THE BEST MAN

by Linda Turner

  She could do this, she told herself as she carefully pushed open the driver's door. All she had to do was take it slow and easy and not take any chances.

  In theory, that sounded good, but as she eased from the truck to the ground, she found herself holding her breath. It wasn't until both feet were on the ground and she saw just how precariously the Explorer clung to the side of the mountain that her heart started to slam against her ribs. If she'd been going any faster when she hit that board in the road, she would have had a much more serious problem than just a flat tire. She could have lost control and gone careering down the mountain into the trees and killed herself.

  Shaken, she removed the jack and spare from the truck and had just blocked both back tires with rocks when another car approached from the south. Surprised—wild Horse Canyon was a remote area and there was little traffic in and out of it—she turned in time to see Nick pull up behind her and park with the lights on his light bar spinning. Anyone approaching from either direction would see the lights and hopefully slow down as they passed.

  She hadn't seen him since that evening at the diner, when he'd told Thomas he wouldn't help him win her back because he was in love with her himself, and she'd secretly thought it was for the best. She didn't know how to act around him anymore, didn't know what to say. There was an awkwardness between them that hadn't been there before and she didn't know how to deal with it.

  But as he walked toward her with that deceptively lazy gait of his, his long legs quickly eliminating the distance between them, she realized just how much she'd missed him. She didn't know if she'd ever be comfortable with his feelings for her, but at least he was still in her life. Right now, nothing else mattered.

  "You always seem to show up when I need you," she said with a smile, and it was nothing less than the truth. They'd always had a sixth sense where each other was concerned. "How'd you know I was in trouble?"

  "I didn't," he replied. "I was on my way over to Ethelda Dickerson's place—her cat's stuck on the roof and she can't get him down—and just decided to drive through the canyon instead of taking the interstate." Joining her at the front of the car, he scowled down at the ruined front tire on the passenger side. Flat as a pancake, it had thrown rubber and would obviously never hold air again. "How'd you do that?"

  "I hit a board," she said with a grimace. "I know—I should have seen it, but I was thinking instead of paying attention to my driving and was on it before I saw it."

  "It could have been worse," he reassured her. "You could have thrown the board up into the motor and caused some serious trouble. Let's see about getting that jack set up." Squatting down to examine the ground where the jack needed to be assembled, he brushed gravel and loose dirt away and didn't like what he saw. "We're going to need a pretty good size rock to stabilize it. Something flat to level out the ground."

  "There's one down here," she said, making her way carefully down the hill. "I saw it when I was looking for something to block the wheels."

  She hadn't used it because it was too flat to effectively block anything, but it was just what they needed to set the jack on. Together, they moved it up the hill and into position, then Nick set the jack up.

  Merry could have changed the flat herself and Nick knew it, but he enjoyed doing things for her when he could. So while she watched, he quickly loosened the lug nuts, exchanged the spare for the flat, and had the job finished in less than ten minutes. Only then did he realize that he should have taken longer so he'd have more time to spend with her.

  Silently cursing his stupidity, he placed everything in the back of her Explorer and dusted off his hands. "There you go," he said as he wiped his hands on his handkerchief. "You want me to follow you back into town to make sure you don't have any more trouble?"

  She hesitated, then shook her head. "No, that's okay. But thanks anyway. Mrs. Dickerson's probably already called the station a dozen times wondering where you are, and I need to get out to Lester Allison's place and vaccinate his cats."

  He didn't like the idea of her driving around in such a remote area without a spare, but she was a grown woman, and an independent one, at that. She didn't need him telling her what to do. "All right. Call me on my mobile if you need me."

  She had the number, so he expected her to head on out to the Allison place, but she just stood there, staring at him in puzzlement as if she'd never seen him before. Amused, he snapped his fingers in front of her nose. "Hello? Is anybody home? What's going on, Mer?"

  Heat climbed into her cheeks, but she didn't look away. "Were you serious when you said you were in love with me?"

  That was the last thing he expected from her. Since he'd told her how he felt, she'd gone out of her way to avoid him; and whenever she hadn't been able to do that, she'd acted as if that particular conversation had never happened. He knew she needed time to deal with the change in their relationship, but still, that had hurt.

  "That's not something I would joke about," he said gruffly, his eyes searching hers. "Why do you ask?"

  For a moment, he didn't think she was going to be able to answer him. She hesitated, only to blurt out, "It's just that you never show it like Thomas does, and I was wondering why."

  The second the words were out of her mouth, Merry wanted to take them back. What in the world was she doing? Encouraging him to … to … what?

  Unable to admit even to herself what she was asking for, she quickly took a step back. "Forget I said that. I don't know what got into me. I guess I'm just confused. Everything's so topsy-turvy right now. I think I must have been standing in the sun too long. I've got to go. Thanks for helping me with the flat—"

  She should have known he wouldn't let her off the hook that easily. She turned back toward her truck, but before she'd taken two steps, he was there in front of her, blocking her path, his brown eyes glinting with frustration. "Don't think for a second that you're going to walk away after saying something like that," he growled. "You brought this up. Let's finish it."

  "That's not necessary—"

  "Oh, yes it is," he said silkily. "So you want me to be more like Thomas, do you? And how should I do that, Mer? By leaving you at the altar in front of the whole town? Or would you rather I make a commitment to you, then just walk out like it never happened? Is that what you want?"

  Heat climbed into her cheeks. "No, of course not!"

  "I know how I feel," he said, reaching for her. "But if you need an example, I'll be happy to give you one." And with no more warning than that, he pulled her into his arms.

  Stunned, she didn't have time to do anything but gasp before his mouth swooped down and covered hers, and then she couldn't think of anything but Nick. She'd known him all her life, laughed with him, played with him, grown up with him and always loved him as a friend. But not once in all that time had she ever kissed him or even imagined what it would be like to be held in his arms. All her attention had always been focused on Thomas, instead. And because of that, she never even suspected that Nick could kiss like the devil himself.

  Her head swimming and her thoughts blurring, she felt her bones begin to dissolve and could no more resist the sudden unexpected hunger he stirred in her than the tides could resist the lure of the moon. Lost to everything but the taste and heat and wonder of him, she melted against him.

  Later, she didn't know how long the madness would have lasted if the police radio in his patrol car hadn't crackled to life. In a daze, she suddenly realized she was standing on the side of the road in full view of anyone who chose to pass, kissing Nick, of all people, like there was no tomorrow! She had, she thought in growing horror, lost her mind!

  Suddenly not sure of anything, least of all her own heart, she stumbled back out of his arms before he could stop her, panic urging her to run while she still could. "No!" she cried when he reached for her. "This is a mistake. I mean it, Nick! Just because I've broken thinks off with Thomas doesn't mean I'm looking for anyone else. I'm not. Please don't take this wrong, but after wha
t he did to me, it'll be a long time—if ever—before I trust another man."

  "I'm not Thomas," he retorted. "I would never hurt you."

  She wanted to believe him, wanted to let down her guard, but she couldn't. The hurt was still too fresh, the wounds inflicted to her heart too raw. Her eyes blurring with tears, she choked, "I'm sorry. But I can't do this. Please … let's just forget this. We both have work to do."

  Wiping her cheeks, she moved to step around him, and he let her go. Another man might have been discouraged when she drove away like she couldn't get away from him fast enough, but Nick stood in the middle of the road grinning like an idiot. God, she'd felt good in his arms! Even better than he'd dared let himself hope all these years. And he'd kissed her! He'd lost count of the number of times he'd fantasized about that, but nothing he'd ever imagined could have lived up to reality. And she hadn't pushed him away, at least not initially, and for no other reason than that, he felt encouraged. She might claim she didn't want another man in her life, but she wasn't immune to him. And that, at least, was a start.

  * * *

  Every year, the McBrides threw a birthday party and barbecue for Sara McBride's birthday and invited the whole county. Usually, it was an event Nick wouldn't have missed—Sara was like a second mother to him and he loved her dearly—but this year, he seriously considered not attending because of Merry. He didn't want to pressure her too much too soon, and it had only been two days since he'd kissed her. Now that she finally saw him as a man who was attracted to her and not just a friend, the last thing he wanted to do was scare her off.

  But he hadn't seen or talked to her since he'd kissed her, though he hadn't needed to keep tabs on what was going on in her life. Everywhere he went, people were talking about Thomas and the different ways he was trying to win her back.

  The gossips were thrilled—they thought Thomas's pursuit of Merry was the most romantic thing they'd ever heard of—but Nick knew that Thomas's grandiose gestures had nothing to do with love. Thomas never had liked to lose, and now that he knew Nick was interested in Merry, too, this was just a competition on his part. If he really loved Merry, he'd be groveling at her feet for the way he'd humiliated her, begging her forgiveness, and trying to show her how he'd changed. Instead, he thought he could distract her with presents and public displays of affection so she'd forget what he'd done to her.

  Merry wasn't that stupid, Nick assured himself. She knew Thomas as well as he did and wouldn't be taken in so easily. Nick could trust her to see their old friend for what he was. Still, he'd known Thomas would be at the party and would once again make a move on Merry. Nick knew she could take care of herself and more than handle Thomas, but every possessive instinct he had rebelled at the idea of leaving her there unprotected from the jerk's romantic shenanigans.

  So at the last minute, he decided to go the party, which turned out to be a wise decision. As he made his way through the crowd on the back patio, it didn't take him long to find Merry. And Thomas. She was checking the bowls of food on the buffet table, making sure everything was set up to begin serving, and Thomas was right at her side, just as Nick had expected, hovering close and pretending to help while he joked and flirted with her.

  Fury burned in Nick's gut at the sight of him standing so close that his shoulder actually brushed Merry's. To anyone else watching, she appeared to be enjoying herself, but Nick knew her better than most. Even from a distance, he could see the tightness of her smile and the irritation that set her blue eyes snapping. And in spite of his anger with Thomas, Nick couldn't help but grin. She was ticked off, and Thomas was too damn cocky to see it. If he didn't back off, he'd be lucky if she didn't serve him his head on a platter.

  It was, however, her mother's birthday, Nick reminded himself, and she wouldn't want to cause a stink and ruin the party. So he'd do Thomas a favor and rescue his skinny neck—not because he gave a damn if Merry took him apart, but because she deserved to enjoy the party without having to worry about coming face to face with Thomas's mug every time she turned around.

  Striding over to the buffet table, he ignored Thomas and said quietly, "I know you're busy, Mer, but I need to talk to you if you've got a minute. Do you think we could go out to the garden for a second?"

  Relieved, Merry almost fell into his arms. "Yes, of course!" Turning to Thomas, she said, "Thanks for all your help, Thomas, but everything's ready. Would you find my mother for me and tell her we can eat whenever she's ready?"

  "But I thought I'd go out to the garden with you and Nick," he whined.

  "Sorry, buddy," Nick retorted and wasn't any such thing, "but this is official business. Why don't you go find Sara like the lady asked?" And without bothering to wait for his response, he took Merry's elbow and escorted her around him and out toward the rose garden at the side of the house.

  Thomas had been so persistent that Merry half expected him to follow them, but something in the set of Nick's granite jaw must have convinced him that discretion really was the better part of valor. Resentment flashing in his eyes, he stormed off like a spoiled three-year-old, leaving her alone with Nick for the first time since he'd kissed her.

  She'd thought of nothing else over the course of the last few days, dreamed of nothing else. And in spite of the fact that she couldn't help but feel awkward, she really was glad that he'd showed up for the party and come to her rescue. She had some things she needed to say to him, and they had to be said in private.

  Reaching the garden, which emptied of guests when the dinner bell was rung, she turned and faced him like a sixteen-year-old facing her first beau. "Did you really have official business to discuss with me?"

  Amused, he merely arched a brow at her. "What do you think?"

  She laughed at how easily he'd outmaneuvered Thomas—it was no more than he deserved. "Thanks for the rescue. I tried every excuse I could think of to shake him, but he wasn't buying any of them."

  "He always was tenacious as a bulldog. He doesn't give up easily."

  "I know," she said as her smile faded. "I think that's why I could never see anyone but him. He was always so determined that I would be his. Not that I was completely blameless in all this," she quickly added. "I shouldn't have been so blind. I'm sorry about that," she said sincerely. "I never meant to hurt you. I just never realized that you looked at me that way. And when you did tell me how you felt, it scared the hell out of me. I was afraid if things changed between us, I would lose my best friend. After everything else that's happened, I don't think I could stand that."

  She looked up at him with such worry in her eyes that it was all he could do not to take her into his arms in full view of everyone at the party. He understood her concerns and felt the same way—which was why he'd let years go by without telling her how he felt. He didn't want to lose her, either. But after that kiss in Wild Horse Canyon, he knew that wasn't going to happen.

  "Nothing's going to put our friendship in danger," he assured her huskily. "Not if we don't let it. So let's make a pact. If you think we're in trouble, you tell me and I'll do the same, and we'll do whatever we have to to set things right. Okay? Have we got a deal?"

  He could see the doubts reflected in her eyes, but she wanted to believe as much as he did that nothing could ever shake their friendship. Her smile misty, she took the hand he held out to her and shook it firmly. "Deal."

  * * *

  Chapter 8

  «^»

  Nothing has to change. We're the same as we've always been.

  Over the course of the next few days, Merry clung to Nick's words at all hours of the day and night, whenever doubts hit her and she felt like she was losing control of her life. There were times when she actually convinced herself that he was right. After all, nothing really had changed. Nick had apparently loved her for years—she just hadn't known it. Now she did. That didn't mean life as she knew it was any different than it had ever been.

  Nothing, however, was that simple. If she needed proof of that, she got it Wedne
sday night when she walked into Tiny's Pool Hall. She and a crowd of her friends met there every Wednesday night for the weekly pool tournament. It wasn't usually a serious competition but more of an excuse to get together, have some fun, and catch up on each other's lives. There was nothing structured or formal about it, no invitations or even calls to remind each other to come. They'd all been doing it for years, and those who could make it, did. Those who couldn't, came whenever they could.

  Unless Nick pulled the three to eleven shift at work, he was almost always there, and this time was no different. Merry saw him the second she walked through the door. Normally, she would have grinned and waved, then grabbed a drink before joining him and the others at their table, but not tonight. From across the room, his eyes met hers, and something in her heart seemed to shift. All around her, people were laughing and talking and she couldn't see anybody but Nick.

  Why hadn't she ever noticed before how attractive he was? Oh, she'd always known he was good looking, but she couldn't ever remember noticing just how tall he was or how the corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled. He had a sense of strength about him that was incredibly appealing, a quiet self-confidence that any woman with eyes in her head would find hard to resist. And a quick glance around the pool hall told her she wasn't the only one who'd noticed. More than a few of the ladies in the crowd were openly looking him over, and they all appeared to like what they saw. And he didn't see anyone but her.

  The touch of his eyes was an almost physical caress, and without quite knowing how it happened, she was suddenly breathless. Flushing, she tried to look away, but she couldn't. Memories flashed between them … the touch of his hands on her, the wet heat of his mouth as he'd kissed her, the feel of his arms banded around her, holding her tight … and try though she might to ignore the sensations he stirred in her, all she could think of was that she wanted him to kiss her again. Right here. Right now.