Circle of Friends Complete Collection

by Susan Mallery

  She wiped her face and tried to think happy thoughts. Maybe she should get a kitten. A fluffy white one that would play with a ball of yarn. Only the image of it caused her eyes to fill again.

  “I’m not saying it’s because you’re stressed,” he said. “It’s hormones. Trust me. I have three sisters who have all been pregnant at least twice. You might not want to think about being pregnant, but your body is seriously busy producing all kinds of chemicals. You’re reacting to them.”

  Was that possible?

  “Are you saying I’m going to be an emotional basket case for the next seven months?”

  “Possibly.”

  “I’ll never survive.”

  “Sure you will. Besides, I’ll be right here. You can cry on my shoulder anytime.”

  She laughed, which helped ease the need to sob. He cupped her face in his hands and used his thumbs to wipe her cheeks.

  “Better?” he asked.

  She nodded, then found her gaze lingering on his mouth.

  “Yeah,” he murmured. “Me, too. Think anyone would mind?”

  “Hurry up,” a small voice called out. “He’s gonna kiss her.”

  Rachel turned and saw Christian and his friend lurking in the doorway. “Great. An audience.”

  Carter laughed. “I don’t do requests. Rain check?”

  “Absolutely.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  (Beginning)

  CRISSY SET THE pitcher of iced tea on the table, then put her hands on her hips. “Let me just say for the record, I’m bitter about the lack of wine, okay?”

  Noelle smiled. “I’m only twenty. I couldn’t drink the wine anyway.”

  “You could be with us in spirit,” Crissy grumbled. “But you’re right. So, Rachel, what’s your excuse?”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  “I meant for getting pregnant.”

  Rachel didn’t have an actual answer for that. Fortunately the phone rang...again.

  Noelle’s smile broadened. “That’s probably Dev,” she murmured. “I’ll take it in the other room.”

  Crissy stared after her. “We’ve been here less than two hours and this is his third call. It’s amazing he can get any work done.”

  “I’m thinking he’s not,” Rachel said, wondering what it would be like to be that in love. She’d wanted that for herself, had tried twice. So what had gone wrong? Did she just have bad taste in men or did she not know how to have a good relationship?

  “I’m sure he misses her,” Crissy said as she poured Rachel a glass of iced tea. “I still can’t believe they’re so much in love, but they are. Talk about lucky.”

  Crissy sounded both happy for her friend and a little wistful, which Rachel could relate to.

  “She’s glowing,” Rachel said. “Now that they know the baby’s all right, they can be happy.”

  “Are you happy?” Crissy asked. “You haven’t said much about your own pregnancy.”

  For good reason, Rachel thought. “I’m doing okay. Physically I don’t feel any different. At least not yet. I had an emotional meltdown the other day, which isn’t like me, but I guess now I have hormones to deal with.” She leaned toward Crissy. “Honestly? I can’t seem to get my mind around the fact that I’m having a baby. I’ve tried to think about it as far as what all I have to plan for and deal with, and when I do I start to panic. It seems easier to ignore the whole thing. But that can’t be good, either.”

  “You have time,” Crissy told her. “What? Seven more months? Trust me, as you begin to completely lose control of your body, you’ll get that it’s real.”

  Rachel grinned. “Lose control? You make me feel like aliens have invaded and will soon be bursting out.”

  “Pretty much.”

  “You have personal experience in the matter?” Rachel asked teasingly.

  Crissy shrugged. “I’ve been doing some reading so I can relate to what Noelle’s going through. And now you.” She reached in her purse and held up a bottle of water. “But to be on the safe side, I’m avoiding any liquids that come from a tap. What is it with you two?”

  “We’re just lucky,” Noelle said as she walked back into the kitchen and took her seat at the table. “Dev says hi and promises he won’t call again until after you guys are gone.”

  “I’m not a big believer in happy endings,” Crissy said, “but looking at you is kinda making me a believer. You look good in love.”

  “Thanks. I feel good. Now I just have to get you two married off.”

  Crissy scooted back her chair. “I’m fine being single. Did I mention my charming cat? He’s more than enough company, thank you very much. I hate first dates enough to never want to go on one again!”

  “You’re going to be a tough one,” Noelle said. “I thought we’d start with someone easier.” She turned to Rachel. “So how’s Carter?”

  Rachel laughed. “He’s fine, but you’re wasting your time setting us up. It’s not going to happen.”

  “Why not?” Noelle passed around the large bowl of Chinese chicken salad. “You said he’s a great guy.”

  “He is. He’s funny and charming and I think he’s dated nearly every age-appropriate woman in a tristate area.”

  Noelle nodded. “You don’t think he’s good husband material.”

  Rachel considered the statement. “Actually, I think he is. He cares a lot about his family. They’re all wonderful. He’s responsible and caring. He helped me out with my fall festival booth last weekend, which was great.”

  “He sounds perfect,” Crissy said as she took a roll. “Which makes me instantly not want to trust him. But I’m the cynical member of the team. What’s your excuse?”

  “For one thing, he’s made it really clear that he’s not interested in anything long-term. Carter doesn’t believe in romantic love. Not for himself anyway.”

  Noelle dismissed the problem with a flick of her fingers. “That just means he hasn’t met the right someone yet. Which could be you. But I don’t understand. Doesn’t it bother you that he doesn’t want to get married for the sake of the baby?”

  “Not really,” Rachel admitted. “I know that decision was right for you, but it’s not right for me. I don’t need to be married to have a child. Carter will be part of the baby’s life and that’s enough.”

  Crissy and Noelle exchanged a glance that told Rachel they’d been discussing this without her.

  “You’ve always talked about wanting a family,” Crissy said slowly. “I thought you meant in the traditional sense. Husband and kids.”

  “I do want that. Just not with Carter.”

  Noelle took some salad for herself. “At the risk of sounding stupid, why not? If he’s all that you said, how can you keep from falling in love with him?”

  * * * * *

  Noelle is wise beyond her years. That was THE question Rachel has been ignoring. Well, her best friends—and her heart—want an answer. In Circle of Friends Part 4, it’s decision time...

  ISBN-13: 9781488024610

  Circle of Friends: Part 3 of 6

  First published as The Ladies’ Man

  This edition published 2016

  Copyright © 2006 by Susan Macias Redmond

  All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

  All chara
cters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.

  This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  ® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and in other countries.

  www.Harlequin.com

  CIRCLE OF FRIENDS:

  Part 4 of 6

  Susan Mallery

  Contents

  CHAPTER EIGHT (Conclusion)

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Enough stalling. Cue the Jeopardy theme music. It’s decision time. Rachel’s best friends, Noelle and Crissy, only want what’s best for her, and that’s why she trusts them to ask her the tough questions. And boy, oh, boy, this one is a doozy!

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  (Conclusion)

  Rachel Harper knew she was taking far too long to answer her best friend Noelle’s question about Carter. The words just wouldn’t form.

  “How can you keep from falling in love with him?”

  Finally, taking a deep breath, she replied, “I just can.”

  Rachel had been in love twice, or so she’d thought. She’d agreed to marry two terrific guys, only to have second thoughts a few weeks later. She’d hated hurting them by ending the relationships, but she hadn’t been willing to go forward with their plans when her feelings had changed.

  This was when she missed her mother the most. She wanted to ask questions about her parents’ courtship and hear how they’d known that each other was the one. She wanted to be told that there was nothing wrong with her, that when she met the right guy, she would just know.

  Apparently Carter wasn’t that guy. He was wonderful and she liked being with him and she still went weak remembering their one night together, but was that enough to hold a marriage together? Shouldn’t there be some defining moment when she just knew?

  “I’ll find Mr. Right,” Rachel said. “He’s out there.”

  “Waiting,” Crissy said with a grin. “Longing for you. Desperate and needy.”

  Rachel rolled her eyes. “Stop it or I’ll spike your bottled water with something from the tap and then you’ll get pregnant, too.”

  “Never,” Crissy said firmly.

  * * *

  THE MORNING OF the fall festival promised perfect Southern California weather. Blue skies and a cool start to the day with afternoon temperatures in the low eighties.

  Rachel had arrived before eight to supervise the setup. The booth had turned out great, with bright colors and plenty of room for the sale of greeting cards. Now she checked the inventory against the numbers on her master list and made a note that she had to count the change.

  “Coffee,” Brady’s mom said as she walked over with a tray filled with steaming paper cups. “I stopped on the way.”

  “Thanks,” Rachel said as she took one of the small cups and set it on the booth. She’d never been much of a coffee drinker and these days she was avoiding caffeine, but it seemed easier to take the drink and get rid of it discreetly at a later time than to explain why she was refusing.

  “I’m excited,” Brady’s mom continued. “He’s our oldest, so this is the first time we’re able to get involved in school activities. I can’t wait to get started.”

  Rachel knew there were two other younger children at home. “Okay, but hold on to that enthusiasm,” she teased. “We don’t want you burning out before the baby hits kindergarten.”

  “I won’t,” she promised.

  “Morning, ladies.”

  Rachel didn’t have to turn around and see the speaker to recognize the voice. “Carter,” she said. “You’re early.”

  “It’s the fall festival. How could I resist?”

  How could she? He looked good in his worn jeans and dark T-shirt. Why was it a man could step out of the shower, pull on any old thing and look fabulous while women had to sweat makeup and stylish clothes to achieve any kind of gorgeous?

  “You have a burning need for greeting cards?” she asked.

  “I might. You never know.”

  “Carter? Is that you?”

  Rachel stepped back to avoid being pushed aside as a woman flung herself at Carter, wrapping her arms around him as she pressed her body against his.

  “It is you. Ohmygosh! I can’t believe it. What are you doing here?”

  Rachel blinked. “Eden?”

  The woman glanced at Rachel and grinned. “Oh, hi, Rachel.”

  Eden Baker was one of the teachers at Rachel’s school and obviously another of Carter’s exes.

  Carter reached up and carefully loosened Eden’s grip from around his neck. “Good to see you, Eden. How’s John?”

  “He’s great.” Eden released Carter and stepped back. She smiled at Rachel. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I was just so shocked to see Carter here. I could never get him to come to any school events. It’s been what? Five years?”

  “About that,” he said.

  Eden’s smile widened. “I’m a happily married woman now and I wouldn’t change a thing, but we had some good times.” She patted Rachel’s arm. “Enjoy him, honey. Enjoy him for all of us.”

  Rachel watched Eden head back to her booth, then she turned to Carter. “I’m thinking maybe you could just give me a list. You know, names, occupations, addresses, so I can be prepared for the next round of women I’m going to meet.”

  Carter shuffled his feet and shoved his hands into his front pockets. “There aren’t that many.”

  “Really? I seem unable to leave the house with you without us running into someone you used to date. And I use the term ‘date’ very loosely.”

  All his exes weren’t excited to see him because he’d known how to pick a great movie.

  “Are you mad?” he asked.

  “No, not mad. Just out of my element. I’ve never known a guy like you.”

  “Is that a bad thing?” he asked.

  He was so obviously uncomfortable, she wanted to laugh. He could have strutted around and bragged about his conquests. The fact that he didn’t made her willing to deal with all the Edens and Jennys she was bound to meet.

  “I’m thinking you should give lessons to less fortunate males,” she teased. “It would be a great side job. Think of the money you’d make.”

  “You’re exaggerating,” he told her. “I—”

  “Carter? Carter Brockett? As I live and breathe, is that you, honey?”

  Rachel patted him on the arm. “I’ll go take care of my booth. You handle the fans.”

  * * *

  BY THAT AFTERNOON, the festival was officially a success. Rachel went over her inventory and was pleased to see they’d already sold about eighty percent of the greeting-card kits. Parents were showing up on time to man the booth, the kids were having a blast—running through the playground and getting in the way—and money was being made for the school.

  Carter had ducked out before lunch, although he’d promised to return later. Now Rachel found herself watching for him, which she didn’t like. Their deal of pretend dating didn’t have any room for the real thing.

  Still, she scanned the crowd, then smiled when she saw a familiar older woman heading in her direction.

  Rachel walked into the main path to greet Nina Brockett.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked as Carter’s mom gave her a hug.

 
“I always come to the fall festival. I have grandchildren, you know.”

  “I do know. I’ve met nearly all of them. Your entire family has stopped by to say hi.”

  Rachel hadn’t expected their appearance but had enjoyed it. The Brocketts were obviously willing to take her in and accept her as one of them. Unfortunately, their warmth left her feeling guilty about her secret plan with Carter.

  “So what are you selling?” Nina asked as she moved to the booth. “Oh, cards. Very nice.”

  “Um, you might want to buy something else,” Rachel told her. “All three of your daughters bought cards, so you’re all at risk of sending each other exactly the same one.”

  “Still, I want to support your class.” She leaned close. “Children are a blessing and I love every one of mine, but grandchildren are the reward. You wait. You’ll see what I mean. Have you seen Carter?”

  “He was here this morning to help me set up.”

  “Good. He talked about how important the festival was to you. How it’s the major fund-raiser for the school. He asked us all to come and stop by.”

  Had he? That was unexpected, but nice to hear.

  “Carter’s a good man,” his mother said. “He’s always thinking about the people he cares about. He’s responsible, too.”

  Rachel silently groaned at the obvious matchmaking. “Nina, you don’t have to sell him to me.”

  Nina smiled. “Of course I do. I want to make sure you both fall in love and get married. Not just for the baby, although he or she is going to need a name, but for yourself. There’s nothing better than a happy marriage. I know. I had ten wonderful years with Carter’s father.”

  Rachel held in the need to point out that her baby would have a name even if it wasn’t Carter’s and decided it was much safer to shift the topic of conversation.

  “You’ve been a widow for a long time. Didn’t you ever want to remarry?”

  “I thought about it,” Nina told her. “I wanted a man around for my children. I decided that when I fell in love again, I’d marry, but not for any other reason. Like you.”