Wedding Date with the Best Man

Tristan’s eyes narrowed. “You don’t seem like a homebody.”

“You just don’t know me that well. Growing up, I was always bugging my parents for a house with a yard and a puppy.”

“You want a dog?”

“Maybe.” She shrugged. “My former roommate had a dog. I walk my neighbor’s dog most evenings. But I’m still debating whether this place needs a pet or not.”

“It’s a nice place.”

“Thanks,” she said. “I lucked out getting to live here.”

“How’s that?” Tristan asked.

“Well, I’d given notice on my studio apartment to move in with Rich after the wedding, so I found myself homeless after he—I mean we—broke up. My friend Molly had a spare bedroom and told me to move in with her. It was only supposed to be a temporary arrangement, but she fell in love with a man she met during a girls’ weekend in Las Vegas, married him a few months later, and relocated to Sin City. And that’s how I ended up with this charming bungalow to call home.”

“You did luck out.”

Jayne nodded. “Though I liked having Molly for a roommie. I miss talking to her late at night over a pint of Ben & Jerry’s.”

“So find a new roommate. Preferably one who likes ice cream.”

A new roommate. Jayne thought about his suggestion. Someone to talk to. Someone to split the rent and utilities with. “You know, Tristan, getting a roommate is a really good idea.”

“Unless you prefer living alone.”

“I don’t like being alone,” she answered quickly. “I mean, Molly and my other two best friends have moved away. With the three of them gone it’s been a little…”

Loser, Jayne thought. When would she learn to keep her mouth shut and not say so much?

“Lonely?” he finished for her.

“Yes,” she admitted, wishing she’d put more cookies out.

“You lost your fiancé and your three best friends.”

She nodded. “The only two things that haven’t changed in the last seven months are my job and my car.”

“That’s tough.”

“It’s been…challenging.”

He scooted closer. “I guess it has.”

Oh, no, she thought. He was Rich’s friend. And here she was babbling about her life and sounding really pathetic. What if Tristan told Rich?

Her insides clenched. She couldn’t bear the thought of that happening.

“Not that I’m unhappy with the way things turned out,” she added hastily.

“Glad to hear it.”

Tristan shifted position. His leg touched hers. No skin-on-skin contact was made, but warmth emanated from the spot. Worse, his jean-clad leg remained pressed against hers.

Maybe he didn’t notice, but she sure did.

Unfortunately she couldn’t move. The sofa-arm blocked her in one direction, Tristan in the other. She was…trapped.

The only thing she could do was ignore it. Him. “I wonder how hard finding a roommate would be.”

“You can’t beat this location.” As he looked around the living room, she prayed he would notice his leg was still touching her. “And you keep the place nice. Neat. It’ll all depend on the room.”

Companionship and only paying half her current living expenses sounded like an ideal combination. Why hadn’t she thought of getting a roommate herself?

“Oh, the room is lovely. It’s not that large, but has lots of windows.”

“Show me,” Tristan said.

“Sure.” Jayne jumped up, eager to get away from the intimacy of the couch. She led him past her room into the other bedroom. “This used to be Molly’s room.”

“Great room.” He checked the closet. “Why didn’t you take this one for yourself?”

“The two bedrooms are almost the same size, and I didn’t want to move.”

“Across the hall?”

“My room is decorated the way I like it.”

He looked out one of the large windows facing the backyard garden. “Nice view.”

His position gave her a view of his backside. His faded jeans fit well. “Very nice.”

What was she doing? With cheeks burning, she looked away.

“You’ll have no trouble renting this room out,” he said.

The thought of not being alone all the time made Jayne wiggle her toes. Maybe something good would come from Tristan’s impromptu visit. “I better put together an ad.”

Tristan turned toward her with his brows drawn together. “You’re serious about this?”

She heard the surprise in his voice. She was a little surprised herself, but loneliness could drive a person to do some crazy things. “Yes, and it’ll give me something to do this afternoon.” Jayne winced when she realized how her words must have sounded. “I mean—”

“Forget the ad,” Tristan interrupted. “Spending the rest of this beautiful afternoon inside would be a crime.”

Yes, but she didn’t have anything else to do, and the last thing she wanted was his pity. She didn’t want anything to do with him.

She raised her chin. “I happen to like staying home.”

“That’s okay, but you should get out more.”

Going out alone had gotten old fast. She shrugged.

“Let’s go on a hike,” he said.

Her heart picked up speed. “A hike?”

“Yes.” Mischief gleamed in his eyes. “The fresh air will be good for a homebody.”

“Why would you want to go on a hike with me?” She felt as if she’d entered an alternative universe. One where everything had flipped upside down and inside out. “You don’t like me.”

Tristan jerked as if she’d slapped him. “I like you.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes, I do.”

“The only reason you’re here is for Grace.”

“Grace asked me to stop by, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be here.”

Jayne didn’t—couldn’t—believe him. Her assessing gaze raked over him.

No way was he telling her the truth.

“Have you forgotten the way you acted toward me before the breakup?” His unfriendly behavior had gotten worse each time she saw him. “It was pretty obvious to everyone—including Rich,” she added, as if that was the clincher. As if Rich’s judgment could be trusted. As if Rich could be trusted, the lying rat.

Tristan’s dark eyes locked with hers. “Everyone, including Rich, is wrong.”

The words hung in the air, as if suspended in a floating bubble.

Wrong.

Emotion tightened Jayne’s throat.

She’d never understood why Tristan had behaved the way he had. Could she be wrong? She wanted to believe him. Which made her mistrust her own judgment even more. She wasn’t a good judge of character when it came to men. Taking a man at his word, even when he said he loved you, was a huge mistake. One she’d made with her father and with Rich. Trust had to be earned, not given.

Tristan rocked back on his heels. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”

Fun. When had that word become an alien concept? Maybe…

No.

Tristan MacGregor wasn’t some attractive stranger inviting her for a walk. He was Rich Strickland’s best friend. His best man. She’d have to be out of her mind to go anywhere with Tristan. Out of her mind or very, very lonely.

Her own thought ricocheted through her brain.

Loneliness could drive a person to do some crazy things.

She swallowed a sigh.

“What do you have to lose?” Tristan asked.

Nothing. Jayne’s shoulders had started to sag, but she squared them instead. She’d already lost everything.

Her fiancé, her trust, her hope, her three best friends.

Life had become one lonely hour followed by another. She rarely left the house, and when she did she couldn’t wait to get home.

Just like her mother.

The unsettling realization made Jayne straighten.

Her mother had stuck close to home after her father had left. She’d gone to work, the store, and occasionally to church. She hadn’t even wanted to go to the doctor’s office when she’d started feeling poorly, and because of that she’d ended up dying way too soon.

Jayne didn’t want that to happen to her.

Something had to change. She had to change. Now.

Maybe one small step—one short hike—would start her on a new road…a path toward the life she wanted to live, not the one she was living. Even if the hike was with the last person, next to Rich, she wanted to spend time with.

“You’re right,” she said finally. “A hike will do me good.”

Chapter Three

“HIKING has been good for me—” Jayne puffed behind Tristan “—but I don’t know how much further I can go.”

He turned on the trail, happy to be finally spending time with her. She might not be exactly the woman he remembered, but the woman he was getting to know intrigued him.

She closed the distance between them. Her feet dragged—something they hadn’t done at the start of the hike. But even tired, flushed and sweaty, with her hair sticking out of that old San Diego Padres baseball cap she wore, she was still the best thing he’d seen in weeks…maybe months.

“We’re almost to the beach,” he said.

She adjusted the brim of her hat. “Okay, then. I guess I can make it.”

“Sure you can.” But Tristan didn’t want to wear her out before they reached their destination. He opened his water bottle. “I need a drink first.”

Relief filled her pretty eyes. “That sounds good to me, too.”

Talk about a good sport. Tristan took a swig of water. He liked that about her.

Despite an extended and thoughtful moment of hesitation back at her apartment, she’d gamely accepted his invitation to go hiking at Torrey Pines State Park. She hadn’t once complained about the hot afternoon sun blazing down on them even though it was only January.

Jayne drank from her water bottle. Her pink tongue darted out to lick the liquid off her lips.

He took another gulp from his bottle.

She sure was a nice addition to the already beautiful scenery surrounding them. Her legs, exposed between the hem of her khaki shorts and hiking books, looked long and slim and smooth. The sky intensified the blue of her eyes. A hint of a smile tugged at the corners of her glossed lips.

Tristan put away his water bottle and focused his camera on her.

Jayne pretended to scowl. “Again?”

He preferred her mock exasperation to the loneliness he’d glimpsed earlier at her apartment. “Just capturing memories.”

Lines creased her forehead. “Memories of a day spent with a stranger?”

Her suspicious tone bothered him. “We’re not strangers.”

“We aren’t friends.”

“We could be friends,” he countered.

She pursed her lips. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

Because he liked her. He wanted her to like him. But she wasn’t ready to hear that.

In her wary eyes he was still only Rich’s best man. Rich’s best friend. And Rich had let her down big time.

“You’re a nice person,” Tristan answered.

“Nice, huh?”

He nodded.

“The last time we were together you didn’t even look me in the eye.”

Tristan remembered. He wasn’t as nice as Jayne was. But even a jerk would have had trouble looking a bride straight in the eye when he knew her fiancé was two-timing her with another woman.

Tristan aimed at the basket. Swoosh. Two points.

“Lucky shot,” Rich said, taking away the ball.

The two had been co-captains of their high school basketball team and won two district titles. Whenever Tristan was in town they would shoot hoops at the gym.

“Next time it’ll be for three,” he said.

Rich dribbled the ball and scored with a lay-up. “You’d better hope so.”

A cellphone rang. Rich’s. For the third time in the past hour. For the third time he ignored it.

“You want to get that?” Tristan asked.

“Nah. Probably just Jayne.”

Tristan held the ball. “I’ll wait.”

“No. She keeps bugging me about the wedding.” Rich rolled his eyes. “Everything’s about the wedding with her.”

“Your wedding, too, buddy.”

“You’re sticking up for her?” Rich asked.

“No, but remember how Grace and Becca turned into Bridezillas before they got married?”

No answer. Something was up.

“Tell me what’s going on,” Tristan said.

Rich started, then stopped himself.

“Come on.” Tristan passed the ball hard at Rich’s chest. “It’s me.”

Rich looked around, as if to make sure no one else was there. “I met someone.”

Tristan got a sinking feeling in his gut. “A female someone?”

Rich nodded and tossed the ball back. “She’s a dental hygienist and totally hot. Smokin’.”

“So is Jayne.” Okay, maybe Tristan shouldn’t have said that about his best friend’s bride to be, but Rich didn’t appear to notice. He was still going on about this other girl. Deidre Something.

Annoyance flared.

Cold feet or not, Rich was being an idiot. Time to call him on it.

“You can’t drill your dentist, bud.” Tristan dribbled the basketball. The sound echoed through empty gymnasium. “What did she do? Put the moves on you in the chair?”

“She was in a car accident we responded to.” Rich glanced around the empty court again like a man being watched. Or one who didn’t want to get caught. “A few days later she brought brownies to the station and invited me to dinner. I couldn’t say no.”

Rich could have said no, but he hadn’t wanted to. Not good.

Tristan spun the ball in his hands. “So you screwed up one time? You’re engaged. Just tell her.”

“It was more than once,” Rich admitted. “And I’m not telling her about Jayne. Deidre wouldn’t see me anymore.”

“She’s not going to see you anymore anyway, bonehead. You’re getting married in a week.”

“I know, but…Hell, I think I’m in love with her. Deidre,” Rich clarified.

Tristan dropped the ball. “What? Are you kidding? What about the wedding?”

“I’m sick of thinking about the wedding. That’s all Jayne can talk about. All she sees. Deidre treats me like I’m the best thing that ever happened to her. The most important thing in her life.”

“Probably because you saved her life,” Tristan countered, wanting, needing to say something. Anything. An image of Jayne, bright-eyed and smiling, flashed in his mind. He couldn’t believe Rich was doing this to her. “It’s a crush. Deidre will get over it.”

“Maybe I don’t want her to get over it. Maybe I like being somebody’s hero.”

Damn. Tristan thought for a minute. “How long has this been going on?”

“Not long,” Rich admitted. “A couple of weeks, maybe.”

“You’ve got to talk to Jayne.”

Rich stared at Tristan as if he’d grown antennae and a third eye. “Why?”

“You can’t get married if you’re in love with someone else.”

“I’m not canceling the wedding.” Rich set his jaw. “I asked Jayne to marry me, and I will marry her.”

Uh-oh. Tristan knew that mulish tone of Rich’s all too well. “What about Deidre?”

“I’m trying to figure that out.”

“Better figure it out fast, because you can’t have both.”

“I know.” Rich looked miserable. “Look, just don’t…Don’t say anything to Jayne. Promise me you won’t.”

Tristan had kept his mouth shut. But his guilt over knowing the truth had made it difficult for him to face Jayne the next time he saw her, and each time after that. He’d thought by ignoring her he would buy Rich the time he needed to make the right decision.

Wrong.

Rich had ignored the matter, forcing Tristan to keep his best friend and Jayne from getting married. He didn’t regret his actions one bit. But dragging up the past and telling Jayne what he’d done to engineer her discovering Rich’s cheating now wouldn’t help anyone. She’d admitted she wouldn’t have wanted to marry Rich. She was moving on. Rich was getting married. Tristan was finally getting to spend time with Jayne. It was better to bury the past.

“It wasn’t you,” Tristan said finally.

The doubt in her big blue eyes hit him right in the gut.

You don’t like me.

The problem was he did like her.

He’d always liked her.

Too much.

And for that reason he’d kept his distance from her and limited his contact with her. Even after the breakup. For all their sakes.

Yet he was here now, and he wouldn’t want to be any-where else.

“It was me,” he finished.

She smiled crookedly. “Yeah, that’s what the guy always says.”

He winced. “I’m…sorry.”

“Hey,” she said. “I’m sorry for putting you on the spot like this.”

“No worries.”

Her closed-mouth smile turned into a wide grin. His pulse kicked up.

Man, she really had a great smile. He took another picture of her.

“Knock it off,” she said, but her eyes gleamed with laughter.

“Professional photographer, remember?” A gull flew overhead, its sharp white wings contrasting with the cloudless blue sky. He turned his camera from her to the bird. “It’s an occupational hazard.”

“I’d say it’s more a hazard for anyone who happens to be around you.”

“Having your photograph taken isn’t a hazard.”

“Some cultures believe being photographed steals a part of your soul.”

“I’m not a soul-stealer,” he said. “I’m only after the image. The best photographs tell a story, and can often be described by a single verb.”

She took another slug from her water bottle. “Well, as long as you aren’t stealing souls, I suppose it’s okay, but please don’t go overboard.”

He gave a mock bow. “Your understanding is much appreciated, since my camera follows me everywhere. No questions asked.”

“Sounds like a perfect relationship for you.”

“It is,” he admitted. “My camera packs light, doesn’t hog the bed, and never gets upset when I don’t remember its birthday.”

“Men.”

“We are what we are.”

A breeze caught the ends of her hair. He snapped her picture again.

She sighed.

“I’m not going overboard,” he said.

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