Page 18 of A Tiny House Christmas

“You have to choose!” She leaned against the counter beside him at the sink and he flicked soap bubbles at her. She laughed, wondering if this was what it felt like when you found the right person. Every day was a holiday, even if you were doing your own quiet thing. It was like hanging out with a best friend in your favorite place on earth.

“I can’t choose.”

“You have to!” She scooped a handful of soap bubbles and smeared it across his chin. “Santa!”

“Come sit on my lap,” he growled, his wet hands leaving the sink, reaching for her.

She squealed and ducked around the kitchen island. With a grin, he went back to washing. She edged closer, unsure if the implied truce would be honored, or even if that was what she wanted.

Joey flinched as though he was about to move and she jumped away.

“Ha!” she crowed. “You can’t get me!”

“Wanna bet?”

She squealed again, giggling as they tore through the house. This was more like it!

She lunged out the front door and down the steps in her stocking feet as his wet fingers touched her. She came to an abrupt halt in the driveway, Joey piling into her, hands going to her waist. When he saw they had company, he dropped his hands and stepped back, one hand going to his hair.

Casually, he said, “Hey, man. Merry Christmas.”

Well, this was awkward. His best friend was glaring at Joey liked he’d murdered someone. All he’d done was lay his hands on theguy’s sister’s very shapely waist. Well, that was all Blake knew, anyway.

“What’s going on?” Blake stared at Joey, then Karlene, his brows more bent out of shape than the time the two of them had found her swinging from the top of her grandparent’s barn’s loft on a frayed old rope. It was that same you’ll-get-yourself-killed look.

Except now it was because his sister was with him. Or at least it sure looked like she was.

What was Joey doing? He knew better. Kar hadn’t resolved things with Thomas and here he was, in there already, without even allowing her time to breathe.

Sure, Thomas wasn’t the man Joey would have chosen for her—but, as it turned out, he was a little biased about who should be Karlene’s boyfriend—but he wasn’t a bad person. Joey should be giving her the room to decide what and who she truly wanted, not taking advantage of her vulnerability.

And that’s exactly what Blake saw. A guy taking advantage of his sister. Moving in while she was feeling hurt and confused.

Even if she seemed mostly okay despite running off without marrying her fiancé forty-eight hours ago.

Joey cleared his throat, cutting a quick look at Karlene.

“You want to know what’s going on?” she asked her brother, crossing her arms. “We’re goofing around, Blake.”

Yup. There wasn’t a speck of vulnerability in the sharp jut of her chin and wide, angry stance.

Blake’s brows worked their way lower.

“Nothing is going on,” Joey added, his tone level, hoping for Karlene’s sake that this didn’t turn into a giant fight. She’d been let down enough by her family already, and it was Christmas. Everyone should cool it, let it go and move on. “You know we’re just friends.”

Karlene sucked in a sharp breath, and Joey mentally kicked himself. Now she’d be doubting herself. But maybe they did need a little space—the kind of space that the reminder of friendship might bring. He’d been trying to take it slow today, but one taste of her lips and he was addicted, all thoughts of giving her time to ease into something all but obliterated.

Blake opened his mouth, hesitated, then said to Karlene, “I came to see if you wanted to talk to Thomas. Maybe patch things up before dinner?” His gaze darted to Joey, as though expecting him to jump in and interfere.

Joey took a step back so he wouldn’t give into temptation or that possessive roaring fire inside him and do just that—interfere and lose Karlene. She needed the freedom to choose, and she needed the space to do so. Even if it was the last thing he wanted to give her.

Karlene jerked the hem of her shirt into place. “I’m not—we’re not.”

“You’re still engaged.”

Karlene twisted the ring on her finger, removing it, her voice wobbling. “Then I need to give this back to him.”

Her brother took a step away from her, hands raised. “You do that yourself. I just came because I thought…”

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