Kissing My Enemy, Breaking His Brother

Eleanor's POV

The sound of luggage wheels on wood made my heart jump.

I shot up from the velvet armchair by the fireplace, nearly spilling the champagne. My hands smoothed down the sleeveless cream cashmere sweater dress one last time.

Arthur was finally here.

"Babe, you're going to wear a hole in that rug." Chloe stood beside me, watching me pace back and forth relentlessly.

My best friend had been watching me pace for two hours. "You look gorgeous."

Wyatte emerged from the game room and snapped his fingers at us. "Ladies, who are you waiting for so eagerly? We never got this kind of treatment when we came over before. Playing favorites, aren't you?"

He patted my shoulder. "If you're waiting for Julian, no need to worry—he'll definitely come. If he knew, he'd be moved to tears."

I was about to protest that I wasn't waiting for that big jerk when Chloe pulled him away and said, "You don't know anything at all."

Blake and Zach were still in the game room, their voices drifting through the lodge. Blake's booming laugh rang out every few minutes.

The front door swung open.

My breath caught.

Julian Vance walked in.

Not Arthur. Julian.

My heart sank.

Julian kicked the door shut and dragged his suitcase inside. Snowflakes melted in his brown hair. Dark jeans, charcoal sweater. He stepped into the firelight and those gray-blue eyes found me. That infuriating smirk tugged at his mouth, making the small mole at the corner of his eye more noticeable.

"Well, well." He let out a low whistle. "Look at you, all dolled up."

"Hey, you made it. Where's Arthur?"

"Hello to you too, Red." He tossed his coat over the sofa.

"Don't call me that." I crossed my arms. "Where is he?"

"Delayed. Business call." Julian's eyes traveled over me slowly. "What's with the dress? Little fancy for a ski lodge, don't you think?"

"I felt like dressing up. There's a party later."

"Sure you did." He walked straight toward me, standing way too close. "You even curled your hair. When's the last time you did that? Graduation day, senior year? You burned your hand trying to impress—oh wait." He paused, grinning. "You were trying to impress Arthur then too, weren't you?"

I slapped his arm. "Shut up."

"Make me, Red."

He reached out and tugged gently on one of my curls, watching it bounce back. I batted his hand away but he just laughed.

"Still doing that thing where you position yourself by the fireplace for optimal lighting?" He tilted his head, studying me. "Very cinematic. Arthur's going to walk in and think he's in a Hallmark movie."

"You're such an ass."

"So I've been told." He plucked the champagne flute right out of my hand. "Liquid courage?"

"Hey!" I grabbed for it but he held it above my head, grinning.

"Answer the question first."

"Julian, I swear to God—"

"You swear to God what?" He took a sip of my champagne, maintaining eye contact. "You'll tell Arthur you're madly in love with him? Tonight?"

My mouth fell open. "How did you—"

"Oh my God," Chloe breathed from the kitchen. "Elle, you told him?"

"I didn't tell him anything!"

"She didn't have to." Julian handed the glass back, his fingers brushing mine. "She's wearing perfume. Red never wears perfume. Remember that time in eighth grade when you tried Mom's Chanel and sneezed for three hours?"

I shoved him. Hard. He stumbled back a step, laughing.

"You're the worst."

"But I'm honest." He caught his balance and stepped back into my space. "Elle, seriously. Have you thought this through?"