Only You (16 page)

His eyes darkened. “I'm not sure what assholes you've been with before, but, yeah, I pay attention.”

“You could tell her every word I said—”

“I'm not going to tell my mother anything. So what about that wedding?”

“The Johansen wedding. The bride's mother is a wedding-dress designer and
Modern Bride
is coming to take photos for a ten-page spread. But nothing is guaranteed. First the wedding has to go well, and people have to realize I planned the wedding. …”

“Basically you're saying it's not a sure thing.”

She gave him an apologetic smile. “I could have the chance to leave her in four weeks or four years. I just don't know. What if we see each other and really fall hard? Do you think you could hide that? Or would want to?”

His eyes clouded. “No. If I loved you, I suspect everyone would see it.”

His admission surprised her. “Then you agree this can't happen.”

A war waged across his face before defeat settled in. “Yes.”

“Okay,” she said, the disappointment evident even to her ears. “That settles that.”

“But I still want to be friends,” he blurted out.

She sighed, her heart breaking all over again. “That will never work.”

“Why not?”

“You know…” she hedged.

“No. I don't.” The seriousness in his eyes caught her off guard.

“This thing between us…I don't…” Her face flushed.

“We're both adults. Why not?” He seemed to grow more confident with each word. “I'm capable of self-control. How about you, Holly?”

Damn him. “Of course I am.”

“Then there's no reason we can't be friends. Besides—” he paused as though weighing his words “—I don't know shit about remodeling my house. You said you'd come over and give me your opinion. You wouldn't leave me hanging, would you?”

The triumphant look in his eyes told her he knew he had her. She wouldn't refuse him help and he knew it.

“Fine.”

His grin lit up his face, drawing her like a moth to a flame. Dear Lord, what had she gotten herself into?

S
o Kevin didn't get the outcome he'd wanted, but he could work with the parameters he'd been given. He knew what he wanted, and he'd be patient until he could have it all. But in the meantime, he could still have Holly in his life. Just not to the full extent he wanted. Yet.

After the shower games and the presents were opened, Megan approached him wearing a suspicious look. “Why are you so chipper?”

“Chipper?” he asked, making her a nonalcoholic drink. “In all of my thirty-three years, no one has ever called me chipper.”

“Cut the bullshit.” She glanced over her shoulder at Holly, who was organizing the opened presents on the gift table. “Even Holly seems relaxed.”

He grinned. “It's a beautiful day and I'm basking in the glow of our mother exploiting the upcoming birth of my niece or nephew.”

“Wow. How many bottles of champagne have you had?”

“Only the couple of drinks I had after the shit hit the fan.”

“You talked to Holly?”

“I explained several things.”

She waited a few seconds before she prodded. “And?”

He shrugged, trying to look nonchalant. He loved driving her crazy. “We've decided to be friends.”

Her jaw dropped. “You're kidding me.”

“Nope,” he said with a smug grin.

“She seriously wants to be friends?”

“For now.”

“She said that. She actually said the words ‘I want to be friends for now'?”

“Not exactly.”

“What
exactly
did she say?”

He turned serious and lowered his voice. “Look, I told her that I completely fucked up and jumped to conclusions, but after all the loons I've dated, it had merit. Exhibit A of the Crazy Train Express helped convince her.” He tilted his head toward Bethany, who seemed to be pouting because Kevin wouldn't take a break and sit with her. She'd tried to hover around his table, but he'd sent her away, telling her he felt a strong negative presence coming from the bushes behind him and she should save herself.

“So why the just-friends status?”

“Synonyms for the entity in question include Diablo, Devil Incarnate, Master Manipulator, and
your
personal favorite, Knickers—yeah, I know the nickname you, Libby, and Blair use.”

“Mom.” She shrugged when he gave her a questioning look. “Because she always has her knickers in a wad.”

He nodded, then grimaced at the thought of his mother's knickers. “Holly is certain Mom will never approve, and I hate to admit it, but I think she's right. Exhibit A stands as evidence in this as well.”

“I wish I could say you were wrong. Holly and I used to go out to lunch until Mom figured it out and put a stop to it. Maybe I can talk to Mom and make her see reason.”

Kevin shook his head. “No. I offered to do the same thing, but Holly's worried about the repercussions. And knowing the animosity Mom has toward her, I'm not sure it's unwarranted.”

“So you're just going to let this thing between you and Holly go?” she asked sounding dismayed.

His eyes narrowed in suspicion. “Why would you care?”

“Well…I…I think you'd make a cute couple.”

“Yeah…I don't think that's it. I knew you were up to something when we walked through the house the first time, then you seemed a little too interested when I mentioned my cute neighbor. This has your mischievous handiwork all over it.”

“I have no idea what you mean.” She said, looking away guiltily.

“You need to work on your poker face.”

She shrugged. “Okay, so at one of our lunches, Holly told me about her grandmother and that she and her cousin still lived in her house. I asked about the neighborhood because I was searching for a deal for you and she happened to mention that the house next door to her was for sale. Cheap.”

“So suddenly you had matchmaking bulbs going off?”

“Not necessarily.” She flashed him a mock innocent smile. “You just can't put a price on good neighbors.”

“Like I'm buying that. For the record, Match-dot-com is a hell of a lot cheaper than that hellhole you bought me.”

“Please. If you want more crazies, be my guest. After Lacy and all the others…you deserved someone good, and decent and sweet. You deserve someone like Holly.”

The warmth that flooded his chest caught him by surprise and tightened his voice. “But does she deserve someone like me?”

“Despite your plummet into asshatery this morning, you're a good guy. Just don't hurt her, okay?”

Hurting her was the last thing he wanted.

After the shower ended, Kevin offered to load Megan's gifts into her car. But when he studied the huge pile of presents on the gift table, he shook his head. “There's no way we'll get all of this into your SUV.”

“Good thing I showed up with my car,” Megan's husband said behind them.

“Josh.” Megan's face lit up when she turned to face her husband, and Kevin knew he had to get over the grudge he still held against his brother-in-law. Kevin loved his sister, and she obviously loved her husband. And he obviously adored her. So they'd had an unconventional beginning. After his rough start with Holly, Kevin had a new empathy for Josh's position.

Kevin turned around and held out his hand. “Hey, Josh. Good to see you.”

His brother-in-law hesitated before he shook Kevin's hand. “Megan's thrilled you're back in town.”

Kevin grinned as he dropped his hand. “But not you?” Then he laughed. “That's okay. I haven't made things easy, but I want to be part of Megan and her baby's life. You make her happy, and it's obvious you love her. I'd like to make a fresh start with you.”

Megan's mouth gaped open.

Josh looked at his wife, then gave Kevin a tentative grin. “As long as this isn't some practical joke against Megan as payback for sticking you with that house, I'm willing to let bygones be bygones. It's obvious you've been a good brother looking out for his sister.”

Megan hooked an arm around both their necks and pulled them into a group hug. “This is the best gift you could have given me.”

Her voice was muffled and Kevin asked in horror, “Are you
crying
?”

“I'm pregnant, okay? Hormones.” She dropped her hold on them both and shoved her brother's arm as she swiped at her eye. “Way to ruin the moment.”

Josh laughed. “Welcome to my life.”

Megan's eyes narrowed as she pointed her finger at her husband in mock warning. “Watch it.”

Josh turned to Kevin. “Since we're all bonding here, I want you to know that I told her not to buy that house for you.”

“House?” Nicole asked, walking out the back door onto the deck. “Are you talking about Kevin's house?”

Kevin took a step back. “I think that's my cue to leave.”

Megan turned to him, horrified. “Don't you leave me here to deal with her alone!”

He graced her with a wicked grin. “Paybacks, Megan. Sometimes they really suck.”

Kevin stopped at the hardware store on the way home from Megan's shower and bought a gas grill and a couple of lawn chairs. His checking account groaned that he had wiser things to purchase, but it was all part of his plan to win Holly over. The steaks and potatoes he bought next were also part of the plan.

He changed clothes, then started the grill, letting the kitten play in the yard. He'd bought a couple of cat toys when he was at the store. It was currently playing with a stuffed mouse that had a bell sewn into its belly, while Kevin plotted ways to get Megan to adopt the creature. Especially since the constant twinkling of the bell was getting on his nerves.

“If you've gotten wind chimes, I have to warn you that the neighbor behind me will be complaining within hours,” Holly said as she walked through the back gate. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and she'd changed into shorts and a gauzy top with a deep V that showed off her cleavage.

He laughed, taking a drink of his beer before he answered, giving his now racing heart a chance to slow down. She'd come to him, saving him from having to use his excuse to get her to come over. Maybe she really had forgiven him.

“I got the cat a toy. I'm deeply regretting it now.”

She grinned, but she stayed close to the gate, looking like
she
was regretting her decision to come over.

“I went furniture shopping.” He waved to the lawn chair he was sitting in and the empty one next to him. The chairs were collapsible, with drink holders in the armrests. “You like?”

She laughed, moving closer. “There's a place for your beer. Looks like you got the super deluxe model.”

“Yeah, the guy at the hardware store gave them a double thumbs-up. He said you can sit in them for hours and feel like you're in a cloud.”

She gave him a curious look. “Do you plan to sit here for hours?”

He took a drag from his beer. “I haven't decided yet. I've had a shitty day, but it just got better.” He opened the cooler next to him and pulled out a beer bottle, popped off the top, and offered it to her.

Relief washed through him when she reached for it and sat down. “Not bad. I see you bought an appliance, too.” She gestured toward the grill.

“You know what they say about a man and his grill.”

“Is it anything like a boy and his dog?”

“It's the grown-up version. And, trust me, you haven't lived until you've tried my steaks.”

“You don't say,” she murmured, watching the cat as she took a sip from the bottle. “How'd you know I drank beer?”

“You brought me two the first night.”

“How'd you know they weren't left over from an old boyfriend?”

His hand stopped, the bottle inches from his mouth. “Were they?”

She laughed. “No. They were mine and Melanie's.” She took another drink.

“Hard day at the office?” he asked in a teasing tone.

A wry grin twisted her mouth. “I'd say you have no idea, but then again…” Holly hesitated, then turned to him. “Let's make a deal. We'll try this friendship thing, but we don't discuss your mother.”

“But my mother is a huge pain in both our asses. Isn't part of being friends being able to gripe about the people who bug the shit out of you?”

“We'll just have to try.” When he didn't answer, she continued. “Kevin, this
friendship
is hard enough. It doesn't feel right to complain about my boss to her son.”

If she saw secrets as lies, he understood her aversion to talking negatively about his mother. “No need to make any lifelong decisions now. We'll agree Nicole Vandemeer discussions are off-limits for the time being.”

She nodded, her mouth pursed. “Sounds fair enough.”

“Have you had dinner?”

She hesitated. “No.”

“Then you should stay and have dinner with me. I'm grilling steaks and baked potatoes.”

Her smile wavered. “I don't know.”

“You've fed me twice; it's the least I can do. Besides, this isn't a date. This is just two friends eating together. Or—if it makes you feel better—you can consider it a bribe.”

She looked wary but a twinkle filled her eyes. “A bribe?”

He turned toward her. “Just how handy are you with a sledgehammer?”

Her wariness deepened. “Why do you ask?”

“I thought maybe after we eat, we could do a little demo on my kitchen.”

“You want me to help you demo? With a sledgehammer?”

“Well, part of it with a sledgehammer. Some will probably come out with a good kick.” When she hesitated, he said, “It's a great way to work off frustration.”

Her eyes lit up. “I'm intrigued.”

“The potatoes are on the grill and I'll add the steaks in about ten minutes. After we eat, we can take our frustrations out on something productive.”

She hesitated.

“Do you have something else you need to do?”

“I don't have any plans for dinner. Mel was trying to get the night off, but it didn't work out. Which is probably a good thing.”

“Why?”

She shot him a hesitant grin. “You're not exactly her favorite person right now.”

“I guess that's deserved. Any chance I can win her over?”

“I'm not sure,” she answered with a shrug. “Once she makes up her mind, there's little chance of changing it back.”

Well, great. He'd already suspected that her cousin's approval would be important, just like he'd suspected his mother's was important to her was well. He'd have to figure out how to fix both, but he'd deal with it later. Tonight he was in the clear.

“Do you want to bring Killer over?”

“I'm not sure it's a good idea with your kitten running around. Maybe later.” She turned her head toward the nonstop tinkling bell. “What did you name it?”

“I haven't named it yet.”

“What?” she asked in horror. She leaned out of the chair and scooped the tiny gray fur ball out of the grass and cuddled it against her chest. “How can this cutie not have a name?”

Kevin had never felt jealous of an animal, but he was feeling pretty envious of the cat's proximity to Holly's breasts. He'd seen them in all their glory the night before, and he had to grab the armrest on the chair to keep himself in place. “How can I name it when I don't even know if it's a girl or a boy?”

“You're just like your sister.”

“Excuse me?” he asked. “Are you comparing my niece or nephew to a cat?”

She laughed and he loved the sound, so light and carefree. Her laugh gave him hope they could work this out.

“I
was
going to ask you to help me name it,” he teased. “But I wanted to make it as difficult as possible.”

“You want me to help name it?” she asked in surprise.