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“Déjà vu, eh?”
“Yeah. Except this time I feel way different. Not perfect, but different.” Her blue eyes were brighter than the sky, her skin kissed by the sun and wind, and her body lit by a sort of glow that made Rhett want to throw her over his shoulder, carry her back to his house and toss her on his bed. If she asked, all of that would be done in a classy, romantic sort of way, but in his mind things were way more primal than that.
“Get inside already.” Rhett nudged her foot with his. “And maybe put on your shirt. You’ll get cold in the air-conditioning.”
“Oh!” She yanked it from her sweats and opened it up, slipping it over her head with a little bit of a struggle as she searched for the sleeves. She popped her head through, her hair full of flyaways, and marched forward. She ran smack into the chest of a blond guy, average height, well dressed, who was coming out the door. A blonde woman by his side scooted to the left, so she wouldn’t get run over. Between the hair, the clothes and the bland smiles, they looked like Malibu Barbie and her surfer date.
“Sorry,” Stanzi said. Then her smile crumpled.
“Connie!” The man’s eyes widened. “Is that you?”
Josh stepped back, to allow her inside. Constance entered the bakery, the sweet and spicy smells settling in her stomach like heavy dough. “Hi,” she said, because she couldn’t think of anything else. The sight of Josh, along with the woman from the park, made her skin go cold all over. Constance was glad she’d put her shirt on. Oh, my God. Had she put her shirt on before Josh saw her? Her hands ran over her midsection, an old habit she hadn’t performed in months.
“Hi, I’m Rhett.” He stuck out his hand. They were all lined up by the pastry case, the glass shiny and showcasing its wares. The top row had a rustic cherry pie, a classic carrot cake with orange carrot icing decorations, blueberry muffins with giant domes and whoopie pies with oozing marshmallow filling. Constance suddenly wanted them all.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Constance knew her face had paled. “Rhett, Josh. Josh, Rhett.”
Josh accepted Rhett’s handshake.
Even though Constance had never considered Josh a small man, he didn’t look as large as he used to, next to Rhett.
Josh’s hand tightened on his bakery bag, making a crumpling sound. “Nice to meet you.” His gaze settled on Rhett’s bare, ripped torso, a concentrated look on his face. Constance remembered that look. That was the look Josh got when a drunk at a bar tried to pick a fight with him, or when his boss asked Constance to dance at an office party. Didn’t like it, but wasn’t going to do anything about it, either.
The obliques, Constance thought. That must be what Josh couldn’t look away from. Everything on Rhett’s torso was gorgeous. The big pecs, the anterior delts, the upper traps, the abs. But the obliques were something special. Ropy, and the way they disappeared into his shorts, almost like little arrows pointing the way to heaven...
“Connie.” Josh’s voice sounded like he’d said her name a few times. “This is Jenna.” He motioned toward the woman next to him; she wore a silk tank top, a long skirt and an uncomfortable smile.
“Hi, Jenna.” Constance extended her hand. Jenna brushed her fingertips. “We’ve met, remember? You’re the woman Josh was jogging with, that day in the park. Right?”
Jenna blanched.
Rhett laughed out loud. He pulled his shirt over his head. Several women, seated throughout the small bakery, looked disappointed.
“You look great,” Josh said, ignoring her comment. His gaze toured her body as much as it had Rhett’s, but with a different expression. “What’ve you been doing?”
“Little bit of everything.” Constance shifted her weight from foot to foot. There was a dispenser on the counter to take a number, and as more people entered the shop and the line got longer, she resisted the urge to grab one. She knew she was supposed to be polite and give Josh compliments and ask him questions, too, but words wouldn’t come. After the story she’d just told Rhett, seeing Josh and his girlfriend in real life was a strange sort of gift that she didn’t quite know what to do with.Here’s the guy who’s kept you from doing something you loved. Here’s the woman you were jealous of. What do you think of all that now?
“Well, you look great.” Josh’s eyes traveled over her again. “How’s your sister?”
“Excuse me.” Rhett pushed between Josh and Jenna, causing her to jump back, clutching at her collarbone. He snagged a number from the dispenser and held it up. “We’re hungry.”
“Sunny’s fine,” Constance told Josh.
“Great. That’s great.”
Jenna pursed her lips together and shot Josh a dark look.An arm slipped around Constance’s waist. The light pressure wasn’t possessive, just an invitation. Constance contained her surprise and sank against Rhett’s chest. He was warm and damp and smelled like fabric softener.
“Well.” Rhett stared down at Josh. “It was nice meeting you.”
Josh’s gaze went toward the embrace, then back up to Rhett’s face. “Nice meeting you, too.” He turned to Constance, and his expression warmed. “Good seeing you again, Connie. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. You really do look great.”
“I feel great. That’s what matters.”
“Oh.” Josh’s forehead wrinkled. “Good. Good.”
“Bye.”
“Bye, then.”
