the seminar at the same time and still have someone running the company back here.”
Justin pondered that a moment. “Good point. Maybe it is time we bring on another partner.”
“What about the house? Should we have a real estate appraiser come out to take a look?”
“It wouldn’t hurt, but I suppose we really ought to talk to Paige before we do anything. She has been our silent partner.”
“Well, technically she isn’t, but we’ve treated her like one since she invested her first paycheck as a teacher to help us get started.”
“That makes her a part of us,” Justin insisted.
“Then we’ll tell her,” Kyle agreed. “I’m sure she’ll say that whatever we plan to do with the business is fine with her. We’ll talk to her about it at the Bulldog Reunion.”
“Speaking of the reunion…did you see this?” Justin slid the invitation across the wooden tabletop. “I thought we told her we didn’t want to have outsiders.”
“We did, but you know Paige. Once she sets her mind to something, she gets it done. And she wanted to bring her fiancé. She called me last week.”
“I hope you told her we weren’t bringing anyone.”
“Of course I did.”
“Good.”
“But then I asked Tammy to come along.”
Justin had been teetering on the back legs of his chair, but sat forward with a thump. “Are you telling me I’m going to be the only one flying solo? Why would you invite Tammy?” Kyle had only started going out with her recently.
“Hey—I had to,” he insisted in a defensive tone. “Paige is going to be bringing that Tiger Woods wannabe and I didn’t want to have to watch the two of them play kissy face all weekend. You know as well as I do that falling in love has changed Paige and not in a good way.”
“I know it’s affected her hearing.” Justin grimaced. “She hasn’t heard a word we’ve said about the guy.”
“I think her common sense has been pushed to the back of her brain.”
Justin didn’t want to talk about Paige. “Look, I’m not going to feel much like going to the reunion if I’m the only one without a date,” he said irritably.
Kyle raised his hands. “Just chill—you won’t be alone,” he said with a devilish grin. “I asked Tammy to bring her sister Tara for you.”
Justin groaned. “Tell me you didn’t.”
Kyle was clearly perplexed. “What is wrong with you? You’ve seen Tara. She’s not only beautiful, she’s fun to be around. Why are you groaning? I did you a favor.”
What was wrong was that he felt the same way as Kyle did about seeing Paige with Michael. But having Tara there wouldn’t help. Only he couldn’t tell him that, so he said, “You told Paige we weren’t bringing anyone, which means she’s made plans for eight people, not ten. You know how she hates a change in plans.”
“I don’t think she’s going to care about two extra people.”
“Yes, she will.” The weekend was becoming less appealing by the minute. “Maybe we ought to just skip the reunion this year.”
“And what about Tammy and her sister?”
He shrugged. “We could still go away—we just don’t have to go to the North Shore.”
“That would be fine with me, but what would we tell Paige?”
Justin didn’t have to think about that one very long. “She’d never forgive us for skipping out on her, would she?”
“No, we’re going to have to do this,” Kyle stated with a shake of his head.
“And listen to her talk about her wedding plans.”
This time it was Kyle who groaned. “Don’t remind me. Ever since he gave her that diamond on Valentine’s Day she’s been like a broken record…the wedding this, the wedding that. Michael says…blah blah blah.”
“It’s only one weekend,” Justin said for his benefit as much as Kyle’s.
“So does this mean I can tell Tammy she can bring Tara?” Kyle stood, waiting for his answer.
“All right,” he said, ignoring his instincts, which told him he was making a mistake. “I’ll do it, but you’re going to owe me big-time for this one.”
“Hey—you’ll be thanking me by the time the weekend’s over,” Kyle said with a cocky grin.
Justin hoped he was right, but his gut was telling him that this year’s Bulldog Reunion was not going to be the carefree event it had been in the past. Still, he would go for Paige. He’d been looking out for her ever since that first day she showed up at his mother’s day care. There were things that friends needed to do for friends. So instead of calling Paige and telling her he wouldn’t be at the reunion, he went to look for his Bulldog sweatshirt.
CHAPTER TWO
DESPITE KYLE’S ASSERTION that it didn’t matter whether there were eight or ten people at the Bulldog Reunion, Justin wanted to make sure that Paige knew he and Kyle had changed their minds and were now bringing guests. He wanted an excuse to talk to her—something he hadn’t done for a while. So the day before they were supposed to head out of town for the reunion, he called her while he was on his morning break.
She answered her cell phone with, “You did it again, J.C.” using the nickname she’d given him as a teen.
He smiled. “You were about to call me.”
“I was. I guess we still have that special connection, don’t we?” She sounded a bit amused by their uncanny ability to sense when the other was about to phone. “Do you realize how long it’s been since this has happened?”
“We haven’t talked much lately,” he agreed.
“No, we haven’t. But I am glad you called today because I was worried I wouldn’t be able to reach you and I have to know what you think. You are never going to guess where I am.”
“Dipping your toes in the Cascade River?” It was a favorite spot along the North Shore where they’d spent many a hot summer day. They’d hike along the upper region of the Cascade River where it tumbled and fell over rocks and boulders until they reached the Upper Falls. They’d bask in the sun on the flat rocks where the falls began, before following the winding trail as it twisted and turned its way back down the hilly terrain until they reached the area where the river was shallow enough for trout fishing. That’s where they’d take off their hiking shoes and wade in the cool water, splashing around like kids.
“No.” She sounded impatient. “I’m in a dressing room trying on a wedding dress.”
Justin stifled his groan. “You’re trying
