by Kirk, Cindy
It was mostly the truth.
With declining Medicare reimbursement and pressure from insurance companies to accept deeper discounts, Tripp had to bring his A-game to work every day. If that weren’t enough, his dad had been diagnosed with malignant melanoma.
See? Too busy.
Yet, he was grateful Adrianna had agreed to accompany him tonight. Especially because he and the beautiful brunette had achieved an understanding. They were simply friends with no expectations of more.
Tripp inhaled sharply as Winn slid his hand slowly up Adrianna’s back. He narrowed his gaze. Anger surged. He’d made it clear to Winn that Adrianna was his date for the evening.
Actually, he’d taken it a step further. He’d let Winn believe Adrianna was his girlfriend. That was something he’d clear up later.
Once he pried Winn’s hands off Adrianna’s body.
* * *
The crowded dance floor could have explained why Winn held her so tightly, although Adrianna doubted that was the only reason. She guessed it had more to do with Tripp’s unyielding gaze fixed on them and Winn’s desire to jerk his chain.
She was certain Winn was aware of Tripp’s scrutiny. Her “Tripp radar” had kicked in almost immediately upon reaching the dance floor. She’d waited until she was facing the right direction before slanting a quick glance where she’d last seen Tripp. Just as she’d thought, he was staring. Their eyes met and one look from his baby blues was all it took to send her pulse into overdrive.
Telling herself that it was supremely tacky to stare at one man while dancing with another, Adrianna pulled her gaze back to Winn.
“Being a midwife, I’m guessing you could find work anywhere.” Halfway through the sentence his gaze dropped to her cleavage.
Adrianna waited, determined not to speak until he stopped conversing with her breasts.
Winn finally looked up. “With so many choices I’m surprised you ended up here.”
It wasn’t the first time she’d heard the ridiculous statement, but the sentiment always caught Adrianna off guard. As far as she was concerned, there wasn’t a better place to live than surrounded by the majestic Tetons.
She gave a throaty laugh. “What’s wrong with Jackson Hole?”
Winn’s lips lifted in a lazy smile. “Well, for starters, it’s a bit on the small side.”
“That’s part of its appeal.” Adrianna loved seeing the babies she’d delivered when she went to the grocery store or stopped for a latte at Hill of Beans. “Besides, I grew up here. This is home.”
A speculative look crossed Winn’s face as he guided her across the dance floor, his movements fluid but not showy. “You and Tripp go way back.”
Not as far back as Winn probably thought, but Adrianna wasn’t about to admit that Tripp hadn’t known she was alive back in high school. “We do.”
“My father told me Tripp was married once but his wife died.” The sympathy in Winn’s eyes appeared sincere. While he came on a little strong, Adrianna had the feeling deep down Winn was a good guy. Too bad there was no spark.
“Gayle was a dear friend of mine.” A familiar ache wrapped itself around Adrianna’s heart. “A wonderful woman.”
“I didn’t realize you and she were friends.” Winn lifted a brow. “Doesn’t that make things awkward?”
“How do you mean?”
“Your friend was the one Tripp Randall chose to marry. Now she’s gone and he turns to you.” Winn’s gaze fixed on her, gauging her reaction. “You don’t deserve to be second best.”
Adrianna instantly realized Winn had misconstrued her and Tripp’s relationship. A little matter she could clear up with a few simple words. But it felt as though something more was going on here, something she couldn’t put her finger on, something just beyond her reach.
She lifted her chin and gazed at him through lowered lashes. “If you knew me better, you’d know I’m not second best to anyone.”
Winn’s eyes turned hot and dark.
“I find confidence very sexy,” he responded with a glittering smile. “I’m also a man who likes a challenge.”
Adrianna cocked her head. “A challenge?”
“The way I see it, unless a woman has a wedding ring on her finger, she’s available.” As he spoke Winn slid one hand up her back.
Adrianna experienced a strange ticklish aversion to his touch. She was seized with a sudden urge to squirm...or slap his hand away.
“How close are you and Tripp Randall?” Winn asked in a low tone, his breath hot against her ear. “Is there the slightest possibility that another man—”
“I believe this is my dance.”
Adrianna couldn’t believe it when Tripp gently disengaged her from Winn’s arms.
Strangely, Winn didn’t protest.
“Thank you for the dance.” Adrianna offered him a polite smile.
“It was a good beginning,” Winn said, a twinkle in his eye. “I look forward to seeing you again and getting even better acquainted.”
“What was that about?” Tripp took her in his arms. His shoulder was hard beneath her hand, his arms steady as they began to dance.
“What do you mean?”
“Are you going to go out with him?” he asked, eyeing her.
Something about his tone rubbed Adrianna the wrong way. As much as she’d dreamed of more, she’d finally, reluctantly accepted that she and Tripp were just friends. After all, he’d made it clear friendship was all he wanted from her. Why was he acting as if she’d done something wrong by simply allowing another man to flirt with her?
You can’t have it both ways, Tripp Randall.
“I may.” She lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug. “If he asks.”
Tripp’s blue eyes darkened to black and his lips pressed together. “I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t know him,” Adrianna said mildly.
“You don’t either,” he shot back.
“Isn’t that what dating is about...getting better acquainted?” Adrianna responded, instead of telling him that she had no interest in dating Winn Ferris.
“Doesn’t it bother you that even though Winn believes we’re dating, he continued to put some serious moves on you?” he murmured, twining a strand of her hair loosely around his fingers.
“Winn told me he considers any woman available as long as there’s no wedding ring on her finger.” Adrianna cursed herself for sounding breathless. But darn it, when the back of his knuckles brushed her cheek, it took everything she had not to close her eyes and sigh in ecstasy.
“Is that what you believe?” His voice gentled to a husky caress.
“No. Yes. I’m not sure.” Adrianna found it hard to think clearly with him so near. “You and I aren’t dating, so I don’t see that it’s any of your business who I see or don’t see.”
“I care about you, Adrianna.” Tripp caught her hand in his, lifted it to his mouth and pressed a kiss in the palm. Time seemed to stretch and extend as he looked deep into her eyes. “I’ll find you a good man.”
Her spine stiffened. She could feel it go hard vertebra by vertebra. She pushed away from him, irritation fueling her movements. The only problem she had in the man department was her attraction to Tripp, a man who didn’t want to date her but apparently wanted to run her social life. “I don’t mind your introducing me to your friends, but I’m more than capable of taking it from there.”
Tripp made a scoffing sound. “You haven’t been on a real date in months.”
“That’s not the point. I decided only last week to be more proactive on that front,” Adrianna said with a studied nonchalance. “My dateless status will be changing soon.”
Tripp’s brows furrowed. “It’s important not to move too fast.”
The genuine concern in his voice and the protective look in his eyes whittled away at her irritation.
“I’m going to be thirty in less than a month.” Adrianna experienced a pang at the thought. “If I want a husband and children, I need to get
busy. Who knows—perhaps Winston Ferris will end up being my destiny?”
Tripp’s arms tightened around her, bringing her closer. “He won’t.”
“I guess we’re just going to have to see which one of us is right,” she answered with a breezy sigh.
A soft expletive slipped past his lips. Tripp couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. Winston Ferris was not Adrianna’s destiny. Tripp knew that as well as he knew his own name.
As the sultry scent of Adrianna’s perfume teased his nostrils and his gaze was drawn downward to her voluptuous breasts, he realized why he was so concerned.
Adrianna might give the appearance of being a woman of the world, but it was all for show. He knew her secret. She was very much an innocent in the ways of men. Winn wasn’t pursuing Adrianna with marriage in mind. The wealthy bachelor had a much simpler goal: get her into his bed.
“Tripp, I don’t want to argue with you tonight.” A self-conscious-sounding laugh escaped her lips.
His heart stumbled over itself at the worry reflected in the depths of her green eyes. “I don’t want to argue with you either.”
Determined to make this a wonderful evening for her, Tripp spent the rest of the dance and the ones that followed making sure Winn’s name didn’t come up. The conversation flowed effortlessly and Tripp was once again struck by how much he and Adrianna had in common.
After a fast-paced salsa that saw the older crowd exit the dance floor in droves, Adrianna mentioned she was thirsty. Taking her arm, he led them to one of the bars scattered around the large ballroom.
Because Adrianna was on call and couldn’t drink, he got her a club soda and ordered himself a beer. After they’d gotten their drinks, they circled the ballroom. They were pushing their way through the densely packed crowd to say hello to some friends when they ran into Merle Bach, one of the trustees who’d been at their table for dinner.
Unfortunately, this time it wasn’t Merle’s wife at his side, but Jim Ferris.
“Good to see you both again.” Merle favored them with a bright smile. With his snow-white hair, midsection paunch and jolly laugh, Merle had always reminded Tripp of Santa Claus...with cowboy boots. “I was telling Jim how much Helen and I enjoyed visiting with you and Adrianna. It’s good to see you settling into the community.”
“I grew up here, Merle.” Tripp kept his tone light even as he tightened his hold on the bottle of beer. “It didn’t take much for me to settle back in.”
Tripp saw Merle and Jim exchange a quick, significant glance. It was common knowledge that when the previous hospital CEO had retired, Jim had liked another man for the position. The rumor was that while Jim conceded Tripp had the experience they needed, he hadn’t liked the fact that Tripp was young and single.
“You know what I mean.” Merle slapped him on the back and turned to Adrianna. “We couldn’t be happier about the woman who’s putting an end to your bachelor ways.”
“You’re a lucky man,” Jim added.
Even though she stiffened beside him, Adrianna didn’t say a word. Obviously she was leaving the delicate response to him.
Diplomacy and tact, Tripp told himself. He scrambled for the right words that wouldn’t make Merle feel awkward for misunderstanding and also wouldn’t be disrespectful to Adrianna.
“I’ve decided to have a barbecue at my place next Saturday,” Jim announced before Tripp could respond. “A party to welcome my boy to Jackson Hole. I’ll be inviting board members and many of the medical staff. I’m sure your parents will be there, Tripp. I hope we can also count on you and Adrianna.”
Tripp hesitated. If he didn’t take Adrianna, he knew who would. That would be tantamount to throwing her to the wolves.
He cared about her too much—er, she was too close a friend—for him to allow that to happen.
“I don’t think I have anything on my calendar.” Tripp slanted a sideways glance at Adrianna. “Do you remember if we had any plans?”
“No—” she cleared her throat “—I’m available.”
“Well, I’m delighted you can make it,” Jim said in a gravelly voice. “I know my son is disappointed that this lovely young woman is already taken, but I’m happy for you both.”
Even though a polite smile remained on her lips, Adrianna gave Tripp a quick thrust of her elbow.
She was right. He needed to respond to Jim’s statement, to make the limits of their “relationship” clear.
The words were poised on Tripp’s lips when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Winn approaching.
With an unsteady hand, Tripp slipped an arm around Adrianna’s shoulders and smiled. “I feel lucky to have her in my life.”
Chapter Four
Adrianna rocked slowly back and forth, smiling down at the baby cuddled in her arms. It was warm for early September, so she and Betsy had decided to sit outside on the front porch. The cottage in Jackson that Betsy and Ryan now called home had originally belonged to Betsy’s great-aunt. After much renovation, it had a warm, homey feel that Adrianna’s recently built condo could never hope to emulate.
She stared into baby Nathan’s dark blue eyes and shared her most recent dilemma. “You remember Tripp. Yes, he’s a nice guy. But we both know I was crazy for saying I’d go to the barbecue with him.”
“I hate to tell you, but Nate’s more concerned about his next meal than your social life.” Betsy spoke through the screen door. She pushed it open and placed a tray filled with glasses of iced tea and a plate of snickerdoodle cookies on the small table. “You like Tripp. Why not go to a party with him?”
Betsy settled herself into a matching rocker, apparently content to leave the baby in Adrianna’s arms.
“I want what you have, Bets.” Adrianna lifted the crystal tumbler with one hand, careful not to disturb the infant in her arms. “How am I going to find Mr. Right if I keep hanging out with Tripp?”
Instead of tossing out some platitude, her friend’s expression turned thoughtful. “I understand. I really do. But it’s obvious Tripp likes you. Perhaps, given time—”
“He’s not going to come around.” Adrianna spoke so loudly the baby stirred in her arms. She softened her tone. “Tripp has made it perfectly clear that he thinks of me only as a friend.”
“At the country club he was being so attentive—”
“A dog with his bone. Nothing more.” Although the realization hurt, Adrianna refused to sugarcoat the truth. “Winn was showing interest. Tripp reacted.”
“If you’re so convinced there’s no hope, why are you going with him to the party?”
Exactly the question Adrianna had been asking herself.
“Well, Winn will be there.” Adrianna settled back against the rocker and tried to picture the dark-haired man. Unfortunately, the only male image that sprang to mind had blond hair and cheek stubble. She determinedly blinked it away. “It’ll give me the opportunity to get to know him without going on an actual date.”
“I guess that could occur.” Betsy chewed on her lower lip, her gaze thoughtful. “Unless Tripp continues to play the possessive-boyfriend card.”
That was definitely a possibility. Adrianna sighed. Perhaps she should cancel. Of course, with the party scheduled for tomorrow night, if she was going to bail on Tripp, she had to tell him soon. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Maybe I should forget about men, get a couple cats and save myself all this stress.”
“Yeah, right,” Betsy said with a laugh.
Adrianna had done so much thinking about her situation that her head felt ready to explode. “Enough about me. What’s new with you? Other than having a wonderful husband and this fabulous baby boy.”
“Well...” Betsy stared at the tea in her hands. She cleared her throat, then lifted her gaze. “Keenan may be getting a new trial.”
Adrianna had known Betsy’s older brother since childhood. Keenan McGregor had been a fearless risk taker, brilliant but angry. Angry at his mother for being a drunk, angry at watching his little
sister go without food, angry at the lousy cards he’d been dealt in life.
Still, as volatile as Keenan had been, Adrianna believed—as Betsy did—that he was innocent of the crime that had sent him to the penitentiary in Rawlins two years ago.
“That’s wonderful news,” Adrianna said cautiously, knowing that it would be an uphill battle for someone already convicted to get a new trial. “Is his public defender spearheading the effort?”
“As if that would ever happen,” Betsy snorted, a look of disgust on her face. “No, Keenan has finally agreed to let Cole and Ryan help him. You know how resistant my brother has been about accepting assistance from family or friends.”
“I remember.” Betsy had been devastated when Keenan had refused to take her savings to hire a better attorney when he was originally brought up on charges. “What changed?”
“I don’t want to say he found religion—that’s a bit too clichéd.” Betsy’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “But one of the prison chaplains somehow convinced him there’s no shame in accepting assistance.”
“I’m so glad.” Adrianna reached over and squeezed her friend’s hand.
“Ryan is now in charge of the legal team. Cole insisted on hiring—and paying for—a private investigator.”
Cole Lassiter had also been Keenan’s friend growing up. He’d come from a similar home situation as Betsy and Keenan, but had turned his frustration into determination and now was the head of Hill of Beans, with over twenty-five coffee shops west of the Mississippi, including one in Jackson Hole.
“Have they unearthed any new evidence?” Adrianna asked.
“It’s looking that way,” Betsy said cautiously. “I’m trying not to get my hopes up.”
“I’ll say a little prayer for him.”
