Page 2 of Wish You Would

It’s been a long time, but I definitely remember her. Briar Moore is hard to forget.

What is she doing back in Reed Point? Last I heard, Daisy’s best friend had moved back home to Vancouver to be closer to her mom and she had no plans to return to Reed Point. That was at least a year ago.

“The apartment I just rented had a flood. The whole place is two inches deep in water. The landlord says it’s unliveable.” She drops her head into her hands and groans. “I was supposed to move in right away.”

“Oh, Briar. I’m sorry.” Daisy gets up off her stool and gives her a hug. “But we’ll figure it out. You can sleep on our couch. Right, Tuck?”

Tucker chews the inside of his cheek. I know why he’s hesitating. Tuck is the kind of guy who would give a friend the shirt off his back, but he and Daisy are in the middle of a major renovation. The upstairs bedrooms have been stripped down to the studs and the two of them have been sleeping on a mattress on the floor in the family room for the past month.

“I love you, Dais, but I can’t crash at your place for two or three months. I have too much stuff, I have a cat. Besides, you two are newlyweds. The last thing I need is to listen to you go at it like wild animals.”

Briar slumps down into a chair at the kitchen table. It’s then that I notice the small crate in the corner of the room, and the orange-and-white-striped cat crouched inside. It fixes me with a lethal glare before arching its back and turning away.

“What about The Seaside?” Daisy turns to Tuck. “You can call Jake, ask him to talk to Liam. I’m sure he could get Briar a deal on a room at the hotel.” Jake is a good buddy of ours, and my neighbor on Haven Harbor. He’s close friends with Liam Bennett, whose family owns a boutique hotel chain that is headquartered in Reed Point.

“Dais, you’re sweet,” Briar says. “But one, I doubt they accept pets and two, I could never afford weeks on end at a luxury hotel… even at a discount.”

Daisy frowns. “It’s okay, Bri. We’ll figure something out.”

“Well, I could call Braxton.”

Daisy fixes Briar with a pointed stare. “You are absolutelynotcalling Justin’s best friend.”

“Who else am I going to ask?”

“Over my dead body are you asking him.”

Leaning back against the kitchen counter, I look to Tucker to see if he’s following the girls’ back and forth. When I catch his eye, he shrugs in response.

Who the hell are Braxton and Justin?And whyisDaisy so adamant that Briar not get in touch with them?

The gorgeous blonde collapses onto the kitchen table, resting her head on her forearm with a sigh. “I know, you’re right. I just don’t know what else to do. The apartment is perfect. Or itwasperfect. It’s close to the beach, it has a cute little white kitchen. You saw the photos, Dais. Wasn’t it perfect?”

Instead of answering, Daisy turns to me suddenly with hope in her eyes. “Holden has a spare bedroom! Maybe Briar could stay with you?”

“What?” There’s no chance I heard that right.

“Your place has two bedrooms. And now that Tucker’s not living there anymore…”

“But—”

“It would only be temporary,” Daisy quickly continues, obviously not understanding that this is a terrible idea. “And as her former roommate, I can vouch for Briar. She’s tidy, she’s quiet… well, most of the time she’s quiet. She’s the best. I bet you’d actually enjoy her company.”

I’m sure I would enjoy Briar’s company, on her back for me with her long legs and her smooth, creamy skin. But that doesn’t mean I want a roommate. Especially a roommate that looks like her— a girl straight out of my fantasies. Briar is Daisy’s best friend, which makes her a no-go for a night of fun. Not that I can remember the last time I allowed myself to havefun.

“Holdey, please. She just moved back from Vancouver, and she has nowhere to stay.” Daisy’s expression is all sad eyes and pouty lips. I’m familiar with that look; I’ve seen it aimed at Tucker more than a time or two. “It wouldn’t be for long.”

I look to Tuck for help, but the smirk on his face tells me that he’s enjoying watching me squirm. Briar’s shoulders drop in frustration and her bottom lip begins to tremble.Dammit, don’t cry.Please don’t cry.I won’t be able to handle it if Briar’s green eyes turn glassy. When she blinks back a tear, I feel my resolve begin to crumble. When a second tear falls down her flushed cheek, I give in immediately.

“You can stay with me,” I tell her. “Until your apartment is ready.”

Briar wipes the tears from her cheeks as the corners of her pretty lips turn up. Damn, she is beautiful.

She drops her gaze to the cat carrier. “What about Bear?”

“The cat can come too,” I say. “But I’m not a cat guy, so keep it in your room.”

I’m not a cat guyis an understatement. They’re not cuddly. They don’t listen. They pee in a box. And worst ofall, I’m deathly allergic. If this cat gets too close to me, I’ll be covered in hives within five minutes.

---