Always the Best Man (11 page)

Another layer of joy burst to the surface inside her. It felt as if her chest was filled with bubbles, fizzy and light. She felt drunk with the exhilaration of it.

Right now, every part of her life was filled with stress. It was part of being a single mother. Even with her family's support, she could never truly let go. What Jase was offering felt like a lifeline. And the best part was she could give the same thing back to him. Pleasure for the sake of pleasure. No expectations.

It felt like freedom.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “You've got yourself a deal, counselor.”

“Sealed with a kiss,” he said and nipped at the edge of her mouth.

“Sealed with a thousand kisses,” she whispered and set about adding them up.

Chapter Eleven

T
he following Friday morning, Emily was busy untangling a strand of tiny twinkle lights being used to decorate the wide patio at Crimson Ranch, where tomorrow's wedding would be held. Sara worked on a separate length of lights while April Sanders arranged mason jars that would be filled with wildflowers on the tables set up around the patio.

Jase had closed the office today so they could both concentrate on wedding plans. Her mother was picking up Davey after school while April led a private yoga class for Katie and her girlfriends. The group would then go for facials and massages at a spa near Aspen before joining the men for the scavenger hunt Emily and Jase had organized. Emily had worked to make sure the activities leading up to the wedding were fun, personal and helped celebrate who Katie and Noah were as a couple.

She understood why they'd selected the ranch as their wedding venue. Located on the outskirts of town, the property had been beautifully restored in the past few years to become one of the area's most popular destinations.

In addition to the rough-hewn-log main house, there was a large red barn and several smaller cabins spread around the property. Clumps of pine and aspen trees dotted the landscape, giving the buildings a sense of privacy. Each time the breeze blew Emily enjoyed the sound of aspen leaves fluttering in the wind. She could see where the property dipped as it got closer to the forest's edge and knew the creek ran along the divide.

“You had sex.” Sara grinned at Emily.

Emily spit the bite of muffin she'd picked up from the basket sitting on the table. “Excuse me?” She choked on muffin crumbs.

April patted her on the back. “Don't take offense. The more outlandish Sara's comments, the more she likes you.”

Sara laughed and continued to string lights. “For the record, I like you a lot, Emily Whitaker. Not as much as I like your brother. When I first came to town, Noah flirted with me every chance he got.”

“Noah flirted with everything with a pulse before Katie,” Emily muttered.

“But with me he was trying to make Josh jealous.” Sara's smile was devious. “You have points in your favor for being related to Noah, but there are other reasons I like you.”

“You barely know me.” Emily wiped the back of her hand across her mouth. “You definitely don't know me well enough to comment on my sex life.” She heard the pretentiousness in her voice that she'd perfected during her short marriage.

Sara only laughed again. It was a rich, musical sound that projected across the vast pasture spreading out behind the house. Sara was petite with pale blond hair and luminous blue eyes. Her bigger-than-life presence made her hard to ignore. Emily supposed the “it girl” vibe contributed to Sara's fame from the time she'd been a child actor.

“We met at the dinner to celebrate your mom's recovery,” Sara told her. “You were there with your son, and it's clear you're devoted to him. Another plus in your favor.”

“I remember but—”

“You looked tense and defensive, like you might snap in two at any moment.” Sara waved a hand toward Emily. “Now you're relaxed and you can't control the good-sex grin on your face—”

“I can control my smile,” Emily argued, then thought of Jase and felt the corners of her mouth tug upward. She pressed her fingers to her mouth and glanced at April.

“Don't look at me. I'm certainly not smiling like that.”

“Which is what we're working on next,” Sara said, moving to April's side. “You've been alone for too long, my friend.”

April shook her head, a tangle of red curls bouncing around her face. “One marriage was quite enough, thank you. I'm perfectly content without a man in my life.”

“Don't forget I was married, too.” Emily wasn't sure why she felt compelled to argue this point. The idea that these women she was only beginning to know could read her was scary as hell. “I have a son and he's my priority. I don't have time for anything else.”

“But you've been making time,” Sara said.

April's voice was gentle. “You do seem happier, which is a good thing.”

“Maybe it's the yoga.” Emily pointed at April. “I've been coming to your classes. Maybe you should take credit for my newfound calm, if that's what I have.”

“It's more than calm,” April told her with a smile. “It's a glow. I'd love to believe it was the yoga but—”

“It's sex.” Sara winked. “You don't have to admit it for it to be true.”

“Don't tell Katie,” Emily mumbled after a moment. “She and Noah will want there to be more to it than there is.” She bit down on her lip, then grinned. “And it's great the way it is.”

It had been more than great and her stomach did a slow, sweet roll at the thought of the time she'd spent with Jase. It was easy to have him come to the farm with Ruby after work under the guise of discussing wedding plans or the mayor's race, and he'd become a fixture at their dinner table. Emily's mother had even insisted he bring Declan to join them for several evening meals.

At first it amazed her how seriously he seemed to value her opinion. Whether on reception details or the more important campaign strategies, he listened to her ideas and often used them as the foundation from which to build his own.

Emily liked being someone's foundation. And she loved the private, stolen moments when Jase would wrap her in his arms and shower her with kisses. She felt the telltale goofy smile tug at her mouth again.

Sara threw an arm around April's shoulder. “Yoga classes are lovely but nothing is better than the restorative powers of great sex.” She pointed at Emily. “Are you going to tell us who it is?”

“Do I have to?”

Sara thought about that for a moment. “No, but if you don't I'll be forced to ask your soon-to-be sister-in-law.”

April lifted her hand to clamp it over Sara's mouth. “Forgive her. She means well. You don't have to tell us anything.” April's voice was gentle, her tone so motherly it made Emily warm inside. “For the record,” April added, “I think Jase is great.”

“He is...” Emily narrowed her eyes. “Wait. That was sneaky.” A gorgeous earth mother with a little edge.

“April's the worst,” Sara said when April dropped her hand. “She's gentle and sweet, so people don't realize she's also whip smart and far too observant. The thing that makes it less annoying is she'll protect your secrets to her grave.”

“Is Jase a secret?” April asked, her eyes all too perceptive.

“Yes.” Emily shook her head. “I mean, no. We're friends.”

“April needs a friend like that,” Sara said with a laugh.

“Why don't you worry about your own love life and leave mine alone?” April crossed her arms over her chest and did her best to glare at Sara. She still looked sweet.

“No worries in my life.” Sara wiggled her brows. “Josh is absolutely perfect. In fact, just last night...”

“Save it,” April said quickly. “We're talking about Emily.”

“Feel free to move on,” Emily told them, then held up a hand to Sara. “I'm not asking for details about your private life.”

Sara grabbed a muffin off the table and dropped into a chair. “You don't seem like a sell-it-to-the-tabloids type of person.”

“No.”

“Of course she's not,” April agreed. “So you and Jase are friends.” April pointed at Emily. “The kind of friends that have seen each other naked.”

“That's one way to put it,” Emily answered, making a face.

“You like him?”

Emily nodded.

“A lot?” Sara asked.

“Yes.”

“Everyone in town loves him,” April offered. “Why just friends and why the secret?”

“Because,” Sara added, popping a bite of muffin in her mouth. “You understand this town can't keep a secret? People will find out.”

“If they don't already know,” April said.

“We want something that belongs to us.”

Now Sara's face softened. “Oh, yes. I understand.” She glanced at April. “We both do.”

Sara stood and came to give Emily a hug. She glanced over her shoulder at April. “Come on. Group embrace.”

The willowy redhead, who smelled of vanilla and cloves, wrapped them both in a tight hug. “What is between you and Jase is yours,” she whispered. “But don't hold on to it too tight. Love is like a garden, Emily. It needs light and air to breathe, or it will shrivel before it has a chance to grow strong.”

Emily gasped. “It's not love,” she murmured. “It can't be.”

Neither Sara nor April answered. They only tightened their hold on her.

* * *

By the time the last team came through the doors of the brewpub in downtown Crimson, Jase's mood was as dark as the mahogany paneling lining the walls.

Luckily his friends didn't seem to notice. Everyone had loved Emily's scavenger hunt. The teams had raced through Crimson collecting mementoes that were special to Noah and Katie.

Now they were sharing stories about the couple, laughing and toasting the impending nuptials as the bride and groom held court at one of the large tables in the center of the bar. The entire evening had been a success if he ignored the fact that Emily was doing her best to avoid him.

With so many of their friends around, it was easy to accomplish. No matter how many times Jase tried to meet her gaze or talk to her alone, she managed to slip away. He knew she'd spent the day working out at Crimson Ranch with Sara and April, but he couldn't imagine how things could have changed between them so quickly.

He watched her step away from the main group to take a call on her cell phone, her brows puckering at whatever was being said on the other line. The conversation only lasted a few minutes, and he moved behind her as she ended the call.

“Everything okay?”

She jumped, pressing a hand to her chest. “Sneak up much?”

“Avoid people much?” he countered.

Color rose to her cheeks and she looked everywhere but into his eyes. The sudden distance between them made him angry. This had been the best week of his whole damn life. Even with the campaign, work and all the other pressures of regular life, Jase had felt happier than he could remember. He wanted more from Emily. He wanted the right to give more
to
her.

Maybe it was excitement around the wedding or so many of his friends in relationships, but he was convinced Emily was meant for him. He'd always made decisions in his life based on what was smart and responsible. Duty had governed his actions for as long as he could remember. Being with Emily was about making himself happy. Making her happy. For the first time, he wanted to commit to something more than this town and restoring his family name.

He wanted something of his own.

He wanted Emily.

“It's been a hectic day,” she said, her tone stiff. “I want everything to be perfect for Noah and Katie.”

“I thought we agreed perfection is overrated.”

She looked at him now, her eyes sad. “Not for the two of them. They deserve it.”

“You deserve—”

She held up a hand. “I can't have this conversation now. My mom called. One of Davey's completed sets fell off the shelf and broke. He's having a meltdown.” The sound of laughter and music carried to them and she glanced over his shoulder at their friends. She looked so alone it made his gut twist. “I've got to go, but I don't want to worry Noah. Will you cover for me?”

“Let me come with you.”

“It's better if you don't,” she whispered. “People will talk.”

“I don't give a damn what anyone says.”

She wrapped her arms tight around her middle. “I do.”

Those two words killed him. He'd told her he wouldn't push her, and he had to honor that. When she turned to walk away, it took everything in him not to stop her.

Even more when Aaron Thompson slid off his bar stool as she moved past. The man put a meaty hand on Emily's arm and she flinched. Jase saw red as Aaron leaned closer and Emily's face drew into a stiff mask.

Jase was striding forward by the time she shook free and ran out the pub's front door.

“What the hell did you say to her?” He pushed Aaron's broad chest, and the man stumbled into the empty bar stool, knocking it on its side with a clatter.

Jase felt the gazes of the crowded bar on him, but for once he didn't care. He stepped into Aaron's space as the other man straightened.

Aaron leaned closer and lowered his voice so only Jase could hear. “I told her she'd have a hard enough time raising that weirdo kid of hers in this town without hitching herself to the Crenshaw wagon.” His beady eyes narrowed farther. “When she's ready for a real man, she should give me a call. Your dad couldn't keep a woman satisfied, and I doubt you're any different.”

It didn't matter that Emily was gone. Jase knew Aaron's words would have prodded at her fears, the same way they slithered into his. “Don't ever,” he said on a growl, “speak to her again.”

“Oh, yeah?” Aaron smirked. “Whatcha going to do about it?”

Jase hauled back his fist and punched Aaron, his knuckles landing against skin with an audible thud. The burly man staggered a few steps before righting himself. Noah and Liam had already grabbed hold of Jase.

“Dude,” Aaron shouted into the sudden quiet of the bar. “I'm sorry. My dad wants what's best for this town. You don't have to threaten our family.”

“Settle down, man,” Noah said when Jase strained against him.

“He's lying.” Jase felt blood pounding against his temples. He glanced around the bar to find himself the center of attention from every corner. He was so used to being universally liked, it took him a minute to recognize the emotions playing in the gazes of the friends and strangers who stared at him.