Best Friends Trilogy: Best Friends

Best Friends Trilogy

Book 1: Sister's Keeper

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Book 2: Sweet Surrender

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Book 3: Addicted

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Skin Deep Excerpt

Beauty Is Alisha Hoover Excerpt

Marilyn's Book List:

Marilyn's Bio:

Chapter One

T ell me again how this Damon Evans became your problem.

Kelly Brooks paused with a forkful of chocolate cheesecake halfway between her plate and her mouth. She knew the look on the other woman's smooth dark face well. She was about to be told yet again that she was not her sister Karen's keeper. She put her fork down, intent on heading her best friend, Bethnae Wills, off at the pass. She sat back in her seat at their favorite lunch spot, Mama Callie's. He's not my problem.

Bethnae sipped her milkshake and arched a brow. Then why are you taking it upon yourself to deliver the bad news? Why not let Karen do her own dirty work for once?

I would.

Except? Bethnae prodded.

Except she's already gone.

And?

And having been in the shoes he's now in, I don't think it's too much to treat him as I'd wished someone had treated me. I think he deserves to be told the truth and to be let down gently.

I agree but Karen can do herself when she returns.

I know, but that way doesn't feel right.

Well, it's not right, but that shouldn't make him your problem. When are you going to stop being her keeper and let her grow up, Kelly?

She's married now.

And? Bethnae challenged.

I think we can assume she's all grown up now, Beth.

Then let her prove it by doing her own dirty work for once!

I will—next time.

Bethnae shook her head. I can see that nothing I can say is going to change your mind.

Kelly grinned. And I can see your vision is still twenty–twenty.

Bethnae laughed. Sometimes I don't know what to do with you.

Just keep being my friend.

Always, Kel. Now when are you planning to play Florence Nightingale?

Hmmm. I thought Friday night would be best.

Really? Why?

Because that's when he expected to see her again.

Okay. Friday night it is. You want me to come with? Bethnae offered.

Kelly hesitated. That's a tempting offer. You are so good with people...especially men.

Bethnae frowned, her dark eyes narrowing. Only with the ones who don't count.

Kelly sighed. I can't believe he's not interested, she said of Bethnae's boss, Adam Barclay.

Believe it. If he hasn't made a move in five years, I think it's safe to assume he's not going to. I need to move on.

Are you sure, Beth? Sometimes, I could almost swear there's a spark in his eyes when he looks at you.

If it's ever been there, I've never seen it. Bethnae shook her head. But we're not talking about me. We're talking about you and your need to always clean up Karen's messes.

She shrugged. I'm only doing what I wished one of Barry's friends had done for me. Besides, he's had enough grief lately. He deserves a little consideration.

Fine. Shall I come with? Yes? No?

I am so tempted to have you come with me, but this isn't news for which a man is likely to want an audience.

Bethnae nodded. True dat.

So I think I'd better go alone.

If you change your mind, let me know.

She nodded. Besides, I really think you should spend more time on thinking up ways to shake things up with Adam.

Believe me, I've tried everything I can think off. I just don't think ... she shook her head. Never mind about the sorry state of my solo love affair with him. You want to do something after you spend a little time holding his hand?

I wish there was something I could say or do to help, Beth.

She nodded. I know, but let's leave it for now. Want to hang out later?

Kelly shrugged. That will depend on how well things go or don't go with him.

Call me after you've seen him, and we'll wing it.

Okay. Swallowing her growing unease, she picked up her fork. This looks delicious.

Bethnae sipped her shake. It does. Enjoy yourself now. Remember, next week we start jogging, working out at the gym, and cutting back on the sweets.

Kelly grimaced. The padded curves men found voluptuous on Karen had always felt like a liability to Kelly. While she didn't want or expect to be a skinny Minnie, she'd decided it was time she took off what she'd always considered excess weight.

Then I'd better get all the enjoyment out of this weekend I can.

Well said.

Relieved to have the conversation about Damon Evans resolved, Kelly settled down to savor one of her last culinary excesses.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING here?

The question reverberated in Kelly's mind two nights later as she stood in front of the large oak door. She glanced around. The street was quiet, tree–lined, and wide. The houses, all single homes with decorative security gates and private garages, whispered money and elegance in the warm May evening. Bethnae had been right. She should not have made Karen dumping Damon Evans her problem.

This was probably why none of Barry's friends had been willing to tell her she'd been dumped—it was so damned awkward. If ever there was a time for getting out of Dodge, this was it. From all she had heard, Damon Evans was a big boy used to taking care of himself. The news about Karen might sting, but he would survive. She'd drop the Dear Damon letter in her bag, in the mail on her way home.

Instead of spending her night trying to make excuses for Karen, she and Bethnae could round up a few friends and they could have a wild girls' night out at one of the clubs on the boulevard or visit Philly's first casino.

She took a step backwards and then froze as the entrance door swung open.

The man who stood there looked as if he'd stepped off the cover of an erotic romance novel. His handsome face with its chiseled features boasted a full, sensuous bottom lip and dark bedroom eyes. He was tall and muscular with a buff body, long legs, and narrow hips.

Neither Karen's description of him as tall, dark, and sinfully handsome nor the one snapshot she'd seen of him did him justice. The hunk in front of her was so sexy that just looking at him made her heartthrob and her nether regions flutter and pulse with lust. Small wonder Karen had been so willing to cross the color line for the first time to date him.

His dark green eyes made a quick assessment of her body before locking his gaze with hers.

Why hadn't she worn a dress that would have flattered her long legs and highlight her breasts, which she considered her best asset?

Karen?

Kelly inhaled sharply. Damn but he had it all. A handsome face, a great looking body, and a voice that made a woman tingle all over. He embodied the complete female fantasy. Or he would if the most important muscles in his lower body matched those in his upper ones for size.

She bit her lip to fight off the urge to take a quick peek to see.

Karen? He said again.

Kelly blinked. This sexy, mouthwatering man was Damon Evans? Karen must have been nuts to call him old. Forty had never looked so utterly delicious on any man.

What a delightful surprise. You're early and far more beautiful than I expected.

He thought her beautiful and not just cute? Then part of his words sank in. Early? She blinked. What? Oh! No! You think I'm Ka—

What I think is that we should get better acquainted.

Without giving her time to find a delicate way of telling him who she was and why she was there, he pulled her into his arms.

Hey! Wait. I'm not—

He silenced her protests by crushing her lips under his.

His lips were warm, insistent, and demanding, his body unyielding against hers.

A shock of need sent a shudder through her body. She closed her eyes and savored the taste of his caressing lips while enjoying the feel of his big body against hers. Then, needing more, she pressed closer, parting her lips.

Sucking her tongue into his mouth, he held her with one arm around her waist, leaving the other hand free to stroke over her body.

She moaned against his lips as she felt his hand glide below her waist to touch and caress each of her ass cheeks before he then slipped it between their upper bodies. His fingers brushed over the buttons holding her blouse closed.

This is crazy, Kelly. Stop him before he starts unbuttoning your blouse.

Ignoring the voice of reason, she rubbed her breasts against him.

In response, he swiftly and skillfully undid several buttons, which allowed him to slip his fingers inside her bra.

A jolt of need sent a flood of moisture into her panties. Oh! She shuddered and arched her back, pressing both her lower body and her breasts closer.

He lifted his mouth from hers. You like that?

The question, asked in a soft, husky voice, stoked her passions. What was not to like about having a big, warm hand on her neglected breasts? And she could feel the outline of what appeared to be a rather nice sized cock pressed against her. Like did not begin to describe the emotions roiling inside her.

Driven by primal need, she slid her hand up from the nape of his neck to cup behind his head. Lifting onto her toes, she sought his mouth. Yes, she murmured against his lips. I like it and I like you too.

Believe me. The feeling is mutual. He put his other arm around her, positioned her against the open door, and devoured her mouth.

Kelly responded in a mindless haze, feeling the hardening contours of what was definitely a very nice sized cock pressed intimately against her as they kissed and caressed each other.

Each kiss and caress made her hotter and more desperate to feel his cock sliding balls deep inside her empty, aching pussy. God, she moaned, just thinking about it. She snaked a hand between their bodies and cupped her palm over his groin, massaging and caressing his shaft and balls through his pants.

He thrust his hips forward against her hand. Damn. Don't do that unless you mean business.

The hoarsely voiced warning was enough to bring her back to her senses. She snatched her hand away and stared up at him, sucking in a deep breath. How far did she want to take this?

He stared back for several moments in silence. Then he sighed and finally drew his lower body away from hers. Keeping one arm around her waist, he casually refastened her blouse.

Kelly was thankful for his arm because she found it impossible to stand without support. Confessing to him that he'd been kissing and arousing the wrong sister was out of the question.

He brushed the back of his hand against her cheek. Are you all right?

All right? She longed to rip off her clothes, spread her legs, and have him ravish her right there on his front steps. She longed to undo his zipper, slip her hands inside his pants, and fondle his big, bare cock before slowly sucking it between her lips. Once it was sufficiently wet and hard, she envisioned guiding it deep into her body.

Big–time lust gripped her only moments after meeting her sister's jilted lover. Was she all right? Absolutely not.

Are you all right? He asked again.

I'm not sure, she admitted.

I know the feeling. Come inside and we'll figure out how we're both doing together. Tightening the arm around her waist, he swept her into a large, elegant living room that was so perfectly coordinated; she knew it must have been furnished by a professional interior decorator. He indicated a leather sofa in the middle of the room. Have a seat and I'll get you a drink. He paused. The usual?

A drink was the last thing she needed. Nevertheless, she nodded and forced herself not to follow his movement to a long, cream–leather bar by a pair of French windows with her eyes. Pull on the reins, Kel. Pull on the reins. He's just a man. Okay he's a man with a killer smile, a handsome face, a devastating kiss, and a big, hard cock. But he's still just a man. Just give him his Dear Damon message and hit the trail. He's not the only man in town with a big, hard cock. She was so over Barry and ready for a man of her own again. The operative phase being a man of her own, not one of Karen's castoffs.

He crossed the room and sat beside her on the love seat. Meeting her gaze, he handed her a glass.

His presence was all the stimulus she needed. Still, she accepted the glass and placed it on the table beside the sofa. Thank you.

He slipped an arm around her shoulders.

Her heart raced and breathing became difficult. She had to get out of there before she did something totally crazy.

Karen?

Tell him the truth. She turned to look at him. Yes?

You look different. He tilted his head to one side, his gaze searching. What have you done to your hair?

Now was the time to tell him. That's why she'd come—to deliver bad news—not to fall for him herself. She ran a trembling hand through her short dark curls. Karen wore her hair in a long, dark cloud that framed her face and hung around her shoulders. I cut it, she was amazed to hear herself say quickly.

So I see, but why?

She'd always found long hair more trouble than it was worth. And after Barry dumped her for another woman, she'd finally taken the plunge and cut her hair. This style is easier to maintain. She moistened her lips. I know it makes me look very different, but...do you like it?

He brushed his fingers against the hair tapered at the back of her neck. It provides a perfect frame for your beautiful face and draws attention to those gorgeous dark eyes of yours. He smiled and touched his lips lightly against the nape of her neck. What's not to like?

A shock of delight danced along her spine. She pressed her lips together to suppress the urge to purr with pleasure. So you like it?

I like it and I like you.

You do? You like me?

Oh yeah.

He sounded sincere, but then he thought she was Karen, who had been leaving men breathless ever since they were teenagers.

Let me show you how much I like the new you.

She saw desire and a question in his gaze. She wet her lips. The new me? You mean my new hairstyle. Don't you?

If you say so. He bent his head, allowing his lips to hover a breath away from hers.

She liked that he offered her an opportunity to say no by drawing back. She didn't move.

He touched his mouth to hers. His lips, already parted, were firm. And warm and irresistibly sweet.

She leaned closer, eager to have her mouth ravished again.

He settled his mouth over hers in a slow, sweet kiss full of the promise of endless passion.

She gripped his shirt with one hand