detail that might make a difference. The more carefully she planned, the more positive would be her results. She believed that wholeheartedly.
But, in truth, she had an ulterior motive for wanting to study her reflection in the mirror one final time. Now that Karen had mentioned it, she decided it wouldn’t hurt to practice batting her eyes in the manner that her friend had suggested. Just in case. Who knew what it would take to sway Jack over to her way of thinking? Maybe the eyes would do it.
Not that she honestly believed that it would. Again, her nerves were intervening with her common sense. If anything, she knew without a doubt that Jack wasn’t attracted to her in a romantic way. Nor was she attracted to him like that. Oh sure, she was willing to admit that she’d noticed he had a great pair of buns. But that certainly didn’t mean anything. Most women noticed that about Jack. They noticed a lot of other things, too. Like his sexy smile and his sometimes cocky manner. With light brown hair, blue eyes and a squared-off jaw that gave his face added prominence—and, of course, just a hint of arrogance—he had a look about him that grabbed the attention of the opposite sex. He had a great body, not to mention a resonant voice that was as deep and rich as chicory blended coffee. He wasn’t Cajun by heritage, not like she was. Nonetheless, his Irish roots harmonized well with the French Acadian culture that was so prevalent in south Louisiana. They both adored the joie de vivre that had been handed down by her French ancestors as a way of life. They liked the same music, the same spicy Cajun foods. They even liked to hang out with the same people. He was her best buddy in all the ways that mattered, and she loved him dearly because of it.
But when someone tried to imply that there was something more than a special bond of friendship between them, it really bothered her. In fact, it had been known to keep her awake nights, just worrying about it.
And it frightened her, too.
Heaven knew, she needed Jack in her life too much to ever consider letting herself fall in love with him.
Jack Kincaid was glad to be back in town. He liked it okay when he had to travel abroad on business, but it was always great to get back home and relax in the company of his friends.
In fact, he was going over to Beth’s house tonight. She’d invited him for dinner when he’d called earlier to tell her that he was back. He couldn’t wait to see her. Of all his immediate friends, she was the one whom he missed the most when he was away on business. Of course, there was a perfectly good reason for that. With Beth, he never had to worry about his next move. He could tune out the rest of the world and just be himself. With her, he didn’t have to pretend to have all the answers. She was his sounding board. His best buddy. She was the kind of person who could bring him to his knees and make him face the truth about himself faster than anyone else. Still, he always felt at ease when in her company. And, truthfully, there wasn’t another female alive whom he could say that about.
He was a lucky man, all right, to have Beth there for him when he needed a pal. He was, in fact, perfectly content with his single way of life, and had no problem admitting that in many ways he had Beth to thank for that. He only wished that she was as pleased with the way her life was turning out. But she wasn’t and lately he could almost sense her discontent. If only the man of her dreams would finally come along so she could get married and then get pregnant with that baby she was always wanting. It was disconsoling that her life hadn’t worked out exactly as she’d planned. Even more unfortunate was that he couldn’t help her, no matter how good a friend he was. It was Mother Nature’s call—not his—to attract the right man to Beth. He was just someone whose shoulder she could cry on time and time again when it didn’t happen.
If it was up to him, he would see to it that Beth got what she wanted most in life. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that his friend would make the best mamma any little kid ever had.
With that thought still on his mind, Jack pulled up in front of Beth’s house. He saw that her porch light was on, and it beckoned to him like a friendly greeting as he climbed out of his car with a sense of urgency. With a grin on his face and a swelling in his chest, he headed for her front door.
It had been two long weeks since he’d seen Beth last. It was a long time for him to have gone without his best pal in his life. A part of him needed her more than it needed nourishment.
Beth was in her living room when Jack drove up, and she watched his approach through the long window next to the door. He was wearing a pair of jeans and a navy pullover shirt. He looked great, just as he always did, and her heart began to pound erratically. It was always that way when she saw him coming from a distance. It was, she knew, the sensuous way his hips rolled forward when he walked that mesmerized her. Sometimes her heart seemed to roll right along with them. Sometimes her equilibrium did, too, although it was rare that she let herself recognize those particular feelings for what they really were. Usually she chose to ignore them altogether.
By the time Jack reached her porch, Beth had her hand on the knob and was pulling the front door open. He immediately waltzed inside with a grin on his face that for as long as she could remember had always had a way of melting her cares away, no matter how bad they had seemed before. Suddenly she was swept up into his arms and wrapped in one of his infamous bear hugs.
Bear hugs, Beth had come to realize a long time ago, were a safe way for them to express their feelings for each other. Bear hugs lacked... well... great passion. They were fun... friendly... acceptable.
“How’s my favorite girl?” Jack asked, squeezing her tight against him. “Mmm... You know, it isn’t until I get a whiff of your perfume that I know for sure that I’m home.”
Beth was so glad to see him that her laughter bubbled out when he squeezed her.
And then, for some silly reason, her stomach went spiraling down to the floor. She quickly decided it was because she was so excited to see him. Certainly it was nothing more than that He was her friend, for heaven’s sake.
Ignoring the sensation, she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him as tight as she could. The light musky scent of his aftershave was as familiar to her as her own perfume and for a moment the combination of the two gave her a heady sensation.
His body was so hard... so solid.
His arms went around her waist.
Her stomach quivered.
Her world was back in town now, and everything was going to work out just as she had planned. She was sure of it.
“I cooked your favorite dinner,” she said, smiling up at him.
He grinned down at her with his wide, full lips. Lips that were perfect for grinning.
And for kissing, no doubt.
Not that she knew for sure. She was only imagining what his lips would feel like pressed against hers. Hypothetically speaking, of course.
“So what’s the occasion?” Jack asked. “Did I forget a holiday or something?”
“Nope,” Beth replied, pleased as pudding with herself for having planned such a great evening. Motherhood was practically in the bag for her. All she had to do now was to convince Jack of just how important his help was to her. She widened her grin. “No particular reason. I just felt like making this night kind of special. Actually,” she added, “I have a bottle of your favorite wine, too.”
“Oh...?” he said, giving her a rather odd look.
