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She nodded. “Yes. And Maverick’s wife. And Jaydy’s best-friend.”
I slid onto the stool next to her, uncertainty bubbling up. “Well, it’s very nice to meet you.”
“I assume Jaydy arrived safely?” she asked, pulling no punches as she swiveled around to look straight at me. She had clear, intelligent green eyes, and was a very attractive woman. But she didn’t get my heart beating hard or make heat weave through my body like it was on fire.
Maybe it was because I already knew she was married and unavailable? Because there was no missing the huge glowing gem of a ring on her finger. Or maybe it was because she had just announced she was Jaydy’s best friend? But either way, there was nothing reacting inside me. Not even a little flare.
“Nicky?” she prompted. “Is Jaydy still here?”
“Oh, yes, sorry.” I said, realizing that I’d been ignoring her while I worked everything out in my head. “Yes. She’s still sleeping. I left her in bed.”
Pansy’s eyes went wide, then she tilted her head at me. “You got her in bed already?”
“Oh, well... ah.”Damn it.I hadn’t meant to reveal our relationship so quickly. But Pansy had caught me off guard, landing in my kitchen like an old friend.
Then she grinned at me. “It’s okay. Don’t stress. I’m not judging. I’m just a little surprised, I guess. Jaydy isn’t the sort of girl to have casual relationships.”
I nodded and focused on drinking my hot chocolate, but inside my head I was screaming.This isn’t going to be a casual relationship!“So, what can I do for you Pansy?” I asked, grabbing a cookie that Elsa pushed toward us. “Would you like a tour of the North Pole?”
She shook her head. “No. I just wanted to meet you, I suppose. I popped past Jaydy’s house to check on her yesterday, and she wasn’t there. I got worried, so I did a location spell; well, my husband did actually, he’s better at those than me.”
“And you found out she was here?” I finished for her.
Pansy nodded. “My parents had already told me about meeting you, so visiting you was on my list of things to do. But after I saw the mess at Jaydy’s house, and since she left her phone behind...”
“Mess?” I asked, stopping her mid-sentence. “What mess?”
Pansy inhaled sharply, then exhaled loudly, sighing. “Jaydy was expecting her parents over for lunch. She made an incredible feast and everything. Look. She sent me this pic.” Pansy tapped on her cell phone for a moment, then turned the screen around to me.
I stared at it in awe. A range of every sort of sweet and Christmas delicacy was proudly displayed on a table or countertop. Each offering was color coordinated, and decorated with a flair that I couldn’t even imagine being able to accomplish. “That’s the lunch she’d planned?” I asked, shocked.That’s no simple family lunch. No wonder she was upset!
Pansy nodded. “Yes, and when I didn’t hear from her afterwards, I dropped by.”
“And?” I prompted, noting that she’d stopped the story, biting into her lips in a way that women seemed to do when they were nervous.
“Well... it was all over the floor.”
My eyebrows shot up. “On the floor?”
Pansy cackled out a laugh. “I hope you know that a good old fashioned fiery temper comes with a red head like Jaydy.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as well, thinking about her wildly trashing her own incredible Christmas feast in a tantrum. “I had heard that.”
Pansy reached out and gripped my hand. “But so does a heart, one as big as Texas. So please, I know you’re Santa Claus and all that, butplease, don’t hurt her. Jaydy has strength like no one else I know. I’ve leaned on her more times than I can count. Hell, I owe my marriage to her in some part.”
I smiled at Jaydy’s friend, appreciating the candid and honest insight.
“But she is also fragile, and has been disappointed by almost everyone who has ever loved her, so please. Just... be careful with my girl’s heart?”
I stared into Pansy’s green eyes, and I could tangibly feel the bottomless love she felt for Jaydy. But before I could say anymore, Jaydy walked into the kitchen.
“Pansy? What are you doing here?” she asked in surprise.
Pansy swiveled around and jumped off the stool in one swift motion. “Checking on you, of course!” she answered brightly. Then she rushed over to Jaydy.
Jaydy was wearing a new outfit, something other than what she’d worn here yesterday. A long, elegant black skirt and an emerald green sweater that matched her red hair to perfection.
“Merry Christmas!” Pansy hugged Jaydy tight.
