I let you in, you have to promise not to put a move on me.”
He looked hurt. “Joss, come on. How many ways can I tell you? I need a friend. You need a friend. That’s what we’ve got going on here. It’s all we’ve got going on here.”
She chewed her lower lip for a moment. “All right. I believe you.” And then she stuck her key in the slot and pushed the door wide.
He followed her in, through the skylit foyer area into the living/dining room, which had floor-to-ceiling windows with a spectacular view. “Nice.”
“Hey, only the best for Kenny Donovan’s runaway bride.” She headed for the wet bar. “How about a little champagne and caviar? On Kenny, of course.”
“Got a beer?”
She gave him one from the fridge and grabbed a ginger ale for herself. “Make yourself at home.” He took a fat leather easy chair and she shucked off her shoes and curled up on the sofa.
And they talked. About his family. About the party at the Rib Shack. About how they both thought Lizzie was great and how Lizzie’s aunt Melba cracked them up.
“So how long are you here for?” he asked.
She thought how much she liked his voice. It was deep and warm and made her want to cuddle up against him—which she was not, under any circumstances, going to do. Ever. “Another week. As long as Kenny doesn’t put a stop on his platinum card, I am having my whole two-week un-honeymoon.”
“And then?”
“Back to Sacramento. To find a job. And a new place to live.”
“We have so much in common,” he said. “I’m here for a week, too.”
“You told me. The family reunion. And then after that?”
“I suppose I’ll have to get a life. But I’m not even going to think about that yet.”
“Jace, I like the way you completely avoid anything remotely resembling responsibility. Aunt Melba would so not approve.”
“Thank you, Joss. I do my best.” He tipped his longneck at her. “I’m glad we’re friends. Let’s be best friends.”
“All right. I’m up for that.”
“Best friends for a week,” he declared.
She held up her index finger and reminded him, “No benefits.”
He looked at her from under his thick dark brows. “You know you’re killin’ me here. Have I, in any way, put any kind of move on you?”
“Nope, not a one.”
“Then can we be done with the constant reminders about how I’m not supposed to try and get you naked?”
She saluted him with a hand to her forehead. “You got it. I believe you. You are not going to make any attempt whatsoever to get into my pants. Even if you are a man.”
“Your trust is deeply touching.”
The phone rang. It was on the side table next to the sofa, so she reached over and picked it up. “What?”
“Jocelyn, honestly. Is that any way to answer the phone?”
Without even thinking about it, Joss lowered her feet to the rug and sat up straighter. “Mom, hey.” She ran a hand back through her hair. “What’s up?”
“How can you ask me that? You know I’m worried sick about you.”
“I’m fine. Really. Don’t worry.”
“When are you coming home?”
“I told you. A week from tomorrow.” She sent Jace a sheepish glance and mouthed the word Sorry.
He shrugged to let her know it wasn’t a big deal. Then he got up and went over to the wall of windows. He stood gazing out. She indulged in a long, slow look at him, from his fancy tooled boots, up over his lean legs and hips in crisp denim, his wide shoulders in a beautifully tailored midnight-blue Western shirt. His hair was thick and dark. She had no doubt it would be silky to the touch.
A great-looking guy. And a considerate one. It was kind of him to pretend to admire the view to give her the space she needed to take this unwelcome call. There ought to be more guys in the world like him.
Her mom said, “This is all just a big misunderstanding. You realize that, don’t you? Kenny would never—”
“Mom.” She struggled to keep her voice calm and even. “I saw him with Kimberly. There was no misunderstanding what I saw.”
“Kimberly is terribly upset, too. She’s hurt you would think such horrible, cruel things about her.”
“Oh, please. Don’t get me started on Kimberly. I don’t want to talk about this anymore, Mom. I really don’t.”
“Kenny came to see me this evening.”
Joss gasped. “He what?” She must have said it kind of loud because Jace glanced back at her, those sexy dark eyes full of concern. She shook her head at him. He turned to face the window again and she told her mother, “He has no right to bother you. None. Ever again.”
“Honey, he’s not bothering me. He loves you. He wants to work things out with you. He’s crushed that you left him at the altar the way you did. You’ve humiliated him, but still, he forgives you and only wants to work things out so you two can be together as you were meant to be.”
There was a crystal bowl full of expensive chocolates on the coffee table. Joss resisted the blinding urge to grab it and fling it at the far wall. “Mom, listen. Listen carefully. I am not going to get back together with Kenny. Ever. He and I are done. Finished. As over as it gets.”
“If only your father hadn’t left us. You wouldn’t be so mistrustful of men. You wouldn’t ruin the best chance you’re ever going to get with a good man who will give you the kind of life you deserve.”
She replied through clenched teeth. “There are so many ways I don’t know how to respond to that.”
“Just come home, honey. Come home right away.”
“Mom, I’m hanging up now. I love you very much and I’ll be home in a week.”
“Jocelyn. Jocelyn, wait…”
But Joss didn’t wait. She hung up the phone. And then she stared at it hard, daring it to ring again.
But apparently, her mother had come to her senses at least minimally and decided to leave awful enough alone.
For tonight anyway.
At the window, Jace turned. “Bad?”
She covered her face with her hands. “Yeah, beyond bad.”
He
