Always For You (Always Love Book 1) (6 page)

I shot Smith an alarmed glance. “Checking you out? What do you mean?”

He shifted in the passenger seat of my truck. “You know. New guy in a small town. Your family and your group of friends from high school meeting a college friend. There’s bound to be judgment.”

“Nah. They’re all very laid-back and welcoming people. You’ll be fine.”

Smith didn’t look convinced. “Your brother’s going to be there.”

“And?”

“And . . . aren’t brothers notoriously overprotective of their sisters?”

I shrugged. “Not Flynn. First of all, he’s my younger brother. And second, he hasn’t been around long enough to go into brother-mode. He was away for a long time, and since he’s been back, his life has been a little, uh, tumultuous.”

“Okay, you’ve got to explain that. I mean, if it’s not a big secret.”

I tapped the brakes as we approached an intersection, slowing to a stop. “It’s not a secret. Do you remember when we were still in school, and my brother left town right after he graduated from high school?”

Smith scrunched up his face. “Vaguely. I remember you were pretty upset when you came back that fall.”

“Yeah. Flynn had always planned to leave, but Ali was going to go with him. The night before they were supposed to leave, they had a huge fight, and Flynn took off without her. What neither of them knew was that Ali was pregnant.”

“God.” Smith shook his head. “That’s rough. What did she do?”

“Well, she didn’t come to me for help, that’s for sure.” It still smarted, even though it’d been over a year since I’d found out that my former best friend’s child was actually my niece. “She married one of Flynn’s friends. It didn’t work out, of course, so Ali and Bridget were living with her brother Sam on their family farm all these years.” I took a left turn. “Where we’re heading right now, by the way.”

“So when did Flynn find out about the baby?”

I smiled without any real humor. “Last year when my dad died. Flynn came home for the first time, and Ali told him. It was rough, but they managed to work out a parenting relationship. Which then turned into something more, as you might’ve figured out.”

“They’re happily married now?”

I nodded. “Very. They live here part-time, so Ali can still help with the farm, and the rest of the year they’re in New York. Flynn’s a staff photographer for World Wide News.”

“Gotta love happy endings. Who else is going to be there? Ali’s brother, you said?”

“Yeah, Sam and his wife Meghan. She’s not from Burton. I met her when she came here to teach art a couple of summers back. Meghan stayed with the Reynolds while she was teaching—she was part of some special program—and I guess she liked the accommodations, since she’s been here on and off ever since. She and Sam got married last May.”

“Another happy ending. Sounds like they’re going around.”

I twisted my mouth. “Apparently.” Slowing down, I navigated us down a dirt driveway. “This is the Reynolds’ farm. It’s been in their family for generations.” Out of habit, I continued past the big farm house and around to the back. I’d been parking here since Ali and I had become fast friends in high school. Being two years older didn’t bother me; Ali was fun, smart and had a wicked sense of humor. The years when we’d been estranged—after she’d married and then divorced Craig—had been painful. Things were better between us now, of course; they had to be, since she was part of the family. But the hurt was still there. The missing years had left scars that hadn’t entirely healed yet.

We climbed out of my truck and headed for the back door. I didn’t bother to knock; I hadn’t when my friend Ali had lived here, and it wasn’t any different now that Meghan did.

“We’re here.” I called out the greeting, but it wasn’t strictly necessary, since everyone was in the kitchen. Bridget jumped up from the table where she was drawing and threw herself at me.

“Auntie Reen!” Her small arms formed a vise around my legs. “I missed you.”

I bent to scoop her up, even though she was really much too old to be held. “I missed you, too, munchkin. And didn’t we talk about you growing while you’re up north? You were supposed to stop that nonsense.”

She giggled, and I was struck by how like her mom she was. “I can’t help it. It just happens.”

“It does indeed.” Ali wandered over, hand on her hips as she regarded us. “Bridge, go help Aunt Meg set the table, please.”

My niece wriggled to the floor and took off for the cabinets. I shook my head, chuckling. “Does that child do anything slowly?”

“Not if she can help it.” Ali dried her hands on a dishtowel, tossed it over her shoulder and held out her hand. “Hello. I’m Ali. You must be Smith.” Her eyes sparkled as he shook her hand, and dread rose up in my stomach. It was going to be a long night.

“Nice to meet you. Thanks for inviting me tonight.” Smith glanced at me. “Maureen’s told me a lot about you.”

“Oh, I just bet she has.” Ali laughed and sent me a teasing grin. “It’s great to meet you, too. At last.”

I widened my eyes, hoping she got my
lay off
vibe. If she did, I couldn’t tell, since she ignored me.

“At last? I’ve only been in town three days.” Smith cocked his head.

“Oh, I just mean that I remember when Maureen used to talk about you all the time. When you were in college.” Ali must’ve felt my glare finally, because she added quickly, “She talked about all of her friends back then.”

“Oh, yeah, sure.” He nodded. “Well, I’m glad to be here. Buying into the practice and having a ready-made house waiting for me here, too—it’s been the perfect set-up.”

“Isn’t it just?” Ali’s lips curled into a coy smile. “Okay, let me introduce you to everyone. The foxy redhead with the arm full of dishes over there is my sister-in-law Meghan. The guy at the stove frying chicken is my brother Sam, who’s married to Meghan. You already met my little darling, Bridget. And my husband Flynn—”

The door opened behind us. “And your husband Flynn is right here.” My brother stepped into the kitchen. “I brought the preggo.”

Said preggo waddled into the kitchen behind Flynn, scowling at him. “Go ahead, mock the pregnant woman. Not like I have feelings or anything.”

Flynn hooked one arm around her shoulders, kissing the top of her head, which only reached the middle of his chest. “Aw, I’m just kidding you, sweetie. You’re beautiful.”

I hugged her, too. “I’m so glad you came tonight. I haven’t seen you in ages.” I glanced at Smith. “This is Rilla Wallace. Rilla, this is Smith Harrington.”

“I’m happy to meet you. Welcome to Burton. I’m sorry to be rude, but I’m going to sit down.”

“Here you go.” Meghan pulled out a chair. “How’re you feeling? And where’s Piper?”

“She stayed home with Mason’s mom. The kiddo’s obsessed with old movies right now, and the two of them had plans to watch
Meet Me in St. Louis.
And as to your first question, I’m feeling enormous.” She sank down with an exhaled puff, and I hid a smile. Rilla was in her early twenties, but with her long blonde hair, enormous blue eyes and short stature, she looked a little like a fifteen-year-old who’d swallowed a beach ball.

“Well, I’d agree with Flynn. You’re gorgeous. Glowing and all that.”

She rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed a pretty pink. “That’s what Mason keeps saying, but then, he has to be nice to me, since he’s my husband.”

“And he’s the one responsible for getting you in this condition.” Flynn winked at her, and Ali swatted his shoulder.

“Behave yourself. Geez. Don’t tease her.”

Flynn spread his hands in front of him. “Hey, I only speak the truth.” He slung an arm around me and kissed my cheek. “Hey, sis. How’s everything going?”

“Great. Flynn, this is Smith Harrington. Smith, my brother Flynn.”

Smith stuck out his hand, but my brother only tightened his arm around me and narrowed his eyes. “You’re the guy living with my sister?” His voice bordered on being accusatory.

The glance Smith flickered my way was replete with I-told-you-so. “I’m the guy living in your sister’s apartment, yeah. I mean, the apartment she’s renting to me. Upstairs.”

“In her house. Under the same roof.”

“Well, I guess, in theory.” Smith stuck his thumbs in the front pockets of his jeans. “But I promise you, man, I don’t have any impure motives. I’ve known Reenie since we started college. We’re really good friends. That’s all.”

Next to me, Ali made a strangled noise in the back of her throat. Numb disappointment spread through me as I realized that no matter how much I’d lectured myself against expectations when it came to Smith and me, hearing him say that that for all intents and purposes, he thought of me as a sister was a crushing blow.

“Is it hot in here, or is it just me?” I fanned myself with one hand, speaking to no one in particular. “I think I’ll just step outside for a minute. I feel a little lightheaded.”

Without waiting to see if anyone responded, I opened the screen door, stumbled down the two steps and walked around the corner of the house, out of sight of anyone looking through the kitchen windows. When I got there, I leaned against the wooden siding, gripping my knees and closing my eyes.
Damn
. I hadn’t meant to rush out of the kitchen like that, but it was as if I couldn’t breathe in that room. Since I’d set eyes on him again, stepping out of that ridiculous yet totally sexy car, I’d been back in the same frustrating, exhilarating loop that had defined my college existence. I’d subconsciously catalogued every glance, every touch, no matter how incidental or small, and every word he spoke to me. And now, with just one casual sentence, he’d put me in hell.

“Maureen.” Ali’s voice cut through my fog of misery. “God, honey, I’m sorry. Flynn’s an idiot. Men in general are idiots.” She came to stand next to me, propping herself against the house in an identical position. “It didn’t mean anything. He was just saying that because Flynn was pushing him.”

“No.” I shook my head. “He said it because that’s how he sees me. It’s always been the same way. Good old Reenie, good old buddy. Good old pal. One of the guys. Someone he treats like a sister.
That’s all.
” The air quotes I gave the phrase were filled with bitterness. “And I’m a goddamned moron for even thinking he could ever see me any other way.”

“Reenie, no. That’s not true.” Ali laid a tentative hand on my shoulder. “Give it some time. He just needs to get used to the idea.”

“Oh, yeah? And how would you know anything about that? You fell in love when you were a freshman in high school, and he loved you right back. I know things didn’t go smoothly for you the whole time, but you always knew he was the one, right? And he felt the same. I have no idea how that feels, Ali. None. I liked Smith from the minute I met him, and I wanted more, and it’s absolutely crushing to know he’ll never think of me as anything other than a friend.”

A crunch of footsteps sounded around the corner, and I started up in panic. But it was only Meghan, her face creased with worry.

“Is everything okay? Maureen, are you feeling sick?”

I dropped to my haunches. “No, I’m okay. I just needed a minute.” I flickered my eyes to Ali. “I feel like I’m back in high school. You’d think I’d have learned my lesson a long time ago, with Ranse.”

Ali groaned. “Tell me you’re not still sulking over old rancid Ranse MacDonald.” She sighed and looked at Meghan. “Ranse was this skinny farmer kid in Reenie’s class in high school. She had a serious yen for him, and when she got up the nerve to ask him to a dance—which, I might add, required her to drink her very first beer—he was not very nice about it.”

I snorted. “Yeah, not very nice. We were down at the lake, a whole bunch of us, and when I asked him, he made a big deal about it. Laughed and called all his friends over. Told me I wasn’t the kind of girl guys like him dated.” His rejection didn’t hurt anymore—Ali was right, he was a skinny jerk—but the humiliation stung, even all these years later. “Whenever I thought about getting brave and telling Smith the truth, all I could hear was Ranse’s voice saying he’d never see me as anything more than one of the guys.”

Meghan’s face was suffused with sympathy. “I’m so sorry, Reen. He was a stupid boy, and I hope he’s alone and miserable now. And regretting being such a dickhead.” She leaned on the side of the house, arms folded on her chest, looking at both of us. “Maureen, don’t let this get to you. I don’t think Smith meant—well, he was just trying to keep Flynn from going all over-protective brother on him. And what’s more, most of the time, men don’t know their own hearts until someone explains it to them.” She glanced at Ali. “Didn’t you have to talk Sam into realizing he loved me? I’d like to think that eventually, he’d have made his way down to Florida to tell me anyway, but God only knows how long it might have taken him if you hadn’t pushed a little.”

Ali smiled a little as her eyes met mine. “It wasn’t entirely selfless. He was a bear to live with after Meghan left to go home. I’m afraid I finally laid it down on him out of a strong sense of self-preservation.”

Meghan sighed. “My point is that Sam had spent the summer convincing himself that he wasn’t in love with me. That he couldn’t be. He had every excuse in the book—I was too young. He was too old. I wouldn’t be happy on the farm. He didn’t have the time or energy for a relationship when he was trying to keep the farm afloat. Men have an uncanny knack for believing what they think’s best for everyone around them.”

“But Sam had shown you how he felt in other ways. I remember that day he came into the classroom, Meghan. When he brought you the sandwich? I could feel the heat between you two. It was insane.” I turned to point at Ali. “Same with you and Flynn. I remember when you were just starting to date, and you’d be sitting in the living room. A bomb could’ve exploded in the next room, and neither of you would’ve known it.” I rubbed my forehead, where a wicked headache was brewing. “I don’t have that. All I have is time after time of Smith showing me in every conceivable way that he only wants to be my friend.”

Neither Ali nor Meghan responded for a minute. I pushed up off the side of the house and stood. “We better get back inside before they send out a search party. I’m sorry for acting like this. You’d think I’d know better after all this time.”