What Happens Between Friends

by Beth Andrews

  Who wouldn’t balk at being told how he felt about her or get antsy to move on after a few weeks. A woman who would have his babies and spend the rest of her life by his side. Happy. Content, knowing she had a man like James Montesano as her partner. Her lover.

  Her best friend.

  A damn lucky woman.

  Sadie hated her.

  * * *

  “I THOUGHT YOU were going out to dinner,” Rose said, entering the kitchen in answer to James’s greeting when he’d walked into his parents’ house.

  He nodded at her red-and-black, short-sleeved dress. “Looks like I’m not the only one.”

  “Your father and I are going to Pittsburgh with the Pettits. Dinner and a show. I don’t think they’ve had so much as a break since Fay...since she...”

  “Maddie says she’s doing better,” he reminded his mother gently.

  “I know and thank God for that. I just...it breaks my heart to think of her hurting that much. And even though Gerry and Carl are more than happy to take care of her, your father and I thought it would be nice to give them a break. At least for an evening.”

  Though Fay and her boys were back in their own house, they still spent quite a bit of time with Gerry and Carl Pettit, Fay and Neil’s adoptive parents.

  “Where are you taking Anne?” Rose asked, digging through her purse before pulling out a small mirror. “I hope it’s someplace nice.”

  “I thought we’d start off with burgers and fries at Mickey D’s—I might even let her order off the regular menu and not just the dollar one. Then we can head over to the Bronze Hawk for a couple of shots—I hear Friday nights it’s two-for-one. There’s a good chance one of us will even get a clean glass.”

  “I am forever astounded by how witty my children are,” she said drily as she twisted up a tube of red lipstick.

  Frank came into the kitchen in a pair of pressed dress pants and a crisp white shirt, his hair slicked back. “James,” he said with a nod, his smile warm and welcoming, as if he didn’t realize James was still pissed at him. “I hope you didn’t stop by for din—”

  “I didn’t.”

  “He has a date,” Rose said, obviously sensing the tension coming from her son.

  “You don’t have to sound so proud,” James said. “I have had dates before.”

  “Yes, but you might not get a second one with Anne if you show up in your work clothes. And it wouldn’t kill you to take a shower.”

  “I’m heading home to get cleaned up and changed,” he assured her.

  Cleaned up and changed for a date he wasn’t the least bit looking forward to. But he’d promised himself he would move on, and this was the first step. He didn’t really believe he’d find true love with Anne tonight, or possibly ever. But if he wanted to meet his future wife, he had to start searching.

  Had to stop thinking he’d found her when he was ten years old.

  “I stopped by to drop this off,” he said, tossing the folder onto the table. “Sadie showed up at Bradford House. Said you were expecting her and those papers.”

  The papers his father didn’t so much as glance at.

  A suspicion formed, niggled at the back of his brain then—looking at his father’s smug grin—formed fully. Son of a bitch.

  “I can’t help but wonder,” James continued, “why you’d tell her to meet you there at five-thirty when you knew damned well you were leaving an hour earlier.”

  Frank sat to put on his shoes. Winked. “Because I knew you’d still be there. No need to thank me,” he said.

  “No chance of that,” James said softly.

  Frank’s expression slid from self-satisfied to confused. “I thought you’d appreciate an excuse to talk to Sadie alone.”

  “Frank,” Rose said admonishingly, “why on earth would you do that?”

  “Because he’s been moping around all week like some lovelorn teenager. Listen,” he said to James, “whatever problems you two had, I’m sure you can work them out. Relationships are complicated and a hell of a lot of work. They require give-and-take and you stomping around the shop every morning, growling at everyone, is helping no one.” He looked at his wife. “Tell him.”

  “You want me to tell our son how to reconcile with the woman who has caused him nothing but disappointment and heartache?” Rose asked, her eyes wide. “I don’t think so.”

  Frank slashed his hand through the air as if brushing Rose’s words aside. “So they’ve had some ups and downs. What couple hasn’t?”

  “We’re not a couple,” James managed to say through gritted teeth. He stood so rigidly, his muscles ached. “We were never a couple. We were friends.”

  Rose shook her head at her husband. “Bad enough you had to go and hire her behind my back—”

  “Not this again. I hired her as a surprise for you. To help you out.”

  “The last thing I need is help from Sadie Nixon. She’s flighty. Selfish. And she’s brought James nothing but disappointment and heartache.”

  James stabbed a hand through his hair. “Just shoot me now,” he muttered.

  Guess Sadie’s assessment of his mother’s feelings about her were on the money. Sadie always had been able to read people.

  “It was a lovely surprise,” Rose told Frank, relenting with a sigh, “and I appreciate you thinking of me, of giving me that extra time for my studies, but you went about it the wrong way.”

  “It was my decision,” Frank insisted, as stubborn as always.

  “That’s the problem,” James said quietly. “It’s all about what you want. Your choices. You’re not the only one who has a stake in Montesano Construction. The only one who puts your heart and soul into that company day in and day out.”

  Frank stood. “I’m the one who started it. Who made it what it is today.”

  Rose groaned. “Oh, Frank.”

  “Yes, you started it,” James agreed. “Yes, you built it up from nothing. But for the past sixteen years, I’ve busted my ass helping to keep it a success. Eddie and Maddie and I have done everything in our power to help Montesano Construction grow. Because it’s important to us. Because it means something to us—it’s our past and present, but obviously not our future.”

  “What is that supposed to mean?” his dad asked.

  “It means that you’ve never, not once, so much as brought up the idea of taking us on as partners—full partners. We’ve never discussed what your plans are for when you retire.”

  “When I retire, you and Eddie and Maddie can take over, but until then, I run Montesano Construction.” Frank’s face was red, his voice unsteady. “I’ve seen what happens when families go into business together. It tears them apart. I won’t let that happen to us.”

  “I think you’re too late for that,” James said, needing space to get his thoughts together, some breathing room.

  He kissed his mother’s cheek, shook his head at her soft plea for him to stay. There was no reasoning with his father when he got like this, no way to find equal ground.

  “We’re not done discussing this,” Frank said, his voice brooking no argument. James kept going, had opened the door when his father’s voice, a mixture of hurt and anger, stopped him. “I am your father. I deserve your respect.”

  James turned. “You’re my father, and I love you. More than that, I’ve looked up to you. My whole life all I ever wanted was to be like you. I’ve given you respect. Always. And now it’s time you gave me some in return.”

  * * *

  IT WAS ALL James’s fault.

  Sadie was sure of it. Everything that sucked in the world—global warming, the crappy economy, her bad mood and ruined dinner and the fact that she’d inhaled a half dozen of her mother’s really excellent oatmeal-raisin cookies in a ten-minute time period.

  James’s fault. A
ll of it.

  She pulled into O’Riley’s lot, her tires squealing, found a spot near the far corner and parked. If the number of vehicles was anything to go by, it was another busy night. There was a good chance that if she walked in, Kane would want her behind the bar even though it was her night off. That thought, and that thought alone, had her pausing, had her considering taking her money and her dangerous mood somewhere else.

  It was the thought of James and Anne wrapped around each other by the end of the night that had her moving once again.

  She glanced at her phone as she stepped into the building. Seven o’clock. They were probably at the restaurant right now. A twenty-something guy smiled, started her way—her quick sneer had him doing an about-face.

  Though she’d come dressed for it, she wasn’t here to troll for a man. She had every right to wear her favorite black skirt, the high-waisted one covered with faux feathers. The one short enough, tight enough, to guarantee she’d garner plenty of second—and third—looks. She’d topped it off with a sedate cream-colored tank and long beaded necklace that swung when she strode across the room to the far end of the bar.

  She had every damn right to look her best. For herself.

  And, well, if James just happened to stop by here like he had with Charlotte, if he just happened to see Sadie looking truly excellent, that was okay, too.

  Not that he would. He probably took Anne into Pittsburgh to some fancy restaurant. Somewhere cozy with dim lighting and classy food, one of those places where they served small portions, barely enough to fill a real live person. After, he’d take her to a show or, better yet, dancing. James was an excellent dancer and he wasn’t afraid, embarrassed or too shy to get out on the dance floor. To be the first person out there if necessary.

  He had moves, Sadie thought, sliding onto an empty stool next to the wall. She remembered him at their school dances, at weddings here or there and the few times they’d gone out as friends to a club or to hear a local band play.

  Yeah, she thought bitterly, he had moves. Hadn’t he used them on her two weeks ago? Shocked her with his words, tempted her with his touch. Seduced her with his kiss.

  He had moves and tonight he’d be putting them on the long-legged Anne.

  Tears stung, but she blinked them back. She’d cried over men before, had shed buckets of tears, had her heart broken plenty of times.

  She’d never, not once, thought that James would make her cry. Would make her feel so sad, so lost.

  Kane noticed her, headed her way.

  “I’m not working,” she said when he was close enough to hear her over Rush’s “Fly by Night” blaring from the jukebox behind her, “so don’t even ask.”

  “I don’t need you to work,” he said, wiping the already-spotless bar. He inclined his head toward the two female bartenders. “Julie started tonight, remember?”

  He’d hired Julie, a law student, to help cover the weekend shifts. “Good, because tonight I’m here as a patron.” She set her purse on the bar, crossed her legs. “Don Julio Blanco,” she said, ordering her favorite tequila. “Neat.”

  “Drowning your sorrows?” Kane asked, his cool green eyes assessing.

  “I will be once you get my drink.”

  He flicked his gaze over her. “You sure you don’t want that mixed with some fruit and crushed ice? I’m not sure you can handle a grown-up drink.”

  With a laugh, she leaned forward. “I’ve tended bar from here to Seattle and back again. I can not only handle it, I could drink you under the table.”

  “That’s what they all say. Until they puke all over my clean floor.”

  “No puking.” She held up her hand. “I promise.”

  Kane poured her drink and set it in front of her. She picked up the glass in both hands, inhaled the notes of lemon and spice.

  And downed it.

  It was smooth and warm as it hit the back of her throat.

  “That’s a sipping tequila,” Kane said.

  Resting her elbows on the bar, she held her chin in her hands and smiled. “Then I’ll be sure to sip the next one.” When he didn’t move, she waved her fingers at him. “Go on. Shoo.”

  His eyes narrowed to slits. “Did you just shoo me?”

  In answer, she gave him another finger wave then turned, leaning back against the bar, her legs crossed, her foot swinging.

  Another song started. “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Not her favorite, but if she was there spending money instead of making it, she sure as hell wasn’t going to put so much as a quarter in the jukebox. She swiveled slightly, brushed her hair off her shoulder. Most of the tables were full, the long bar crowded. Both pool tables were in use, as was the dartboard.

  She could go over, find someone to play, hustle them out of a few bucks or more, but she didn’t want to be sociable. Didn’t want to chat or be delightful. She wanted to sit here in the corner and sulk. Drink until her vision blurred and her thoughts grew fuzzy.

  That, most of all, was James’s fault.

  The song changed. She watched a group of pretty twenty-somethings laugh brightly and send flirtatious glances at a couple of guys two tables over. But they only reminded her of Charlotte, of how her sister hadn’t spoken to her in a week. After a few minutes, another song played.

  Sadie turned, but Kane was nowhere in sight. Where was he? More importantly, where was her drink?

  Finally she spotted him as he came out through the swinging doors from the kitchen. He laid a plate in front of her.

  “What’s this?” she asked, frowning at a burger the size of her head and a pile of thick-cut fries.

  “You want to drink here? You’ll eat first. Unless you’re going to tell me you already had a full meal....”

  She would have, except she’d burned the scrambled eggs she’d made for dinner. Who the hell burned scrambled eggs? They were in a nonstick pan, for God’s sake.

  The nonstick pan that had accompanied the eggs into the trash.

  “Do six cookies count as a full meal?” she asked.

  “Six cookies is a snack. A full dozen equals a meal.”

  “Ha.” She picked up the burger. Lord, but the thing was huge. And smelled really, really good. “There’s that hidden charm. I knew it was in there somewhere.”

  “That so?”

  Nodding, she bit into the burger. Chewed and swallowed then wiped her mouth with a cocktail napkin. “Anyone who looks like you has charm. It might not be polished, but it’s there. This is good,” she said around a second bite. “Really good.”

  “I’ll pass your compliments on to the chef.”

  “We have a chef?” That was new.

  He pulled a draft beer. “There’s no we in this equation. Me boss. You lowly employee.”

  She snorted, held up her empty glass and wiggled it. “Tonight me thirsty customer.”

  “You eat at least half of that and I’ll get you another drink.”

  She wanted to complain. Worse, she wanted to pout. But she wouldn’t stoop that low.

  Besides, now that she had food in front of her, she found she was hungrier than she would have thought.

  She dipped a fry into some sort of ketchup–ranch dressing sauce. “So, boss, what’s your policy on sleeping with employees?”

  If the question shocked him, he hid it well. “Considering that out of the five female employees I have, one is old enough to be my mother, two are married, one is a lesbian and one is you, I didn’t think I needed a policy.”

  She narrowed her eyes. Sat up straighter. “What’s wrong with me?”

  “Nothing. But you’re not interested.”

  “I could be,” she said, though that was such a lie, she was surprised her nose didn’t shoot out and knock the bottle of gin from his hand. “I should be. After all, you’re perfe
ct for me. Just my type.”

  “That so?”

  “You bet.”

  He gave a woman in a sundress her gin and tonic then wiped his hand on a rag he kept in his back pocket. “What’s your type?”

  “You. Haven’t you been paying attention? Oh,” she said, picking up the burger for another bite. “You mean specifically. Well, let’s see...brooding, rebellious, cranky, smoldering with repressed emotions...you know, your typical bad boy. In other words—” she took a huge bite, chewed and swallowed “—you.”

  He lifted one golden eyebrow. “Smoldering?”

  “Blazing, baby.”

  “And that’s your type.”

  “From the top of your artfully mussed hair to the tips of your scuffed biker boots.” She sighed. “You’re just the kind of guy I usually go for. Emotionally unavailable with a mysterious past and dozens of ex-lovers—”

  “More like legions,” he said so soberly she wasn’t sure if he was kidding or not.

  “Legions. That’s even better. I’ll fall hard and fast and convince myself I can fix all that’s broken inside of you, and you’ll steal my credit cards, sleep with a few of my friends and break my heart.”

  “The great sex might just be worth it,” he said, sliding another drink in front of her.

  She looked down, surprised to find she’d finished most of the burger. And felt better for it. “It might be.”

  She thought of James, out with some other woman, charming her with his easy laugh, his slow, sexy grin.

  She raised her glass in a toast. “Before the night’s over, maybe we’ll find out for sure.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  ZOE BARKED. And barked. And barked some more.

  With a groan, James rolled over and read the clock on the bedside table.

  Three-forty.

  His dog kept up with the histrionics, yapping and racing around. “All right, all right,” he muttered, tossing the covers off and swinging his legs over the side of the bed. “But if this is your way of telling me there are deer in the backyard, I will kill you.”