Wildest Dreams | Lea Coll

Wildest Dreams

The Sterling Brothers Series, Book 1

Renovating a mountain bed-and-breakfast was supposed to be my fresh start—until the only man who can save the project is the one who once shattered my heart.

We were high school sweethearts before he left for the Army and I left town, both of us swearing goodbye meant forever. Now we’re back in our hometown, older, wiser… and dangerously aware of everything we used to be. He’s working for his brothers’ contracting business. I’m racing the holidays to finish the inn. Fate, apparently, has a twisted sense of humor.

When he asks me to be his holidate—just a friendly favor, a few festive events, nothing more—I tell myself I can handle it. We’re adults. The past is buried. Sparks don’t reignite that easily.

Except they do.

Every stolen glance, every brush of his hand, every memory we swore we’d forgotten pulls us closer. The chemistry is still there—hotter, deeper, and impossible to ignore. But falling for him again means risking everything I rebuilt after he left.

This time, will we finally fight for our forever… or are we destined to break each other’s hearts all over again?

+ Excerpt +

"Are you asking me out on a date?"

He crossed one leg over the other. "I'd like to partake in a few holiday events that I've missed out on over the years. And I don't want to go with my parents or my brothers."

"You want to go with me?"

He let his arms fall to his side. "We know each other well, so it won't be awkward. Who knows? We might have fun."

"I don't know if this is a good idea."

He moved closer, leaning his elbows on the counter in front of me. "If you don't go with me, I won't be able to experience the magic of Christmas."

My lips quirked. "You're trying to guilt trip me."

He raised a brow. "Is it working?"

I chewed my lip, remembering what happened last night. How I couldn't keep my hands off him. And how I wanted to have sex with him again.

"All I want is to go with someone to a Christmas movie, walk a light trail, and have someone to stand next to when you light the tree. Is that asking too much? We're friends, right?"

I huffed out a laugh. "I'm not sure about the friendship part anymore."

He raised a brow, his voice lower. "We were friends before we started dating."

We had been partners at school on a history project that lasted most of the year. We'd gotten to know each other before he asked me to a school dance. "I'll do it."

He straightened with a grin. "It's the first time I've looked forward to the holidays in the long time."

Then he was gone, and I wondered what had just happened. I'd agreed to several dates apparently. Although he'd said they weren't dates. I was doing him a favor. But they were date-like activities. Things you only did with a significant other. I'd certainly never gone tree shopping with anyone.

He'd somehow manipulated me into being his plus-one this holiday season, and I wasn't mad about it. I was less sure about being able to keep my hands to myself.