Just a Kiss

by Denise Hunter

  “You know what I mean.” She covered her face. “Gah! I just want it to go away. I want things to go back to normal.”

  “How do you know he’s not sweet on you too? Maybe there’s something there. You guys would make a great couple.”

  Paige gave her a look.

  “You should pray about it. Maybe it’s no coincidence he couldn’t recuperate at the farm. Maybe God put the two of you up close and personal so you could see each other in a new light. You should talk to Riley about it.”

  Paige dropped her hands. “Oh no. That is not happening.”

  “Obviously you’re compatible. You’ve been friends for years. Maybe his feelings could shift too.”

  “Or maybe he could think I’ve gone totally insane.”

  The server approached and took their orders. When she left, Lucy’s brows were puckered thoughtfully.

  Paige thought she’d feel better after she’d spilled the beans, but she didn’t. If anything, she felt more agitated than before. And the feelings sure weren’t gone. She took a sip of her OJ and noticed her hands were shaking.

  Get a grip, girl.

  “You should at least think about touching on the subject with Riley. Y’all are close. You share everything.”

  “Well, not this. He doesn’t feel the same way, and it’ll only make things awkward. He’ll feel sorry for me and conscious of everything he says and does. Or worse, he’ll think I just feel sorry for him, and before you know it he won’t even want to be around me.”

  “Not possible.”

  The thought of losing Riley made her gut tighten into a huge knot. It had about killed her when he’d left for the military. What would it be like to lose him for good? He and the Callahans were the only family she had.

  “We’re under the same roof, not to mention we work together. The poor guy wouldn’t even be able to get away from me.”

  “I know, but . . .” Lucy tapped her chin. “Maybe you can make that work in your favor.”

  That piqued her interest. “Like how?”

  “Like make him see you in a different light. Make him see you as a woman.”

  “And how am I supposed to do that?”

  Lucy’s gaze scrolled over her face until Paige felt like crawling under the table.

  “What? Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have drool on my face?”

  “I was just . . . You’re a natural beauty, sugar. That gorgeous mane of blond hair, those blue eyes. You have great skin. But maybe a few little tweaks wouldn’t hurt. Take your hair out of that ponytail for starters, and give the top a bit of lift, you know? Maybe a little mascara, a little lipstick.”

  Paige gave her a wry grin. “Careful, your Southern roots are showing.”

  “I’m just saying. Maybe if you make him see you in a new way . . . Hey, the wedding! It’s the perfect opportunity. You’ll be all spiffed up. Do you have a date yet?”

  “I was thinking about asking Dylan.”

  “You have to ask Riley.”

  “I’m not asking him on a date!”

  “Think about it. You’ll be looking all beautiful, there’ll be romance in the air, and dancing . . . it’s the perfect opportunity. Do you have your dress picked out?”

  “I was going to wear slacks and a blouse.”

  Lucy’s eyes widened in horror. “Oh, honey.” She shook her head. “No, no, no. We’re going dress shopping. And you’re coming over to my house to get ready for the wedding. By the time we’re finished with you, Riley won’t know what hit him.”

  Paige couldn’t get Lucy’s words out of her head the rest of the weekend. Riley spent a lot of his free time with his brothers, and part of her felt relieved. There was a strange tension in the air. Or maybe she was only imagining it.

  She spent the extra time mulling over what Lucy had said. Mulling and praying. Lucy didn’t think her feelings for Riley were out of bounds. Maybe Paige was making too much of it. Maybe all those people who’d said men and women couldn’t be just friends were right.

  Maybe she should do something about it.

  One thing was sure. Paige was right about her ponytail. And about her general appearance. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d put on mascara, much less lipstick.

  It wouldn’t hurt to show him a different side of her, and the wedding was the perfect opportunity. She was even going to ask him to be her date. It made perfect sense. What woman wanted to attend a wedding alone, much less the wedding of her ex-boyfriend?

  She’d ask him tonight when he got home from the Roadhouse. She’d planned to ask him after church, but she’d chickened out.

  Come on, Warren. Make this happen.

  The growl of an engine sounded outside the window, followed by the popping of gravel on the driveway. She peeked out the curtains. The headlights of Beau’s truck stopped in front of her house. A car door slammed, and her heart began racing in her chest.

  “Well, here goes,” she said to Dasher, who blinked at her with knowing eyes.

  A minute later the door opened, and Riley came through.

  All her bravado drained away at the sight of his scowl.

  She clutched Dasher more tightly. “Hi. Did you have fun?”

  “Sure.” He set down his crutch, which he still needed for steps, and walked into the kitchen, his gait looking amazingly even. He was getting more independent every day. All he needed was a full-time job, and he’d be moving out of her house. She swore she could hear a second hand ticking in the background.

  The faucet kicked on, and he reappeared a few seconds later with a glass of water.

  “Beau getting excited about the wedding?” she asked.

  He gave her a long, assessing look, and she wondered if he thought she was still hung up on his brother.

  “He’s pretty impatient,” he said finally. “If it were up to him, they would’ve been married a year ago.”

  “I’m really happy for them. They make a good couple.” Too obvious? She bit her lip.

  He seemed to relax a little.

  Maybe not.

  “Think I’m going to turn in.” He headed for his room. “Good night.”

  She couldn’t let another day go by. The wedding was only five days away, and what if he asked someone else? Someone like Roxy Franke.

  “Wait!”

  He turned, his brows raised.

  Dasher mewled, and Paige released her death grip on the cat. “Um . . .” Just do it already, Paige. “Speaking of the wedding . . . You got a date yet?”

  His lips pressed together. “No.”

  She breathed in a fresh batch of courage. “Well . . . I don’t either. We should, um, go together.” Her stiff shrug felt anything but casual.

  He frowned at her for a long second. “I thought you’d go with Dylan.”

  “No. Nope. I’m free as a bird.” Her little chuckle sounded forced. And nervous. She wondered if he could see her heart pounding through her shirt.

  “So . . . ?” she said.

  “You should probably ask someone else. Someone who can dance with you.”

  “You’re getting around great. Come on. We’re both going. We may as well go together.”

  He shifted, ran his fingers through his hair as his gaze cut away. “I don’t think so.”

  She knew that look. He was trying to think of an excuse. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings. Her face burned. But time was running out, and this was feeling increasingly like a last chance.

  “Come on. We always said if one of us didn’t have a date, we’d be each other’s backup.”

  He gave her a droll look. “We never said that.”

  “Well . . . we should have. I hate going to weddings alone. It’s humiliating. And this isn’t just any wedding, you know . . .”

  A shadow shifted on his face as his jaw twitched. “Right.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets as his eyes left hers to dart around the room.

  Her mouth had gone dry, and prickles of heat poked her under her arms. She’d die on
the spot if he knew how fast her pulse was racing at the thought of rejection.

  He exhaled a hard sigh. “Fine. We’ll go together.”

  He continued to his room, closing the door behind him with more force than necessary. But even his obvious reluctance couldn’t squelch the bud of hope that bloomed inside her.

  Chapter 20

  Zac exited the tuxedo shop’s dressing room, running a finger around the inside of the collar. Riley could hardly believe it was time for the final fitting. Beau’s wedding was only two days away.

  “I feel like a penguin,” Zac said.

  From a nearby stool, Riley scanned his brother from head to toe. “You look like one too.”

  Zac’s eyes flickered over Riley’s identical tux as he hiked a brow. “Don’t know how to break it to you, bro . . .”

  “Oh, stop your whining,” Beau called from inside his dressing room. “The ladies love a well-dressed man. You should be thanking me.”

  Zac considered himself in the full-length mirror, his countenance brightening as he shifted to and fro. He stood up straight, his tall frame eating up every inch of the mirror.

  “You’re going to break that thing,” Riley said.

  “He’s got a point, you know,” Zac said. “Lucy’s going to like this. She’s going to like it a lot.”

  Riley rolled his eyes.

  “At least I’ve got a date. Who you going with, Romeo?”

  Riley barely held back a grimace. He’d been having big regrets since he’d agreed to be Paige’s date. But what was he supposed to do? It was obvious she’d feel humiliated if she had to go alone. And yeah, part of him had been relieved she wasn’t going with Dylan. He sure hadn’t been looking forward to watching that all night. Still . . .

  “Well . . . ?” Zac buttoned his top button and shifted, admiring himself. “Don’t tell me you’re going alone.”

  He sighed. “I’m going with Paige.”

  Zac’s eyes met his in the mirror, then he turned around. A moment later he strolled over, lowering his voice.

  “Has there been a new development there?”

  “Sure,” Riley whispered. “She doesn’t want to show up at her ex’s wedding without a date. There’s your new development.”

  Zac made a thoughtful face. “She asked you? That’s interesting.”

  “Convenient would be a better word for it. Not to mention painful. Now I have to spend a whole night reminding myself she’s just my friend.”

  He had to get out of Paige’s house. Out of Summer Harbor. Just a little more work with his leg, and he’d be able to operate his motorcycle safely. His replacement at the shelter was starting in a month. There’d be nothing holding him here then.

  “You’re looking at it all wrong,” Zac said. “This is an opportunity.”

  “For her to see me as the gimpy date who can’t even spin her around the dance floor?”

  “Don’t be such a Debby Downer. This is your chance, man.”

  “It’s too late for that.”

  “What do you mean it’s too—”

  “Anyone know how to put these on?” Beau emerged from the dressing room, messing with the cuff links at his wrist.

  Riley nodded toward a middle-aged employee. “That lady helped me with mine.”

  “Man, these things take forever to get into,” Beau said.

  Zac smirked. “Bet it won’t take Eden long to get you out of it.”

  Beau gave him a harsh look as he gestured toward the dressing room Eden’s dad was using.

  Zac held up both hands, palms out. Sorry, he mouthed around a laugh.

  Beau smacked him in the back of the head before he walked away, which only made Zac laugh harder.

  Chapter 21

  The doorbell rang, and Paige’s heart skipped a beat. “It’s Riley.”

  “Of course it’s Riley.” Lucy put one final spritz of hairspray on Paige’s hair. They were in her and Zac’s apartment above the Roadhouse, which was closed for the day. Zac was already at the church with Beau, and she and Riley were getting there early, too, since he was a groomsman.

  Lucy gave Paige’s curls one last poof. “There we go. You are absolutely gorgeous. If Riley can’t see that, he’s blind. I’ll get the door. Wait a few minutes, then you can make a grand entrance.”

  “But I don’t want to . . .”

  Lucy was already gone, her heels tapping down the stairs.

  Paige met her worried gaze in the full-length mirror. Her blond hair cascaded over her shoulders in glossy waves. Her makeup, while (thankfully) minimal, made her skin look flawless and somehow drew attention to her eyes. The rosy lipstick made her lips look full. She’d never looked better. But was she setting herself up for failure?

  She stepped back, letting her eyes fall to the dress Lucy had finally agreed to after Paige had tried on what felt like a million options. It was fitted enough to show off her curves and sported a modest scooped neckline. The teal blue set off her golden brown skin. The straps were wide enough to allow for a regular bra, but left more of her arms showing than she was used to.

  “You have great arms,” Lucy had said when Paige had complained at the boutique. “Slim and toned. And those legs!”

  She heard Lucy and Riley’s muffled voices downstairs and wondered if she’d waited long enough. She was so bad at this boy/girl stuff.

  “It’s just Riley,” she said to her mirror image. But somehow that knowledge only made it worse.

  Riley pulled at his collar. Supposedly the tux fit him to a T, but he thought a suit of armor might be more comfortable. At least the pants covered his prosthesis. At the bottom of the stairs Lucy attempted to make small talk, but he was so nervous he could hardly follow her from one subject to the next.

  It seemed forever before he heard a shuffling at the top of the stairs. He turned, and his breath left his body at the sight. It was Paige. Good ol’ Paige. Only tonight she looked like an angel. He wouldn’t have been the least surprised if she sprouted wings and flew down the staircase.

  She’d done something with her hair. It was falling past her shoulders in curls, and that dress . . . It called attention to all the right places, stopping just above her knees. He’d seen her legs before; she wore shorts when they played basketball. But that was different. Way different. And those heels . . .

  He felt a compulsive need to swallow, which made no sense. His mouth was as dry as moon dust. As she descended the steps, his eyes flittered back to her face. Man, she was beautiful. Her eyes looked wider than usual, and they seemed to sparkle somehow.

  She bit her lower lip, drawing his attention there. She had the most luscious lower lip. Full and pink and utterly kissable. How many times had he imagined soothing it with his own after she’d bitten it, just as she was now?

  Behind him, Lucy cleared her throat.

  Realizing Paige had reached the bottom of the stairs and he was still gawking wordlessly, he dragged his eyes from her lips.

  “Look at you.” He cleared the hoarseness from his voice. “Don’t you clean up nice.”

  He winced. Wow, you sure have a way with words, Callahan.

  If she was disappointed with his stupid comment, she didn’t show it.

  “You’re wearing a dress,” he said.

  She lifted a brow. “Your powers of observation are astounding.”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you in a dress.”

  “Probably because I’ve never worn one.” She tilted her chin up at him and flashed a smile that about made his good knee buckle.

  Aw, man. It was going to be a long night.

  A while later Riley stood beside Beau and Zac listening to Pastor Daniels ponder aloud the virtues of love and marriage. From the other side of Eden, her attendants, Miss Trudy and Lucy, looked on.

  The chapel’s lights were dimmed, making the sanctuary feel smaller and more intimate. Candlelight flickered on the altar, and the fragrant scent of lilacs wafted through the air.

  Eden looked beautiful in he
r simple white gown. It being her second wedding, she hadn’t splurged on a fancy dress or numerous floral arrangements. The long engagement hadn’t been about planning for a grand wedding, but planning for a grand marriage.

  It had been Beau who’d insisted on the tuxes, and as Riley swallowed against the tight collar, he wondered if it was merely to make his brothers suffer.

  He shifted slightly on his prosthesis, careful of his precarious balance. He’d been practicing walking in the fancy shoes since he’d picked up his tux two days ago. He hoped he didn’t do something stupid like fall on the way down the aisle. Even standing here so long was testing his agility.

  Pastor asked Beau and Eden to face each other as he continued with his thoughts on Christian marriage.

  Riley caught a glimpse of Eden’s face and knew a moment of complete joy for Beau. Her love was shining on her face for the world to see. She’d come a long way in the past year. After her emotionally abusive marriage, she’d needed time to find herself, to become strong again. Beau had been supportive of her efforts. So patient.

  Riley’s only regret was that their parents weren’t here to see this happy moment. His eyes cut over to the empty spaces on the front pew where two white roses lay in memorial to them. They’d be so happy for Beau. He was the true big brother, always looking out for everyone else. No one deserved happiness more.

  He swallowed against the lump in his throat as his eyes shifted to Paige in the next pew back. She was looking at him, her eyes a little glassy, as if she’d read his thoughts. She probably had.

  Her lips tilted upward as their eyes caught and held. A moment of sweet communion suspended between them like a wispy vapor. Would anyone else ever understand him the way Paige did?

  “Eden . . .” Pastor Daniels’s voice boomed in the chapel. “Repeat after me.”

  Riley tore his gaze from Paige and watched as Eden repeated her vows, her eyes firmly planted on her groom.

  “I, Eden Martelli, take thee, Beau Callahan, to be my lawfully wedded husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish till death do us part.”

  He couldn’t see Beau’s face as he repeated back the vows, but his voice was low and unwavering. His love for Eden was as strong and steady as hers for him.