I Slept With My Fiancé’s Uncle

Simone Brooks decided to take a leap of faith. She’d come all this way to be with Houston Martinez—what was another night or two? For the first time in her life, she’d felt a rush of pure, intoxicating bliss. A secret part of her couldn’t help but feel relieved that Phoenix Robinson hadn’t been her first.

Gathering every ounce of courage, she rose onto her tiptoes and looped her arms around Houston’s neck, her whisper fierce and certain against his lips. “I’m not afraid.”

After all, she’d already wasted seven precious years on the wrong guy, and youth doesn’t wait around.

The hours that followed blurred into something long and raw and electric…

When Simone finally drifted off, her lashes were still wet with tears.

Houston reached for a cigarette, only to find the pack crushed and useless in Simone’s small fist. He studied the delicate woman sleeping soundly beside him, his gaze darkening, turning thoughtful.

The faintest smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

His phone buzzed nonstop—over twenty missed calls and a string of texts.

*Uncle, Simone freaked out and ran off to Dublin. I’m worried sick. Since you’re there too, can you look out for her? Here’s her info…*

Without missing a beat, Houston arched an eyebrow, saved the number, and typed back, *Don’t worry. I’ve got this.*

As he scrolled through the rest of the messages, his thumb froze on the earliest one. After a heartbeat of hesitation, he killed his phone, pulled on his clothes, and stepped out into the howling storm.

---

Simone was ripped from sleep by Phoenix’s call.

Groggy and half-aware, she picked up, hearing him fire off questions about her room number. On impulse, she gave it to him—then bolt upright as reality sucker-punched her.

Crap. Her room was actually *across* the hall. She was in Houston’s.

The ding of an elevator echoed through the phone. She exploded out of bed, snatching at her clothes, but her underwear was nowhere to be found. With zero time to waste, she yanked on a slip dress, threw a coat over it, and bolted outside.

Just as she clicked Houston’s door shut and turned toward her own, she realized she’d left her key card inside—right as Phoenix appeared at the end of the corridor.

The moment he spotted her, he broke into a jog, abandoning his suitcase to wrap her in a suffocating hug. “I’m so sorry, babe. A work emergency blew up yesterday—I couldn’t get here sooner. I swear, I’ll never let you down like that again.”

Simone stared at the window at the far end of the hallway, her face carefully blank.

He still thought she was just pissed about him being too attached to his mother.

Phoenix eased back, glancing up at the room number above her head. “This is yours, right? Let’s head in first. I’ll drop my suitcase and we can grab some food. I set up a meet with my uncle.”

Simone blinked, her stomach knotting as she pointed toward the door. “I… I left my card inside.”

Phoenix chuckled, tapping her nose with a playful finger. “Still so scatterbrained. No biggie—we’ll leave my suitcase at the front desk and head out.”

Simone’s pulse hammered. The absolute last thing she wanted was to face Houston without underwear on.

But Phoenix didn’t give her a second to argue, guiding her downstairs like they’d planned it all along.

Luckily, the restaurant wasn’t far, and during the short drive, Phoenix noticed nothing off about her.

By the time they arrived, the private dining room was already packed.

Simone’s mouth went dry at the scene.

She leaned close to Phoenix, barely breathing the words. “I thought it was just us and your uncle. Why are there so many people?”

Phoenix shot her a reassuring grin. “Don’t stress. They’re all my uncle’s coworkers. He’s retiring and moving out to the countryside—his buddies are throwing him a farewell bash. We just happened to catch it, so we’re tagging along.”