The Bridesmaid's Best Man (7 page)

“What's the special gift?” Cheryl asked Angie. She said it with nonchalance, but there was something about her tone. As if she expected Angie to want her approval.

“Uh...it's, uh...” Angie looked up at him.

He saw the flicker of uncertainty in Angie's brown eyes. “For the honeymoon,” he stated.

She flashed him a grateful smile. “Yes, a thoughtful gift for their wedding night.”

“Something that both the bride and groom will enjoy,” he added.

Cheryl chose to ignore him. “That's really sweet of you, Angie, but I can't give out the guest list. A lot of her clients are on there.”

“I understand, but—”

He pressed his fingers against Angie's waist. He had done a lot of legwork in his past career to know when someone was going to be helpful or not. No one could persuade Cheryl to hand over that list.

“And I can't let someone they don't know have access to it,” Cheryl explained cheerfully, but he heard the firmness in her voice.

“What if I—”

“And, to be honest,” Cheryl interrupted with a smile, “I don't think they would appreciate being hit up for more money. It's a great idea, but it could create a negative feeling.”

He felt Angie's shoulders slump in defeat. “You're right.”

“But if you want to give Brittany a gift for her wedding night, I'll make sure it's in the honeymoon suite.” Cheryl rose from behind her desk. Cole knew it was a move to end this meeting.

“Thank you. I'll let you know.” She turned to him. “Let's go.”

“See you later.” He saluted Cheryl with a wave but the woman continued to ignore him.

He opened the door for Angie and she stopped at the threshold. “Cheryl, have there been any updates on Heidi?”

Cheryl pressed her lips. “She's out of the hospital but she can't be part of the bridal party. Doctor's orders. It's a disaster.”

Angie clucked her tongue. “Poor Heidi. She was so looking forward to it.”

“I couldn't tell by the way she kept complaining about the work,” Cheryl said. “Robin will be maid of honor. Honestly, I don't think she's up for the job.”

“Fortunately, Robin and Brittany have you to help,” Angie said sincerely.

Cole saw the anger and irritation flash in Cheryl's eyes. “It's overwhelming but I want Brittany to have a perfect wedding.”

“Will Heidi be at the ceremony at least?” he asked. He muffled a grunt when Angie dug her elbow in his side.

“She doesn't know yet.” Cheryl looked at him with open suspicion. “Why?”

“Just wondering,” Angie answered for him. She grabbed his hand and led him out the door.

“Well, that didn't work at all,” Angie whispered the minute he closed the door behind them. She let go of his hand once they passed the window to Brittany's office and walked ahead of him to the parking lot.

“It was a long shot. We're working under the assumption that someone tried to hurt Heidi because of the past. As far as we know, the only people who knew her were Brittany, Robin and the sorority sisters who attended the party.

“But why wait and do it in such a public place? And why now?” Angie asked.

“I don't know but I have to find out. This may have something to do with her past, but what if it's about something that's going on in her life now? What if she hasn't changed and her family can't accept that?”

“You're putting too much responsibility on yourself,” Angie said. “There is only so much you can do.”

“If Heidi gets back together with her family only to get kicked out again, it'll be devastating.” He knew what it was like to hope for a reconciliation only to have everything fall apart. To discover that your worst-case scenario was nothing compared to what actually happened. “I want to prevent it. I can if I have enough information.”

“You will,” Angie promised. “You found Heidi, you did the surveillance and now you're looking into the accident when no one else is. If there is any kind of evidence, you will find it.”

“I wonder why Cheryl wouldn't give us the list,” he said. “You think she's hiding something?”

“No, that list represents Brittany's business. She has to protect it. I think I would do the same. It took me years to build up my list of clients and I would want to maintain their privacy. Cheryl's just doing her job.”

“I wish I had a Cheryl working for me,” Cole said. There were times when he could use any help he could get. But the only person he wanted in his corner was Angie. “Except I would want someone that didn't give me the evil eye.”

“Ah, you noticed that, too? Maybe she doesn't approve of strippers.” She paused as they stepped out onto the parking lot. There was a light drizzle of rain that they ignored as the drops danced on the cars and rippled puddles on the pavement. “I'm sorry I didn't get that list. I should have come up with a better story.”

“Hey, it was a good one.” Cole wanted to comfort her. He gathered her in his arms and held her close. “We'll come up with something else.”

Angie's shoulders stiffened and she stepped out of his embrace. “Cole, you don't have to act love-struck. No one is watching.”

“That's—” He bit back the words as the hurt cut through him. She was right. He had stepped out of line and blurred pretend with reality. “Sorry, Angie. It won't happen again. I promise.”

7

C
OLE
LEANED
BACK
in his chair and stared at the computer screen. He had been trying to write his report on Heidi but he wasn't getting far. All he could think about was Angie.

They were once a good team. It didn't matter if they had been enjoying a night out or had suffered through the worst weekend getaway—they had faced each moment as partners. In the beginning it had made him uncomfortable. He did better alone.

The last people he had relied on were his mom and stepdad. Only their love had been conditional. No matter how much he tried to do better,
be
better, it wasn't good enough. They had deserted him when he needed them the most.

When he was with Angie, he had tried his best. He wanted it so much for them to work. He tried to hide the darkness but she seemed to know and understand. She didn't push, but most importantly, she never pulled away. Even when she saw him at his worst, she was there at his side.

Which was why it stung when Angie pulled out of his arms in the parking lot.

He didn't touch her because he thought someone was watching. He wasn't thinking about his surroundings at all. He had simply longed for the connection they once shared.

It was his fault and he deserved to have her shut him down. He had gotten carried away in the role and slipped back into a time when he could hold her. Show his claim with a possessive touch. But Angie wasn't his anymore.

Cole heard the outer door to his office open. He sat up straight and listened to the door close quietly. That was strange. He didn't get many walk-ins.

“Hello?” The deep male voice echoed in the waiting area.

Cole dragged his hands over his face and sighed before he stood and left his tiny office. He should have known Patrick would not let this matter rest but he didn't feel like dealing with it right now.

“Patrick,” he greeted the other man, noticing his wet hair and soaked coat. There were dark patches on Patrick's shoes and jeans that indicated he'd stepped into a deep puddle. What they said was true, Cole decided. No one in Seattle owned an umbrella. “What brings you here?”

He glared at Cole and shook his head as the water sprayed from his drenched hair. “I want some answers.”

Cole should have known he wasn't going to get out of this. “Sure. Sit down.”

“No, thanks. It won't be necessary.” Patrick braced his legs and crossed his arms. “This will be very short.”

Cole waited. In the past, he and Patrick tolerated each other. They were both territorial about Angie. It took a while before Cole realized Patrick had no romantic interest in Angie. He never understood that. Angie was the most fascinating and sensual woman he'd ever met but her friends saw her as one of the guys.

At first he thought it was unusual that Angie's closest friends were men. He didn't like it. But he never complained or asked that she didn't hang around those guys. He didn't want to make it a competition, especially since he had a feeling he would lose. It took him a few months before he realized he was being ridiculous.

Unlike the women he had dated in the past, Angie wasn't flirty or suggestive with other men. She didn't want to make him jealous. Instead, she went out of her way to make him feel like he was the most important man in her life.

“Don't mess with Angie and don't mess with this wedding,” Patrick warned.

“I don't plan to do either.” But his original plan was unraveling quickly. All he wanted to do was find Heidi and determine if she still had a substance abuse problem. Now he was tangled again in Angie's life, resurrecting feelings and struggling between make-believe and reality.

“Brittany really needs this wedding to be perfect,” Patrick insisted. He suddenly looked weary. “She is so stressed out that she's breaking out in hives. The last thing I need is for you to bring more drama to the situation.”

“Okay.” Unlike the rest of the bridal party, the wedding was the least of his concerns. All he wanted was to find out what happened to the maid of honor.

“I don't know why you're back in Angie's life, but I don't like it,” he said. “It can only mean trouble.”

Cole stood very still. Patrick didn't know the truth. After what happened on the basketball court, he was sure Angie would tell her best friend the real reason they were together. Did she keep his secret to protect him or to keep Patrick from worrying?

“I'm sure you've discussed this with Angie,” Cole said. Was that why Angie pulled away from him? Did Patrick express the many reasons he thought they shouldn't be together? Cole didn't doubt that the list was a long one.

“I did, but she's not listening.” He made a face that Cole understood. Angie could be very stubborn. “She always had a soft spot where you were concerned. But I don't. And I'm not going to let you hurt her a second time.”

“I don't want to hurt her.” Why did everyone think he didn't have her best interest at heart? “I care about her more than anybody.”

“And look at where that got her. She was ready to move in with you.” Patrick shook his head with disbelief. “She was afraid you'd say no, but she went for it, anyway.”

Angie had been nervous? He would never have known. She seemed almost casual when she suggested they move in together. But it had been a big deal for him. He had wanted to jump at the offer but experience taught him to hold back. He made a decision to revisit his past instead and was still reeling from that trip down memory lane.

“And you couldn't get away fast enough.” Patrick looked at him with disgust. “I told her it was a bad idea.”

“I loved Angie but I couldn't live with her.” He realized how that sounded. Angie wasn't the problem; he was. Cole was tempted to explain, but that would require revealing too much. “It would never have worked.”

“You loved her?” Patrick gave a harsh bark of laughter. “You have a funny way of showing it.”

“It doesn't matter now,” Cole said, forcing back the anger. He learned long ago not to show how much someone meant to him. That knowledge would be used against him. “I messed up and she's won't give me another chance. She'll drop me once this wedding is over.”

“Good.” Patrick's tone was low and emphatic. “She needs to move on and stop listening to the gossip.”

Gossip? He couldn't imagine anyone judging Angie. That could only mean he was the subject. “What gossip? Was it about Angie and me?”

“I'm not getting into it.” Patrick turned and headed for the door.

“You came here and started this,” Cole reminded him. He needed to know what was said to Angie. “What were they saying?”

Patrick faced him and scoffed. “There was some talk about why you broke up with Angie.”

His gut twisted. That was impossible. No one knew about his family life around here. They didn't know about his history, but maybe that didn't matter. People made assumptions when they didn't know the truth.

Patrick's gaze slid away. “Rumor was you wanted someone hotter.”

Cole slowly blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You wanted a hotter girlfriend. Someone—” he motioned at his chest “—you know. Sexier. Girlier.” He dropped his hands. “A lot of people told Angie that she lost you because she wasn't doing enough to keep you interested.”

“I...
What?
” How could anyone think that? Angie was fun, sexy and had a wild streak that left him breathless. She was uninhibited in bed and demonstrated a woman could be strong and feminine.

Patrick shrugged and took a few steps to the door. He was clearly uncomfortable with this discussion. “I'm only repeating what I heard. I didn't say I believed it.”

“Good, because that is the furthest thing from the truth. Angie is more than beautiful. She's amazing and—”

He held up his hand. “Dude, I really don't want to hear it.”

“Why would she think that?” Was it something he said or did? But what? He didn't feel that way about her at all.

“She's been told that crap for years,” Patrick said. “Angie's different from the women around here. Always has been. She got teased a lot about that at school until she started kicking ass in sports.”

Was that why she was shutting him out? Was it because she believed he was faking his attraction? He thought she complained because it reminded her of their past. Could it be because she felt insecure about her sex appeal?

“And remember,” Patrick said, “you didn't hear it from me.”

Cole nodded absently, trying to think of a time when Angie had felt shy with him. “And I promise, I'm not going to cause any problems with Angie and the wedding.”

“We'll see about that,” Patrick muttered as he left the office. “I won't hesitate to kick you out of the church.”

“I've been warned.” And he deserved to get banned from the ceremony if he tried to sabotage the wedding.

But right now he had more pressing matters. He had to clear up these lies with Angie. Right now. He didn't want her to think for another moment that she wasn't good enough for him.

Didn't she realize that it was the other way around?

* * *

C
OLE
STOOD
BY
Angie's apartment door and flexed his hands. He looked around and counted all of the security features that were lacking in her hallway. He hated that she chose to live in a renovated factory in one of the most run-down neighborhoods. But he had to admit that the old brick building suited her. The large arched windows would welcome the rare sunshine and the oddly shaped studio apartment was the perfect backdrop for her flea-market finds and mismatched furniture.

The only thing that didn't fit in her home, her life, was him. He took a step back, prepared to abandon this idea. Dipping his head, he drew all the courage he had and knocked on the door.

He really didn't think this through, Cole decided as he stared at the heavy, plain brown door. He wasn't sure what he was going to say. How was he supposed to erase a year of hurt with a few words? He couldn't.

He heard the scratch of the lock. His heart thudded against his ribs as the door swung open. Cole's eyes widened as he watched a sleepy Angie stumble into the lit hallway.

Her thick black hair was tousled and cascaded past her shoulders. His fingers itched to sink into the soft waves and draw her close to him.

Angie glared. Her face was soft from sleep. She really was a natural beauty. She didn't need anything to highlight her big brown eyes or her full pink lips.

His mouth dropped open as he stared at her clothes. Her small breasts were pressed against her thin camisole. The top was almost sheer and he could see her nipples through the thin white fabric. The black boyshorts accentuated her sleek lines and incredible legs.

“Do you always answer the door like that?” he asked gruffly.

“Did you come all the way to my home to comment on my sleepwear?” she asked as she rubbed her bleary eyes.

“No.” His voice sounded strangled to his ears. He liked what she wore a little too much. She didn't need frilly nighties or barely there lingerie to capture his attention. The camisole and shorts were more her style and showed off her sexy and athletic body.

“What do you want, Cole?” Angie flipped her long black hair away from her face. “Another favor?”

Yeah, and it was huge. He wanted her to forgive him. Forget that he left her. Welcome him back into her bed and in her life.

“What could possibly be so important at this time at night?” she asked.

He checked his watch. “It's ten-thirty.”

She groaned. “That's the middle of the night for me.”

That was true, Cole thought as he bit back a smile. As a personal trainer, Angie had to get up before dawn to meet with her clients. She had always apologized for her early hours, but he didn't mind. He wasn't looking for nights in dance clubs and bars when he could be alone with her.

“Is this about your case?” she asked. “The wedding is in three days and then everybody goes home. I don't think there's much more you can do.”

He could lie and say he was here for the case. But he had used his assignment as an excuse to get closer. He wasn't going to hide behind his job. He had been too private and guarded in the past. It protected him but not Angie. She believed in what other people said. He won't let that happen again.

“I made a mistake.”

Angie frowned. “About Heidi's accident?”

“No, I meant about us.” He took a deep breath. “I made a mistake breaking up with you. It's my biggest regret.”

She looked down at her bare feet. “What brought this on?”

“You think I'm overplaying the role as your on-again boyfriend. You're right.” His words were choppy. He wished he could be a smooth talker but it was difficult getting his feelings across. “Being together reminds me what I've lost. I miss being with you.”

Angie's eyes narrowed and her mouth tightened. “You knew what you were giving up when you walked away.”

He should have known he wouldn't get any sympathy from her. “You suggested we move in together and I panicked.” It wasn't the whole truth. There was so much more to it but he didn't feel safe in revealing it all.

“That's why? Seriously?” She stood straight and grasped the door handle, ready to slam it in his face. “I mentioned it once. It's not like I tried to give you a hard sell.”

“I felt that if we lived together, you would see the sides of me that aren't so—” he gritted his teeth and pushed the word out “—loveable. You wouldn't like what you saw.”

“I never thought you were perfect.”

“You would have grown to hate me.” Like his family did. He had gotten in the way of what they always wanted. “I thought it was best to end things so you had a chance to find someone better. Someone you could really love.”