What Happens Between Friends (10 page)

“You’re welcome anytime. I’m here until seven most nights, but if you stop by and I’m not around, one of the guys can take you through,” he said, dashing her dreams that he wanted her to return so he could have her all to himself. “Just don’t ask Maddie. She doesn’t give tours.”

“Really? I would’ve thought she’d love showing this place off. It is Neil Pettit’s, right? And they’re back together?”

Plenty of people in Shady Grove were interested in the restoration of Bradford House, both because it was such a historical fixture in town and because Neil Pettit was such a big deal. That he’d bought it and was paying to have it renovated into a bed-and-breakfast for his sister to run only made the gears of the old rumor mill spin that much faster.

Especially after Fay Lindemuth had attempted suicide over a month ago when her husband left her and their two young sons to run off with some minimart clerk.

“It is Neil’s house,” James said, “and yes, he and Maddie are back together.” He was such a good man. Too good to share idle gossip. “But she still hates being interrupted when she’s working.” He lowered his voice, leaned in close enough that Charlotte inhaled the spicy scent of his aftershave. “Or eating. Makes her grumpy.”

Then he grinned.

She went warm all over. Oh, goodness.

“Speaking of eating,” Char said, her voice unsteady, her heart racing. “Uh...I was thinking on Friday, after we look at the house, we could stop at Salvatores? I’ve been craving pasta.” Plus, the Italian restaurant was perfect—delicious food, great atmosphere, but casual enough that it wouldn’t freak him out or make him uncomfortable. “I could make reservations, just in case they’re busy.”

“You don’t need to do that. I’m sure you have better things to do on a Friday night than hang out with me.”

“Don’t be silly. Besides, you’re doing me a favor by looking at this house. The least I can do is make sure you have a decent meal after.” A thought occurred to her, a terrible, horrible thought. “Unless...unless you already have plans. A date.”

She was watching him so carefully she didn’t miss the way his jaw tightened as if he was clenching his teeth. What did that mean? Was he seeing someone?

“No,” he said. “No date.”

Relief made her light-headed. Or maybe that sensation was from standing so close to him.

“Great.” Though she had nowhere to be and not a damn thing to do other than a load of laundry, she glanced at her watch. “I’d better get going.” Always leave them wanting more, her mother advised. Her mom was one smart lady. “Thanks again for the tour. The house is really, really great.”

Testing them both, she gave him a hug, kept the contact light, just a quick, friendly squeeze. One he returned without resistance.

Yes!

“I’ll see you Friday,” she said, stepping back.

Unable to stop the self-satisfied smile she knew was lighting her face, she slipped out the door, walked around the house, stepping carefully across the uneven yard. She had things to do after all. First on the agenda, buy the perfect outfit for Friday night, one guaranteed to finally get a few second looks from James Montesano.

* * *

S
TANDING
ON
THE
brand-new porch of Bradford House, Sadie opened the front door only enough to stick her head in. Noise hit her: country music, the buzz and whine of power tools, the pounding of hammers and the occasional male laugh or good-natured shout.

She stepped back and closed the door.

Her heart raced, her palms were damp. She shifted the bakery box to her other hand. Though it only held two dozen cupcakes, it felt like it weighed twenty pounds.

She was nervous. She rolled her eyes. Please. Nervous? She was scared out of her mind.

What if James was still angry with her?

No. He couldn’t be. James didn’t stay mad. He’d been embarrassed the other day. Understandable. But they were friends; they could get past this. They’d made a mistake by sleeping together, had let the physical attraction that had always simmered underneath their friendship take over. She was partly to blame, she realized. She’d been upset about having to return to town and feeling low about herself.

And, yes, maybe she had wondered what it would be like, the two of them together.

But knowing wasn’t worth losing James over.

He’d confused his feelings for her, that’s all. Now that he’d had a few days to think about it, to calm down, he’d realize that. He’d realize it and he’d want her back in his life. He had to.

She missed him.

She always missed him, of course. When she was away, she thought about him often and fondly, but being in Shady Grove somehow made it worse. Knowing he was within reach, literally, but didn’t want to be around her, didn’t want to see her, hurt. It hurt a lot. The idea of never repairing their relationship, of losing him for good?

Unfathomable.

She had to get him back.

It might not be as easy as she’d like, not when she couldn’t stop thinking about their night together, how it’d felt to have him touch her. Kiss her. Make love to her.

She frowned. He didn’t have to be so damned good at it, did he? If he’d been boring in bed or fumbling and bumbling, she wouldn’t keep reliving it. Wouldn’t still want him. But that was just physical. Sexual. It had no bearing on why she was here or why she wanted him to forgive her. She couldn’t have romantic feelings for him, couldn’t let this physical attraction to him overtake her senses.

Sex had only complicated things between them. Threatened to ruin the best thing that had ever happened to her.

She opened the door and forced herself to step inside. Blinked. Wow. She’d seen the outside of Bradford House, of course, had driven or walked past it hundreds of times over the years, had always liked the look of it with its pitched roofs and narrow windows. There was history here, and the Montesanos were obviously trying to preserve it, to bring the house into the twenty-first century while keeping its integrity and charm.

There was still a long way to go, but she could see the care that had gone into the place so far. Ornate moldings along the ceiling and wall, wooden floors, arched doorways. And she could clearly imagine what it would look like with furnishings, paint and wallpaper designs. Could envision what was needed to bring the house alive, to give it warmth and charm and make people want to stay here, to come back.

She did a quick tour, stopping to chat with Art and Heath, who were used to her coming and going on James’s job sites. He must not have told them they’d had a disagreement because the guys greeted her with grins and jokes. Pointed to the stairs when she’d asked where James was.

The top of the stairs ended in a wide hallway. She followed the sound of power tools and voices to the left, glanced into a bathroom, almost getting run over by someone—a plumber?—in white coveralls carrying a huge wrench. She’d just passed a large, empty room when she heard it. James, the deep rumble of his voice, low and familiar.

It brought a long, warm tug to her belly.

Happiness to hear him again, she assured herself. Nothing else.

Pasting on a smile, she knocked on the door frame and then walked in. “Here you...are,” she said lamely because, obviously he was here, standing tall and broad in front of the window, the afternoon sun reflecting off his dark hair.

She kept that damn smile in place when James frowned and averted his gaze.

Maybe this wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d hoped. Too bad. She really did so much better when things came to her easily.

But James was worth a bit of work.

“Hi, Maddie,” she managed to say, stepping toward her, intending to give her a hug. Maddie crossed her arms and Sadie stumbled to a stop. “Uh...how...how’s Bree?”

“She’s fine. What are you doing here?”

Ouch. There wasn’t a trace of warmth or welcoming in Maddie’s voice. Sadie had considered the other woman a friend. They usually got together when Sadie was in town, went out for dinner or a drink.

She glanced at James. He’d told his sister what had happened. He met her gaze equably, as if he had any and all right to share the personal facts of their relationship with anyone he damned well pleased.

Okay, so he did, she thought grudgingly. But not if it meant getting people mad at Sadie.

People didn’t get mad at her. They didn’t dislike her. She was Sadie Nixon, for God’s sake. A ray of freaking sunshine. Just ask anyone.

Well, anyone other than these two. And perhaps their mother.

Sadie tucked her hair behind her ear with an unsteady hand. “I, uh...wanted to see the house. James had said I could stop by whenever I wanted, so...”

He’d told her that at his party, before they’d had sex and he’d dropped the bombshell about his feelings on her, blowing her mind and their friendship to bits.

“It looks great,” she said into the silence. Who knew a Montesano could remain quiet for so long? The only naturally quiet one was Eddie—and even he spoke when he was around his family—so having James and Maddie just watching her, waiting for her to crumble like a cookie, was nerve-racking.

Damn them.

“The house,” she blurted. “It’s great. Really great,” she finished weakly. Realizing she still held the bakery box, she raised it. “I brought cupcakes. White and German chocolate.”

“We’ve already had chocolate-chip cookies,” Maddie said, cold enough to cause frostbite. “Charlotte dropped them off an hour or so ago.”

Sadie frowned. “Charlotte was here?” Her entire family was friends with the Montesanos, but she hadn’t realized Maddie and Charlotte were close, as Lottie was a few years younger than Maddie. And, as Maddie had a preteen daughter, at very different stages of their lives.

“We’re working,” James said, not sounding angry, more like polite. Removed. As if she was some stranger off the street who’d walked in and interrupted his day.

“Oh.” It came out barely above a whisper, the best she could squeeze out around the tightness in her throat. She sent James a pleading glance, but he was unmoved. “I guess I’ll just—”

“For God’s sake,” Maddie muttered, tossing up her hands. “It’s like kicking a puppy,” she said to James.

He shrugged. “She’s always been good at getting people to feel sorry for her.”

“I’m standing right here,” Sadie pointed out, irritation growing. She did
not
make people feel sorry for her. God. “I’d like to talk to you,” she told James tightly. She sent Maddie a pointed look. “Alone.”

At first, she thought Maddie was going to argue, but then she looked at her shrewdly, glanced over at James and seemed to change her mind. “I do have to call Bree, see how her day went. But I’ll be back in ten minutes.”

While Maddie walked out, Sadie set the cupcakes on a sawhorse, then faced James. “I can’t believe you told her what happened between us,” she said in a harsh whisper, unable to hide the hurt in her voice.

“I didn’t tell her,” James said, wrapping up an extension cord. “She guessed. Seems I haven’t done such a hot job of hiding my feelings for you.”

He didn’t sound too happy about it.

Welcome to the club, buddy.

He kept working, cleaning up the room, which had a new floor. She didn’t know how to approach him when he was so distant. It was like talking to a stranger, which she usually didn’t have trouble with, so it was doubly weird and frustrating.

“The house really does look amazing,” she said, injecting some lightness in her voice. The best way to do this, she decided, was to act as if nothing had happened. “Have you hired someone to do the interior design yet?”

“Fay’s supposed to handle all that.”

“You don’t sound like that’s such a good idea.”

“She’s fragile. I’m not sure taking on a project this size is the best thing for her.”

“How’s she doing?” When James sent her a questioning look, Sadie continued, “Mom mentioned she was in the hospital last month.” The only delicate way she could think of to put Fay’s situation.

“We don’t see much of her around here.” James crouched in the corner, neatly setting tools into a metal box. He snapped the box shut, straightened. “Was there something you wanted, Sadie?”

And that wasn’t quite back to normal. Looked as if that part would take a little while longer.

“I wanted to see you. I miss you.”

Nothing. No expression change, not even a flicker of emotion crossed those dark eyes.

“I got a job,” she blurted. “Tending bar at O’Riley’s a few nights a week. Did you know Gordon sold it to some ex-army guy? Says he wants to move to Brazil—Gordon, not the army guy—”

“Guess you didn’t need my help after all. You managed to gain employment all on your own. Congratulations,” he said, not sounding as if he really meant it.

She hadn’t known he could be so cold. She couldn’t say she liked it much. “It’s only part-time. It’ll take me a while before I make enough to...to...”

“To run off to California?”

“Yes,” she said, lifting her chin despite the blush warming her cheeks. Why should she be embarrassed for wanting to get out of Shady Grove? For wanting more than an ordinary existence, more than her mother’s life?

“If you’re in a hurry to leave, why not ask Will for the money? I’m sure he’d loan it to you.”

“I’d rather earn my own way.” It was something she’d learned how to do despite being spoiled as a kid and teenager. It wasn’t always easy, but having that independence and not being beholden to anyone else was so worth all the hard work, long hours and crappy-paying jobs she’d had.

Her failures, her successes, were her own.

“Besides,” she continued breezily, “I’m not in a hurry. I still have to find Elvis’s family, and who knows how long that’ll take. I contacted the paper, put an ad in with his picture and I called all the animal shelters in a fifty-mile radius, but so far, no one’s reported him missing or contacted me.”

“You could always drop him off at the local ASPCA.”

“Put him in dog jail? Abandon him?” She shook her head, hardly believing he was even suggesting such a horrible thing. “No. No way. If no one claims him, I’ll find him a good family.”