Magnum: A Brother's Best Friend Romance

  Magnum

  A Brother’s Best Friend Romance

  Harper West

  Copyright © 2021 by Harper West

  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.

  Cover Design by Cormar Covers

  Contents

  Magnum

  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

  Epilogue

  Want more romance…

  Sneak Peak - The Dom’s Deal

  The Dom’s Deal

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Sneak Peak - Bitter Devil

  Bitter Devil

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Free Book

  Also by Harper West

  About Harper

  Magnum

  Magic Mike has nothing on Magnum…

  Moving 1,500 miles away from my boyfriend isn't ideal, but after graduation, I don't really have any other options.

  After all, he's going on to Harvard Law and he doesn't need any distractions—even if that includes me.

  So instead, I head for Miami to be near my brother, Dante.

  But when my new place falls through, I end up staying on Dante's couch.

  I'm expecting plenty of sibling quality time, but it turns we aren’t alone.

  Oh, no. His super-hot, playboy best friend Sergio is also living there.

  Did I mention he's tall, dark, and basically sex on a stick?

  I mean, his body is so damn chiseled, it looks photoshopped.

  Not that I'm looking….

  I have a boyfriend.

  And Chad is the perfect guy—even if my brother can't stand him.

  But with every day that passes, it’s getting harder and harder to ignore Sergio.

  And I’m starting to think all this heat I’m feeling has nothing to do with the scorching Miami nights...

  Mangum is a standalone, contemporary brother's best friend romance from author Harper West. If you like off-limits romance with plenty of sweltering heat and a guaranteed HEA, this book is for you!

  1

  Daniela

  I stand in the airport, just before security, with my carry-on suitcase at my feet, looking up at the beautiful, blue eyes of my boyfriend.

  His brown hair is clean-cut, just the way he always wears it. Despite only dropping me off at the airport, he’s wearing professional black pants and a button-up shirt. One hand is in his pocket while the other scrolls through his phone.

  “You should probably get through security,” Chad says. “You don’t want to miss your flight.”

  It’s not the romantic declaration that I hoped for, but it’s exactly what I expected. Chad isn’t one for grand gestures. Still, I held out hope that he would change his mind about sending me to Miami and ask me to stay with him in Boston, instead.

  I finished my B.S. in Social work last week. Chad, who is once again distracted by his phone, having already dismissed me, was pre-law at our Boston university. He’s heading to Harvard Law School in the fall, but I decided to take a gap year. I’m not sure if continuing my education is the right path for me.

  For the last year, since I told Chad I wasn’t going to continue school in fall, I’ve waited for him to offer space in his Boston apartment, which is paid for by his rich parents. He never made the suggestion, so I’m left with no choice but to go back to my home city of Miami. I can’t afford to live in Boston on my own, and I don’t think I want random roommates right now.

  “I’ll miss you,” I tell Chad. I wipe my sweaty palms on my jeans. The sliding doors of the airport open and close as my fellow passengers enter, letting in the balmy, late-May air. Over the last four years, I’ve gotten used to the weather up here. Even this warmth is nothing compared to Miami where I grew up. My return to that heat is going to be a shock to my system.

  Chad looks down at me, and he seems surprised that I’m still standing here. “What?”

  “I said I’ll miss you. You’re coming to visit me next month, right?” I press my body against him and tilt my head for a kiss. We agreed to visit each other every month this summer, and then every other month once school starts for Chad.

  Chad backs away, avoiding my lips and looking around, like he’s worried someone might see him be somewhat affectionate to his girlfriend of three years.

  “Don’t make a scene, Daniela. You’re being a child.”

  I blink at him. “What do you mean? I’m just saying goodbye to my boyfriend.”

  Chad rolls his eyes. “We already said goodbye. I came in to make sure you made it to security since you can be scatterbrained. The entrance is right there.”

  He points towards the giant sign that explains where to go for security.

  “I’m not scatterbrained.”

  “You’d get lost in your apartment without me to guide you. You’ll probably need help in Miami, too. Call me and I’ll direct you.”

  Chad chuckles and goes back to his phone. I put my hands on my hips.

  “You’re being a jerk. Who knows how long we’ll be apart. Is this really how you want to act? We can’t start a long-distance relationship on a bad note.”

  Finally, Chad sighs and leans down to kiss me. “You’re right. I will miss you, and I’ll see you next month. Now, the security line is pretty long and I need to get to my internship.”

  With that, Chad turns on his heel, leaving me alone in the brightly-lit airport.

  Disappointed, I make my way through security, hoping that my trip to Miami goes better than this.

  My trip is not going any better. As soon as I step off the plane in Miami, I check my phone and find a message from the man who is supposed to be my landlord. It says that the apartment I rented is no longer available, and per the agreement I signed, the security deposit I put down is non-refundable.

  My carry-on suitcase drops to the tiled floor with a thud. How could this be happening to me? There’s no way the guy can keep the deposit when he’s the one cancelling our agreement.

  I immediately call Chad, but he doesn’t answer. I’ve always hated his voicemail message, which informs the caller that they’ve reached Chad DiSotas, someone very important, and they can leave a message if they think they’re good enough to get a call back.

  I don’t bother leaving a message because I know Chad hasn’t checked his voicemail in over a year. I’m surprised the thing isn’t full.

  After shooting Chad a text about what’s going on, to see if maybe he can help, I head for baggage claim. I checked two bags, and even though I’ve got nowhere to go, I still need to pick them up.

  As I wait for my bags, I struggle through my options. I have a few friends who still live in Miami, but would I really want to live on a couch until I can get my bearings?

  My parents aren’t an option. My father is a deadbeat who never paid child support and never bothered visiting his children. I haven’t spoken to him in at least fifteen years, though I’m pretty sure he st
ill lives in Florida.

  My mom and my stepfather, Ed, live in Arizona now. As soon as my older brother Dante and I moved out, they decided they couldn’t handle the damp heat of Miami and opted for the dry heat of Arizona. I personally can’t tell the difference. They’re both hot.

  Chad reminds me a lot of Ed. After realizing my father was worthless, Mom divorced him, and then met Ed a couple years later. Ed was an executive at an accounting firm until he retired two years ago, so he has always been financially secure. That’s what my parents want for me. They never want me to struggle the way my mom did in those early years.

  I guess that’s part of why I ended up with Chad. He’s handsome, of course, but his personality leaves a lot to be desired. Still, he’s safe and secure, and I like that about him. I don’t think long-distance will be for long, because he’ll see that he can’t live without me and ask me to move in with him. On paper, Chad is perfect, and that’s what matters to me.

  If he had only asked me to live with him before I left, none of this would be happening.

  Instead of cursing Chad’s name, I curse under my breath. There’s only one person in Miami who I can count on to help me, and he’s the last person I want to call.

  The last time I talked to my brother, Dante, was about two weeks ago. I was preparing for graduation, which he was disappointed that he couldn’t attend. I was bragging about how sure I was that, after the ceremony, Chad was going to finally ask me to move in with him.

  I haven’t told him yet that it didn’t happen. I planned on surprising him with my trip back to Miami, and it looks like it’s going to be an even bigger surprise than I thought.

  I dial his number as the conveyor belt starts to move, our luggage finally unloaded from the belly of the plane.

  “Daniela!” Dante answers. It’s early afternoon on a Saturday, so thankfully my brother isn’t working. Not that I have any doubt that he would simply drop everything to come get me, because I know he would. Dante and I have always been really close, being only a couple years apart. “How’s Boston?”

  “Well, here’s the thing. It turns out, Chad and I are going to do the long-distance thing. I can’t afford to stay in Boston, so I’m actually back in Miami.”

  “Wait, what? You’re here? Where?”

  I bite my lip. “Still at the airport. It’s kind of a long story, but do you think you can pick me up?”

  “I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Text me the airline.”

  “Thank you, Dante.”

  We hang up and I gather my luggage as it comes around the carousel. I knew I could count on Dante. I hate that I had to call him, and that I’m about to ask him for a huge favor, but what else am I supposed to do? I can’t live in the airport like Tom Hanks did in that movie. I’m not nearly as crafty as he was, and I wouldn’t survive on fast food.

  Dante pulls up to the curb in his blue SUV and jumps out. He immediately attacks me with a hug, and I let myself get lost in my big brother for a minute.

  “Alright, sis, you’ve got some explaining to do. What happened to all that big talk about moving in with Chad?”

  “He never asked me,” I explain. “And I didn’t want to ask him, because that would seem desperate.”

  Dante rolls his eyes. He has never liked Chad, though I’m not sure why. I know my boyfriend can be abrasive, but deep down he’s usually a pretty good guy. He’s never been rude to my brother, at least that I know of.

  “It gets worse,” I warn Dante. I launch into an explanation of the message from the guy who was supposed to be my landlord.

  “Come on, Daniela, you know better than to rent a place site unseen!”

  “I know, but I needed a place on short notice. There’s no way I’m going to find something else.”

  “Well, lucky for you, I’ve got an extra bedroom in my house.”

  “What? I thought you had two roommates.”

  I’m not fully apprised of my brother’s living situation. He bought a house a couple years ago and has been sharing it with various people since. I’ve never seen it, because I was already away at school when he moved in, and I’ve been traveling to Arizona from school instead of back to Miami. This is my first time setting foot on Florida soil in four years.

  It looks exactly the same.

  “Greg moved out a few weeks ago, so I have an opening. You can’t pass this up, Daniela. You’re coming home with me whether you like it or not.”

  I sigh. “Fine. But only for a month or so, while I look for a job and an apartment that I can afford. Living with roommates is not my plan. If I wanted to do that, I would’ve stayed in Boston.”

  “Understood.”

  Dante and I catch up as we drive to his house. We usually talk regularly, and he came up to Boston with my parents over the holidays, but it’s not the same as one-on-one, in-person time. I’ve missed this, him, and Florida.

  We pull up to the house, which is two stories with brown siding, a small front yard, and what looks to be a pool in the back.

  “Wow, not too bad, bro.”

  “Wait ‘til you see inside.”

  Dante has a weird look on his face, but I ignore it as we gather up my suitcases and head inside. The front hallway branches off into a kitchen and dining area on the right, a living room on the left, and a staircase straight ahead. It’s nothing fancy, but it seems like my brother has done a good job keeping things clean.

  “Yo, you home?” a voice calls out, and my stomach sinks.

  Dante laughs when he sees my face. “Surprise!”

  Coming down the stairs, wearing nothing but basketball shorts, is my brother’s best friend and my childhood crush, Sergio Clemente. I haven’t seen him since I left for school four years ago. He’s more muscular and sexy than I remember, which is saying a lot considering he was a gym rat back when I knew him.

  “Hi, Sergio,” I manage to say when he spots me.

  He stops in his tracks. Clearly, I’m not the only one Dante decided to surprise.

  It’ll be fine, I tell myself. I’m only going to be here for a month at the most.

  I can handle being roommates with the hottest man alive for that long. Right?

  2

  Sergio

  When Dante left, calling over his shoulder that he had a surprise for me, I figured he was going to get something for us to eat for dinner. He does that sometimes. Dante is all about take-out. Our fridge contains nothing but beer.

  Instead of take-out, Dante brought home an entire fucking person.

  I can’t believe Daniela is standing in front of me. I haven’t seen her since she graduated high school and moved up to Boston for college. That was four years ago, which means she probably just finished up her degree recently.

  “Hey,” I manage. “Are you down for a visit?”

  Daniela shakes her head, then looks at Dante. He’s got a bemused smirk on his face. I want to slap him.

  “Dante said I could stay here for a little while,” she explains, and I shoot Dante a harsh look. “My original living arrangements fell through and I had nowhere else to go.”

  “I didn’t know you were coming back from Boston.”

  “Neither did I,” Daniela complains. “I’d hoped… whatever, it’s over now, and I’m here. I hope this isn’t going to be a problem.”

  I wouldn’t call it a problem as much as an annoyance. Yeah, Dante owns the house and I don’t have any legs to stand on, but after our last asshole of a roommate moved out, he said I could have some input in the next person to move in.

  Dante is still smirking, because he knows that I’m not going to tell Daniela to split. The guy has been my best friend since kindergarten and he’s renting me out this room for dirt cheap. I’d be an idiot to get my balls riled up over something as small as his sister moving in.

  “I honestly didn’t know you lived here,” Daniela continues when I don’t respond right away. “Dante didn’t mention that he had a roommate.”

  “I definitely told you I had a room
mate,” Dante says.

  “Yeah, but you also told me he moved out recently.”

  “I swear I mentioned that Sergio was living here.”

  “You didn’t.”

  “Oh, well. It doesn’t matter.”

  Daniela sighs, then looks at me. “If it bothers you that much, I’ll go find somewhere else to stay.”

  “It doesn’t bother me,” I say. “I was just looking forward to turning the extra bedroom into a home gym.”

  “More like a studio,” Dante says.

  Daniela looks like she wants to ask more, but I cut her off.

  “It’s not a big deal. Welcome to your new home.”

  She finally smiles shyly. “Thanks. It won’t be for long. I think I’ll be able to secure somewhere new within a few weeks.”

  “No rush, kid,” Dante says, ruffling his sister’s hair. “Stay as long as you’d like.”

  “Yeah, seriously. It’ll be nice to have you around. It’s been a while.”

  “It has! How have you been? Dante doesn’t tell me much about the goings on in Miami.”

  Dante rolls his eyes. “It’s not like you ever ask.”

  “Well, my friends keep me apprised. I do still have a couple of those around here.”

  “Then maybe you should go live with one of them.”

  I smile as I watch the two of them banter. “I’ve missed the Daniela and Dante Gomez show. I forgot how fun you two are together.”