Page 10 of Because You Loved Me

Asher gave him a warning look.

The two of them hadn’t shared the closest relationship over the years and although it was starting to change, Asher still didn’t feel like taking brotherly advice from Chase.

“I was just going to say that I think you’re missing the point. It’s the time-consuming bullshit stuff that’s the best part.”

Next to him, Craig nodded. “Truth.”

“Whatever.” He shrugged it off the way he always did. “You guys can have it. I have enough going on at work. The lodge is packed already and it’s still so early in the season.”

“Charli said it looks amazing up there,” Symon said. “I need to pop in after training one day and check out the holiday decorations.”

“Absolutely. I’ll buy you a beer.” Asher liked his new brother-in-law, but then again, the professional skier was an easy man to like. And he loved the hell out of his big sister, Charli. What else could a guy ask for in a brother-in-law?

“Asher, you do know that it’s probably your turn tonight, right?”

“And?”

Craig had only said out loud what all of them were thinking when it came to the will reading. Still, it pissed him off. Maybe he was a little more on edge than he’d thought.

“And…I think you need to be prepared that whatever your stipulation is, things are going to change for you for the next six months.”

Asher shook it off. “Whatever it is, I’ll manage it. That’s what I do.”

“Are you going to manage falling in love, too?”

All four men spun around to see Kat in the entry to the kitchen with a big grin on her face.

“What on earth are you talking about?” He looked at his baby sister as if she’d totally lost her mind, which obviously she had. There would be no falling in love for Asher. Ever.

“Look around, Asher. Three of us have had our turn, and all three have fallen in love.” Unnecessarily, Kat pointed to Chase, Craig, and then Symon.

All three men shrugged, but Asher only rolled his eyes.

“You’re crazy. Can we get this over with already?”

* * *

Cold feet?

How about a completely numbbody?

Noa swiped at her tears and worked to pull herself together. She could do a whole lot worse than Ryan Little.

By any standards, her fiancé was an amazing catch. Not only was he handsome in a casual surfer boy meets successful lawyer kind of way, with a smile that could make any girl melt, but he was also one of the nicest guys Noa had ever met. Everyone loved Ryan. He was funny, smart, and incredibly generous. As if that wasn’t enough, Ryan had also been blessed with a sharp wit and a ridiculously high IQ. He’d recently graduated from law school, just like Noa, and together, they were set to start working at Briggs & Little Law in the spring. Just as soon as they returned from their four-month honeymoon trip around the world. Compliments of their families.

On top of all the amazing qualities that her groom had, he was also her best friend. Their mothers had met in a Mommy & Meclass with their older siblings, Noa’s brother Tom and Ryan’s sister Olivia, and had become fast friends. By the time Noa and Ryan were born, the families were already inseparable.

Years later, the children became as tightly entwined as their parents and when Olivia and Tom started dating in high school, everyone was thrilled. After college, when the happy couple announced their engagement, both families were elated.

The elation was cut short when almost two years ago, on New Year’s Eve, Tom and Olivia were killed in a drunk driving accident. After that, both families were shrouded in darkness, until six months ago when Ryan and Noa announced their own engagement.

And why not?

They made sense in every way. They could finish each other’s sentences, they knew all the deep, dark secrets the other one had, their families already spent every major holiday—and most weekends—together.

Their parents deserved to have something to smile about again.

There was no doubt in Noa’s mind that she loved Ryan. She did. The only problem was that their love was purely platonic.

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