.

I took every single excuse to touch her. My hands settled on her waist, my thighs bracketed hers tightly on the narrow seat, and my broad chest pressed flush against her back. Her scent hit me like an absolute drug—warm skin, faint shampoo, and that clean, soft fragrance that made my head spin.

I kept my grip firm, steadying her every time she wobbled on the turns.

When we finally got to the pool deck, I couldn't take my eyes off her.

She tried to hide herself under that massive, loose T-shirt, but the moment she stepped into the water, the thin fabric turned translucent, clinging tight to every contour of her body.

My heart throbbed painfully in my chest. All I wanted was to pull her away from the noise, take her hands in mine, and tell her she didn't need to hide from me.

But the moment she caught me staring, she ducked lower beneath the surface, avoiding my gaze and trying to disappear into the shadow of the pool wall.

That reaction twisted something sharp in my chest. I didn't want her hiding from me anymore. I wanted her comfortable, breathing fast, and looking straight into my eyes.

So I waited patiently. I got Paulo and the rest of the guys settled inside the house with drinks and music, made a quiet excuse, and slipped out the side door into the dark garden.

I spotted her immediately, sitting completely alone on the stone bench half-hidden under the trees, her knees drawn up to her chest and her damp shirt plastered to her frame.

Exactly where I had hoped to find her.

I approached slowly, deliberately, making sure my footsteps crunching on the gravel announced my presence so I wouldn't startle her. Every single heartbeat felt deafening in the quiet night air.

"Denver?" her voice trembled slightly, her dark eyes widening as she looked up.

I lowered myself onto the bench beside her, leaving a respectful distance—but staying close enough that she could feel my body heat in the cool night breeze. Just close enough to let her know I wasn't going anywhere.

"Yeah," I murmured, my voice dropping low in the quiet garden. "It's me."

My gaze locked onto hers—intense, focused, and unyielding.

"You've been avoiding me all night, Eunice," I added, stepping carefully over the line we'd kept between us for five long years. "Thought I'd catch you before you vanished again."