Friends Don't Kiss (Emerald Creek #4)

They didn’t plan the kiss. Or anything that followed.

Colton

When I kissed my best friend to shut up her judgmental family, I didn’t expect her to melt in my arms.
Kiss me back.
Hold me tight.
I thought she didn’t feel for me the way I do, but this changes everything.
Our friendship started the day I found her sleeping in her car, fresh off a betrayal that should’ve broken her. I cracked her protective shell and helped her start over. Now she’s become a part of me.
It’s simple: this kiss is the beginning of our forever.
But nothing with Kiara is simple. Not the wounds from her past. Not her struggles to succeed as a pastry chef. Not the reasons she fights her battles on her own.
She turns me down? Fine. I’ll wait.
She starts swiping right on other men? Absolutely not.
Kiara doesn’t know it yet, but she’s already mine.

Kiara

This fake kiss wasn’t supposed to leave me breathless, aching for more, and wondering what if.
Because Colton Harper doesn’t do anything halfway. Not kissing, not pretending, and definitely not loving.
Now he wants to date for real, but I’m terrified.
I built a new life in Emerald Creek, made friends who are my new family. Colton is my rock, and changing our friendship to dating could lead to losing everything.
I’ve seen how love ends, and I won’t let that happen to us.
He’s relentless though, so I cave in. He can be my first. Just once. No expectations. No heartbreak.
When he refuses, I’m left with no choice but to swallow my disappointment and move on.
But Colton can be very persuasive.