Always the Best Man

by Michelle Major

  “You can back out. Charles Thompson isn’t a bad man. He would do a decent job.”

  Jase cocked a brow.

  “Not as good as you, of course. But the future of Crimson doesn’t rest on your shoulders, Jase.”

  “I’ll think about that.” As if he could think about anything else. “We should head back down. I’ll take it easy on you.”

  Liam barked out a laugh. “A true gentleman.”

  Jase started for the trail, then turned back. “Thanks for the offer, Liam. I appreciate it, but I don’t want to owe you. Having you at my back is plenty of support.”

  “I’d think of it as an investment,” Liam answered. “And the offer stands if you change your mind.”

  “Thank you.” Jase started running, the descent more technical than climbing the switchbacks due to the loose rocks and late-afternoon shadows falling over the trail. It was just what he needed, something to concentrate on besides the emotional twists and turns of his current life.

  Chapter Nine

  Monday morning, Emily jumped at the tap on her shoulder, spinning around in her desk chair to find Jase grinning at her.

  She ripped the headphones off her ears. “You scared me half to death,” she said, wheezing in a breath.

  “You were singing out loud.”

  “You were supposed to be in court all day.” She narrowed her eyes.

  “What exactly are you listening to?” He reached for the headphones, but she grabbed them, then spun around to hit the mute button on her keyboard.

  “Music,” she mumbled. “Why are you back so early? I didn’t hear the bells on the door when it opened.”

  “I came in through the door to the alley out back.”

  “You snuck up on me,” she grumbled.

  “What kind of music? I didn’t recognize it.”

  “Broadway show tunes, okay?” She crossed her arms over her chest and glared. “Evita to be specific. I like musicals.” The words came out like a challenge. “You’re a lawyer—sue me.”

  His grin widened. “Don’t cry for me, Emily Whitaker.”

  “Asking for trouble, Jase Crenshaw.”

  He held up a brown paper bag. “Here’s a peace offering. I brought lunch from the deli around the corner. That’s why I came through the back. Have you eaten?”

  She held up an empty granola-bar wrapper. “I’m working through lunch since I’m leaving early today.” Tomorrow was Davey’s first day of kindergarten so tonight they were going to the ice cream social at the elementary school. Her son didn’t seem worried about the change, but Emily had been a bundle of nerves since the moment she’d woken up this morning.

  She’d had a meeting at the beginning of the week with the kindergarten teacher and the school’s interventionist to discuss the Asperger’s and how to help Davey have a successful school year. For a small school district, Crimson Elementary School offered many special education services. This would mark the first time he’d been away from her during the day.

  She’d enrolled him in preschool in their Boston neighborhood, having added Davey’s name to the exclusive program’s wait list when he was only a few months old. Despite the expense of the private program, the teachers had been unwilling to work with his personality quirks.

  Much like her husband, they’d expected him to manage like the rest of the children, which led to several frustrated tantrums. Davey had lashed out, throwing a toy car across the room. It had hit one of the other students on the side of the head and the girl had stumbled, then fallen, knocking her head on the corner of a bookshelf. There’d been angry calls from both the teacher and the girl’s mother and even a parent meeting at the school to allay other families’ concerns about Davey continuing in the program.

  Henry had been furious, mostly because two of his partners had kids enrolled at the school so he couldn’t brush the incident under the rug. In the end, Emily had pulled Davey, opting to work with him herself on the skills he’d needed to be ready for kindergarten.

  She couldn’t control the way Asperger’s affected his personality and his ability to socialize with both adults and other kids. Or how he was treated by people who didn’t understand how special he was.

  “Come to the conference room and eat a real lunch,” Jase said gently, as if he could sense the anxiety tumbling through her like rocks skidding down the side of Crimson Mountain.

  “I have work to do.”

  “Em, you are the most efficient person I’ve ever met. You’ve already organized this whole office, updated the billing system, caught up on all my outstanding correspondence and done such a great job of editing the briefs that Judge McIlwain at the courthouse actually commented on it.”

  Pride, unfamiliar and precious, bloomed in her chest. “He did?”

  “Yes, and he’s not the only one.” Jase rested his hip against the corner of her desk. “Do you remember the contract you drafted for the firm I’m working with over in Aspen?”

  She nodded.

  “The office manager called to see if I’d used a service to hire my new assistant. She wanted to find someone just like you for their senior partner. He’s a stickler for detail and notoriously hard on office staff.”

  “She called me, too.” Emily swallowed.

  “Why?” Jase’s tone was suspiciously even.

  “To offer me a job.”

  “What was the starting salary?”

  She told him the number, almost double what he was paying her.

  Jase cursed under his breath. “Why didn’t you take it? It’s one of the most prestigious firms in the state.”

  “I know. I researched them.”

  “They can offer you benefits and an actual career path. You have to consider it, even if it makes me mad as hell hearing someone tried to poach you.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to work in Aspen. I like it here with you.” She flashed what she hoped was a teasing smile. “You’d be lost without me.”

  His brown eyes were serious when he replied, “You have no idea.”

  “Jase...”

  “At least let me feed you. I’ve been thinking of ideas for the prewedding scavenger hunt.”

  She stood at the same time he did, too shocked to protest any longer. “You have?”

  He looked confused. “Wasn’t that the plan?”

  “Well, yes,” she admitted as she followed him to the conference room at the far end of the hall. “But I wasn’t sure you’d take it seriously. You have so much going on, and it’s a silly party theme.”

  There was an ancient table in the middle of the conference room, with eight chairs surrounding it. On her second day in the office, Emily had taken wood soap and furniture wax to the dull surface, polishing it until it gleamed a rich mahogany. She liked that she could make a difference here in Jase’s small law practice.

  He held out a chair for her and she sat, watching as he emptied the contents of the bag. He set a wax-paper-wrapped sandwich in front of her, along with a bag of barbecue potato chips. “Noah is my best friend. Making his wedding weekend special isn’t silly, and neither was your idea. You need to give yourself more credit.”

  She nodded but didn’t meet his gaze, running one finger over the seam of the wax paper. “What kind of sandwich?”

  “Turkey and avocado on wheat,” he answered absently. “Do you want a soda?”

  “Diet, please,” she said, unable to take her hand off the sandwich.

  He left the room and Emily sucked in a breath. He remembered her favorite sandwich.

  The small gesture leveled her, and the barriers she’d placed around her heart collapsed. This man who was wrong for her in every way except the one that mattered. He seemed to want her just the way she was. Her ex-husband would have brought her a salad, forever concerned
she might not remain a perfect size six.

  Perfect.

  Her life since returning to her hometown had been anything but perfect, yet she wouldn’t trade the journey that had brought her here. She was a better person for her independence and the effort she’d put into protecting Davey from any more suffering and rejection.

  * * *

  She did her best to gather her strength as she pulled up to the elementary school parking lot later that evening. The playground and grassy field in front of the building were crowded with people, and she wished she’d gotten to the event earlier.

  Instead she’d changed clothes several times before she and Davey left her mother’s house. Difficult to find an outfit that conveyed all the things she needed.

  I’m a good mother. Like me. Like my son. Accept us here so I can make it a true home.

  Straightening her simple A-line skirt, she got out of the SUV and helped Davey hop down from his booster seat. The desire to gather him close almost overwhelmed her. She wanted to ground herself to him with touch but knew that would only make him anxious. She dropped the car keys into her purse and gave him a bright smile. “Are you ready to meet your new teacher?”

  His eyes shifted to hers, then back to the front of the school. “Okay,” he mumbled and emotion knitted her throat closed.

  “Okay,” she repeated and moved slowly toward the playground. Several women looked over as they approached, and she recognized a couple who’d been in her grade. They waved and she forced herself to breathe. If she panicked, Davey was likely to pick up on her energy. Already she could feel him dragging his feet behind her.

  “We’ve got this,” she said, glancing back at him.

  He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at the ground.

  Emily’s heart sank but she kept the smile on her face. All she wanted was to protect her sweet boy, but so often she didn’t know how to help him.

  Suddenly she heard a female voice calling her name. She looked up to see a tiny woman with a wavy blond bob coming toward her.

  “I hoped you’d be here,” Millie Travers said as she wrapped Emily in a tight hug. Millie was a recent addition to the community, having moved to town last year to be close to her sister Olivia. Both sisters were married to Crimson natives. Millie’s husband, Jake Travers, was a doctor at the local hospital and Emily knew he had a daughter from a previous relationship who was around Davey’s age.

  Emily had met Millie, along with Katie’s other girlfriends, at a breakfast Katie had coordinated shortly after her engagement. Her future sister-in-law was doing her best to make sure Emily felt included in her circle of friends, which she appreciated even if it was difficult for her to trust the bonds of new friendships after her experience in Boston. But she couldn’t deny Millie was an easy person to like. “Katie told me to look out for you,” the other woman said with a smile. “Your son is starting kindergarten this year, right?”

  Emily swallowed. “Yes.” She turned to where Davey stood stiff as a statue behind her. “Davey, this is Mrs. Travers, a friend of mine.”

  Her son stared at the crack in the sidewalk. Around the dull roar in her head, Emily heard the sound of laughter and happy shouts from the other kids on the playground. She wondered if Davey would ever be able to take part in such carefree fun.

  If Millie was bothered by Davey’s demeanor, she didn’t show it. Instead, she sank down to her knees but kept her gaze on the edge of the sidewalk. “It’s nice to meet you. My stepdaughter, Brooke, is starting first grade this year. She can answer any questions you have about kindergarten. Mrs. MacDonald, the kindergarten teacher, is really great.”

  “Whatcha doin’, Mama-llama?” A young girl threw her arms around Millie’s neck and leaned over her shoulder. Emily saw Davey’s eyes widen. The girl wore a yellow polka-dot T-shirt and a ruffled turquoise skirt with bright pink cowboy boots. Her blond curls were wild around her head.

  “I’m talking to my new friend, Davey,” Millie said, squeezing the small hands wrapped around her neck. “He’s starting kindergarten this year.”

  Brooke stood up and jabbed a thumb at her own chest. “I’m an expert on kindergarten.” She stepped around Millie and held out a hand. “Ms. MacDonald has a gecko in her room.”

  “I have a question,” Davey said quietly.

  Brooke waited, reminding Emily a bit of Noah’s puppy. Finally she asked, “What’s your question?”

  “Is it a crested gecko or a leopard gecko?”

  “It’s a leopard gecko and his name is Speedy,” Brooke told him. “Come on. I’ll take you to see the classroom.”

  Millie straightened, placing a gentle hand on Brooke’s curls. “We need to make sure it’s okay with Davey’s mommy.”

  Emily was about to make an excuse for why Davey should stay with her when he slipped his hand into Brooke’s. The girl didn’t seem bothered by his rigid shoulders or the fact he continued to stare at the ground.

  “I’ll go, Mommy,” Davey said softly.

  Emily opened her mouth, but only a choked sob came out. Biting down hard on the inside of her cheek, she gave a jerky nod.

  “We’ll be right behind you,” Millie said, moving to Emily’s side and placing an arm around her waist. “Go slow, Brookie-cookie. Show Davey the room and we’ll meet you there so both Davey and his mommy can meet Ms. MacDonald.”

  “Okeydokey,” Brooke sang out and led Davey through the crowd.

  “Do you need a minute?” Millie asked gently.

  Emily shook her head but placed a palm to her chest, her heart beating at a furious pace. “He doesn’t usually...” She broke off, not sure how to explain what an extraordinary moment that had been for her son.

  “Brooke will take care of him.” Millie smiled. “He’s going to be fine here. I know you don’t have any reason to believe me, but something in this town rises up to meet the people who need the most help.”

  “I’ve never been great at taking help,” Emily said with a shaky laugh. “I’m more a ‘spit in your eye’ type person.”

  “That’s not what I hear from Katie. She’s a very good judge of people. We’ll follow them.” Millie led her along the edge of the crowd, smiling and waving to a number of people as they went. But she didn’t stop so Emily was able to keep Brooke and Davey within her sight. Millie’s smile widened as she looked over Emily’s shoulder. “And she’s not the only one.”

  Emily turned to see a tall, blond, built man she recognized as Dr. Jake Travers, Millie’s husband, walking through the parking lot with Jase at his side. Jase was a couple inches taller than Jake and his crisp button-down shirt and tailored slacks highlighted his broad shoulders and lean waist. Her heart gave a little leap and she smiled before she could stop herself.

  “My husband is the hottest guy in town,” Millie said, nudging Emily in the ribs. “But soon-to-be Mayor Crenshaw holds his own in the looks department. Wouldn’t you agree?”

  Emily shifted her gaze to Millie’s wide grin and made her expression neutral. “He’s my boss,” she murmured.

  The other woman only laughed. “I was Brooke’s nanny when I first came to Crimson. That didn’t stop me from noticing my boss.” She gently knocked into Emily again. “Don’t bother to deny it. Your game face isn’t that good.”

  “My game face is flawless,” Emily countered but the corners of her mouth lifted. Maybe not flawless when it came to Jase. The two men were almost at the playground. She leaned down to Millie’s ear and whispered, “I’ll only admit Dr. Travers is the second-hottest guy in town.”

  Millie hooted with laughter, then grabbed her husband and pulled him in for a quick kiss. “Jake, do you know Noah’s sister, Emily?”

  Jake Travers held out his hand. “Nice to see you, Emily.”

  “Your daughter was really nice to my son tonight,” Emily told him. “She’
s a special girl.”

  He laughed. “A one-child social committee, that’s our Brooke.”

  “She’s giving Davey a tour of the kindergarten classroom,” Millie told him. “How’s the campaign, Jase?”

  “Pretty good.” Jase inclined his head toward the mass of kids on the playground. “But it’s never too early to recruit potential voters.” He smiled but Emily could see it was forced. Millie and Jake didn’t seem to notice.

  “Speaking of recruitment,” Millie said, glancing up at Jake, who’d looped an arm around her slender shoulders. “I told the classroom mom you’d help coordinate a field trip to the hospital to see the Flight For Life helicopter.” She turned to Emily. “She’s working the volunteer table now so I’d like to stop by for a second. We’ll see you in the kindergarten room. Brooke’s classroom is right next door.”

  Emily nodded and kept moving toward the building. She saw Davey follow Brooke Travers inside.

  “Campaign stop?” she asked Jase. He’d taken up Millie’s post at her side and more people waved to him as they approached the school.

  “I thought you and Davey might like some moral support.” He shrugged, ducked his head, looking suddenly embarrassed. “Clearly, you’ve got it under control. He’s made a friend and you—”

  “I’m glad you’re here,” she said, letting out an unsteady breath. “Davey left my side, which was the whole point of this, and I almost broke down in tears on the spot.” She stopped and pressed her open palm to his chest. His heart beat a rapid pace under the crisp cotton of his shirt. “Thank you for coming,” she whispered.

  He covered her hand with his, and then interlaced their fingers. “Anytime you need me,” he said, lifting her hand and placing a tender kiss on the inside of her wrist.

  Emily felt color rise to her cheeks, and she glanced around to find a few people staring at them. “Jase, we’re...”

  “At the elementary school,” he said with a husky laugh. “Right.” He lowered her hand but didn’t release it.

  Butterflies swooped and dived around Emily’s stomach, and she felt like a girl holding hands with her first boyfriend. It took her mind off the worry of fitting in with the other mothers. Between Millie’s exuberant welcome and Jase’s gentle support, Emily felt hopeful she could carve out a happy life in the hometown that had once seemed too small to hold all of her dreams.