Dirty Little Secret: A Brother's Best Friend College Romance (Lake State University Book 1) Read online

  Copyright © 2021 by Rachael Brownell

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  Cover Design by Emily Wittig

  Editing by There 4 U Editing

  Formatting by Classic Interior Design

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  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Contents

  Welcome to Lake State University

  Dirty Little Secret

  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

  About the Author

  Also by Rachael Brownell

  Available in Audio

  For my biggest supporter.

  The man who made me promise never to quit.

  Who would sing to me on my birthday, no matter how old I was getting.

  I love you, daddy.

  Welcome to Lake State University

  I’m in love with this series and these characters and I hope you fall in love with them too. There are so many names and faces, I want to take a minute to introduce you to everyone before you get started. There will be an introduction like this in the beginning of each book for you to reference so if you get confused, you can refresh yourself with the twisted web this group of friends is caught up in.

  First up, you have the Palmer family – Max, Willow, and Evie. With the loss of their father, all three Palmer kids are grieving and attempting to figure out how to move on with life when their biggest supporter is now gone. Max is the oldest of the three. He’s just completed his junior year at LSU, lives in a loft with his best friend, Finn Graham, and is the new president of his fraternity, Kappa Omega Lambda. KOL isn’t the glorious fraternity it was when his father attended, and Max makes it his mission to restore the reputation in honor of his father. Willow is a year younger than Max, having finished her sophomore year. She lives in an apartment with her bestie, Kendall, and her favorite day of the week is Taco Tuesday. Her suitemates from freshman year – Alexis and Piper – indulge her love of tacos every week along with Kendall. She’s in love with Finn and has been for most of her life. The youngest Palmer is Evie. She’s finishing up her senior year in high school and will be joining her siblings at LSU in the fall.

  Next… the Grahams. Finn, Declan, and Micah. All a year apart, Finn is going into his senior year, Declan, his junior year, and Micah, the baby, is going to be a sophomore at LSU. Finn is madly in love with Willow – had her once and lost her. He lives with her older, protective brother, and is ready to risk their lifelong friendship for one more chance with her. Declan and Micah live the bachelor life together, enjoying every second of not having to be responsible for anyone other than themselves.

  Kendall and Kora Potter are twins and members of Zeta Sigma Rho, the most prestigious sorority at Lake State. Kendall, younger by only a few minutes, was held back by her parents, giving Kora the advantage to experience everything life has to offer first. So, while Kora is about to start her senior year at LSU, Kendall is only a junior. She’s also loud and lacks a filter, unlike her sister. Kendall doesn’t get along with Max, her roomies older brother, but everyone else seems to love her. Kora is off exploring the world for the summer while Kendall is working two jobs to save money for a new car. One that has a passenger-side mirror since hers is barely hanging on after a little parking lot mishap.

  Alexis and Piper shared a dorm suite with Kendall and Willow during freshman year. They’re both incredibly intelligent – Alexis is on a full-ride scholarship. Studying is in their DNA and you can find them in their shared dorm, books spread out, or in the library most days. Unless it’s girl’s night at K and Lo’s apartment. They wouldn’t miss that for anything. Plus, they need to do laundry at some point.

  Brady has been friends with Max and Finn since high school and Julian met them freshman year. The four of them can usually be found around a poker table, playing for quarters. Max was able to talk Julian into rushing his fraternity, but he refused to live in the frat house, so he shares a downtown loft with Brady close to where he works as an intern chef. His first love has always been cooking. Brady is a quiet, reserved guy compared to his friends. He loves tattoos, rides a motorcycle, and tends to disappear in the middle of a party. No one knows where he goes.

  Colton and Kane are Max’s fraternity brothers. They’re also best friends and as opposite as two people can get. Colt is loud and wild, with shaggy hair and a beard that needs to be trimmed, loves loud music, and plays in a band. Kane is big into computers, a techy that loves to design anything and everything. He always has on sunglasses, but no one knows why. They’re both typical frat boys once you get a few drinks in them – loud, obnoxious, and over the top. Charming when they want to be.

  You’ll meet more friends as the series continues. Things will get tangled – sheets specifically – and secrets will unfold. You can’t keep anything from this group of friends. They see, and hear, it all.

  He’s my brother’s best friend.

  Which makes me off limits.

  My brother made that clear to all his friends the summer I turned fourteen.

  That didn’t stop me from falling in love with him. From dreaming about sharing my future with him. From wondering what it would be like to be with him.

  It didn’t stop the heated looks he’d send me when no one was paying attention. Or how he always found a way to be near me, to touch me. To protect me.

  For six years we were fought against the waves of desire but the current kept pushing us toward one another.

  Then I had him.

  We collided with hurricane force. Our connection… explosive. It felt right, being with him. With the first kiss, I gave him my heart. With the first touch, I gave him my body. When I saw the love in his eyes, I handed over my soul.

  I should have known it was too good to last, though. The next morning, he was gone, and my heart shattered. I left it on his bedroom floor as I did the walk of shame.

  It’s been nine months since I laid eyes on him.

  Yes, I’ve been avoiding this moment. But I can do this. I can fight my attraction for one night. Even if the moment I see him again, I know that night is going to come rushing back to me, along with the days and weeks of agony that followed.

  Because he still owns every piece of me.

  * * *

  Willow

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  As soon as the elevator doors slide open, granting us entrance, you can feel the bass of the music. I can’t make out what song it is, but the beat has me swaying my hips before I can stop myself. A clear sign I shouldn’t be here. It’s been too long since I’ve felt this carefree. The last time—

&nbs
p; “That’s what I’m talking about, Lo. Get your groove on,” Kendall encourages.

  She has no clue how bad of an idea it would be for me to get my groove on. I tried to talk my way out of coming tonight. This is the last place I want to be, but my best friend wasn’t taking no for an answer. The semester is over. I’ve been using studying as an excuse to stay in all year. To avoid his parties. But I’ve run out of excuses, and Kendall’s been begging and pleading with me for days to be my plus one.

  Yes, this is an invitation only kind of party. Not that it makes me any less comfortable being here. I have a standing invitation courtesy of my brother, tonight’s host.

  Judging by the increasing volume of the music as the elevator climbs the five flights to the top level of his building, he extended more invitations that usual.

  This could work in my favor. With so many bodies in his loft, maybe I’ll be able to avoid him. My brother’s best friend, roommate, and the object of my every fantasy since I was fourteen years old, Finn Graham. The man is built like a brick house—tall and muscular, with perfect hair and plump lips that taste like mint. Dark chocolate brown eyes that always find mine, sending shots of adrenaline to my heart, and other places.

  We spent one night together last summer. I remember every second of it, even after consuming half a bottle of Grey Goose. I can recall the way it felt when he kissed me. It was all consuming. Hot. Passionate. Almost erotic, yet at the same time, he was gentle … the way our lips danced as if we were the only two people who knew the steps.

  I traced every curve of his body with my lips that night. Stared into his eyes as he thrust into me the first time. Tugged his long, brown locks hard as I came unglued beneath him.

  That night I was granted my one and only wish. The wish I made whenever I blew out candles or spotted a shooting star.

  Finn.

  He was finally in my arms. In my life. As more than my brother’s best friend. As mine.

  The next day, it was over. The only trace of our night together was the raw skin on the inside of my thighs from where his five o’clock shadow had rubbed as he teased me with his tongue for hours.

  So, yeah, avoiding this party, any party my brother throws, is at the top of my list. Because there is no doubt in my mind Finn will be here. And I’ve managed to do just that for the last nine months. Until two hours ago. Three shots of tequila and I was letting Kendall dress me up like a Barbie doll. Tight leather pants, a red halter top, and smokey eyes that make my blues pop. My hair is in long, loose waves, cascading down the middle of my back. If I’m being honest, it felt good to have someone make me up after spending the week studying my ass off, wearing nothing but yoga pants, a messy bun, and oversized sweatshirts. By the time my buzz was wearing off, we were already in the Uber and on our way.

  “I need another drink,” I mumble to myself when Kendall bumps me with her hip.

  She has no idea what she’s done. Tonight is going to end one of two ways.

  1. I’m going to get really drunk, make an ass out of myself while flirting with everyone who isn’t Finn, and pass out on the bathroom floor.

  2. I’m going to get really drunk, do something stupid like demand answers from Finn, and my brother is going to flip his shit.

  No, he doesn’t know what happened. No one does. I haven’t told a soul, not even Kendall, my best friend and roommate.

  Why?

  I’m not ashamed of that night. Hell, I’d love nothing more than to scream what happened in the middle of campus for all to hear. To claim Finn so girls would stop draping themselves all over him.

  I can’t, though. Max would kill him, then me.

  Max made all his friends promise not to touch me a long time ago. When we were all younger, hitting puberty. The summer my boobs finally came in. I remember the afternoon like it was yesterday. Max, Finn, and Brady were all swimming in our pool. Being only sixteen months younger than Max had its advantages. I liked his friends; they didn’t mind if I hung out with them occasionally. It was the beginning of summer vacation and my bestie at the time, Lucy, was on vacation with her family.

  Instead of sulking inside or reading a book from my summer reading list, I decided to jump in the pool with the guys. My mom and I had just gone shopping for a new bathing suit. I’d chosen a cute, red two-piece with tiny white polka dots on it. I turned fourteen and my body had finally started to fill out. Instead of being a stick-thin, little girl, I was starting to get curves.

  Needless to say, the moment I stepped into the backyard and called out to the guys, jaws dropped. I laughed at their reaction because it was Max’s friends. Who cared, right?

  Wrong.

  Max cared. He freaked out, wrapped me up in a towel, and escorted me back inside. He was muttering to himself the entire time about his friends not touching me. That I need to cover my body.

  Overprotective Max.

  I barely realized what was happening because my eyes were locked with Finn’s, and it was clear he liked what he saw. I noticed the changes in his body as well. He had put on some muscle, his shoulders seemed broader, and his jaw more defined.

  “Aren’t you proud of your brother?” Kendall asks, pulling me back to the present. I need to focus anyway.

  Stay sharp.

  Keep my head on a swivel to avoid being caught off guard. To evade Finn and his smoldering gaze.

  “Your brother is going to be a kick-ass president. I’m so excited for him.”

  For as much as Kendall and Max don’t get along, she respects his position with his fraternity. And she’s right. He is going to be a great leader for those guys. That’s why they elected him.

  “Yeah, proud. I don’t think becoming fraternity president warrants a rager though,” I reply, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

  “Of course it does. It’s a huge honor.”

  I honestly don’t get the full impact of it, but I also don’t want to fight with Kendall. She’s a legacy, having joined the same sorority as her mother and grandmother. That means something to her. Max is a legacy as well, having joined the same fraternity as our father.

  Me?

  I’m anti-Greek. Not that I think there’s anything wrong with joining, it’s just not for me. I like to keep my circle small, and I get along better with guys than I do girls. I can count on one hand how many girlfriends I have, including my little sister.

  Am I happy Max was voted as their next president? Hell, yes. He’s been talking about how much he wanted this for the past year. He has ideas on how to make the fraternity better, more philanthropic. To eliminate some of the harsher hazing he’s seen over the years.

  So, I’m here to celebrate with him. But that doesn’t mean I want to be here. Because being here means seeing Finn, and as much as I also want that, I know it’s going to hurt the moment I lay eyes on him. My heart is going to be ripped out of my chest the same way it was the morning I woke up and he was gone.

  It still doesn’t make sense to me. He wanted it as much as I did. I may have been tipsy, but I know what I saw in his eyes when he pulled me away from the party. I felt the heat in his stare as he locked his bedroom door. And when he touched me, I felt something else. Something more—

  “Let’s do this!” Kendall shouts over the music as the doors slide open directly into Max and Finn’s loft.

  There are people everywhere, shoulder to shoulder. It looks like he’s invited everyone he knows from campus, which makes me roll my eyes because Kendall was clearly missing her invitation. Not that he doesn’t like my roommate, he just thinks she’s loud and her lack of a filter pisses him off. More so when he’s drinking.

  All things I love about her.

  Leading the way through the crowd, in search of my brother or alcohol, whichever we find first, I keep Kendall’s hand clasped in mine. Neither of us are tall enough to see over the crowd, my five-foot-three and her five-foot-four stature swallowed up by the large bodies around us.

  I recognize almost all of them, tossing a head nod here an
d there when my eyes connect. Most are part of Max’s fraternity, a few I recognize from the baseball team.

  As we finally step out of the throng of people and into the kitchen, I let out a sigh. The open concept of Max’s loft is great for entertaining but that doesn’t stop people from crowding together.

  Case and point … the kitchen is empty. Which happens to be where the alcohol is.

  “Beer or punch?” I ask Kendall, sliding around the island.

  She thinks it over, rubbing the heart tattoo on the inside of her wrist as I fill my red, plastic cup with punch. She stares at my cup for a second, and I immediately know what she wants. Handing it to her, she takes a sip, her eyes widening in surprise. It’s probably stronger than either of us are used to knowing my brother.

  If the drink calls for an ounce of booze, he’ll give it two. Multiply that by a hundred to make a large batch and suddenly the punch packs a punch.

  “Punch,” Kendall hollers at me over the music, attempting to hand my cup back. Shaking my head, I fill a second cup and clink mine against hers. “To our last night at sophomores. May next year be even better than this year.”

  And here I thought this year would be better than last year.

  Nope. I was wrong.

  Next year can’t get any worse, I think to myself as I spot Brady walking by.

  “Hey! Where’s Max?” I ask, placing my hand on his forearm. When he turns toward me, I notice his face pales.