Mindful Banter

How has your week been? The temperature here in Central North Carolina has been extremely chilly, so our fireplace has been working overtime. What’s the weather like where you are?

If you’re looking for something to read this weekend, and you haven’t read my Dynasties: Willowvale Springs collaboration with author Jules Bennett, great news! Working With Her Crush, my cowgirl and tech genius romance, which is the first book in the series, is just $2.99. I love this small town romance between former childhood friends who have very different ideas about what should happen to the horse ranch she’s worked on for most of her life. 

Click below to grab your copy while the e-book sale lasts. Read on to discover more.

It’s been a weird few weeks for me. I’ve done a TON of writing. Nearly 60,000 words in a month which is more than insane for me. But to balance out that level of intense output, I’ve also watched a lot of movies and read more books in a week than I’d read the previous few months. Here are a few of the books I’ve been reading:

Sinnamon & Golds by Lady Marie was a quick, fun ride. I literally read the entire thing while taking an extra long bubble bath. The book is set at Thanksgiving (the day I actually read it). It was steamy and messy with lots of family drama. This was my first Lady Marie book, but I’ve already downloaded my next one.

Ares by Asia Monique and Eros by Stephanie Nicole Norris, the Love and War series, has been sitting on my Kindle for the longest. I finally made time to read them. Ares is the soft and fluffy read with a romance between a sunshiney, star-gazing, geek girl scientist and a grumpy club co-owner whose father is the mayor of Houston. I loved this couple and watching him fall for her so quickly. Eros is the more amiable of the two brothers, but his story is anything but soft and fluffy. This one brings the drama with a capital D. The heroine is part of a dangerous underworld and begins the story by challenging the current leader of the shadowy organization in a fight to the death. You’ll need a strong stomach because you can practically feel the blows in these well-written fight scenes. But if you love reading about alpha men who will do whatever it takes to protect the women they love, these two authors have got you.

The Arranged Hearts Series is an author collaboration of stories about couples who are tired of the dating scene and choose to go through an agency that finds the perfect match for them. The catch is they won’t meet that perfect match until the two of them are standing at the altar. So far I’ve read Surrender by Kimberly Brown—a new favorite author, Passion by Monica Walters, and I just started Allure by Iesha Bree. Next up are Desire by Kay Shanee, Tension by C. Monet, and Embrace by Mya. I’m loving this series, and can’t wait to finish it.

West Investigations Series by K.D. Richards has been a favorite of mine since the release of Book One: Pursuit of Justice. I read and loved the first several books, then started to fall behind on this now 12-book-long ongoing series. But I just finished A Stalker’s Prey and just started Under Lock and Key. If you like romantic thrillers, I highly recommend the series. But note that this particular imprint goes hard with the crime/thriller elements and the heat level is much lower. But K.D. does a great job of keeping both the story tension and the romantic tension between the characters going throughout.

Books I Hope to Read Sooner Than Later

 Like You Like That by Kayla Gross has been on my TBR forever. So I’m really hoping to get this one read before the end of the year. 

One Bed by Joss Wood is a forced proximity story (one of my Top 5 romance tropes), which will be available as an audiobook and e-book on New Year’s Eve. Joss is an author friend I’ve collaborated with on several Harlequin series. I love her voice and stories, so I’m looking forward to this one.

Save the Date for this amazing event happening in Chicago in October 2025. The Cavalcade of Authors event will coincide with the Ultimate Women’s Expo and features celebrities like Brandy, Keke Palmer, Loni Love, Hillary Duff, Melissa Gilbert, Susan Lucci, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jackeé, Sandra Lee, Valerie Bertinelli, Holly Robinson Peete, Fran Drescher, Tamar Braxton and so many more. That’s in addition to rock star authors like Reshonda Tate and so many of your current and soon-to-be faves. Find out more about the Ultimate Women’s Expo here. Get your tickets for the Cavalcade of Authors which includes admission to both days of the Ultimate Women’s Expo by clicking the button below.

In this episode of Life Be Lifing: there is a new release date for More Than Friends: A Second Chance Friends to Lovers Romance. You’ll have to wait just a few more weeks for Toby and Leilani’s love story. The new release date is Friday, January 10, 2025.

I’m having so much fun with these two. Leilani is a mess, but I love her. And Toby is such a cinnamon roll sweetheart who just wants to take care of the people he loves. Both characters are on a complex journey of growth and self-discovery as they discover new things about each other. I love that for them, and I can’t wait for you all to meet them

How are things going for you this week? Tell me what you’ve been up to and what you’re reading here.

Best friends. Only one bed. What’s the worst that could happen?

Leilani
Toby and I dated in high school. The romance didn’t last, but I got a friend for life. I’m a session singer, he’s an A&R rep, and we live on opposite coasts. Still, we’ve been best friends since high school. Okay, yes there’s occasionally some innocent flirting, but nothing serious. Neither of us would risk our friendship by getting involved again. But one long overdue wedding, a couple bottles of champagne, a few too many shots, and a little flirting turns into one incredible night. It was a mistake. And it definitely…probably…won’t happen again.

Toby
For a long time, I accepted that Leilani and I were better as friends than lovers. But lately, our “innocent” flirtations incite the filthiest thoughts, and I can’t stop wanting her. When playful teasing turns to a heated kiss, it ends in a night neither of us will ever forget. Leilani declares it a mistake, but I propose friendship with benefits, and she agrees. But the truth is I can’t ignore my growing feelings for her anymore. I’m determined to prove that we could be so much more than friends and that taking a chance on finding forever is worth the risk.

One unique agency. Three best friends. And the three women who turn their worlds upside down.

Welcome to the At Your Service agency, where you can hire a man for anything from landscape design to being your fake boyfriend. But finding the right man for the job just might lead to happily ever after. 

Boyfriend for Hire: When the one-night stand who ghosted At Your Service’s VP of marketing shows up out of the blue asking him to pose as her boyfriend for a game-changing work function, he can’t say no. And neither of them can resist their growing feelings for each other.

Fiancé for Hire: He’s a model, actor, and budding filmmaker. She’s a former professional basketball player. Neither of them was looking for love…until his matchmaking aunt helped them find each other.

Date for Hire: When a record company exec’s new landscape designer shows up at her front door, the last thing she expects is to revisit her painful past. Will she get a second chance at romance with her unrequited high school crush? Or is she destined for another heartbreak?

I’m so grateful for the wonderful reception you’ve given Nick and Emerie’s story, The Soulmate Project. Many of you have asked if Kassie will get her own story. Others have asked about Izzy and Blaze. 

Here’s what I can tell you right now: I absolutely have stories on deck for Kassie, Blaze, and Izzy. How those books will be published is a completely different story. As of now, there are no plans to publish more in the series with the current publisher. But I am committed to giving those characters their own stories. In fact, I started both Kassie’s and Blaze’s stories several years ago. So the question is simply when and how those stories will be delivered. For that, stay tuned.

Join me on FRIDAY, December 6th for the 4th Annual Holly, Jolly Holiday Party hosted by Coffee, Cupcakes and Contemporaries! More than 100 authors will be participating in this event with fun, games, and lots of g!veaw@ys. To participate, be sure to join the Facebook group now by clicking the button below.

We’ve made it to the end of a long, hard week. Sending out love and hugs and hoping that you are taking good care of yourself and finding joy in nature, time with friends and family, and your favorite books.

Have you read Nick and Emerie’s story, The Soulmate Project, yet? If not, here’s what readers are saying about why they couldn’t get enough of their story.

Even the simplest, briefest reviews mean so much to authors. Here are two reasons:

1. With so many books on the market, your review offers social proof to fellow readers that the book is worth their time and investment.
2. Once a book hits a certain number of reviews on a retail site, it will be recommended to other readers.

So if you’ve read and enjoyed The Soulmate Project, it would mean so much if you dropped a quick review of the book on one of your favorite retails sites. And don’t forget your local library website. Books can be reviewed there, too.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Apple Books

Google Play

KOBO

BookBub

In this delightful small‑town romance, can the search for her soulmate before the next New Year’s Eve bonfire make these childhood best friends realize the perfect person was right there all along?

Emerie Roberts is tired of waiting for her best friend Nick to finally notice her. When she confesses her feelings at the town’s annual New Year’s Eve bonfire, Nick doesn’t feel the same. Em is devastated. She’s ready to settle down and start the next phase of her life. If Nick isn’t her soulmate, she resolves to stop pining for him and find the man who is. Em hatches a seven-step plan to meet her love match and enlists the support of her family and friends. So why does Nick seem hellbent on sabotaging her efforts?

Em is the most important person in Nicholas Washington’s life. She’s funny, compassionate, generous, athletic—and beautiful. Of course, he’s attracted to her. But he learned the hard way that getting involved romantically is the quickest way to destroy a friendship. Nick promised to help Em find her soulmate. But he might’ve made the biggest mistake of his life. Because helping Em find the man who will steal her heart is breaking his.

Will he realize that love is worth the risk before she ends up with Mr. Wrong?

I love reading and writing romance with a healthy dose of friends and family. So I’m excited for this virtual event. 

Catch up and pour your favorite adult beverage. Then join me & author Danielle Allen for a celebration of friendship in romance as we discuss my latest release, THE SOULMATE PROJECT, her bestselling book CURVY GIRL SUMMER, and some of our favorite novels and series that celebrate both friendship and romance. This free virtual event is hosted by Love’s Sweet Arrow—Chicago’s independent romance bookseller.

She wants to be more than friends. He’s terrified it’ll screw up their lifelong friendship. But when she goes on a quest to find her soulmate before next year, will he finally realize that love is worth the risk? Click the button to order your copy of The Soulmate Project now.

PS: This weekend, anything you order from Love’s Sweet Arrow—an independent romance bookseller in Chicago—is 25% off when you use the code: HBDMARISSA.

Click to Shop Love’s Sweet Arrow sign copies – HERE

This week, I was thrilled to discover that Date for Hire—my Men for Hire novella that was a collaboration with Sharon C. Cooper and Delaney Diamond—was nominated for a Short and Sassy Novella Reading Warriors Choice Award. And my podcast, Story Behind the Storywas nominated for a Bookish Podcast Award by the Building Relationships Around Books (B.R.A.B.) Book Club. 

Would you like to help Date for Hire and Story Behind the Story win their categories? Here’s how you can help, and it’ll only take a few minutes.

Voting is open through October 31st at 11:59 PM EST

Please take note of the following important rules:

1. Each person is allowed to vote only once.

2. You must use a Gmail account to cast your vote.

3. If multiple votes are submitted from the same account, the original vote will be removed and considered a duplicate.

Cast Your Vote Here: https://shorturl.at/fi7th

It’s Release Week for The Soulmate Project—the final book in my Holly Grove Island series! We met Nick and Emerie in the first book in the series: Second Chance on Cypress Lane. We encountered the two childhood best friends again in Return to Hummingbird Way.  In The Soulmate Project, Nick and Em are forced to come to terms with their feelings for each other when Emerie decides that she’s ready to move on to the next phase in her life. 

Here’s what the story is about:

In this delightful small‑town romance, can the search for a soulmate before the next New Year’s Eve bonfire make these childhood best friends realize the perfect person was right there all along?

Emerie Roberts is tired of waiting for her best friend Nick to finally notice her. When she confesses her feelings at the town’s annual New Year’s Eve bonfire, Nick doesn’t feel the same. Em is devastated. She’s ready to settle down and start the next phase of her life. If Nick isn’t her soulmate, she resolves to stop pining for him and find the man who is. Em hatches a seven-step plan to meet her love match and enlists the support of her family and friends. So why does Nick seem hellbent on sabotaging her efforts?

Em is the most important person in Nicholas Washington’s life. She’s funny, compassionate, generous, athletic—and beautiful. Of course, he’s attracted to her. But he learned the hard way that getting involved romantically is the quickest way to destroy a friendship. Nick promised to help Em find her soulmate. But he might’ve made the biggest mistake of his life. Because helping Em find the man who will steal her heart is breaking his. 

Will he realize that love is worth the risk before she ends up with Mr. Wrong?

Emerie Roberts sank onto her beach blanket at Holly Grove Island’s annual New Year’s Eve bonfire. The flames licked high, waving in the gentle breeze and casting their orange glow over the native islanders and a smattering of tourists gathered around the fire.

“What’s with the face, sugar plum?” Sinclair Buchanan nudged Em’s shoulder. Sin’s East Carolina accent got a bit twangier with each celebratory drink. “You look like someone done kidnapped your dog and stole your man.”  

Em didn’t have either, but she got the point of Sin’s colorful statement.

The New Year’s Eve Bonfire had always been the highlight of her year, but tonight, she couldn’t muster her usual enthusiasm.

“I’m fine.” Emerie forced a smile, hoping to dispel the growing concern on Sinclair’s face. Her gaze drifted toward where her longtime best friend, Nicholas Washington, was chatting up some tourist.

Nick was an exec at the local resort and a talented drummer. He was smart, handsome, and Holly Grove Island’s resident playboy. He seemed to have eyes for every pretty, single girl who’d graced the island—except for her. To Nick, she would always be one of the guys.

“So this is about our discussion on Christmas Eve.” Sin lowered her voice, her gaze following Em’s. “You still haven’t told Nick how you really feel about him?”

“Shh!” Em hushed her friend, glancing around to see if anyone might’ve overheard.

“I’ll take that as a no.” Sin heaved a sigh. “You said you were going to talk to him.”

“I said I’d think about talking to him,” Em reminded her. “And for the past week, I haven’t been able to think of much else.”

“Listen here, Emerie Roberts . . .” Sin burrowed her red plastic cup in the sand, then held Em’s hands in hers. “You are so sweet and kind. You go out of your way to take care of the people you love: family, friends, neighbors. I admire that about you, Em. But it’s time you do something for yourself. So think about this and answer honestly . . . what is it that you want, sweet pea?”

The sting of tears pricking Em’s eyes came on suddenly. She swallowed hard, refusing to let them fall.

She was the last unmarried member of her high school friend group. Something Em had become increasingly aware of with each engagement party, wedding, baby shower, and christening.

Em leveled her gaze with Sin’s— who patiently awaited her response. She held up the other woman’s hand, her engagement ring sparkling in the moonlight.

“I want what you and Rett have.” Em nodded toward her cousin, who was Sin’s fiancé. “And what Dex and Dakota have.” She indicated her oldest brother and his wife, who was Sin’s best friend. It was something she’d been afraid to admit, even to herself. But a part of her was glad she had Sin to confide in. Sinclair wasn’t just a friend. Em regarded her and Dakota as older sisters. “I’m the only person on this island who isn’t moving forward with their life. I’m stuck in this holding pattern, spinning my wheels.”

“That isn’t true.” Sin squeezed Em’s hand, her voice filled with compassion. “You’ve come a long way, too. You made a major career change and started your own business. And your clientele is growing.”

“True.” Em had worked in accounting at a factory off island where she’d dreaded every single minute of her day inside her windowless office. Two years ago, she’d started picking up freelance graphic design jobs— utilizing the discipline she’d minored in and truly had a passion for. Six months ago, the business had grown enough that she’d quit her job and become a full- time entrepreneur.

“You took a calculated risk with your career. And you’re much happier now because you had the courage to go after what you wanted.”

“True,” Em said again.

Her brows furrowed as Nick flashed the effortless smile that no single woman in his orbit could seem to resist. Miss Ohio or Michigan, or wherever it was he’d said she was from, giggled and tossed her blond box braids over one shoulder.

“So tell Nick how you feel about him,” Sin urged. “Yes, the conversation will be uncomfortable. And I understand that the possibility of things changing between you two is probably terrifying. But bottling up your feelings for Nick isn’t healthy, hon.”

“What if I tell Nick, and he doesn’t feel the way I do?”

She’d posed the same question to Sin a week ago. Unsurprisingly, Sin’s response hadn’t changed.

“Then at least you’ll know, and you can move on. Besides, as my granny always said, ‘Closed mouths don’t get fed.’ So put on your big girl panties and tell that man how you feel. Now. Or you will always regret not doing it.”

Em inhaled deeply. Sin was right. What if Miss Midwest was the woman who finally persuaded Nick Washington to settle down? She would be devastated that she hadn’t been brave enough to shoot her shot.

“I can’t win if I’m not in the race, right?” Em mumbled more to herself than Sin.

“Damn straight.” Sin raised her red cup, then took a sip.

“Okay. I’ll talk to Nick. Tonight.”

“Thattagirl!” Sinclair hugged her tight.

Em leaned into it, needing the reassurance.

“Everything okay?” Rett ambled over.

Her cousin was cool and laid-back. The perfect complement to Sin’s fiery, high- energy personality. One of the many reasons they were so perfect for each other.

“Everything is fine. Em and I were just having a little girl talk.” Sin extended her free hand. “Help a girl up?”

Rett pulled Sin to her feet and into his arms. She rewarded him with a tender kiss.

“I love you two, but you’re annoyingly adorable,” Em grumbled, and they both laughed.

“Sorry?” Rett shrugged.

“You’re blocking my view of the bonfire with your PDA; go enjoy your soon‑to‑be‑wedded bliss on your own beach blanket,” Em teased.

Rett grinned. “Love you, kid.”

“Love you, too, cuz.” Em grinned as they walked away, hand in hand.

Rett and Sin had been mortal enemies with secret crushes on each other back when their best friends— Dexter and Dakota— had dated in high school. While helping to plan the couple’s wedding earlier that year, they’d gotten to truly know each other, and they’d fallen in love.

Em was at the Christmas Eve party last week when Rett proposed to Sin and gifted her with a fur baby— an adorable black- and- white Havapoo puppy named Stella. She was happy for them. Still, she couldn’t help wishing that her happy ending was at least on the horizon.

Em folded her arms and placed them atop her knees as she stared into the bonfire, replaying her conversation with Sinclair.

What if I tell Nick and he doesn’t feel the way I do?

Then at least you’ll know. And you can move on.

But moving on seemed more frightening than holding on to her unrequited feelings for Nick— an agony to which she’d become accustomed.

“Hey, Em, what’s wrong?” Nick settled onto the blanket beside her; his dark eyes narrowing with concern. He draped an arm over her shoulders, as he had so many times before, oblivious to his effect on her.

Her temperature rose as the warmth of his skin penetrated hers through their light jackets. Her heart beat faster as she inhaled Nick’s familiar, subtle citrus and cedarwood scent. His wide shoulders and broad chest shielded Em from the chilly breeze blowing off the Atlantic Ocean.

“You’re not yourself tonight. You’re usually hoisting the cornhole trophy by now, but I haven’t seen you pick up a beanbag once. You weren’t even into the sing-along, which you love. And I’m pretty sure you’ve only had one plate tonight, so something is definitely wrong.”

“Who are you, my mother?” Em groused, her eyes squeezing shut involuntarily as she settled against her best friend, her skin on fire and her pulse racing. “Maybe I’m just tired. Did you consider that?”

Em opened her eyes, turning to look at him.  

Big mistake.

Bathed in the soft moonlight and the glow of the raging fire, the man looked like a freaking god with his cocoa brown skin; soulful, dark eyes that managed to be both warm and mysterious; and a half smile that always hinted at mischief or some tightly held secret. All he lacked was a thunderbolt or maybe the Tesseract, if Zeus and Loki weren’t using them.

“C’mon, Em.” Nick’s dark eyes glinted. His voice was a low, sensual whisper that sent a shiver down her spine and created a shudder in a place she was trying really hard not to think about right now. “I know when something’s up with you. Might as well spill it because you know I’ll figure it out.”

True.

From their meeting as kids, he seemed to understand her in a way no one else did. Even when she’d been reluctant to express how she was feeling about something, Nick had always been so perceptive. He’d been there through everything from mean girls teasing her because she was a tomboy to her first crush and every relationship that had crashed and burned since. He’d been there through the rough patches in her parents’ marriage and their eventual

divorce.

So how was it that Nick managed to know her so well, yet seemed clueless about her falling for him?

She’d realized that she was attracted to her best friend during their vacation together in Mexico five years ago. But she’d moved back to Holly Grove Island, and he’d lived in Los Angeles at the time. It had seemed best to ignore her perplexing new feelings for Nick.

But they were now in their thirties, living in the same city for the first time since college. They spent most of their free time hanging out together. So it was getting harder to ignore the romantic feelings she’d developed for her childhood friend.

Nothing about Nick’s demeanor suggested he felt the same.

“C’mon, Em. Whatever it is . . . you can tell me.” Nick leaned in, his face inches from hers. His warm breath, carrying a hint of whiskey and some sort of pie, mingled with the cool, crisp sea air, creating steam. “If someone upset you, point him out. You know I’ve got you.”

A pained smile curved Emerie’s lips. She and Nick had met when Dexter and Dakota brought them along on their date to see an animated children’s film. She was Dex’s little sister. Nick was Dakota’s next- door neighbor, whom she looked after when his parents were away on business. They became friends instantly, and despite already having three older brothers, Nick assumed the role of her protector.

They’d attended college on opposite coasts. Yet, Nick had been ready to hop on a plane or drive across the country anytime she needed him. She was a grown woman fully capable of taking care of herself. Yet, Nick’s sense of protectiveness hadn’t waned.

“It’s not like that.” Em stared into the fire. “So don’t go breaking out the boxing gloves, Baby Creed.”

“But it is something.” Nick didn’t address the Creed movie reference, which he always found irritating.

Was it her fault Nick looked like Michael B. Jordan’s long- lost cousin?

“So what’s going on with you tonight? The bonfire is your favorite event of the year.”

Em drew in a deep breath, her eyes squeezing shut. Her heart pounded as Sin’s words echoed in her head.

Then at least you’ll know.

“No one has done anything to upset me, Nick.” Em wrapped her arms around her knees. “It’s just . . .” The sound of rushing blood filled her ears, dampening the sound of the swirling wind and the waves crashing against the shore of Holly Grove Island Beach. “I like someone, and I’m not sure how they feel about me.”

“You’re wondering if you should say something first.” Nick rubbed his whiskered chin and nodded knowingly.

“Something like that.” Em waved and smiled at Marcus and Elliot: two locals heading back inside Blaze of Glory.

“But it’s neither of those guys, right?” Nick tipped his chin by way of greeting but didn’t smile at either of them. “Because Marcus is a dick and Elliot is a mama’s boy.”

“You’re terrible, Nick.”

He’d always been able to make her laugh when she was uneasy about something. From a bad case of nerves before the fifth- grade spelling bee to a near- meltdown before a big client presentation two weeks ago, Nick could always get her to relax and reset.

“Maybe, but I didn’t hear you say I was wrong about them.” Nick stretched out on Em’s blanket. “So please tell me it’s neither of those knuckleheads.”

“It isn’t.”

“Okay. But it is someone.” Nick propped himself up on the blanket as he glanced up at her. “Is it Derrick? Or Paul down at the garage? Wait . . .” He bolted upright and frowned. “You realize Blaze is way too old for you, right?”

“No, he isn’t. He’s like forty- five.”

“And you’re thirty- one,” Nick noted. “Don’t get me wrong, Blaze is a great guy. He’d give you the shirt off his back. But—”

“It’s not Blaze or Derrick or Paul, all right?” Em huffed. She turned to face her friend, her heart thudding in her chest and her hands trembling. “It’s you, all right?”

“Me?” Nick’s eyes went wide, and he poked a thumb to his chest as he whispered the word. He stared at her as if he was awaiting the punchline of a poorly delivered joke. When she didn’t respond, Nick rubbed his forehead and cleared his throat. “Oh.”

Not the response I was hoping for.

This confession of love was an absolute disaster. She should say something, but she wasn’t quite sure what. It was too early to claim it’d been an April Fools’ joke. The few torturous seconds in which neither of them spoke felt like millennia. Heat spread through Em’s chest and filled her cheeks. Her breathing was quick and shallow.

Was this what a panic attack was like?

It felt like a whale had washed ashore and rolled onto her chest. She focused on the sounds of the waves hitting the shore, the laughter of their friends and neighbors, and the crackling of the fire as it consumed the wood.

She’d finally admitted her feelings for Nick. There was no turning back. She’d been surprised by her initial attraction to her best friend. Maybe Nick needed to sort through his feelings for her, too.

“Yes, you, Nick.” Emerie forced her eyes to meet his and struggled to keep her lips from quivering and her hands from shaking. “You really haven’t ever thought of me that way?”

Nick winced, his brows furrowing.

Em knew her friend well, too. The apology in his expression was a clear negative response. Her stomach twisted in knots, and her cheeks stung with embarrassment.

“Em, you’re my best friend. You know how much you mean to me. That I would do anything for you. But . . .”

“But you’re not into me like that.” Em whispered the words beneath her breath, saying them more to herself than to him. She swallowed hard and nodded. “I get it.”

“You’re beautiful, fun, amazing. Any guy would be lucky to have you, Em.” Nick squeezed her arm.

“Any guy but you, right?” Em blinked back the tears that burned her eyes. She sniffled. “Roger that.”

“There are a lot of things I do well, Em. Being in a serious relationship isn’t one of them. The friendship we have . . . We can’t risk losing that. I can’t risk losing you.”

Nick pointed at himself, then at her. “You’re the smart, sensible one, Em. So deep down, you know what I’m saying is true.” He nudged her shoulder.

The temperature seemed at least ten degrees colder. Em shivered in response to the sudden chill deep in her bones.

Don’t freak out. Just play it cool.

“You’re right. Of course.” She forced a smile. “It was the alcohol talking. Let’s just pretend this conversation never happened.”

“That’s probably best,” Nick agreed.

His phone vibrated, as it so often did with text messages or phone calls. It seemed like the perfect cue for her to take her leave. Em climbed to her feet and dusted the sand off the back of her jeans. “I’m gonna head inside, chat up Blaze, and get another drink. Can I get you anything?”

“I’m good. Thanks,” Nick said.

Em headed toward Blaze of Glory, eager to end the painfully awkward conversation that would forever make things weird between them.

“Em!”

She stopped, then turned around.

Nick was standing. His handsome features were marred with worry. “We’re good, right?”

“That whole weird, awkward conversation never really happened, right?” Em shrugged. “So why wouldn’t we be?”

“Right.” Nick tilted his head. “And you won’t do anything. . . impulsive tonight?”

“A sensible girl like me?” Em asked incredulously.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. You should go find Miss Ohio. I’m pretty sure she’s looking for you.”

Em hurried toward the bar. She needed a strong drink, the comfort of sinfully decadent carbs, and to forget what had just happened between her and Nick.

Why on earth had she listened to Sinclair?

Nick stood on the beach watching his friend—who was in full flight mode—scramble across the beach like that perfect ass of hers was on fire.

Nick cursed under his breath, their conversation replaying in his head as he considered the dozen ways he could’ve better handled the painfully awkward situation.

He’d botched things with Em, and he wasn’t sure how to fix it. Em was upset and embarrassed, and he hated that he’d been the one to hurt her.

Nick’s first impulse was to go after Em and assure her this was no big deal and it wouldn’t affect their friendship. But that would be thoughtless, not to mention absolute bullshit.

If overthinking was a sport, his best friend would be an Olympic gold medalist. There was no way Emerie Roberts had admitted to having feelings for him without thinking through the consequences more times than she could count. Therefore, her confession was a big fucking deal. And they both knew it.

It had taken guts for Em to make that admission. It would be disingenuous of him to pretend it hadn’t already changed the dynamic between them. But Em was his closest friend. They’d find a way to work through it. Because they’d always been honest with each other.

So why had he lied to Em, saying he’d never thought of them together?

Nick squeezed his eyes shut and tried to calmly think through the best way to handle this. He felt like shit for hurting Em and for lying to her for the first time in his memory.

Of course he was attracted to Em. There was something incredibly sexy about the woman despite the fact that she went out of her way to not look sexy in a traditional sense.

Em lived in either shorts or a series of comfy leggings—all of them black or a bold print with a black background. She wore the things until they damn near disintegrated. The inner thighs were threadbare, and the fabric over the knees was thin. On a “special occasion,” like tonight, she’d wear a pair of jeans. A well-worn T‑shirt and a pair of Converses completed her look. The majority of her fashion budget was spent on kicks. Em was a first- class sneaker head.

Still, anything Emerie wore clung to her toned, athletic body, highlighting each of its assets. Lean, strong arms and shoulders. Firm, perky breasts that weren’t especially small or particularly large. Just the perfect mouthful. Strong, toned thighs. A firm, curvy ass honed over two decades of track, tennis, and beach volleyball. And she was infinitely confident in her body regardless of what she was wearing.

When Nick moved back home, he’d quickly learned to employ a series of Jedi mind tricks to avoid thinking of Em in a sexual way. Because despite his physical attraction to her, there were too many variables at play.

What if she was less adventurous in bed than he was? What if one or both of them got bored with the relationship? What if they were simply better as friends? What would happen to their friendship then?

So despite the fact that he’d imagined taking his friend to bed more than he’d care to admit, gambling with their friendship would be too big a risk. One that could destroy the relationship that was most important to him.

Instead, Nick forced himself to look past the incredibly enticing wrapper and focus on the core of who Em was and all the reasons she was and would always be his best friend.

As long as he didn’t fuck things up. And there was no quicker way to torpedo a perfectly good friendship than by trying to add love into the mix. He should know; he’d tried it twice.

He’d dated a friend in college, and it had ended badly. They made great friends but terrible lovers. There was the sexual incompatibility, the sudden clinginess, and the jealousy of his friends— male and female. When he suggested they go back to being friends, she’d been devastated, and he’d felt like a jerk. Needless to say, the friendship hadn’t survived.

Years later, he was the drummer for the house band at a club in LA. His friendship with the lead vocalist progressed into a romantic relationship, and he’d fallen hard for the woman who was ten years older. She got her dream gig with an emerging rock band and abruptly ended the relationship before moving to New York. Nick had been gutted.

He’d honestly never known heartbreak like that.

He’d promised himself that he would never date another close friend. He was supposed to be older and wiser now. So he wouldn’t repeat the same mistake. He couldn’t afford to this time. His friendship with Em and their circle of friends— which included much of her family— meant the world to him.

They’d met when he was struggling with his parents being busy and away so much. He’d been grumpy and withdrawn. Sometimes, he’d acted out, getting in trouble in school. He’d been determined not to enjoy the theater outing Dakota had taken him on. But then his surrogate big sister had introduced him to Emerie Roberts.

There had been something so sweet and compassionate about her—even as a little girl. He’d practically scowled at her when they’d been introduced. But while they were standing in the concession line, Em had given him the biggest smile and hugged him tight, taking him by surprise. Before he could pull out of the hug, she’d whispered that she’d be sad, too, if she ever had to leave all her friends and family behind.

There was something cathartic . . . almost enchanting . . .about that hug. He felt seen—his pain acknowledged in a way that wasn’t condescending. The suffocating anger and resentment he’d held onto for so long had slowly dissipated. . . like a deflated balloon. He could breathe again for the first time since they’d moved to the island.

When she’d finally released him from the hug, Em had said she was sorry he’d lost all his friends back home, but that she’d like to be his friend. Still stunned, he’d accepted her offer. They’d been best friends ever since. Nick rubbed his forehead and sighed.

Em needed some time and space. He couldn’t bear the thought of her at the bar, crying in her beer while she chatted up some random tourist. But he definitely wasn’t the person she’d want to see right now.

“Hey, Nick. Have you seen, Em?” Kassandra Montgomery asked. The shy, sweet, program director of Holly Grove Island’s aquarium and arboretum approached. Her singsong voice always made it sound like she was apologizing for one thing or another.

Kassie was Em’s closest female friend. The two women had known each other since middle school but became close while Nick was living in LA.

He’d once teased Kass about trying to steal his best friend, and the woman had actually apologized. Maybe humor wasn’t Kass’s strong suit, but she’d been a good friend to Em, and she was the perfect person for this situation. If he asked Sinclair or Dakota to check on Em, they’d ply him with forty questions about what he’d done to upset her.

“Em just headed inside the bar. She’s a bit . . . upset,” he said. “Would you mind going to check on her?”

“Oh no!” Kassie pushed her glasses up her nose. “I mean . . . yes, of course, I’ll check on Em. I’ll go look for her now.”

“Thank you.” Nick breathed a sigh of relief as he gazed toward Blaze of Glory.  

Several people were seated at the tables on the restaurant’s back deck or going in or out of the place. Em wasn’t among them.

“Wait . . . why can’t you check on Em?” Kass folded her arms. “What did you do?”

Nick groaned quietly and lowered his head. “I didn’t do anything . . . exactly. But I’m probably not the person she wants to see right now. Could you just do me a solid and check on Em?”

“Of course.” Kassie gave him a suspicious stare.

“Great. Could you text me and let me know she’s okay? Please?” Nick cleared his throat, realizing that his voice had taken on a pleading tone.

Kassie pulled out her phone and added a new contact before handing it to him. “Fine. Type your number in there. I’ll let you know when I’ve found her and if she’s okay. I won’t provide any details beyond that unless Em asks me to.”

Sweet little Kassie wasn’t a pushover after all. Good for her.

“Thanks, Kass. I appreciate this.” Nick typed his number and name into Kassie’s phone, then handed it back to her.

“I’m doing this for Em.” Kassie shoved her phone into her back pocket. “But you’re welcome.” She headed toward Blaze of Glory. “I’ll text you when I’ve found our girl.”

Nick shoved a hand through his short curls and sighed. He wanted to believe that one day soon what happened tonight would feel like the distant past, and they’d joke about it over a beer while watching a game.  

But the growing uneasiness in the pit of his stomach indicated otherwise.