Page 79 of The Kiss Connection

Myles’s hand is on my lower back, keeping me close. His other hand carries both of our bags with ease. “Nervous?” he whispers into my ear, and I refrain from shuddering as his breath tickles my bare skin.

“No,” I squeak, but my voice betrays me. I clear my throat, pretending to be fine. “Why would I be nervous?” I ask, glancing at him, doing my best to put on a brave face.

The house we’re staying in for New Year’s Eve in the Catskills is enormous. It could easily be a hotel or resort, but it’s one man’s house.

And it’s huge.

Myles leads me up the steps, his shoulders back, head held high like he owns the place—as if he belongs here.

I feel out of sorts, but I put on a smile and follow Myles as he escorts me to the front door. Before we even have time to knock, it’s thrown open by a girl all of eleven or twelve years old, with bright blue eyes and long dark hair. She smiles, her braces showing, and she glances us over.

“Myles Dax,” she says with a huge grin, and then she glares at me, as though I don’t belong. “You don’t play hockey.”

I’m taken aback by her bluntness and swallow nervously. I force a smile. Maybe I shouldn’t have come tonight. “I’m⁠—”

“This is my girlfriend, Juniper Snow, and it seems you already know who I am. And you are?”

“Bristol Greyson,” she beams proudly. “Please, come inside.” She steps aside, granting us entrance into the house. The ceilings are tall, making the house feel even more extravagant.

I slip out of my shoes, and Myles does the same.

“Bristol, can you show me where I can put our bags?” he asks.

“I can,” Bristol says, as if she runs the household and leads us toward the staircase. She spins around at the bottom stair, her eyes cold as ice. “You should know that girlfriends weren’t invited. Looks like you came here to crash the New Year’s Eve party.”

“I didn’t mean—” My voice catches, and I’ve never been so grateful to be interrupted.

“Don’t listen to her,” a male voice says as a man steps around the corner, and while I don’t recognize him, Myles clearly does because the grin on my fake boyfriend’s face grows tenfold. “Everyone is invited tonight. Girlfriends, wives, even children.” He glares at Bristol. “I might have to rethink the latter.”

“Mr. Greyson, it’s so nice of you to invite us into your home,” Myles says. He’s practically glowing and I glance over the gentleman, trying to see what all the fuss is about.

I don’t recognize him, but he clearly has done well for himself. Is that what playing professional hockey can get you?

“It’s my pleasure,” he says and glances at his daughter. “Bristol, what did we talk about when guests arrive?”

She rolls her eyes and stomps off, heading down the hallway and disappearing.

“And to think, she’s not even a teenager yet,” Greyson says, laughing under his breath. “I’m Kyler,” he introduces himself to me.

“Juniper,” I say, shaking his hand. “And I’m guessing you already know Myles.” I glance between the two men, and the grin on Myles’s face is massive. And if he’s trying to hide his excitement, he’s doing a terrible job. He’s definitely got a man crush.

“You can drop off your bags upstairs. Let me show you to your bedroom,” Kyler leads us up the staircase and to the first door on the left.

“Should I be jealous?” I whisper into Myles’s ear as we follow Greyson upstairs.

He laughs softly under his breath and we’re shown our room.

Of course, it has one bed.

And I can’t book a hotel, that’s already been made clear by my fake boyfriend. I force a smile. “Thank you.”

“When you’re done settling in, be sure to join us downstairs.” Kyler leaves us alone in the bedroom, the door open, and heads back down the steps.

“So, look at this,” Myles says, cocking a sly grin.

He doesn’t have to point it out, I can already see the sleeping arrangements are going to be a problem.

“Look at that, a California King, what more could you ask for?”