Beast of Christmas Past: Cherish Cove, #10

By Brynn Paulin

It's been five years...Since I was ousted from the family, since I saw any of them, even my brother's best friend…who's my husband. It's a mess I need to clean up, but I don't want to face.

 

But my best friend is getting married, and she's begged me to come home. I'm hoping to get in and get out without any of my relatives finding out I'm there. Spoiler alert: she's marrying my brother. That's information I should have had before I got on the plane. And before my beast gets his hands on me.

 

According to him, I'm not leaving. I'm still his.

 

Problem is, I have a secret at home. I have a life hundreds of miles away and someone waiting for me. Someone with their daddy's eyes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Supernova Indie Publishing Services LLC
• Release date: Apr 7, 2023
• ISBN: 9781623443788

Book preview

Beast of Christmas Past

Cherish Cove

By Brynn Paulin

Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Powered by Your Imagination

Beast of Christmas Past

by

Brynn Paulin

It’s been five years...Since I was ousted from the family, since I saw any of them, even my brother’s best friend…who’s my husband. It’s a mess I need to clean up, but I don’t want to face.

But my best friend is getting married, and she’s begged me to come home. I’m hoping to get in and get out without any of my relatives finding out I’m there. Spoiler alert: she’s marrying my brother. That’s information I should have had before I got on the plane. And before my beast gets his hands on me.

According to him, I’m not leaving. I’m still his.

Problem is, I have a secret at home. I have a life hundreds of miles away and someone waiting for me. Someone with their daddy’s eyes.

Copyright

© 2021, Brynn Paulin

Beast of Christmas Past

Cover Art by Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Electronic Format ISBN: 978-1-62344-378-8

Published by: Supernova Indie Publishing Services, LLC

Warning: All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, places or occurrences, is purely coincidental.

Thank You!

Thank you for your purchase of Beast of Christmas Past.

I hope you enjoy the story and will consider leaving a review or telling a friend about the book.

I love hearing from readers! To keep in touch and follow my news, please visit me on my website at www.brynnpaulin.com.

Prologue

~ Bex ~

But you’ve got to come home! Please!

I frowned at my friend’s pleading tone. One minute into this call, and I was already regretting that I’d dialed the phone.

Hel—

"Don’t say no! Bex, it’s been five years. I can’t stand it. You’re my best friend, and you won’t even tell anyone where you’ve been! You’ve gotta come home. It’s my wedding and Christmas for God’s sake!"

I can’t believe you’re getting married on Christmas.

That’s when everyone was available.

Uh-huh, I murmured in disbelief.

So you’re coming? Promise you’re coming!

Hel, I groaned. You know I don’t want to see my family.

There was a long pause, and I heard her sigh. It’s my wedding, not a family reunion.

Who are you marrying again?

Nice try. I’m not telling you. Maybe, the curiosity will drag you back here. Just know that he’s a really good guy, and I know you’ll love him. Now, when should I expect you? You’re my maid of honor, and the rehearsal dinner is Friday night.

I scrubbed a hand over my face. I’d vowed never to go home again, but how could I miss Hel’s wedding? I couldn’t. Maybe, if I kept a low profile, I could get in and out of town without a confrontation with my family, in particular one specific person who happened to be my brother’s best friend, too. It was probably too much to hope that they wouldn’t know I’d snuck into Cherish Cove at all. My little brother, Dillon, would probably be attending the wedding, as would Alec.

Alec.

A stab of pain swept through me.

Alec had been my lover, too. For one night. For almost forty-five hours. Five years ago. A relationship between us was never meant to be, however. We’d found heaven, only to be thrust into hell.

I missed him with my entire being. Still, I couldn’t go near him without destroying my family and ripping apart every remaining fiber of my soul.

Will Dillon be there? I asked. I wouldn’t ask about Alec, though Hel would know. Once upon a time, the four of us had been inseparable.

Will you nix coming back if I say yes?

No. I could handle my brother. Though he was four years younger, we’d always been close. I was sure he was pissed at me, but I’d deal with that if I had to.

Then yes. He will definitely be at the wedding. There was another pause, and I heard a soft noise that sounded like a smothered moan. Geez! I’d never considered when I’d called Hel that my friend wouldn’t be alone.

Are you going to ask about Alec? she asked, her voice a little breathy.

No. Another tingle vibrated through me at his name. Not good. Not even remotely good. I never asked about him, and Hel damned well knew it.

So are you coming?

I smiled. Hel sure sounded as she were on the edge of that. She’d be screaming her pleasure across the line if we didn’t get off the phone soon.

Maybe, I hedged. Look, finish what you’re…um…doing, and we can talk about this later.

One week, Bex, she yelled. I have your dress. One week and you’d better be here.

The phone went dead in what sounded like a nick of time. Throwing myself backward onto my bed, I stared at the ceiling.

What the hell was I going to do?

Chapter One

~ Bex ~

Returning home shouldn’t be so difficult. Emotional turmoil bubbled in my middle, the apprehension and excitement a toxic mix. Walking into a lion’s den might be easier. At least, lions wouldn’t say anything as they ripped me apart. I knew very well how poorly the verbal wounds healed.

I grasped the steering wheel of my rental car with one hand and swiped a stray hunk of hair out of my eyes with the other, keeping my focus on the dark road.

Maybe, I was worried for nothing. In all reality, I might not see anyone from my family except Dillon. He was manageable anyway. Even though Hel had begged me to attend the wedding, I wasn’t expected, not really.

I managed a half-smile as I navigated out of Grand Rapids on Westbound 96. The inky night swallowed my vehicle as memories swamped my thoughts. Of finally giving into temptation and being with Alec. Of secretly