A SPLIT-SECOND DECISION CHANGED THEIR LIVES — BUT THEIR BIGGEST TEST IS THE SECRETS THEY’RE HIDING.
Anna's heart belongs to two brothers — her boyfriend Derek and his brother Jesse, who is also her best friend.
At a beach party one night, Derek finds out she's fallen for Jesse, and she knows a breakup is imminent. Jesse also suddenly changes — preoccupied, secretive, and glued to mysterious texts that have Anna on edge.
To make matters worse, Jesse is about to leave for Nebraska — she'll lose him for sure.
As tension peaks, the boys' cousin Troy De La Fontaine visits to help Jesse move to his new college town. Anna desperately wants to go with him but can't find the words.
When Anna reads the explosive messages Jesse's been hiding, she's stunned. One revelation could cost her everything — one way or another, she's afraid she's about to lose her best friend.
Will the texts break them? Does a new life with Jesse await — or will she be left behind?
Features a crossover appearance by Derek and Jesse's cousin, Troy De La Fontaine, from the My Best Friend's Brother series.
JESSE DANIELS REIMAGINED is a Second-Chance Romance Alternate Ending Companion Novella. It can be read as a standalone. Available at:
Despite the new car and freedom to come and go as he pleased again, Derek looked disgruntled when he passed me in the foyer.
I recognized the look of betrayal and pain.
“Derek, how’d it go?” Dad asked from the couch.
Derek hurried to his room and slammed the door.
Dad tossed his magazine on the table.
I looked at him and bit my lip.
“Is this your fault?”
I shrugged because I couldn’t admit it.
Dad rubbed his forehead. “Are you sure about this move? That’s awfully far… What if you decide you hate it there? I’ll have to move you back, and—”
“Dad!” I scorned. I kneeled and slipped on my shoes.
“Where are you going?” he demanded.
“I dunno.”
“Never heard of it. Is it local?”
I shot him a look. Truthfully, I just wanted to get away from home. He didn’t need to be a pain about it.
Tiffany rushed down the stairs, bolting for the door beyond me. “Sleeping at Lydia’s!” she announced, whizzing by me before Dad could protest.
Dad hopped to his feet and raised a finger. “Now, just a minute—”
“It’s just a sleepover!” Tiffany tossed her shoes on and gripped the doorknob.
“Yes, but—”
“Bye, Dad!” She opened the door. And then,
“Holy crap you’re hot!” she blurted to whoever was on the other side.
When I peered out the door, my jaw dropped.
On our porch stood a muscular guy with piercing bluish-gray eyes and shoulder-length brown hair. A navy-blue tee shirt hugged his bulky biceps—one of which was inked with a dragon tattoo. His grin was sparkly white.
He pulled his hand back, like he was about to knock before Tiff threw open the door. “Do the Daniels live here?”
“Y-yeah,” Tiffany stuttered as we gaped at him.
“Ah, sweet! I am Troy De La Fontaine—their cousin,” he said in a light French accent.
Another guy climbed our steps. This one had bottle blond hair to his shoulders—clearly fake as he had dark roots—sea green eyes, an incredible build, and a hot crooked smile. He looked like one of the guys on the covers of Tiff’s perverted novels.
My speechless sister looked him over. Several times. “And who are you, Fabio?”
“Yes, actually,” he said with an ear-to-ear grin.
Tiffany gasped. “Oh my God!”
“Fabio D’Amore.”
Flabbergasted, she looked about—from Troy, to me, to Dad—and back to the hunk on our porch. “You have got to be shittin’ me!”
He chuckled, pulled out his wallet, and showed her his driver’s license. “I am shitting you, gorgeous. My name’s Tristan.”
Tiffany stared at his license, looking beyond stupid. “Oh, I remember you! You spent some time here years ago.”
“That was me!”
Her eyes rolled down his bicep. “You’ve changed a bit.”
Tristan sucked his teeth. “Sorry to disappoint.”
Tiffany blushed.
Dad set a hand on her shoulder. “You boys got here early.”
Troy shrugged. “Better than late, eh?”
Dad laughed his warm laugh and looked to Tristan. “How old are you?”
“Nineteen.”
Dad nudged Tiffany. “You said you’re spending the night at Lydia’s…?”
Her eyes widened and she looked up at him. “I can’t imagine those words leaving my mouth.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Come on in, boys,” Dad said, pulling Tiffany aside. The guys stepped into our foyer and Dad shut the door.
Claudia turned the corner, wiping her hands on her apron. She gasped and rushed in for a hug. “Oh, my goodness! I haven’t seen you boys in ages!”
Troy squeezed her tight. “I’ve missed you too, Madame.”
Manny bounced into the room, wagging his tail playfully. Troy’s eyes lit up when he saw him. “You have a bear!”
Claudia laughed as she hugged Tristan. “He’s a giant malamute.”
“I know,” Troy said, “I’ve seen him in pictures. I didn’t imagine he was this large, though.” He ruffled Manny’s head as the dog licked him. “He’s larger than my cousin Trevor’s…” His face grew long momentarily, before his smile returned. “Sweet boy.”
Claudia set her hands on her hips. “Well, you know m’loots, they get massive. We had a scare with him recently, almost lost him.”
“Greg poisoned him,” Jesse noted, descending the stairs.
He high-fived Tristan. “Long time no see, man.”
“Whoa, Greg poisoned him?” Troy exclaimed. “What the hell with?”
“Antifreeze.”
~~~
JESSE DANIELS REIMAGINED is a Second-Chance Romance Alternate Ending Companion Novella. It can be read as a standalone. Available at:
