AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It sounds like he definitely gave you baby fever.”
“Only in the abstract, in the distant future. I’ve got my hands full with this community center. That project is my baby,” I said firmly, finishing off my drink.
“Has it been that bad?”
“We’re just plagued by one thing after another. Things just keep going wrong, you know? First it was the tools getting stolen and the storage being broken into, and then the fire. Things just keep happening close together and it’s weird. Like we’re going one step forward and two steps back. I’m just discouraged. I’ve had so many irons in the fire with this project, Michelle.”
“I know the city council gave you hell about the bidding.”
“They wanted to save money, which I get, but not if it means sacrificing quality. And the thing is, we’d be fine if we didn’t have these setbacks. They’re already talking about hiking our insurance premiums after the two claims we’ve submitted. So it’s nothing new, it’s just accumulated stress. I don’t think it’ll get better before this is done and open. I’ll be glad when it’s over, you know?”
“Yeah. That grand opening will be a big relief for you, and the closest thing we have to a real social event coming up,” Michelle said.
“Do you mean to tell me that you don’t consider Randi Simmons’s wedding a big social event?”
“I will not be invited to that.”
“Why?” I asked. “I think the whole town’s going, the way her mom’s been booking the shower and the engagement party and the reception and everything. I mean they’re definitely keeping the local businesses busy, which I’m thankful for. But anyway—”
I trailed off. Michelle’s focus was somewhere else. I followed her gaze with my eyes and landed on Drew, the owner of the local mechanic shop. He’d just walked in with some friends. One of them worked for Noah, so I recognized him. But then I looked back at Michelle. She looked serious, a frown of concentration wrinkling her brow.
“You still think about him, don’t you,” I asked, compassion flooding my chest. I wanted to hug her. She wasn’t one to whine or let her emotions show too much, but I could tell she was sad just looking at him.
“How could I not? I see him every damn day in this town.”
“Well, I’d say you should move, but I forbid it. You have to stay here and be my best friend, and also make him sorry by living your best goddamn life every single day. How else will he pine away and die of regret?” I asked.
“He doesn’t look half dead of a broken heart to me,” she said a little wryly and took a drink.
“You could give him another chance, you know,” I suggested gently.
She shook her head. “I let him wreck my heart once. I’m not about to give him another shot at it.”
I sighed softly. I wanted Michelle to be happy, to be with someone who knew how amazing she was and appreciated her. Evidently that didn’t include the one that got away, the man she once thought was The One.
“Since you won’t take him back, can I go over there and slap him in the head for being so stupid?”
“No,” she said, snorting, “but thanks for the offer. Back to the project. What’s the worst part? The insurance claims or dealing with Noah’s ego?”
“He hasn’t been that bad,” I hedged.
“What?” she said, narrowing her eyes at me suspiciously.
“What?” I said, the picture of wide-eyed innocence.
“Don’t ‘what’ me. You’ve got a crush on Noah.”
“I do not have a crush on anyone. I’m over thirty.”
“You have a crush on the Rock,” she pointed out.
“So do you. So does everyone. He’s the Rock, okay? That doesn’t count. Celebrities with perfect bodies do not count,” I said.
“What about asshole builders who used to give you a headache but probably give you multiple orgasms now?” she teased.
Color crept up my neck and face no matter how hard I tried to hide it. I practically buried my face in my huge margarita glass to cool it off.
“Ha! I knew it,” she crowed.
“Keep. Your. Voice. Down,” I hissed at her, embarrassed.
“Why? Somebody in this godforsaken town ought to be getting some orgasms. Might as well brag about it while you can,” she said.
Michelle signaled the waiter and ordered us another round of delicious strawberry margaritas while I tried to decide how much to tell her. She’d get every detail out of me eventually, but I could stall her. Just say we kissed. Just say we flirted. Just say he was nice to me the night of the fire. Or I could tell her the truth.
“Fine,” I said.
“Out with it,” she rubbed her palms together excitedly as the drinks arrived.
“He’s always gotten on my nerves. He called me bossy once and I about had an aneurysm over it. He would never call a male client bossy, would he? No, but a woman with authority, opinions and leadership skills—”
