Meant to be Mine: Kincaid Sisters, #1

1

Prologue ~ Christmas

Evan

I’m hot and sweaty after being in the Santa suit for a couple of hours, and even now that I’ve switched back to my jeans and shirt, I still feel overheated. I shake my head and focus on the girl standing close beside me. She’s the reason why I can’t catch my breath or cool down. Jessica Kincaid, who hasn’t left my side this afternoon.

We’d spent the night together on the floor of Kix, thanks to getting snowed in. We’d talked and I’d probably been more honest with her than I have been since my sister died. She was a taboo subject within my family, and it felt good to be able to talk about her freely. It had been seven years since she’d died, and although she’d plotted and schemed even from her hospital bed at home, she had still been my sister.

Jess had listened to me and held me against her when my tears had gotten the better of me. I’d felt like an ass breaking down all over her, but enough was enough. It felt good to have the relief, and I’ll always thank her for that. But that’s all we can ever have because she’s too young for me at twenty.

Just at this moment, Jessie glances at me and our eyes hold. I know what I want, no matter how wrong it is, and the look she’s giving me tells me she wants me just as much.

I know this is the last time I’ll be around Kix, and Jessie, so I interlace our fingers and tug her into an office at the back of the roadhouse.

She turns to me and wraps her arms around my neck as I pull her close. Only this once, I whisper, and only one kiss.

Tears hover on her lashes, but she nods her head. I pause, wondering about the wisdom of what I’m about to do, but do it anyway.

My lips caress along Jessie’s and my heart races with longing for the beautiful girl in my arms. Her tongue snakes out and captures mine, pulling it into the warmth of her mouth. All thoughts of walking away from her briefly leave my mind as our kiss deepens and very slowly grows heated.

My hands slide to her bottom and I lift her against my throbbing cock. I growl at the feel of her rubbing against it, and when she moans, what I’m doing and about to do, suddenly washes over me.

My body, and heart, craves the girl I’ve only recently met.

It’s impossible.

Jessie slowly realizes that I’m backing away from her and her eyes fill with tears as I physically move away.

This is wrong, Jessie, I say.

There’s nothing wrong with what we were doing or about to do. I want you, Evan. Jessie takes a step closer.

I move around the desk. You won’t see me again.

The tears fall down her beautiful young face as I caress her with my eyes, making sure I don’t forget anything about her. My memories of her will have to keep me going, because although there are only fourteen years between us, I feel so much older—too old for my Jessie.

You can really walk away from me? she whispers.

I’m too damn soft as I quickly stand in front of her with her face cupped between my palms. I want you Jessie…I may have lost direction in my life right now…but I refuse to take advantage of you. I rest my forehead against hers. No matter how much I want to. I close my eyes and tugging her back into my arms, I kiss her with not only my lips, but my heart as well.

The minute our lips separate, I dash out of the room and quickly make my way outside into the snow. At my truck, I catch my breath and turn back to look at Kix.

She means something to you? Ryder asks.

I’d been so lost in my own anguish to realize he was around.

I don’t meet his gaze, nor do I directly answer his question. Make sure she’s okay.

Jessie

Locked inside the restroom with my heart pounding, my body trembles. Evan touched me in a way I’ve never experienced before. My fingers quiver as they hover over my swollen lips. His lips had been firm and full of passion like the rest of his body. I’d felt his want against my body, which had lit the fuse within my own.

Evan is a man who has lost direction. The need to be there and help him find it again is in my heart. The way he’d spoken about losing his sister, the one person who really understood him had broken my heart. I hadn’t let him see my tears while I’d held him through his.

His age is a problem for him, and probably my brother, and the rest of my family, except, it doesn’t bother me. I felt a true connection to him during the night we’d spent on the floor of Kix with everyone else. We’d been in our own corner of the roadhouse and for the first time in my life, I felt as though he listened to me. My family and friends listen to me, sometimes, but I don’t think they really listen—not the way Evan had.

And now he’s leaving as quickly as he appeared.

My heart is young and really untouched, or it had been until Evan smiled at me across the bar. I’ve always been reserved about making out with boys, which is why my body is still untouched. Adam, my ex-boyfriend, hadn’t been happy with me because I refused to let him touch me beneath my clothing. I hadn’t touched him either, which had frustrated him. He was impatient, so I ended whatever we had going on. My family, mainly my mother, loves Adam who has a thing about showing up at my house. Drives me crazy because I’m not interested in him.

I blink away tears and try to pull myself together before I face the others left in the bar. My eyes are probably rimmed red because of my tears, which I brought on myself. I should have hardened my heart to Evan because I knew he hadn’t planned on staying around, but instead I’d fallen hard and so fast.

A sudden banging on the door startles me into jumping forward. Jessie, are you in there? Ryder shouts.

Swallowing hard, I reply, I’ll be out in a minute.

Silence follows but I hear his feet shuffling around on the other side of the door. He’s one of my brother’s friends and I guess you could say he’s my brother-in-law too, as he’s married to my half-sister Dahlia. He looks out for us girls when we’re around Kix, which I like. He’s not as aggressive about it as my brother Reece. I love him dearly, but he gets possessive with us. I guess he’s trying to be Dad as well as big brother.

Jessie, I’m still waiting. Ryder sounds more worried than annoyed, so with a deep inhale and exhale, I slowly pull the door open.

Ryder frowns as he leans against the opposite wall, his knee bent, and one foot pressed against the wall. He appears casual, but I know Ryder and he’s worried.

I’m fine, I tell him with a large sigh.

I don’t know what happened between the two of you, he winces, and I’m not asking, but I have eyes. He moves forward and wraps me in a bear hug as tears hover in my eyes. He kisses the top of my head and rubs my back. If it helps, I know he cares Jessie, but Evan has too much baggage for someone as young as you are.

I gasp on a chuckle. You make me sound naïve.

You are naïve in certain things and more mature in others. Ryder holds my arms and pushes me slightly away from him. In a few weeks you’ll have forgotten all about Evan Sutton.

You really don’t believe that. I tip my head to the side, holding his gaze as my tears silently slip down my face.

Ryder doesn’t answer.

2

Jessie

Adam saunters toward the back of Kix and I silently groan. We’re not dating and never will. I guess I can’t blame him for his persistence though, even if it’s annoying at times. We hang out together with our friends and I for one don’t really mind, except Adam once again has started pushing for more and I’m just not interested. I wasn’t interested before I met Evan, and I’m certainly not now.

The sad truth is, I miss Evan. I spend far too much time wondering where he is and what he’s doing while at the same time, I’m hoping he hasn’t found someone else. What we shared the night we’d gotten snowed in at Kix was special. At least to me it was. Only Evan has made me feel like a woman—I want that feeling back.

Who am I kidding? I just want Evan back in my life.

I’ve not heard a word from him, not that I expected too, even though I’d hoped, so over the past few months I’d started to get my life back. Adam had taken my new lease of life as a signal to try and get into my pants. That will never happen. The only person I want in my pants is lost to me.

As Adam slumps down in the chair beside me, he gives me a cocky grin, the one that makes his dimples pop. Other girls sigh, I roll my eyes. I’m on a break, I grumble.

Best time to catch you. He waves his hand around in the air. You run away from me otherwise.

I hold his gaze and narrow my eyes. I’m always busy.

When I’m around you are.

Well, I guess you should take the hint then. I sit back in my chair and cross my arms in front of my chest. I thought you were heading into the city.

I am, figured I’d come and see if you wanted to head there with us. Nodding toward his friends who hover close to the door, he sits forward and rests his hands on the table. Come with us, Jessie.

I’m working till late. I really don’t want to go into the city with him and the others. They have a habit of not returning until morning and the last thing I want is to be stuck in the city with them.

You’re always working, Adam grumbles.

I happen to enjoy my job and the people I meet. It’s fun. I shrug. I don’t feel like I’m working half the time. I guess I’m lucky in that respect.

He completely ignores me. I’m sure Ryder will give you the time off if he knows you have somewhere else to be.

I play along because the sooner we get this conversation over with the sooner he’ll disappear. And where would that be?

Come to the city with us, Jessie. You’ll have fun. I’m driving us there, which means you won’t be stranded there like last time. I promise, he whines, and the plea sounds strange coming out of Adam’s mouth.

My belly flutters with nerves because I know I’m going to be heading into the city with him and his friends, even when it isn’t what I really want to do.

Adam smirks. I’ll tell the guys to wait. He kisses me on the cheek and saunters back to his friends. I don’t miss the look that passes between them, nor the glances from the other women in the bar as he saunters past them.

I can’t believe you said yes! Leo, my sister’s boyfriend hisses. What’s wrong with you?

Groaning, I beg, Please don’t tell Robin. She’ll get all over me.

She’s your sister, Jessie. He gets close and whispers, I don’t like him or who he hangs around with. You are safer staying home.

That’s all I ever do. I’m either here at the bar or chilling with family. I’m twenty-one and want what the others have.

Don’t wish your life away. I’m lucky to have Robin. He smirks. She tells me how lucky I am on a daily basis.

I shove into him with my shoulder. She’s lucky to have you as well, Leo. Really lucky. I sigh. I gave my heart away at Christmas and I don’t have it back yet. I’m not even sure I want it back. I shrug. I’ll finish up the hour and then head out if you’re okay with that?

Don’t make me regret this.

I won’t.

Call me if you need me to come and get you. No matter the time.

I give Leo a quick hug before getting back to work.

Three hours later and I’m wondering the wisdom of giving into Adam’s suggestion so easily. I hate being here. The whole club scene isn’t me and no matter how much I try to enjoy it, I don’t.

My gaze wanders around the large club. Lots of dancers are letting themselves go, some doing things with their partners that should be kept to the privacy of their own room. I feel my cheeks heat when I watch one couple really getting into the swing of things. She’s grinding on his leg while he looks to have his mouth wrapped around a large breast.

It’s hot, right? Adam says, dropping into the chair beside me.

The girl suddenly clings to the guy and I don’t need anyone to tell me what just happened.

Adam gives me a sidelong glance before clearing his throat. You want to dance?

I blink at Adam and he grins, rolling his eyes. I don’t mean like, um, them. He laughs and shakes his head. I might be an asshole but I’m not into that kind of display. His eyes move to something behind me.

Frowning, I turn to see what holds his attention and my body goes still. My eyes travel up the hard body of the man I’ve been unable to forget. Evan Sutton. I can’t look away from his gaze as our eyes refuse to move from the other.

He’s whom I fell in love with that snowy night at Kix. He’s the man that has spoilt me for other men, because I compare them to him. Not just in looks, but in who he is. We talked for most of the night, until we’d fallen asleep in each other’s arms. I’d felt his morning reaction against me and had very slowly moved against him until he’d grabbed my hips to stop me. His voice had been rough around the edges when he’d said, Don’t move.

Now, Evan’s eyes narrow as they travel over my face. He knows exactly where my mind has gone.

Really, Evan! Where have your manners gone? There is a slim, blonde woman pushing into his side. Her jaw tight as she looks