Chapter 2
Two
Henry
I’m petting my dog, Zach, when a small sedan rolls up the driveway at my parents’ house.
“Who’s that, boy?” I slide my hand over Zach’s soft head. His hair coats my fingers. He’s half German Shepherd and half Husky. Gorgeous and smart, but he sheds like a maniac.
Angie’s miniature schnauzer, Tillie, is yapping at us, but she’s staying inside. She’s used to a fence, and she’ll go running. Zach knows to stay put.
The car is a Honda Civic, silver with dust caked along the wheel wells and a small crack in the windshield that catches the sun just right.
It doesn’t belong here.
On Steel Acres Ranch, we either drive luxury sedans or beat-up trucks—nothing in between.
The car comes to a stop, and the driver-side door opens.
And out steps…
Fuck.
Tabitha Haynes.
Angie’s friend from medical school who’s blond and gorgeous with amazing tits and an ass that won’t quit.
She’s here for the wedding. One of the bridal party.
Jason, Angie’s fiancé, doesn’t have any groomsmen.
Except for me, of course. He asked me to be his best man.
I guess when you save someone’s life, you get that privilege.
I sigh.
Tabitha walks forward, and Zach perks up his ears.
She looks different, somehow. Maybe it’s the sleek brown cowboy boots.
They seem out of place on her. Don’t get me wrong, they flatter her, but it feels like the boots are wearing Tabitha and not vice versa.
She otherwise looks amazing in skinny jeans and a T-shirt that says Trust me. I’m almost a doctor.
I haven’t seen her since the end of May, when I was in Boulder to help celebrate Jason’s first surgery after his own operation to repair the nerves in his right hand.
It’s July now.
Her hair is lighter, I think. Maybe she’s been spending time in the sun. She certainly seems to enjoy it. She was spinning around just a moment ago before she realized I was watching her.
Now her pretty face has the slightest blush covering her cheeks, enhanced perfectly by the Colorado afternoon sun rays.
I don’t have to approach her to know that she has the prettiest light-brown eyes I’ve ever seen. They’re such a unique shade. I could get lost in them.
At least I could if I weren’t damaged goods myself.
I had a girl once. Darlene. We were together for years, and she had gorgeous light-brown eyes too.
But they were nothing compared to Tabitha’s.
“Hi, Henry,” she says brightly as she walks toward Zach and me.
Her voice is as sweet as the summer breeze and sends a slight shiver through me. Zach lifts his head.
“Hey, Tabitha,” I return, trying to keep my tone casual.
Why does she have to be here? The answer, of course, is because she and Angie are friends. Still, it doesn’t stop me from wishing she weren’t here. I’m not ready to deal with the things she makes me feel.
She comes closer. The sunlight filters through her golden hair, making it look like spun honey.
Zach lumbers over to her, his tail wagging. He’s a sucker for attention, and already he’s smitten with Tabitha. He nuzzles his snout into her hand, and she laughs.
Fuck.
I love the sound of her laugh. It’s light and airy.
“Hey, Zach, remember me?” She bends down to pet his soft head.
Something twists inside me.
Zach gets to be near Tabitha without any complications.
God. This is what I’m reduced to. I’m jealous of my dog.
She straightens and brushes a lock of hair out of her face. Her brown eyes meet mine, and for a moment, everything else falls away. It’s just Tabitha and me and unspoken words that hang in the air.
“I brought some things for Angie,” she says. “Something borrowed and something blue. I figured she might need them.” She gestures toward the trunk of her little Civic.
I give a short nod. “She’s in town taking care of some things, but I bet she’ll be glad to see you.”
Hmm.
Does that sound like I’m not glad to see her?
If so, it’s a lie. Despite the turmoil inside me, my heart does a somersault every time our paths cross.
Tabitha turns away and returns to her car.
That ass…
Those jeans…
Zach sits back on his haunches and looks up at me with those perfect doggy eyes. I swear he knows what I’m thinking before I do sometimes.
I pat his head. “I know, buddy. I know.”
Tabitha returns with a small box and a gift bag, along with her suitcase on wheels. The afternoon sun catches on the silver gift bag. “I hope Angie likes them.”
I nod, unable to form any words. I’m fighting with myself. One part of me wants to run away, to avoid the tumultuous feelings she induces. But the other part of me wants nothing more than to close the gap between us, to see if she smells as sweet as I imagine.
“Let me get that for you.” I close the distance between us and take the suitcase.
The suitcase is light, clearly packed for the short stay for the wedding. My fingers brush against hers as I take it, giving me a tingle I wasn’t expecting. Grown men don’t get tingles. Grown men who are dealing with serious shit especially don’t get tingles.
Zach whines softly and nudges his head against my leg.
“Thanks, Henry,” Tabitha says.
I lead the way into the house, trying to ignore how close she is behind me. Every time our shoulders slightly touch, a jolt rushes into me.
I lead her through the foyer and down the hallway that leads to the guest bedrooms. Angie and Sage’s bedrooms are on the other wing, along with Dave’s and mine, though we no longer live here. Dave and Maddie are having a house built, and for now they’re living in my parents’ guesthouse.
I’ve had my own place on our property since I finished college, but I’m having it renovated.
I need a change.
I’m twenty-eight now, and things were going great. I love my work at the Steel Foundation, our nonprofit arm, working with my cousin Bradley Steel.
Or I did love it.
Now I don’t much care.
Except that I do. I just don’t…
Oh, hell. I don’t even know.
I push open the door at the end of the hall and step back to let Tabitha pass. She walks in and looks around. “It’s lovely, Henry. Just like I remember.”
“Thanks,” I say, not quite sure if I should be thanking her for complimenting a room I had no part in decorating. I wouldn’t know a throw pillow from a fancy blanket, and I sure as hell couldn’t tell you why anyone needs five of them on a bed they’re just going to mess up anyway.
I set down Tabitha’s suitcase next to the mahogany dresser.
For a moment, neither of us says anything. The silence hangs between us, punctuated only by Zach’s soft whining from the hallway.
“Do you need anything else?” I ask, finally breaking the quiet.
She shakes her head. “No, I think I’m good—”
“Tabitha!” Angie races in, nearly tackling Tabitha in a hug.
“Hey,” Tabitha says. “I can’t believe I’ve turned you into a full-fledged hugger!”
Angie grins. “I know. Crazy, right? But my family loves it. They’re big huggers.”
Tabitha laughs. “Henry said you were doing some shopping in town.”
Angie rolls her eyes. “That was this morning, Henry.”
I nod. “My bad.”
They start chatting.
Yeah.
That’s my cue to exit.
I gently tap the top of my thigh as I cross toward the door. “Come on, Zach.”