Always the Best Man

by Michelle Major

  “He’s going to be fine, Em.” He could see her knuckles turning white even as color rose to her cheeks.

  “This was a horrible idea,” she muttered, turning her head to stare out onto Main Street as if she couldn’t stand to meet his gaze another second. “I’m sorry. I’m a mess.”

  Jase took a step toward her. It was stupid and self-destructive and a bad idea for both of them, but the truth was he didn’t care if Emily was a mess. He wanted her to be his mess.

  * * *

  Emily felt the tips of Jase’s fingers on the back of her hand. She couldn’t look at him after everything she’d said. All of the shattered pieces of herself she’d just revealed.

  But her fingers loosened at his touch, and she wanted to sway into him. Somehow he grounded her and just maybe...

  The front door to the office opened, a rush of fresh mountain air breezing over her heated skin. “Jase, you’re late.”

  Emily whirled around to see a short, curvy woman in an ill-fitting silk blouse and shapeless skirt staring at her.

  “Sorry,” the woman said quickly, glancing between Emily and Jase as she adjusted the bulky purse on her arm. “I didn’t realize you had a meeting or...”

  “It’s fine,” Jase told her, stepping away from Emily. “I’ll grab my keys, and I’m ready. The Crimson Valley Hiker’s Club today, right?”

  The woman nodded. “If you’re busy—”

  He shook his head. “Mari, this is Emily Whitaker. She’s Noah’s sister and just got back to town. Em, Mari Simpson. Mari works at the library in town but has been kind enough to help keep me on track with my campaign.” He gave Mari a warm smile, and Emily’s throat tightened. Jase could smile at whomever he wanted. It didn’t matter only...

  “He’ll be a great mayor,” Mari chirped with a bright smile of her own. While the woman wasn’t classically pretty, the smile softened her features in a way that made her beautiful. “I’m happy to do whatever I can.” Her face was sweet and hopeful. The face of a woman who would make a perfect wife. Emily forced herself not to growl in response.

  “Keys,” Jase said again and disappeared into his office.

  Mari continued to smile but it looked forced. “So you’re Noah’s sister?”

  “I am.”

  “You moved back from Boston, right?”

  A simple question but Emily knew it meant that although Mari Simpson wasn’t a Crimson native, she’d been downloaded on Emily’s past and reputation in town. “Yes,” she answered, forcing herself to stay cordial. This was new Emily.

  Emily 2.0. Nice Emily.

  “It’s good to be close to my family and friends again.”

  Mari tapped a finger to her cheek. “I think I saw your name on the application list for our reference desk opening.”

  Emily nodded. “I applied at the library.”

  “Too bad we filled the position already,” Mari said a little too sweetly. “Lots of talented people want a chance to live in such a great little town. We only hire people with at least an undergraduate degree. I’m sure you’ll find something.”

  Emily 2.0.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” she said through clenched teeth. “I think—”

  “Emily’s going to work for me,” Jase said, pocketing his phone and keys as he came back into the room. He kept his gaze trained on Mari.

  Her jaw dropped and Emily was pretty sure her own reaction was the same.

  “Here? But I’ve heard... I thought...she’s—”

  “Organized and hardworking,” Jase said, repeating Emily’s words from earlier. “Just what I need to get the office back on track.” He patted the tiny woman on the shoulder. “It’ll be easier for you, too, Mari. You won’t have to keep tabs on me all the time.”

  She gave a small nod but muttered, “I don’t mind.”

  Finally Jase turned to Emily. “Does tomorrow work for an official start date? I can be here by eight. We’ll keep your hours flexible until Davey starts school.” For once his eyes didn’t reveal any of his feelings. It was as if he hadn’t said no and she hadn’t broken down in an emotional rant. As if he wasn’t offering her this job out of pity.

  He held out his hand, palm up. On it sat a shiny gold key. “Just in case you’re here before me.” He flashed a self-deprecating smile. “Punctuality isn’t one of my best qualities.”

  No, Emily thought, he didn’t need to be on time. Jase had more important traits—like the ability to rescue distressed women with a single key.

  She should walk away. He knew too much about her now. If there was one thing Emily hated, it was appearing weak. She’d learned to be strong watching her father lose his battle with cancer. She’d married a man who valued power over everything else in his life.

  During her divorce she hadn’t revealed how scared she’d felt. She’d been strong for Davey. Even when she’d been nothing more than a puddle of uncertainty balled up on the cool tile of the bathroom floor. Every time she got dressed, Emily put her mask into place the same way she pulled on a T-shirt.

  But she’d kissed Jase like she wanted to crawl inside his body, then pleaded for a job as if he was her only hope in the world.

  When she’d left behind her life in Boston, she’d promised herself she would never depend on a man again. She’d create a life standing on her own two feet, strong and sure.

  But maybe strong and sure came after the first wobbly baby step. Maybe...

  Forget the self-reflection. Right now she needed a job.

  Her pause had been too long, and Jase pulled back his hand, his brown eyes shuttering. She snatched the key at the last moment and squeezed her fingers around it. The metal was warm from his skin and she clutched it to her stomach. “I’ll be here in the morning,” she told him and with a quick nod to Mari, ducked out of the office before he could change his mind.

  A job. She had a job.

  She took a deep breath of the sweet pine air. The smell of the forest surrounding Crimson always made her think of her childhood. But now as she walked down the sidewalk crowded with tourists, the town seemed a little brighter than it had been when she’d first returned.

  A text came through from her mother, telling her Davey had fallen asleep on the couch so Emily should take her time returning home. What would she do without her mom? She hated asking for help when Meg had recently come through her own health scare, but her mother insisted she loved spending time with her grandson.

  Baby steps. A job. Davey starting kindergarten. After things were settled, Emily could think about finding a place of her own. Jase hadn’t mentioned a salary, and she didn’t care. The job was enough.

  The weather was perfect, brilliant blue skies, bright sun and a warm breeze blowing wisps of hair across her cheek. She shrugged out of the suit jacket and folded it over her arm. Just as she walked by a small café, her stomach grumbled.

  When was the last time she’d eaten at a restaurant? Not since leaving Boston and then it was always for some law firm party or campaign event. She and Henry hadn’t gone on a proper date since their honeymoon. Here in Crimson, Davey liked the quiet and routine of her mother’s house.

  She sent a quick text to her mom and walked into the restaurant. It was new in town, which she hoped meant unfamiliar people. This space had been a small clothing store the last time she’d been in Crimson. The inside was packed, and she wondered if she’d even get a table in the crowded dining room. It was a disappointment, but not a surprise, when the hostess told her there was nothing available. Just as she turned to leave, someone called her name.

  A woman with flaming red hair was waving at her from a booth near the front window.

  “You’re Emily, right?” the woman asked as she stepped closer. “You must think I’m a crazy stalker, but I recognize you from the Fourth of July Festival. I’m Ap
ril Sanders, a friend of Katie’s.”

  “The yoga teacher out at Crimson Ranch?”

  April nodded. “I got the last empty booth. No pressure, but you’re welcome to join me.”

  Emily thought about declining. She knew Katie had a big group of friends. Hell, everyone in town loved her future sister-in-law. But even though she’d grown up in Crimson, Emily had no one. That’s the way she’d wanted it since she got back to town. It was simpler, less mess.

  But now the thought of a full meal with adult conversation actually appealed to her. So did spending time with April. The woman was a few years older than Emily but with her gorgeous copper hair and bright green eyes, she looked like she just stepped off the pages of a mountain resort catalog. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  “I’d love it,” April said, gesturing to the empty banquette across from her. “It feels strange to be eating alone when there’s a crowd waiting for tables.”

  Emily slid into the booth. “Thank you.”

  A waitress came by the table almost immediately with a glass of water and another menu. Thankfully, the young woman was a stranger to Emily.

  “Are you interested in staying incognito?” April asked when they were alone again. “You looked terrified the waitress might recognize you.”

  Emily blew out a breath. “I don’t have the best reputation in town.”

  “A sordid past?” April leaned forward and lifted her delicate brows. “Do tell.”

  “Nothing exciting,” Emily answered with a laugh. “Simple story of me thinking I was better than I should have as a girl. Life has a way of slapping you down if you get too big for your britches.” She shrugged. “People in small towns like to bear witness to it.”

  “Life throws out curveballs whether you’re big or small,” April agreed.

  The waitress returned to the table and, as she took April’s order, Emily studied the other woman. April wore no makeup but her fair skin was smooth, and her body fit under a soft pink T-shirt. She looked natural and fresh—perfect for Crimson. After Emily ordered, April smiled. “I met your mom a couple of times at Katie’s bakery. She’s lovely.”

  Emily nodded. “One of the most amazing women I know.”

  “How is she feeling?”

  “She gets tired more quickly, but otherwise is back to her normal self. We were lucky the tumor was benign and they could remove it without damaging any other part of her brain.”

  “She was lucky to have you and Noah come back to help her.”

  “I wouldn’t have been any other place but by her side. That’s what family is for, you know?”

  “I’ve heard,” April answered softly. “My friend Sara is the closest thing I have to family.”

  Sara Travers, who ran the guest ranch outside town with her husband, Josh, had moved to Crimson a couple years ago from Los Angeles. Sara had been a famous child star and still acted when the right project came along. Otherwise, she and Josh—a Crimson native and one of Noah’s good friends—spent their time managing Crimson Ranch. “Did you come to Crimson with Sara?”

  April nodded. “We didn’t plan on staying, but then she met Josh and...”

  “The rest is history?”

  “She had a tough couple of years and deserves this happiness.”

  “If my brother is any indication, Crimson is the place for happy endings.” She smiled. “Have you found your happy-ever-after here?”

  “It’s a good place to build a life,” April said and Emily realized the words weren’t an answer to the question.

  “Or rebuild a life.” The waitress brought their orders, a club sandwich for Emily and a salad for April. Emily leaned across the table. “I like you and I appreciate the invitation to lunch, but after seeing what you eat I’m not sure we can be friends.” She pointed to the bowl of dark greens. “Your salad is so healthy I feel guilty picking up a fry from my plate. You don’t even have dressing.”

  The willowy redhead stared at her a long moment and Emily did a mental eye roll. She had the uncanny ability to offend without meaning to by tossing off comments before she thought about them. Her family was used to it and she’d managed to tame the impulse during her marriage but now...

  April burst out laughing. “You remind me of Sara. She gives me grief about how I eat, too. I’ve always been healthy but became more diligent about what I put in my body when I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago.”

  Emily thumped her palm against her forehead. “Now I feel like an even bigger jerk.”

  “Don’t,” April said, still smiling. “I’ve been cancer-free for over five years.”

  “My dad died when I was in high school. Pancreatic cancer.” She took a bite of sandwich, swallowing around the emotions that always bubbled to the surface when she thought about her father. “I still miss him.”

  “It’s difficult for you being back in Crimson.”

  “I thought I’d made a life beyond this little town. Returning to Colorado has been an adjustment.”

  April snagged a fry and popped it in her mouth. “So is divorce.”

  “Are you...”

  “My ex-husband left me during my cancer treatments,” April answered. She shrugged. “He couldn’t handle me being sick.”

  “Jerk,” Emily muttered.

  “And yours?”

  “Another jerk.” Emily pushed her plate closer to the center of the table, a silent invitation for April to take another fry. When she did, Emily figured this friendship might stand a chance. “I was the one who did the leaving, but it was because my ex couldn’t handle that our son wasn’t the child he expected or wanted. Henry needed everything to appear perfect, and I bought into the lie.”

  “And lost yourself in the process?” April’s voice was gentle, as if she’d had experience in that area.

  Emily bit down on her lip, then nodded.

  “I don’t have the same history with this town as you, but I can tell you it’s a good place to rediscover who you are.” April nabbed another fry. “Also to reinvent yourself.”

  “Is that what you’ve done?”

  “I’m working on it. In addition to Crimson Ranch, I also teach yoga at a studio on the south side of town. You should come in for a class.” April leaned closer. “I like you, but I’m not sure I can be friends with someone whose shoulders are so stiff they look like they could crack in half.”

  Emily laughed, feeling lighter than she had in months. “I may,” she told April. “If only to support a friend.”

  April held up her water glass. “Here’s to new friends and new beginnings.”

  Chapter Five

  Jase walked toward the front door of his office at 8:05 the following morning. His tie was slung over his shoulder, his hair still damp from the quick shower he’d taken, but he’d made it almost on time.

  Downtown was quiet this early in the morning, one shopkeeper sweeping the sidewalk in front of his store as another arranged a rack of sale clothes. Life Is Sweet bakery would be crowded, so Jase hadn’t bothered to stop for his daily dose of caffeine.

  He’d been second-, third-and fourth-guessing his decision to offer Emily a job since the words had left his mouth yesterday. He wasn’t sure how he was going to handle being so close to her every day, especially when she’d told him their kiss had been a mistake. But he’d also woken up with a sense of anticipation he hadn’t felt in years. Not much else could ensure that he was almost on time.

  He opened the door, then stopped short, checking his watch to make sure he hadn’t lost a full day somewhere. The entire space had been transformed. The reception desk was clear other than the papers stacked neatly to one side. The wood furniture in the waiting area had been polished, and the top of the coffee table held a selection of magazines. There was even a plant—one that was green and h
ealthy—on the end table next to the row of chairs where clients waited.

  He caught the faint scent of lemon mixed with the richer smell of fresh coffee. His office hadn’t looked this good in all the years he’d been here. There was a freshness to the space, as if it had been aired out like a favorite quilt.

  He was still taking it all in when Emily appeared from the hallway.

  “I hope you don’t mind,” she said, almost shyly. “I started cleaning up before we talked about how you wanted it done.”

  He rubbed a hand over his jaw, realizing in his haste to be on time he’d forgotten to shave this morning. “I didn’t even know it needed to be done. Are you some kind of a witch who can wiggle her nose and make things happen?” He shook his head. “Because I’m five minutes late and what you’ve done here looks like it took hours.” He glanced at the closed door to his office.

  “I didn’t touch anything in there. Yet.” She reached behind her and shook out her loose bun, blond hair falling over her shoulders. Jase was momentarily mesmerized, but then she gathered the strands and refastened the bun. “I came in early,” she told him, moving to stand behind the receptionist’s desk.

  “How early?”

  She moved the stack of papers from one side of the desk to the other before meeting his gaze. “Around five thirty.”

  “In the morning?” he choked out. “Why were you awake at that time?”

  “I don’t sleep much,” she said with a shrug. “I’ve gone through the filing system Donna set up and think I understand how it works. We need to talk about how you record billable hours.”

  He stepped close enough to the desk that his thighs brushed the dark wood. “We need to talk about you not sleeping. How often does that happen?”

  “A few times a week,” she said quietly. “It’s no big deal.”