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“You didn’t have to fake the…” He paused, seeing how packed the room was with people. “Wow. What bank did you rob to get all these people here?”
“No bank. No paying off the guests. Just a few phone calls.”
“Surprise!”
“Happy Birthday!”
“Woohoo, Will!”
Shouts went up all around them.
Will grinned, clearly pleased with the turnout of his friends. Just wait until he saw everyone she’d invited.
“Is that La
rry Bowles?”
He’d seen. She smiled. He’d be ecstatic at seeing his old university buddies. But when his gaze met hers, he didn’t look pleased.
He looked worried, perhaps a bit panicked, and Will never panicked. Never. Except during Leslie’s appendectomy.
Unease fluttered in Chelsea’s stomach.
“Is that a bad thing?” She’d been sure Will would be excited she’d brought the gang together. Will, Jared, Larry, and Tom. They’d been so close during their university days. The summer she’d met them she’d been envious of their friendship. At that time she’d just begun coming out of her isolation and had literally had no one other than Will.
So why did Will look upset about seeing his friend?
Well-wishers surrounded her brother, and he didn’t get the opportunity to answer.
Chelsea stepped back, wondering why he’d looked concerned. Surely she’d been mistaken at his odd reaction.
Chelsea’s laughter haunted Jared no matter where he stood, no matter how many people stood between them.
In a room full of guests that included several he should be quite aware of, how could he be so in tune with Chelsea’s exact location, with everything about her? He’d swear he could even smell her perfume from time to time. That fresh-baked cookie scent that troubled him day and night, just as memories of making love to her haunted him.
He sniffed the air, then shook his head in self-disgust.
Insane.
He’d had enough and just wanted to get out of this room full of raw nerves.
The room was like a pit of vipers in his emotional state.
Jared headed toward the door. So what if it was barely after eight? This was one party he wasn’t staying for. He’d wish Will a happy birthday, then he’d go home.
He hadn’t been in the mood to party for weeks. Months.
From the moment he’d discovered Chelsea was joining Madison Medical Center.
He wanted her.
Deep down he admitted he’d only wanted her from the moment she’d stepped back into his life. Maybe he’d fallen for her long before that, while listening to Will.
The reality was, Chelsea deserved better. She deserved a man who could give her his whole heart and cherish her every day for the rest of their lives. He wasn’t that man. His heart had been defective since Laura and it wasn’t fit to give to any woman.
His gaze shifted to where Chelsea was talking with a group of nurses from the hospital.
God, he’d missed her this week. Had fought the urge to pull her into his arms a hundred times at the office, had wanted to ask her if he’d dreamed how magical their lovemaking had been. He couldn’t even be around her without wanting to touch her. Which was why he’d done his best to stay away. Far away.
