Bam. Bam. Bam.
A fist pounds on my door. I don’t know which one it is, Dimitri or Sammy. I don’t much care either. I don’t want to talk to either of them. Stupid, chauvinistic bullies. Both mean the world to me, and both are acting like I’m too dumb to make my own decisions.
“Open the door, Kiera.”
“Go away.”
“Not until we talk.”
“Then you should’ve been listening to me when you had the chance.”
Bam. Bam. Bam.
“Fuck.” I hear a heavy thud against the door. “I’m scared, Kiera. I’m scared shitless of losing you. My whole life has been about looking after you and protecting you. And now, you just want to leave me.”
Desperation colors my brother’s voice. I get off my bed and walk over to the door. Fingertips slip underneath it, barely peeking in. I’m thrown back to the past.
*
I got caught putting hot pepper into the saltshakers. Those mean kids deserve it. They always make fun of me and Sammy because Mom cleans up after them. On good days they say she’s nothing more than a glorified maid. On bad ones, they compare her to a cheap prostitute. I don’t see any connection, except that they want their words to cut deep and dirty.
I hope the pepper burns their throats and disintegrates their hearts.
Now I’m being punished in my room. I hate to be alone. Especially since Dante left. I see shadows everywhere, like I’m always being watched. Scared to be by myself, I’m relieved when I spot fingertips reaching under the door to comfort me.
“I’m here, princess. Come sit by your door so you can touch me. This way you know I’m really here and not a figment of your imagination.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, my heart pounding in fear that we’ll get caught talking and my parents will send Sammy downstairs.
“Don’t sweat it. I’ll never leave you alone, princess. Ever.”
*
“You’re never going to lose me, Sammy. Ever.”
I hear deep, heavy breaths slinking in from the other side of the door.
“I lost you the day he walked into that diner. We were best friends, the three of us. We did everything together, but I always felt like the outsider. Like I didn’t belong. You always took his side and wanted to be on his team. Not mine. And now, you’re going to be his. Forever.”
“I’m always on your team, Sammy. I couldn’t have made it through the last five years without you.”
I get to my feet and pull open my door. Sammy falls into my room back first. He must’ve not expected me to open it. Good. He deserves it. I get down on my knees as my brother picks his chin off the floor and sits on his ass.
“If you were so against me being with Dimitri, why did you go into this with him?”
“I had no choice. I was out of money and couldn’t make the payment.”
“Because you paid my tuition.”
He nods. “Dimitri promised. He swore on his life he wouldn’t let them get their claws into you. All I could do was hope he’d come through.”
“He did.”
Sammy nods. “You don’t think it’s all too convenient? I mean think about it.”
“Convenient? Are you kidding me? You could’ve died.”
“Exactly. And they let me live.”
“To control me. That’s why I went with them willingly.” A cold chill runs up my spine at the memory of my brother so weak and helpless in the hospital bed. Sammy notices the change in me. He reaches for my hand and holds it tight. His way of telling me, “I’m here, princess.”
“They knew I’d come to you, and they were waiting. Once I was there, they threatened to kill you and showed me how easy it would’ve been. I had no choice but to leave with them.”
“Who knows? Maybe I’m just jealous. Or a sore loser. Either way, I’m not walking you down the aisle. I can’t give you away. To him or to anyone else.”
My brother, the only family I have left, refuses to be part of what’s supposed to be the happiest day of my life. He broke my heart. Whether he meant to or not, there it is, lying at Sammy’s feet in pieces.
“I’d much rather be your best person.”
My mouth opens equal to the size of my excited eyes. “Do you mean it?”
Sammy nods. “Of course I do.”
I throw my arms around his neck with such force, we both fall over laughing.
“I want you to be happy, princess. It’s clear that you love him. He was always special to you. And I think you’ve always been just as special to him. You must be, or he wouldn’t have put so much on the line to save you.”
Behind us, a toe taps on the floor. My eyes follow the toe up a long, slim leg and eventually up to Ana’s bright blue eyes.
“Is this some sort of kinky, incestuous brother/sister relationship?”
“That turn you on, babe?”
She shakes her head and walks away in a huff.
“Yep, luckiest man alive. That’s me,” Sammy says, getting to his feet, dusting himself off and extending a hand for me.
“No. That’s me,” Dimitri says, leaning against the doorframe of the bathroom with his arms folded across his chest and a smirk on his lips. “Now let’s go find a priest and make this official.”
“You okay with this?” I ask Sammy.
“You hurt her, and you’re going to answer to me,” Sammy threatens.
“No worries. I’m never going to hurt her.”
“Does that mean I have your approval?” I ask.
“Yeah. Go. Be happy, princess.”
I give my brother a quick hug, then slide into the arms of the man I love. My first love. My true love. My only love. Standing beside him, I’m ready to jump in headfirst and start living our happily ever after.
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Continue reading for an excerpt of Man Up Party Boy.
Noah York is looking forward to the beach vacation he’s been planning with his best friend, Cooper. He has visions of relaxing days on the sand and fun nights with the girls. However, all his plans come crashing down when Cooper abandons him for a trip to Italy. Not wanting to leave his friend in a lurch Cooper arranges for his sister to take his place. Noah hasn’t seen Lexi in years and isn’t looking forward to spending a week with her or her attitude.
Lexi can’t stand party boy Noah. At least, that’s what she thinks. But when she sees him talking to a blonde at the bar on their first night in the beach town, jealousy takes over and she interrupts them with a kiss. One kiss leads to another. Before either of them realizes what’s happening passion and desire are awakened between them, but Lexi knows better than to fall for Noah. He is, after all, just a party boy.
Chapter 1
Noah
"You're kidding." He has to be joking. "Please tell me this is your lame attempt at humor." Cooper may be my best friend, but right now, if he was standing in front of me I'd put his head through a glass window.
"No, dude. I'm serious."
"Italy?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't pass this shit up. It's a free trip. As in, I'm not paying for airfare or the hotel."
"That doesn't sound like 'Sorry, Noah, I'm just fucking with you.' Doesn't sound like it at all." I crumple a piece of paper on my desk and toss it at the trash can. I miss. Great. Another sign that this is going to be a fucking awesome day. Not.
Three months of planning-- talking to realtors and giving them our parameters to find the perfect rental-- down the drain. We had to act fast and jump on the deal when we found the house on the boardwalk. It's right off the beach. Not too close to any sort of activity so it affords us privacy, and not too far from it either so we could drink all we want and not have to worry a
bout getting in a car to drive anywhere. And now what? My best friend is dicking me over for a last minute trip to Italy with his flavor of the month.
"It was a non-refundable deposit, and unlike you, I'm not fucking flight attendants that can whisk me off to Europe or some exotic country. I can't afford to flush a grand down the toilet."
I didn't like the idea of pre-paying and giving extra money up front for security, but we wanted to close the deal. It's a house, not a cheap piece of crap bungalow, or a shitty hotel room. This is a house complete with dishes, linens and nothing but a strip of boardwalk separating us from the sandy, New Jersey beach.
Now because my best friend is thinking with the wrong head, I'm looking at no vacation, and a substantial monetary loss. Bastard.
"You broke the code man, bro's before ho's."
"I didn't break the code. I'm just making the most of an opportunity. Besides if I don't go, I'll never hear from Selene again."
"And that's a problem? You barely even see this girl."
"That's exactly my point. She's thirty thousand feet in the air most of the time. She's gorgeous, with the hottest body I've ever seen, and I don't have to see her every day, or even every fucking week. That means no clinginess. No answering to her when I spend a night out with guys getting drunk."
"And getting laid."
"And getting laid," he parrots.
"And when we're out and you're doing your thing, you ever wonder what or who she's doing?"
"It doesn't matter, Noah. We have an open relationship which is a beautiful thing. We don't see each other enough to get on each other's nerves. There's no commitment. And it's the best sex of my life."
"Whatever. I'm letting you know you're putting a serious crimp in our friendship."
"I'm not leaving you totally high and dry. I found someone to share the house with you."
"Who? Marlena won't let Troy out of her sight, especially since the baby is due in two weeks. Mickey's so strapped for money he's selling his swimmers."
Cooper snickers on his end. "Whatever, dude. I think he just likes jerking off into a cup. But you're right, it's not the guys."
"A girl? Are you shitting me?" I lean forward against my desk. Now I'm interested. For the right girl I'd consider forgiving him. "A flight attendant? Is it one Selene's friends? She better be hot. Is she hot? 'Cause if she isn't you can forget . . ."
"Hey, hold on there. Yes, it's a girl. And no she's not hot."
Great. Way to let the air out of my sails.
"And even if she is, you wouldn't be seeing any action from her."
"Then what the fuck is the point?"
"The point is you still get your beach vacation. You have your distraction to help you forget the fact that Dina's getting married, and I get my money back."
Why does he have to keep bringing her up? I know she's getting married in two weeks. Why can't he let it go? "I keep telling you I don't give a shit about Dina getting married."
He snickers on the other end. "And I'm with Selene because she's got a big heart. Dude you've been hung up on that one since high school and she never so much as gave you the time of day."
"I'm not hung up on her. We're just friends. That's all we ever were. That's all we'll ever be."
"Friends. Great. You've been locked safely away in the friend zone for ten years. How's that working for you?"
I bounce the tip of my pen on a pile on a pile of papers on my desk. Sometimes I can't stand Cooper's jackass side, like right now. But I often find there's a hint of truth to what he says, like right now.
"I'm not hung up on her, and it's not like I haven't been with anyone in ten years. You've witnessed enough to know better. Dina and I are friends, and as her friend, I'm happy she found someone to share her life with. I think when you find the right person it could be a beautiful thing."
"Are you sure you're a guy?"
"Fuck you."
"Your problem is, you're looking for someone to share your life with, not someone that makes you want to live. Great for her, but what about you? I'm telling you, bring a hot piece of ass to the wedding, leave, get laid, and leave Dina where she belongs, in the rear view mirror. Go find a future, dude."
For a brief second, he sounds like he cares; like I mean more to him than someone to keep him company while he looks for his next conquest. Time to change the direction of this conversation before we end up on Dr. Phil.
"What do you need money for anyway Mr. free European vacation?"
"She's providing the hotel and ticket to get there, it's only right I pick up everything else."
"Whatever. Why don't you stop yanking me around and just tell me who the hell I'm stuck with?"
"Alexis."
I let my head fall and hit my desk. "Your sister? You're saddling me down with your little sister. What the fuck man? What am I supposed to do? Play nurse maid? Drive her to her fucking playdates?"
"Don't be like that Noah. You know she's not a kid anymore."
"Yeah, I know."
"And she promised to stay out of your way."
"Still, I'll feel funny if I want to bring a chick back with me."
"Just go and have a good time. Pretend it's me there with you."
"Yeah, you with tits and braces."
"Okay man, don't hate on the braces. They've been off for years and she's got a beautiful smile. And as far as the tits go, that's my fucking sister you're talking about. No staring at her tits. Got it?"
"Yeah, I fucking got it."
*
I look out my office window at the dull grey clouds. It's not just going to rain, it's going to pour. I wish the sky would open up already and get it over with. Can't get to the clear blue skies without releasing a little bit of pent up, heavy duty rain.
My computer dings, signaling a new email. I don't recognize the address it came from.
Hey Party-boy,
Spoke with my brother. Just want to assure you I don't plan on cramping your style. You stay out of my way, and I'll stay out of yours. Oh yeah, and if girls are dumb enough to fall for the bullshit you lay at their feet, make sure they're fully dressed unless in your room with the door closed. I'll make sure my guys do the same.
What a bitch! Oh yeah, this is going to be fun all right.
Other books by Danielle Sibarium
The Eternity Series
For Always (Eternity 1)*FREE*
And Forever (Eternity 2)
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Breaking Waves (2)
Waves of Love (3)
Heart Waves Series Boxed Set
Man Up
Each book revolves around a different couple, and each book has its own HEA
Man Up Party Boy (Noah and Lexi)
Man Up Playboy (Cooper and Selene)
Man Up Husband (Troy and Marlena)
Man Up Step Brother (Summer 2016)
Stand Alones
To My Hero: A Blog of Our Journey Together
Into You
Regret Me Not
My Russian Nightmare
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Acknowledgements
To you, the person that took a chance on this book. Thank you. Thank you for sharing a piece of your life with me and allowing me to share a slice of my imagination with you. It’s been an incredible ride, and I appreciate the company.
About the Author
Danielle grew up as an only child of divorced parents in Brooklyn, New York. Her imagination was developed at an early age. Surrounded by stuffed animals and imaginary friends, she transported herself into a fantasy world full of magic and wonder. Books were the gateway between he
r play world and reality.
Danielle always loved dialogue and in elementary school began writing plays and short stories. This is when she began to understand she could not only bring her fantastical world to life for herself, but she could enchant others as well.
In 2007 Danielle collaborated with Charlotte Doreen Small to write songs for her CD More. Danielle wrote the lyrics for Take My Hand, and Goodbye, while Charlotte contributed the melody.
Danielle graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University with honors, and currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children.
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