Read the first chapter of Her Brother’s Best Friend.
“Nope.” Skylar Anderson glared at her phone, shaking her head as if it would make the offending text disappear.
She would do almost anything for Gayle Dobson, but this was asking too much. Her phone rang, and she plastered on a smile, the effort amplifying her exasperation.
“Mama Gayle,” she began in her sweetest voice as she paced the length of her industrial kitchen, the stainless-steel counters gleaming under the bright overhead lights.
“I can hear your mind whirring from over here, child. I know you’ve read my text. This is not negotiable.”
Skye suppressed a sigh. She’d never convince her foster mother to reconsider.
“It’s time you and Ty get over your differences and start acting like adults.”
Ty had been her mortal enemy since the day they met. Over twenty years later, she couldn’t forget his smug smile or teasing comment.
“Cory’s birthday is in a week and his best friend and sister are the perfect people to plan a surprise party for him.”
“But, Mama Gayle,” her mind raced as she made and discarded excuses. “It’s on Valentine’s Day.”
“Do you have a wedding?”
Her bakery, the Happily Ever Cake Boutique, was one of Orange Valley’s most sought-after wedding cake providers. She had built up a reputation for excellent service and delicious cakes until she’d had to hire an entire team to support her business.
“Yes.”
The faint hum of the refrigerator filled the otherwise quiet room, and she was grateful for the rare moment of solitude in the usually bustling space.
“Uh-huh.” Skepticism coated Gayle’s voice. “One that you are attending in person?”
Skye bit her lip as she contemplated lying. She couldn’t do it.
Not only because Skye was morally opposed to lying, but because Gayle was a human lie detector.
“No. It’s Valentine’s Day.” Her protest was weak.
“Do you have a date?”
There was a note of hope in Gayle’s voice.
Skye’s shoulders curved in defeat. “No.”
“Skylar, you’re forty years old. When do you plan to marry and give these old arms some grand-babies to love?”
“You have more grand-babies than arms.”
Gayle’s biological children had five children between them, and the woman was an honorary grandmother to dozens more, as many of the children she’d fostered remained an active part of her life.
“Not from you. I don’t know what you’re waiting for.” Fabric rustled on Gayle’s end and Skye pictured her foster mom gathering an item of clothing, her needle darting through it at record speed.
No one in the Dobson household went without clothes, as Gayle’s talent as a seamstress was unmatched. Her skill had also supplemented the family’s income, allowing the Dobsons to foster over twenty children.
She pressed her fingers to her forehead, the dull throb behind her temples intensifying with every thought of Tyreke. There was no way around it—she’d have to work with him.
“I’ll plan Cory’s birthday party with Ty.”
Why had the man opened a business that complimented hers? She squirmed at the unkind thought. Ty had dreamed of opening a catering business before they even met.
“Wonderful. I expect you both at The Farm at noon.”
The Dobsons lived on a ten-acre spread, where they grew fruits and vegetables to supply the large family with food.
“But—” Skye buttoned her lips against the protest as Gayle had already disconnected.
“Lord, if there’s a way out of this, I’d appreciate it.”
She waited, hoping for the Holy Spirit to show her how to avoid Ty while fulfilling Gayle’s wishes.
When the Spirit remained silent, she checked the day’s schedule on her tablet and began laying out ingredients.
She had just enough time to bake a batch of coconut macaroons, Gayle’s favorite, to bring. As much as she hated working with Tyreke, Skye wouldn’t disappoint the woman who’d loved her like one of her own.
Despite never being formally adopted by the Dobsons, they were her family and she wouldn’t let them down.
Her Brother’s Best Friend (Sweet Haven Book 5)
Table of Contents
She thinks he hates her. He’s spent years hiding how much he loves her.
Skye Anderson has spent years believing Tyreke Bassett hates her. After all, he’s made an art of teasing her since they were teenagers. Sure, he’s her foster brother’s best friend, but that doesn’t mean she has to like him—his smug smile, sharp wit, or how he makes her heart race when he’s near.
Ty has a secret: he’s been in love with Skye since the moment they met. But loving your best friend’s foster sister? Off-limits. Forbidden. So he hides his feelings behind jokes and jabs, convincing her (and maybe even himself) that they don’t belong together.
Until Mama Gayle steps in. Forced to team up for Cory’s Valentine’s Day birthday party, Ty and Skye are thrown into each other’s worlds—her cakes, his catering, and a plan cooked up by the one woman who knows Ty’s heart better than anyone.
The more time they spend together, the harder it is to keep the truth hidden. But when old wounds and fresh revelations collide, will Skye and Ty finally find the courage to admit they’re a match made in heaven? Or will they let their chance at love slip away?
Her Brother’s Best Friend is a Christian contemporary romance novella with strong faith themes.
