Page 6 of My Brother’s Best Friends Entanglement

Swinging my legs over the ledge, I crawl out, my God-given, late night sweet treats-assisted backside teetering mid-air for a moment before it decides to follow the rest of me down.

"Ooof," I say, landing chest-first on the suitcase. "Nailed it," I gasp, half winded. "Glad I didn't go with the hardshell."

Only then do I clock where the suitcase landed.

On someone's once-beautiful, now thoroughly squished, hydrangea bush.

I curse, rolling off, dragging it with me, looking down at the ruined blooms scattered across the path.

"I'm so sorry," I whisper to the plant, righting the suitcase. "Nothing personal. You were beautiful."

One last guilty glance and I grab the handle, racing for my car.

And run straight into something solid.

Wide. Hard.

Not a wall. Walls don't grunt.

This one grunts.

For the second time in as many minutes, I'm hitting the ground, me and the hard something together.

The fall must send me into shock, because suddenly I'm cold. Just my chest, though. And I smell... fruity.

Mango. Definitely mango.

Strong, warm hands close round my waist, steadying me as I register I'm sprawled on top of someone.

"Well," the grunt says, slow. "Not how I usually get a woman on top of me. Not complaining, though."

Marcus. Best friend and Alexia Enemy No. 3.

Fuckity fuck shit fuck times infinity.

Alexia versus her traumatic, sordid past: nil for three.

I curse under my breath, struggle to my feet, but his hands only tighten around me.

He tips his head back to look at me properly, shock all over his face.

"Lexi?"

Hands braced either side of his head, avoiding his eyes, I shove myself to my feet. Fast.

I don't turn back. Don't help him up. Don't apologise for my part in the mango-smoothie explosion. Don't think about the feel of his hands on me. I grab the suitcase handle and flee down the path to my car.

I think I hear him call after me. Can't hear much over my own heartbeat.

I don't bother with the boot, just drag the suitcase into the passenger seat, climb in, start the engine and pull out of the driveway at a speed that would land me a role in the Fast and the Furious franchise.

Three blocks later, I finally breathe.

The banana still in my hand.

TWO

Alexia