Sterling Touch

I wasn't supposed to love him. I wasn't even supposed to acknowledge him. But my entire life, I've had heart-eyes for my oldest brother's former best friend, Cortland Haven.

I can't help it that boys can be stupid, and a feud broke apart a long-time friendship and divided once-close families.

Try as I might to ignore Cort, I didn't miss his eyes on me from across a crowded bar, twelve years ago. Oh, the way my skin tingled under his appraisal. The way my heart pattered knowing he was looking at me.

We shared more than a moment.

Now, we're older and wiser. And with a little over a decade age gap between us, and a divide greater than that between our families, my heart still hasn't gotten the memo.

No, that fickle organ has other plans for Cortland and me, especially when the silver fox is assigned as my new physical therapy patient - and the man is adverse to touch.

I don't just fall for Cortland Haven again; I tumble hard for him when he should never be mine.