I’m in love with my brother’s ex-girlfriend.

After years of acting like Vesper Stone isn’t the girl of my dreams, I owe it to myself to be honest, even if the confession can only ever remain a secret.

There are so many reasons why I should forget about her. As the captain of the Seattle Rogues, I shouldn’t betray my only sibling, and I ought to honor the promise I made to our late mom to stand by him.

But my brother isn’t a good man, and I can’t take my eyes off the stunning bartender with sleek black hair and a smile that falters whenever she gets a text from the guy who never deserved her.

Voicing my feelings is a terrible idea. My brother isn’t only a bad person, but he’s dangerous, too, and my top priority is protecting the one girl I can never have.

But I didn’t make it as a pro hockey player without going after what I wanted, and regardless of who she is to my family, I can’t stop showing up at her apartment.

Maybe we can just be friends. I’d rather have that than lose her altogether. My brother doesn’t need to know we hang out and eat pizza while watching a movie.

But friends don’t hold their breath whenever they catch each other’s gaze, and they definitely don’t do what we did the other night …