Kissing My Brother's Bride

kissing my brother’s bride MOLLY MCLAIN Kissing My Brother’s Bride (The Kissing Games Series) Copyright © 2023 Molly McLain Books, LLC All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious events. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or name features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Any reproduction of this book in whole or in part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation without written permission from the author. Cover Designer: Sarah Paige, Opium House/The Book Cover Boutique Cover Photo: Wander Aguiar Editor/Initial Proofing: Beth Lawton, VB Edits Proofreader: Julie Deaton Created with Vellum To my husband, J… No, babe, I am not in love with one of your brothers. This is just a book. Seriously. Also, eww. the kissing games series Read all 5 of the books! Kissing My Brother’s Bride - Molly McLain Kissing the Rival (June 15, 2023) - Kaylee Ryan Kissing My Crush (June 29, 2023) - C.A. Harms Kissing A Stranger (July 13, 2023) - Lacey Black Kissing My Soulmate (July 27, 2023) - Evan Grace contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Epilogue The Kissing Games Series Other Books By Molly Acknowledgments About the Author one -NOVEMBER- AUDREY “Happy birthday, dear Audrey, happy birthday to you!” The crowded table at the back of Saldana’s Restaurant breaks out into hoots and whistles as I blow out the candles on my cake. Thankfully, instead of the twenty-six the kitchen staff could have used, there are only five. I might’ve set off the smoke alarms, otherwise. “Aw, you guys are the best.” I smile at Linc’s parents and each of our friends while I try not to cry. Birthdays usually make me happy, but celebrating with this group instead of my own family is bittersweet. My sister Charlie came down with a stomach bug, and my parents… well, they’re here in spirit. “Cut the cake, babe.” Lincoln, my boyfriend of two years, gives my shoulder a nudge. Tonight is all his doing, and to say I’m surprised is an understatement. Fancy restaurants and over-the-top gestures are definitely his thing, but this side of Lincoln West, the one that takes time away from work to plan a night just for me, rarely comes out to play. “Yeah, Ace. Cut that sucker. And don’t be skimpy on mine.” Directly across the table, Liam, Linc’s younger brother, flashes a goofy grin. Where Linc is all business in his suits and ties, Liam is blue collar to the bone. He’s even wearing jeans and one of his customary Calloway Fire Department T-shirts tonight, despite explicit instructions from Linc to “look presentable”. That demand, of course, only ensured that Liam most certainly would not dress up. Grinning, I pluck the candles from the cake and set them on a napkin. “I suppose you want the piece with the most frosting, too?” “You know it.” Liam winks, the dim lighting overhead dancing in his pale blue eyes and making the light brown scruff on his jaw almost glitter. At the head of the table between us, Linc scoffs. “He’ll take whatever piece you give him, Audrey.” He enunciates my name like he does every time Liam calls me Ace. He gave me the nickname when we met and I think it’s cute. But Linc… well, he’s never liked how close Liam and I are, never mind that our friendship is entirely his fault. Two years ago, on the night of my first date with Linc, Liam showed up instead. Imagine my surprise—and his irritation—when he told me Linc was running late at work and hadn’t been able to reach me. I just happened to have dropped my phone in the bathtub that afternoon, so it was stuck in a bowl of rice on the kitchen counter. Liam and I talked and laughed and drank wine for more than an hour before Linc showed up. I was miffed at first, and I’m still baffled by Liam’s willingness to help his brother, but I’m grateful for it, nonetheless, because Liam is now one of my very best friends. “Be nice. It’s just cake.” I point a playful finger at Linc. Torturing Liam just a little, I serve the Wests first, then pass slices of the white chocolate and raspberry cake down to Lorelei, Jasper, Ty, and Amara. He waits patiently all the while, and I reward him with a huge piece with a ton of creamy white frosting. “Aw, you do love me,” he teases, then turns his smug grin on Linc. “You only have yourself to blame for the way she feels about me, man. If only you’d shown up on time for that first date.” “If only you’d quit fucking reminding me,” Linc mutters. That only makes Liam smile harder and their mother gasp. “Lincoln Michael!” Monica West glares at her eldest son before turning to Liam. “And you. Don’t antagonize your brother.” Our friends chuckle quietly around us, but no one says a word. Normally, the goading between Linc and Liam is funny. It’s not ideal, obviously, but at least it means they’re talking, and that’s a feat in and of itself anymore. When I met them, they got along as good as any set of brothers with almost opposite personalities could get along. These days, however, there’s no way Liam would have stood in for Linc on a date like he did that first night. And there’s no way Linc would