“Get out of my bedroom!” Letter to Reader Title Page Dedication About the Author Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Epilogue Copyright

“Get out of my bedroom!”

Like lightning to a rod, his blue-eyed gaze zeroed in on her bare shoulders and silky white negligee.

Scowling, Lindsey pulled up the covers around her neck. “Go away, Alex. I think we’ve both said enough for one evening—”

“You’re right,” he said, surprising her by agreeing.

“We’ve said too much. That’s the problem.”

With his shirt unbuttoned and his shirt cuffs rolled up to reveal strong forearms, he looked disheveled and dangerous.

Lindsey shivered with trepidation.

He stepped closer to her bed. “I said some things that were totally out of line. I don’t know what came over me.”

She knew. They were in a romantic paradise, alone for the first time in their lives without a chaperone.

“Still friends?”

She nodded. He sighed his relief. “Thank goodness.”

Then, before she knew what was happening, he enveloped her in a hug.... Liquid heat spilled through her veins. Alex was putting her through hormonal hell.

He pulled away, but didn’t release her. For a moment she was afraid he might kiss her.

Afraid he wouldn’t.

Dear Reader,

In 20 months Silhouette Romance will celebrate its 20th anniversary! To commemorate that momentous occasion, we’d like to ask you to share with us why you’ve chosen to read the Romance series, and which authors you particularly enjoy. We hope to publish some of your thoughtful comments during our anniversary year—2000! And this month’s selections will give you food for thought...

In The Guardian’s Bride by Laurie Paige, our VIRGIN BRIDES title, a 20-year-old heiress sets out to marry her older. wealthy—gorgeous—guardian. Problem is, he thinks she’s too young.... The Cowboy, the Baby and the Bride-to-Be is Cara Colter’s newest book, where a shy beauty reunites a lonely cowboy with his baby nephew...and lassoes love in the process! Karen Rose Smith’s new miniseries, DO YOU TAKE THIS STRANGER?, premieres with Wealth, Power and a Proper Wife. An all-work-and-no-play millionaire learns the value of his marriage vows when the wife he’d suspected of betraying him suffers a bout of amnesia.

Rounding out the month, we have Her Best Man by Christine Scott, part of the MEN! promotion, featuring a powerful tycoon who heroically offers protection to a struggling single mom. In Honey of a Husband by Laura Anthony, an ex-bull rider returns home to discover his childhood sweetheart is raising his child—by another woman. Finally, rising star Elizabeth Harbison returns to the lineup with True Love Ranch, where a city gal and a single-dad rancher lock horns—and live up to the Colorado spread’s name.

Enjoy!

Joan Marlow Golan

Senior Editor Silhouette Romance

Please address questions and book requests to:

Silhouette Reader Service

U.S.: 3010 Walden Ave., P.O. Box 1325, Buffalo. NY 14269

Canadian: P.O. Box 609, Fort Erie, Ont. L2A 5X3

Her Best Man
Christine Scott

www.millsandboon.co.uk

To Mom—

a truly gentle woman

CHRISTINE SCOTT

grew up in Illinois but currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri. A former teacher, she now writes full time. When she isn’t writing romances, she spends her time caring for her husband and three children. In between car pools, baseball games and dance lessons, Christine always finds time to pick up a good book and read about...love. She loves to hear from readers. Write to her at P.O. Box 283, Grover, MO 63040-0283.

Prologue

“Bartender, another drink for me and my friends,” Alex Trent called.

Happy hour had long gone. The dinner rush was finally winding down for the evening. All that was left in the bar were a few stragglers, stopping off for an after-dinner drink and quiet conversation. Alex and his group of friends were the boisterous exception to the rule.

But, hell, Alex mused, why not?

Tonight was a celebration, wasn’t it?

His best friend was getting married to the only woman Alex would ever love. He couldn’t think of a better reason to get stinking drunk.

The bartender ambled toward Alex, assessing him as he went. “A Scotch, two drafts and a coffee, right?”

“That’s right,” he said with an emphatic nod. The words came out slow, and only slightly slurred.

“Looks like you guys are celebrating,” the bartender observed. “What’s the occasion?”

Determined not to let his bitterness show, he slapped his closest drinking buddy on the back. “This is Danny boy’s last weekend as a bachelor. The fool’s about to take the plunge into matrimonial bliss.”

“Danny boy”—sandy-haired, well over six feet and weighing close to one-eighty-five—grimaced. “Jeez, Alex, do you have to make an announcement everywhere we go?”

Alex ignored his friend. “Bartender, have you ever been married?”

“No, sir. I can’t say that I have,” he answered, placing a glass of Scotch on the bar top.

“Smart man,” Alex said, helping himself to a hefty swig of the drink.

“Give it a rest, Alex,” Danny muttered. “I’m not changing my mind.”

“He’d better not,” the largest of the group said, a seriously fit-looking man with thick, black hair and dark brooding eyes. “Otherwise he’ll have to answer to me for breaking my little sister’s heart.”

A worried expression crossed Danny’s face. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, Rick. No one, not even Alex and his big mouth, is going to talk me out of marrying Lindsey.”

“Don’t let Alex bother you, Danny,” Jon, Alex’s brother, advised with a chuckle. Jon was a taller, darker version of Alex. The family resemblance was uncanny. “He’s still kicking himself for letting you get to Lindsey first.”

Danny narrowed a glance at Alex. “That true?”

Alex felt his heart leap into his throat. Jon’s observation hit too close to the truth. Scowling, he said, “You know, you’ve got a big mouth, brother.” He returned his gaze to his friends, deftly changing the subject. “It’s bad enough I have to see him everyday at work. Tell me again, why did we bring him along, tonight?”

“Because he was the only one crazy enough to agree to drive us anywhere we want,” Rick explained.

The bartender shook his head.

“To designated drivers.” Toasting his reprieve, Alex drained his Scotch. The liquid burned his throat. His eyes watered. But the drink had served its purpose. He felt blessedly numb inside.

Danny knocked elbows with Jon. “You’re married, right, Jon? Tell ’em, marriage isn’t so bad.”

“Marriage isn’t so bad,” Jon repeated.

Alex snorted. “Spoken like a true believer.”

“Come on, Jon,” Danny pleaded. “Help me out here. Tell ’em the advantages of being married.”

Jon sipped his coffee, looking as though he were giving the matter considerable thought. Then said, “Well, the food isn’t bad. Much better than I could make myself.”

Alex and Rick exchanged glances. Grinning, they chorused, “Takeout.”

Jon took up the challenge. “Okay, how about companionship? Since I’ve been married, I’ve never had to come home to an empty house.”

“Hell, Jon,” Rick drawled. “If I want companionship, I can always get myself a dog.”

Alex chuckled.

Jon continued, unperturbed. “Then there’s the sex...when you’re married, boys, you don’t have to go looking for love.”

Alex studied his drink, fighting an unwanted surge of jealousy.

Danny’s tone brightened appreciably. “That’s right. After this weekend, Lindsey and I—”

“Don’t even think of mentioning my sister and sex in the same sentence,” Rick warned him, a forbidding look on his face.

“Rick, your sister’s a big girl now. She’s getting married next week,” Jon said, biting back an amused smile. “I think she knows all about the birds and the bees.”

Rick pointed an unsteady finger at Alex’s brother. “If it was your little sister we were discussing, you’d feel the same way.”

“He’s right, Jon,” Alex murmured. “I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep since Stephanie started dating.”

Rick frowned. “The brat’s old enough to date?”

Alex and Jon shot their friend a disbelieving look. Alex was the first to speak. “The brat’s in college. She’s going to law school next fall.”

“Law school? Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Rick grunted, then proceeded to answer his own question. “She certainly has the mouth to be a lawyer. I’ve never met anyone as opinionated as your little sister.” He shot Alex a wary glance. “No offense, Alex, but you know I’ve never been able to warm up to the brat.”

“Don’t worry, Rick,” Alex assured him. “I believe the feeling’s mutual.”

Rick leaned back in his seat and grinned. “Like I always said, the only good thing to come of your parents moving to Florida was that they took your little sister along with them.”

Alex gave a noncommittal shrug.

A thoughtful pause descended upon the group. They sipped their drinks in silence. The bartender wiped a rag over the bar, buffing the already-shiny surface.

After considerable deliberation, Alex announced, “Boys, this party’s getting entirely too quiet. I think it’s time we moved on.”

“Now where?” Jon groaned.

Alex stood. “The east side of the river. Where the entertainment’s a little friskier...if you catch my meaning.”

“Uh-uh.” Danny shook his head. “I promised Lindsey I wouldn’t go to any strip joints.”

“After next weekend, you can do anything Lindsey tells you,” Alex said, pulling Danny to his feet. “Tonight, you’re with us.”

The pair swayed slightly, looking none too steady.

Danny moaned, “Lindsey’s gonna kill me if I get into trouble.”

“Trouble? We’re not going to get into trouble,” Alex assured him. He patted Rick on the shoulder. “Not as long as we have a cop in the group.”

“Alex, are you trying to influence a police officer?” Rick asked, striving for solemnity, but the words came out thick and slurred.

“Would I have any luck if I did?”

“Hell, no.”

“Then there’s your answer.”

Rick chuckled.

“Alex, I don’t think this is such a good idea,” Danny said as he was led away, Rick on one side of him, Alex on the other.

“We’re friends, Danny. Have I ever let you down?” Alex asked, trying not to dwell on the irony of his own words. Their friendship was the only reason he hadn’t tried to stop this wedding. If it had been anyone else but Danny who’d proposed to Lindsey, he wouldn’t have given a second thought to stealing her away. “Trust me, Lindsey won’t be upset. If she is, I’ll take care of it. You can count on me, buddy.”

“Mr. Responsibility, that’s you, Alex...” Danny mumbled, his words fading as they stepped away.

Mr. Responsibility. The title struck a discordant note in Alex’s fuzzy mind. Since freshman year in high school, they’d been the best of friends, each assuming their appointed roles. Rick, the athlete. Danny, the maniac. And Alex, Mr. Responsibility.

Alex had always been the one to clean up one or another of the messes Danny had gotten them into. Danny’s reckless spirit had been impossible to tame. Which was why Alex had been stunned when his best friend had announced he was going to marry Lindsey.

Not that he didn’t understand his friend’s reason. Beautiful, gentle Lindsey held the power to reform even the worst of life’s reprobates.

Regret rifled through him. If only...

Alex slammed the brakes on the thought, not allowing it to go another step. Lindsey, and whatever feelings he may have had for her, was in the past. He’d waited too long to tell her the truth... that he cared.

Now it was too late.

Dammit, it was much too late.

Chapter One

Four years later

The woman of his dreams was tall, slender and dark haired. Her back was turned to him as she stared out onto the ocean, giving him a mouthwatering view of shapely curves outlined in a sexy red dress. A light breeze softened the air, molding the silky material to her body.

Alex firmly believed he’d died and had gone to heaven. If not heaven, then surely he was in paradise.

Impatiently, he reached out, anxious to learn the identity of his dream woman. His fingers grazed the smooth skin of her shoulder, sending shock waves of awareness tripping through his body. And—

A bell rang.

The woman’s image faded.

Alex moaned, fighting to hold on to the remnants of sleep. He hit the Snooze button on his clock radio. Once again, quiet descended upon his bedroom. With a sigh, he snuggled under the covers for another ten minutes of ecstasy.

The dark-haired enchantress resurfaced in his mind’s eye and...the bell rang, again.

Not the radio, he realized. The phone was ringing.

Grumpily, Alex pried open his eyes and squinted at the clock radio. It was 6:00 a.m. Who in their ever-loving mind would be calling him at this hour?

Another ring.

Alex growled and yanked the receiver from its cradle, effectively stopping the shrill peal. “Speak to me,” he mumbled as he closed his eyes and drifted back into oblivion.

“Alex?”

The woman of his dreams now had a voice. A vaguely familiar, sweet and sexy voice. The rich, velvety timbre reminded him of melt-in-your-mouth chocolate fudge. Alex licked his lips at the thought.

“Alex?” A trace of impatience this time. “Are you there?”

The woman of his dreams had a face. A perfect oval-shaped face with patrician features. Her eyes were the color of smooth, rich caramels, with only a touch of sadness tinging the mix. Her nose was pert and slightly upraised, as though she were ready to challenge his integrity. Smart girl. Her mouth...her mouth was like a strawberry, plump and ripe and ready for the picking.

His empty stomach growled a hungry protest.

“Alex, wake up!”

Startled, Alex sat up straight, knocking the bedcovers aside. Cold air hit his passion-aroused bare skin. He shivered in response. Just a dream, he told himself, shaking off the remnants of sleep. A dream that had been occurring much too often. What had been denied him in waking moments, his subconscious seemed bent on allowing him in slumber.

The woman of his dreams was Lindsey Richards, his best friend’s wife.

“Lindsey?” he croaked, wincing at the strained sound of his voice.

“I was just about ready to give up on you, Alex,” she said with an impatient breath.

Guilt lodged in his throat as he recalled his wanton dream and the major role his friend’s wife had almost played in it. He swallowed hard. “Don’t do that, Lindsey. You know I’m always here for you. Anytime you need me.”

“I know that, Alex.” Her tone softened. “You’ve been—” She paused, her voice catching. “You’ve been very good to me. More than I deserve—”

“Don’t start that again.” He scowled. They’d had this discussion before. It had happened with an annoying frequency in the past two years since Danny Richards had been tragically killed in a traffic accident. “I’ve told you before, we’re friends.” Though, if repressed desires had anything to do with it... He allowed the thought to go unfinished. “Friends look out for each other.”

“I know that, Alex, but—” She gasped. “Goodness, what am I thinking? I forgot to ask. Is this a good time to talk? Or am I, uh, interrupting something?”

He feigned ignorance. “You mean, other than my getting a full night’s sleep?”

“No, Alex, that’s not what I mean.” The impatience was back again. Alex could almost imagine her raising that pert little nose of hers. “I meant... are you alone?”

A blush probably accompanied that last hushed question. Alex couldn’t help but smile. For a woman who’d been married and had given birth to a child, she was such an innocent.

“Hold on. Let me check.” Alex took the opportunity to pull the wayward covers back up to his waist. Then, stacking his hands beneath his head and cradling the phone against his shoulder, he settled back onto the bed. “Nope, no one under these covers but little ol’ lonesome me.”

“Good,” she said, sounding relieved. Alex raised a curious brow, wondering if she were relieved that they were free to talk or that she’d found him alone in his bed. Before he could ask, she continued, “I wanted to catch you before you went to work. Do you remember what day it is today?”

“Jeez, Lindsey. Do you have to give me a pop quiz at six o’clock in the morning?”

“Alex—”

“All right, all right...let’s see, well, it’s Friday. The third week in November. Thanksgiving’s less than a week away. And—wait, I know there’s something else—ah, yes, it’s my godson’s birthday.”

“You remembered,” she said, unable to keep the pleasure from her voice.

“How could I forget?” He chuckled. “Jamie’s been reminding me of the upcoming event every time I’ve seen him in the last two months.”

James Daniel Richards was the spitting image of his father. A towheaded hellion with an angel’s smile. He had everyone who loved him wrapped around his chubby little finger. Alex included.

“Which brings me to the reason I called,” she said, her discomfort obvious.

Warning signals prickled his skin. He waited.

“Alex, I don’t want you to feel obligated to come tonight.”

He sat up in bed again, nearly dropping the phone in his haste. “Lindsey—”

She wouldn’t let him finish. “Hear me out, Alex. Jamie’s been a little overly enthusiastic about his birthday. Turning three’s an important step. When you’re three, you’re officially old enough to go to preschool. And chances are good that you’re going to make a real haul with all those birthday presents.” She stopped rambling long enough to suck in a deep breath. He could almost see the tiny furrow forming between her dark brows, the one she always got whenever she was feeling pensive. “The thing is, Alex, I’m sure you have better things to do with your time than spend a Friday night at a three-year-old’s birthday party.”

“Such as?” he demanded, his grip tightening around the receiver.

“Well...a date, for instance.”

“You think I’d rather go on a date than attend my only godson’s birthday party,” he said, his voice low and deceptively even. Anger simmered beneath the surface of his calm demeanor. “Just what kind of godfather do you think I am?”

“You’re a wonderful godfather,” she assured him. “Too wonderful. That’s the problem. What with work and your busy social life—”

“Busy social life?” Was that a note of jealousy he’d detected in her tone? Nah, he assured himself, just wishful thinking on his part. “What busy social life?” “Oh, Alex, really,” she said, laughing.

He felt his defenses kicking in. “All right, maybe I go out on a few dates—”

“A few? Tell me, Alex, is there any woman over the age of eighteen in St. Louis that you haven’t dated?”

Though her tone was teasing, the question caught him off guard. So he went out on a few dates—okay, a lot of dates. Who could blame a man for trying to drown his sorrows in female companionship? Especially since the only woman he’d ever really wanted thought of him as nothing more than a good friend.

“Now, look, Lindsey—”

“I know, I know, your personal life is your own business.” Lindsey sighed. “I never meant to criticize you. All I wanted to say was that, with everything else you have going on, I don’t know how you find so much time to spend with Jamie. It’s too much.”

“I can handle it,” he growled, finding his voice.

“Alex, Danny wouldn’t expect you—”

“It’s settled, Lindsey,” he said in a tone that would brook no further argument. “I’m not skipping out on my godson’s birthday party. Now what time should I be there?”

She hesitated. Then, in a resigned tone, said, “Seven o’clock. I’m afraid to make it any later. Or the guest of honor will be nodding off before he gets to open his presents.”

“Seven o’clock will be fine,” he said firmly.

“Alex, are you sure—”

“Lindsey, give me a break. It’s too early for an argument. I haven’t even had a cup of coffee yet.”

He heard her soft sigh, a whispery breath across the phone line. “All right, Alex. I’ll see you tonight.”

“G’bye, Lindsey.”

He waited, listening for the click of her phone to disconnect before he hung up the receiver. Once she was gone, the bedroom felt too quiet, too empty. He laid back on his bed and brooded over his conversation with Lindsey.

“Stubborn, fool woman,” he muttered to the four walls. “She has enough to worry about. She doesn’t need to add my social life to the list.”

As usual, when it came to dealing with Lindsey, his anger quickly dissipated. These past two years hadn’t been easy for her, he reminded himself. Danny’s death had been unexpected. His loss was a devastating blow for all of them. For Lindsey, most especially.

She wasn’t prepared, financially or emotionally, for the unspeakable. Typical of Danny, he’d believed himself to be invincible. He hadn’t bothered with life insurance and he’d just socked away most of their savings in a down payment on a house, a rambling, old fixer-upper in Kirkwood. The house had great potential, a big yard, lots of room, a perfect home for a growing family. But it was also a money pit. Something always needed to be repaired. After Danny’s death, Lindsey had been left scrambling to make ends meet.

Not that she would have admitted any of this to him.

The only way he’d found out about her monetary problems was through her brother, Rick. Alex’s offer of financial assistance had been graciously yet firmly turned down. Instead, Lindsey chose to work two jobs on top of raising her son, just so she wouldn’t lose the house that she held in loving tribute to her late husband.

The thought left a bitter taste in his mouth, one that he refused to attribute to jealousy. Long ago, Alex had accepted that any romantic feeling he may have toward Lindsey was merely an exercise in futility. Lindsey had loved Danny. She still loved him very deeply. Their being apart was a tragedy. Besides, how could he be jealous of his best friend, a man who’d been cheated out of the best years of his life?

Alex shifted uncomfortably in his bed. Lindsey might be too stubborn to accept a simple loan of money—a loan that he could well afford to make—but he’d be damned if his moral support would be brushed aside with as much ease. As long as Lindsey and his godson needed him, he intended to be there for them.

It was the least she could do for the widow of his best friend.

The phone rang again.

Alex glared at the instrument. Lindsey, again. She’d probably thought of a new excuse why he shouldn’t bother attending his own godson’s birthday party. He snatched the phone from its cradle.

“You know, it’s a good thing I don’t have a woman in bed with me this morning,” he growled. “I’d have a hell of a time explaining all these phone calls if I did.”

Dead silence met his terse greeting.

Then, after a discreet clearing of a feminine throat, an older woman’s voice responded, “Well, Alex, thank you for sharing that bit of information with me. I’m not sure whether I should be relieved or disappointed.”

“Mom?” Alex moaned as he thunked a hand against his forehead.

“Obviously, you were expecting someone else.”

“Yes, I mean... no. Mom, do you have any idea what time it is?”

“Yes, dear. It’s ten minutes after seven in the morning.”

“Seven o’clock Florida time, Mom. It’s only six here.”

“I know that, dear. I didn’t want to miss you before you left for work.” Her dismissive tone grated against Alex’s nerves.

“I wanted to talk to you about next weekend. Remember? The wedding? You are coming, aren’t you?”

“Of course, I’m coming. My baby sister’s getting married. Did you think I’d miss it?”

“Well, I know how busy you and Jon have been lately.” She clucked her tongue disapprovingly. “I still don’t understand why you and Jon needed M.B.A.s to sell tennis shoes. But your father assures me you’re both doing fine, and I shouldn’t worry.”

They were doing more than fine. Lobo Shoes, the company he and Jon had founded shortly after graduating from college, was the fastest growing athletic shoe company on the market. It wouldn’t be long before. they’d be giving Reebok and Nike a run for their money, no pun intended.

“Look, Mom—”

She never gave him a chance to finish. “I’ve been trying to get hold of Jon, but no one’s answering at his house.”

Alex sighed. “Jon’s out of town. We’re expanding into the West Coast market. He’s making sure things go smoothly. I’m sure Jon said he’d be flying in with Rachel on Thursday for the wedding.”

“And how about you, Alex? Will you be bringing anyone to the wedding? Anyone special?”

He grimaced at her hopeful tone. “No, Mom.”

“Alex,” she said, her disappointment obvious. “Your brother’s been married almost five years. Now, even your younger sister is getting married. Don’t you think it’s time you stopped this galavanting around and found yourself a nice girl to settle down with?”

Alex groaned. First Lindsey. Now his mother. Why was everyone suddenly so concerned about his social life?

At six o’clock in the morning, however, Alex wasn’t up to an argument with his mother. “Yeah, Mom, maybe someday,” he sighed. “Just as soon as I meet the right woman—”

“Alexander Hale Trent, you’ve been avoiding the marriage altar for so long, you wouldn’t recognize the right woman if she were standing under your own nose.”

Alex gritted his teeth.

She continued. “Now, there’ll be plenty of eligible young women at the wedding. Do you remember Rosemary Plinkton? Stephanie’s maid of honor? Her friend from college? She isn’t married and she’s such a sweet young thing. I’m sure you two will hit it off just fine—”

“Mom, don’t even consider trying any matchmaking during the wedding.” He assumed his most threatening tone. “Or I swear, it’ll be the last time you’ll see me in Florida.”

“Oh, pooh,” she said, not in the least bit intimidated. “Did anyone ever tell you you’re awfully grumpy in the morning?”

Alex stifled a groan. “Mom, I’ve got to get ready for work.”

“Of course, Alex,” his mother trilled. “I’ll see you on Wednesday. Have a wonderful day!”

The phone line clicked. Slowly, Alex returned the receiver to its cradle, staring at the instrument in disbelief. Had it really been only ten minutes ago when he’d been sound asleep in his bed, not a care in the world, enjoying what promised to be the most erotic dream of his life? It seemed like a lifetime ago.

Since awakening, he’d gotten into a disagreement with one of his best friends. And his mother had called to make her intentions clear. She was determined to see to it that the last of her unmarried children bit the matrimonial bullet.

Alex growled as he tossed the covers aside and pushed himself out of bed. A hell of a way to start out the morning. How could the day get any worse?

How could the day get any worse?

Lindsey Richards stared at the mess in her workroom and felt an overwhelming urge to cry. Spools of thread had been pulled from their racks. Yards and yards of the bright-colored strands were strewn about in jumbled heaps on the floor. Beads and bangles, all essential parts of her tassel-making craft business, glittered on the carpet like tiny jewels.

In the middle of this chaos sat the birthday boy himself, her three-year-old son, Jamie.

“James Daniel Richards,” she began, struggling to control her temper. “What do you think you’re doing in here?”

He looked up at her with his big blue eyes and said, “Playing.”

“Where’s your uncle Rick? He’s supposed to be keeping an eye on you.”

Jamie pointed a chubby finger toward the family room, where the sound of a football game playing on the TV filtered down the hall. Rick, her usually reliable brother. Lindsey sighed. These past few weeks the change in him seemed so daunting. He’d become moody and withdrawn, unwilling or unable to talk about the unfortunate incident that very well may have cost him his job. She was at her wit’s end. She just didn’t know how to help him.

“You know you aren’t supposed to be in here,” she reminded her son sternly.

“I’m sorry.” Jamie’s lower lip trembled slightly as he spoke. His eyes filled with unshed tears.

Lindsey’s anger dissolved at the sight. How could she be angry with Jamie today of all days? It was his birthday, after all. She reached out a hand. “Come here.”

Slowly, he untangled himself from a pool of thread and sauntered over to her, scuffing the toes of his tennis shoes on the carpet as he did so. At that moment, he reminded her so much of his father, he nearly took her breath away. Danny, too, had had trouble admitting when he was wrong.

Lindsey brushed the memory from her mind as Jamie took hold of her hand. He wouldn’t quite meet her eyes. She knelt to be at eye level with her young hell-raiser. “Jamie, this is the room where Mommy works. I don’t want you playing in here again, all right?”

He nodded, still unable to meet her gaze.

Glancing at the messy workroom, she sighed. “Give me a hug, honey. I sure could use one about now.”

His face brightening, he wrapped his arms around her neck and squeezed with all his might. Despite feeling bone-tired, she couldn’t help but smile. On a day like today, she needed the comfort of a warm, loving body.

“Hey, how about me?” A familiar, deep voice startled them. “Don’t I get a hug, too?”

Alex stood in the hall, not two feet away, watching them with an amused expression on his face.

“Uncle Alex!” His mother forgotten, Jamie threw himself at the new arrival.

Pleasure and guilt warred as she watched Alex scoop the boy into his arms and endure one of Jamie’s bone-cracking hugs. Pleasure because, with Alex and Rick nearby, Jamie never lacked a positive male influence. Guilt because, no matter how much she appreciated it, she had no right to expect Alex’s help.

“Where’s my present?” Jamie demanded.

Alex chuckled. “In the dining room, with all the rest.”

Jamie wiggled himself out of Alex’s arms. With the speed of a heat-seeking missile, he catapulted himself down the hall, beating a hasty path for the goodies.

Lindsey stood, shaking her head. “He really isn’t as materialistic as he seems.”

“Of course he is,” Alex said, still grinning. “He’s a kid, remember?”

Her heart thumped an uncertain beat as their gazes connected across the width of hall. Alex seemed to fill the narrow space with his presence. Tall and lean, blond-haired and blue-eyed, his skin bronzed by hours out in the sun, he was a walking spokesman for the benefits of using his own athletic shoes. A diehard jogger, he looked wonderfully fit and healthy, exuding a confidence and an energy she didn’t share.

“I didn’t hear you arrive,” Lindsey murmured, glancing away.

“Rick let me in.”

“My brother’s able to answer a doorbell,” she muttered as she surveyed the damage caused by one small boy. “But he can’t keep an eye on his own nephew.”

Alex stepped up behind her, glancing over her shoulder at the mess. He released a long whistle. His breath tickled the sensitive skin at the back of her neck. “Did Jamie do this?”

“Yep.” With a sigh, she added, “Rick was supposed to be watching him.”

Alex hesitated. Then, with a nod toward the family room where the TV still blared, he asked, “How is Rick?”

“Crabby, sulky ... impossible. I swear, if he weren’t my own brother, I’d refuse to see him until he was in a better mood.” She felt an instant guilt at her lack of support and understanding. “The whole thing’s crazy. I can’t believe Rick might lose his job just because he issued a silly little traffic ticket.”

Alex bit back a smile. “Well, I think there’s more to it than that, Lindsey. There was the letter he wrote to the editor, the one questioning the department’s policy of ticket fixing—”

Lindsey jumped to her brother’s defense. “My father was a policeman, Alex. A darned good one, too. He taught us if you break the law, you pay the price. It’s as simple as that. I don’t care whose relative has taken offense to being stopped.”

“Yeah, but the mayor’s brother—”

“Look, Rick’s my brother. And this is his life’s work that’s on the line. He looks haggard, Alex. I don’t think he’s getting much sleep.”

Alex frowned. “Maybe he needs to get away for a while to sort things out. My family has a cabin standing empty in the mountains in Colorado. If he’d like, he’s welcome to use it anytime.”

“Ask him. I’m sure he’d love it. Getting out of St. Louis sounds like a wonderful idea,” she added wistfully.

His gaze narrowed. “Your brother isn’t the only one who sounds as though they could use a little R and R.” Concern touched his voice. “How much sleep have you been getting lately?”

“Plenty,” she said, trying to sound carefree and failing miserably. “If I look tired it’s because I’ve been busy lately. I had to finish a large order of tassels for a local antique store. And with Christmas around the corner, I’ve got more orders coming in every day—”

“All of which you do at night when Jamie’s in bed...after you’ve spent a full day teaching at school.” Alex released an impatient breath. “Lindsey, you’ve got to slow down. Take care of yourself, for once.”

“Alex, you worry too much.” She smiled and tapped a finger on the jaw that he’d set in such a stubborn line. The beginnings of a late-day beard chafed her fingertip. “I’m fine, really.”

He captured her hand and held it snug. “Somebody’s got to worry about you. Obviously, you’re too stubborn to think about yourself.”

Her smile faded. His hand felt warm, strong, reassuring. She felt herself leaning toward him, overwhelmed by the temptation to rest her head against his wide shoulder and be embraced in the protective circle of his arms. These past two years had been difficult. There were times when she didn’t know how she could carry on alone.

She’d be lying if she said it wouldn’t feel good to have someone else to share the burden. But she could not allow herself the luxury. If these past few years had taught her anything, it was that she could depend on no one but her brother Rick, Jamie and herself.

The doorbell rang, announcing the arrival of more guests.

Lindsey slipped her hand from his, glad for the excuse to put some distance between them. “Alex, thank you for your concern.” She forced a smile. “But right now, it’s time for the party to begin.”

Alex’s expression remained grim.

She headed down the hall, not allowing herself to look back. Alex was Danny’s friend. He was Jamie’s godfather. She appreciated the time he spent with his godson. But it wasn’t his responsibility to see that his godson’s mother’s life went smoothly.

Chapter Two

Two hours later, the birthday boy finally ran out of steam. The guests, watching Jamie fall asleep as he ate his birthday cake and ice cream, took this as their cue to leave. Lindsey was exhausted by the time the last of Jamie’s guests had said their goodbyes. Alex, Rick, and Sandy Martin, Lindsey’s good friend and next door neighbor, lingered behind.

Sandy glanced around the messy kitchen and said, “Thank goodness my husband’s already taken my kids home. I’ll help you clean up before I leave.”

“You don’t have to,” Lindsey said, stifling a yawn. “I can handle it myself.”

“Right.” Sandy chuckled. “And I’ll be tucking you into bed right next to Jamie, if I don’t. Goodness, Lindsey. I’ve never seen you looking so tired. You’ve got enough bags under your eyes for an entire set of luggage.”

Lindsey rolled her eyes. “Really. Sandy—”

“Have you lost more weight?” Sandy narrowed a shrewd glance. “You look so thin.”

Lindsey blushed. “Sandy, I’m fine.”

“Fine, ha!” her friend snorted. “I bet dollars to doughnuts you’ve been spending more hours in your workroom making tassels than you have in your bed sleeping at night.”

“Not you, too,” Lindsey moaned.

Sandy frowned. “Me, too, what?”

“First, Alex. Now, you.” She sighed. “Why’s everyone so worried about my beauty sleep?”

“Maybe we wouldn’t be so concerned if you weren’t sleeping alone,” Sandy said.

Trouble was brewing; Lindsey could see it as clearly as the devilish glint in her friend’s eye. “Sandy—”

“Come on, Lindsey. You know I’ve been dying to ask you all night long ... did you say yes?”

“Yes to what?” Alex asked as he walked into the kitchen carrying an armload of soiled napkins and paper plates.

“It—it’s nothing,” Lindsey said quickly, glaring at her friend.

“Nothing, ha! Lindsey’s got a beau,” Sandy announced. “He’s asked her out on a date.”

The paper plates clattered to the floor.

Rick stepped into the kitchen. “Jeez, Alex. You’re making more of a mess than the kids did.”

Alex shot him a prohibitive glance as he squatted to clean up the clutter.

“I think she should go for it,” Sandy continued, oblivious to the dirty looks Lindsey was sending her way.

“Go for what?” Rick asked.

“A date, silly,” Sandy said. “Don’t you think it’s time Lindsey got back into the real world and started seeing men again?”

Rick shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

“Why not?” Lindsey gaped at her brother. He was the last person she expected to encourage her to start dating again. “I can think of a million reasons ... Danny, being just one.”

“Lindsey, you’re a widow, not a nun. No one expects you to live like one,” Rick said, slinging himself into one of the chairs at the kitchen table. “Danny’s been gone for two years. If you’re ready to start dating again, then do it.”

Lindsey shut out the words of encouragement. They believed her to be a lonely widow, loyal to her husband’s memory. They didn’t know the truth. That it was guilt, not just loneliness that kept her awake at night.

“I don’t know,” Alex said slowly, breaking into her troubled thoughts. “Maybe it’s not such a good idea for her to rush into any hasty decisions.”

Heads turned, focusing curious gazes upon him.

He shifted uncomfortably beneath the attention. “Well? Does anybody know anything about this guy? For all we know he’s a gigolo, preying on a vulnerable widow.”

“He’s not a gigolo, Alex,” Sandy said with an amused smile. “He’s an antique dealer. He owns two highly successful stores, one in Clayton and the other in Chesterfield. And he’s a real dish to boot.”

Lindsey closed her eyes and counted to ten, struggling to hold on to her temper. She couldn’t believe that her brother and her friends were discussing her private life as though she weren’t even in the room.

“Yeah, well, I still don’t think she should rush things,” Alex groused.

Eyebrows were raised in speculation.

Alex glanced around the room, scowling. “Hey, all I’m saying is, I know how it feels to be railroaded into a date by well-intentioned relatives.”

Rick chuckled. “Sounds to me like Mama Trent’s been putting a little pressure on the last of her unmarried children to settle down.”

“A little pressure?” Alex shook his head. “The woman has the determination of a bulldog. She’s been calling me every day with an updated list of single female guests who’ll be attending my sister’s wedding.”

“So bring a date,” Rick said.

“To a wedding? No, thank you. Do you have any idea how sentimental women get at weddings? They get all mushy and starry-eyed.” Alex gave an exaggerated shudder. “The last thing I need to worry about is a matchmaking mother and a date who’s under the influence of love, romance and a rose-colored view of marriage.”

“Alex, really. You’re incorrigible,” Sandy said, her tone disgusted.

Lindsey watched the exchange in bemused silence, feeling an unsettling sense of disappointment. Alex’s aversion to marriage shouldn’t surprise her, she chided herself. For as long as she’d known him, he’d never shown any sign of being ready to settle down.

Why would she expect him to change now?

“Do you think we could change the subject?” Alex asked, drawing her out of her troubled thoughts. “It’s Lindsey’s personal life we were talking about, not mine. Maybe Lindsey isn’t ready to start dating. Did anyone think to ask her?”

Heads turned again, this time focusing on Lindsey.

“Well?” Sandy demanded. “Are you ready to start dating, or not?”

Lindsey’s cheeks warmed with embarrassment. “I think...” she stammered. “I think that I’d rather not have this conversation.”

“Why not? Too afraid to admit you need more in life than coming home to an empty bed?” Sandy asked, smiling sweetly. “What’s wrong with admitting you’re a healthy adult, with normal, healthy needs and fantasies?”

“Fantasies?” Lindsey laughed out loud. “Who has the time? The closest thing I’ve come to having a fantasy is imagining myself alone on a tropical beach, with absolutely nothing to do except soak up some sun and drink an entire pitcher of margaritas.”

“Sounds good to me,” Rick quipped.

“You’re missing the point, Rick,” Lindsey growled.

Her brother frowned. “Which is?”

“The point is, that while I appreciate all of your concerns, I just don’t have the time or the desire to pursue a relationship with a man.” She gave a ragged sigh. “I’m just too darned tired to even consider it.”

A thoughtful silence descended upon the room.

Sandy was the first to break it. “You know what I think?”

“No,” Lindsey muttered. “But I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

Sandy continued, undaunted by her grumpy tone. “I think what you really need is a vacation.”

“A vacation?”

“That’s right. And I have the perfect solution. You can go to Florida with Alex for his sister’s wedding.” She smiled, looking very pleased with the idea.

“Florida?” Lindsey repeated, staring dumbly at her friend. “I can’t go to Florida with Alex.”

“Why not?” Sandy demanded. “It’ll solve both of your problems. Alex needs a date to keep his mother off his back. You need some R and R. It’ll be perfect.”

Lindsey felt the prickling unease of Alex watching her. Panic filled her chest, making it hard to breathe. While she considered Alex a good friend, whenever she saw him it was usually in the accompaniment of her brother, or with Jamie at her side. The thought of spending time alone with him unnerved her more than she cared to admit.

“It’s out of the question,” Lindsey insisted, refusing to meet Alex’s gaze. “I have to work. You know...classes to teach, tassels to make.”

“Next week is Thanksgiving. Doesn’t your school go on break?” Sandy observed calmly.

“Thanksgiving!” Lindsey nearly shouted with relief. “I can’t leave town on Thanksgiving. If I do, Rick won’t have anywhere to go for his turkey dinner.”

“Gee, thanks, brat,” Rick drawled, looking amused. “But I don’t think it’ll kill me if I miss one Thanksgiving dinner.”

“Fine, Rick may not need me. But my son does.” Lindsey raised her chin, a picture of indignation. “What would I do with Jamie? I couldn’t possibly leave him home all alone.”

“Rick, you’re welcome to join us for dinner, and Jamie can stay with me,” Sandy offered. “You know he loves it at my house. He’ll hardly notice you’re gone.”

“Thanks a lot,” Lindsey said.

Alex, who’d been noticeably silent during the interchange, startled her by saying, “Lindsey, maybe you should give it some thought. Sandy’s right. It’d be a solution to both of our problems. You need a break. And I definitely need someone to save me from my mother’s good intentions.” His warm smile melted her defenses. “So what do you say? November in Florida may not be a tropical paradise, but it’s the best I can offer on short notice.”

“Alex, I’m not sure...” she said, wanting to kick herself for the vague-sounding answer.

“Come on, Lindsey,” Alex persisted. “You know I won’t give up until you say yes.”

His blue eyes sparkled with a familiar determination. Work or play, Alex was a man who was used to getting his way. Lindsey knew she might as well give up the fight. Arguing with him would be pointless.

Besides, did she really want to argue with him?

Going away with Alex meant time away from all of her responsibilities. Time to relax. Time to do nothing but enjoy herself for an entire weekend.

She’d be crazy to say no.

Lindsey looked at Alex, taking in his handsome, determined face and his strong, supple body.

She’d be crazy to say yes.

She recalled the moment alone with Alex in the hallway, the temptation she’d felt when he had held her hand. Friend or not, Alex was an attractive man. Lately, she’d become more aware of this fact than ever before.

A new surge of panic tightened her chest, making it hard to breathe. The last thing she needed was to become entangled in an intimate relationship. Her marriage to Danny hadn’t been a bed of roses. They had had their problems. She wasn’t anxious to repeat her mistakes of the past.

“Lindsey,” Alex said, his gentle tone softly persuading her to face him. “We’re friends, right?”

Friends—the word soothed her. Perhaps she was overreacting. She’d known Alex for a long time. Not once in their relationship had he ever indicated he wanted more from her than friendship. Spending time alone with him would be as harmless as spending time alone with her brother. Right?

“Right,” she said.

Encouraged, Alex continued. “Then, as friends, what’s the harm in spending a few days together?”

What’s the harm? She was sure there had to be at least a dozen potential dangers. But for the life of her, at the moment, she couldn’t think of one of them. She sighed. “All right, Alex. I’ll go with you to your sister’s wedding.”

“You won’t regret this, Lindsey,” he said.

Lindsey’s heart thumped a warning beat as he blessed her with another irresistible smile.

She already did.

“I can’t do this,” Lindsey said, stopping midway to the doors of the airplane’s loading gate.

Five days had passed since Jamie’s birthday party. Five of the most trying days of his life. Alex bit-back a groan. Getting Lindsey to agree to join him for his sister’s wedding had been tough enough. Getting her on the plane was proving darned near impossible.

They were among the last to board. Fellow passengers skirted around them, sending them curious glances. Time was running out, and Lindsey was giving every indication of jumping ship.

“Now what’s wrong,” he said, not bothering to hide his impatience.

“Jamie,” she said, her brown eyes wide and glistening. The tears looked ready to spill at any moment. “I’ve never left him before. He’ll be devastated if I abandon him now. It will probably cause who knows what kind of damage to his psyche.”

They both glanced at the covey of plastic airport lounge chairs where they’d left Jamie in the care of Lindsey’s friend, Sandy. The boy with the “damaged psyche” was busy pretending to be an airplane in flight, obviously not giving the departing adults a second thought.

“Yeah, he really looks like he’s ready for the psychiatrist’s chair,” Alex mused.

Lindsey frowned. “He’s just trying to be brave.”

Jamie chose that moment to look at them. With a wave of his hand and a grin on his cherubic face, he sped off to join Sandy’s oldest son, who had his nose pressed against the airport’s glass-paneled walls, intent on watching a plane land on the runway.

A tear trickled down Lindsey’s cheek. “I knew it. He’s going to forget all about me.”

“Lindsey,” Alex said gently, whisking the tear away with the tips of his fingers. “Jamie’s not going to forget about you. He’s going to be fine.”

She bit her lip to stop the trembling. “How can you be sure?”

“Because I just am.” He captured her hand and led her toward the plane. “Now listen to me, Lindsey. Do you have any idea how lucky we were to get these tickets? It’s the day before Thanksgiving. The busiest traveling day of the year. We’ll never be able to get another flight”

She dragged her pump-clad feet, apparently not impressed by their good fortune.

“Just remember,” he continued in his most soothing voice. “This is a vacation. You’re not supposed to think about anything but relaxing. No Jamie. No Rick. No work.” He gave a silent cheer of victory as they stepped onto the plane. “Nothing but the sand and the sea and taking it easy with me.”

She stopped midaisle. “Rick? What am I thinking? He’s going through an emotionally traumatic experience. He could lose his job. He shouldn’t be alone at a time like this. He needs me.”

A lesser man might have been miffed at the ease with which she’d brushed off the prospect of spending time alone with him on a tropical beach. Alex kept a firm grip on her hand, and his bruised ego.

“Lindsey, you’re not going to help your brother if you’re on the verge of burnout. You need this vacation. I’m not going to let you change your mind.” He glanced over his shoulder at the doors being slammed shut “Besides, it’s too late. The plane’s ready to take off.”

“Take your seats, please,” a flight attendant, a perky young blonde, said with a smile. “We’re ready to depart.”

“Oh, no,” Lindsey moaned.

“Oh, yes,” Alex said with a sigh of relief. He half led, half dragged her to their seats, giving her the window seat in hopes the view would take her mind off her misgivings.

He might have been hoping for a miracle.

“Do you have any idea how much work will be waiting for me when I get home?” she asked as she buckled her seat belt. A rhetorical question, obviously. She didn’t bother waiting for an answer. “I’ll be working twice as hard trying to fill all the orders before Christmas.”

A new spill of tears threatened.

Alex sighed, again, feeling like hell for forcing her to go on this trip...even if it was for her own good. Getting her away from life’s pressures—not to mention, the antique dealer who’d been hounding her for a date—was his top priority. It was the least he could do for the wife ... that is, the widow, of his best friend, he assured himself.

He took her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “It’ll be okay, Lindsey. Everything will be fine once we’re in Florida.”

The plane shimmied beneath their feet as it taxied along the runway.

She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry, Alex. I’m ruining your trip. I don’t know what’s the matter with me. I just feel so guilty.”

“That’s okay. You’re a mom,” he offered in way of explanation.

He brushed his chin against the top of her head. Her hair felt soft, tickling his skin. He breathed deeply, inhaling the scent of lavender and springtime; Lindsey’s scent. The plane’s engine surged as it lifted from the ground. Alex attributed the light buoyant feeling in the pit of his stomach to the effects of takeoff.

“What does being a mom have to do with feeling guilty?” she asked, sounding almost amused.

“Guilt’s just part of the whole motherhood thing.” He stroked his thumb across the palm of her hand. It felt soft, smooth, and all so delicate. He cleared his throat, struggling with an ill-timed surge of awareness. “When you’re a mom, you feel as though you have to take care of everyone else. I speak from experience, mind you. My mother’s the world’s most notorious worrier. Your nurturing instincts kick into overdrive when you’re a mother. It’s going to take a while before they downshift into neutral.”

She sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Of course I am.” His grin was devilish. “Aren’t I always?”

She angled her face upward to look at him and, for the first time that day, she smiled. “Oh, Alex. What would I do without you?”

Emotion stuck in his throat, making it impossible to answer. Another rhetorical question, thank goodness. Because it was one question that she need not ever ask. They both knew he would always be there for her.

With a contented sigh, she snuggled against him, the tension melting from her body.

Alex, on the other hand, suddenly felt as taut as a drum.

One look into her trusting, innocent eyes and his protective instincts had been put on full alert. Yet the feel of her soft curves pressed against him had his blood pumping hot and thick. An undeniable awareness pulsed through his veins. To complicate matters further, guilt was stretching its icy fingers deep inside him, chilling him to the bone. He felt hot, cold and tense all at the same time. Alex gave a silent moan. Lindsey was slowly, ever so slowly, sending him into sensory overload.

What the hell was wrong with him? he chided himself. Lindsey needed a chance to relax, to unwind. She didn’t need to be lusted after by someone she trusted, someone she considered a friend.

But, then again, he’d be lying if he didn’t admit he’d always thought of Lindsey as a beautiful woman. It felt so good, so right, holding her close, touching her. For just a moment he allowed himself to imagine what it would be like if the circumstances were different, if she weren’t the widow of his best friend, if they were alone without another soul in sight...

Thump-thump-thump.

Alex nearly jumped out of his seat at the noise, sure the plane was about to crash. A just punishment for him and his prurient thoughts, he told himself.

The thumping noise stopped as the flight attendant rolled the drink cart up to their seats.

“First time flying?” she asked, glancing at Lindsey’s tear-stained face. She flashed a smile at Alex. “Perhaps your wife would like a drink to calm her nerves?”

“Wife?” Alex stiffened. Instant heat suffused his face.

Lindsey lifted her head off his shoulder so quick Alex feared she’d suffer from whiplash. She snatched her hand from his and blurted a hasty denial. “I’m not his wife.”

“No, of course not. We’re friends,” Alex said, feeling the totally inappropriate need to explain. “Just good friends.”

Lindsey brought a hand to her throat. Her wedding ring, the ring Danny had given her, glinted in the overhead light. “We’re traveling together.”

“To attend my sister’s wedding,” Alex added, speaking around the lump of guilt lodged in his throat.

“I see,” the attendant said, volleying a wary glance between the two of them. “Well, then, would your ‘friend’ care for a drink?”

Alex looked at Lindsey. Her face had turned about two shades pinker in the last few seconds. She shook her head, refusing to meet his gaze.

Alex cleared his throat. “No, thank you.”

The attendant nodded. “Perhaps later...”

Alex smiled wanly.

The attendant left them then, pushing her cart down the aisle.

An uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Lindsey shifted in her seat, tugging at the hem of her rust-colored skirt. Alex watched as she scooted herself as far away from him as the narrow seats would allow. New lines of tension etched her face. All of the progress he’d made toward easing her worries were for naught. She looked as uncomfortable now as she had before she’d boarded the plane. Lindsey glanced at her watch and feigned a yawn.

“Would you look at the time. It’s already three o’clock. I had to get up early this morning to pack, then off to school...well, I’m just exhausted. You don’t mind if I take a nap, do you?”

“No, of course not,” he said quickly.

Without another word, she folded her jacket into a pillow, curled her body away from him, and squeezed her eyes shut.

Alex felt like an idiot.

An unexpected anger simmered deep inside him, threatening to bubble out of control. Not an anger directed at Lindsey, for she’d done nothing wrong, but at himself. He was the one who’d broken the terms of their friendship. Holding her close, comforting her was an indulgence he should never have allowed.

He’d had no right.

The only man who had that right was his best friend. A man who’d been dead for nearly two years. A man Lindsey had, obviously, never stopped loving.

Chapter Three

“Lindsey,” a familiar, teasing voice whispered, rousing her from her nap. “Rise and shine, sleepyhead. We’re ready to land.”

She took her time waking up. With a purr of contentment, she allowed herself a luxuriant stretch—at least, as luxuriant as possible in the tiny seat—working the kinks out of her body. Her arm brushed against a masculine shoulder, sending goose bumps of awareness skittering up her limb.

Her eyes flew open.

Tentatively, Alex met her gaze.

In a heartbeat, the reason for her escape into slumberland came back to her with the force of a blow. She’d practically thrown herself into Alex’s arms. The flight attendant had believed them to be married. The mistake had embarrassed Alex. She’d seen that as clearly as the blush on his cheeks.

Now, he was looking at her with such uncertainty it made her heart ache with regret.

The plane bumped to a stop, throwing her off kilter. Passengers stood, gathering their belongings. Alex rose to his feet. Lindsey followed at a slower pace, giving herself a moment to recover her balance.

He stepped into the aisle, waiting for her to join him. His hand pressed lightly against the small of her back, guiding her as she moved into the aisle. The gesture sent tingles along her spine. It felt too intimate, reminding her too clearly of the stirring sensation that being close to him earlier had caused in the pit of her stomach.

Lindsey bit back a moan. Agreeing to this vacation with Alex had been a mistake. She felt unbalanced. Her emotions were too close to the surface. Who knew what might happen when she was in such a confused state?

An hour passed by the time they gathered their bags and paid for a rental car. It was dark when they stepped outside. The air felt warm, moist against her skin. In St. Louis, it had been thirty degrees. Here, in Florida, the temperature hovered in the sixties. Her sweater and wool skirt felt heavy and uncomfortable. She longed to change into something cooler.

Obviously, Alex felt the same way. He loaded their bags into the trunk. Then, with a grunt of satisfaction, he stripped out of his suit jacket, tossing it onto the back seat before he started the car. His tie quickly followed.

“Comfy?” she asked with an amused smile.

He grinned.

“Hey, it’s a vacation, remember?”

Lindsey relaxed at his teasing tone, feeling as though they were regaining the footing of their old friendship.

Alex drove confidently through the night-darkened streets. It was seven o‘clock, St. Louis time—eight o’clock in Florida. The traffic was light, the streets dark and glistening from an earlier rain. Lindsey sat back and enjoyed the ride.

His parents lived in a beachside estate on Whisper Key, one of the many islands that dappled the Gulf coastline of Florida. Their white stucco house was large and luxurious. As soon as they pulled into the circle drive, Lindsey was struck with a sharp reminder of the differences between her and Alex’s backgrounds.

She’d grown up the daughter of a St. Louis policeman. Until her marriage to Danny, she’d lived with her father in a two-family flat in south St. Louis. By no stretch of the imagination could she have considered her family wealthy. But they were rich in other ways, love being just one of those.

Alex, on the other hand, grew up in a palatial home in Ladue. It was only after his graduation from college that his parents had moved to Florida. He was born with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, never wanting for anything. Despite his family’s affluence, he was the most unassuming man she’d ever met.

Alex and his brother worked hard building their own company. For them, money was an afterthought, not a constant worry. Success seemed to be their main goal. Sometimes it was easy for her to forget that they came from such differing backgrounds.

“Relax,” he said as he helped her from the car. “My parents know you’re coming. They’ve promised to be on their best behavior.”

“Your parents,” Lindsey murmured thoughtfully.

Alex disappeared around the back of the car to unload their bags from the trunk.

Frowning, she followed him, asking, “Alex, exactly what did you tell them about... well, about my coming with you?”

He shrugged. “Just that you were looking forward to some time away from St. Louis.”

“Yes, but—”

She never had a chance to finish. The front door flew open and a tawny-haired young woman raced down the stairs toward them. Before Alex could say hello, she threw herself into his arms.

“Alex! I can’t believe you’re finally here.”

“Hey, sis,” Alex chuckled as he hauled the woman into a bear hug. “It’s good to see you, too.”

“Why didn’t you call when you got in?” she demanded when her toes were once again touching the ground. Graceful and fit, blond and beautiful, she reminded Lindsey of a feminine version of Alex. The Trent family resemblance was unmistakable. “I would have picked you up at the airport.”

He tugged on a strand of blond hair. “I didn’t want to bother you. Besides, I’ll need a car while I’m here.” He caught Lindsey’s curious gaze. “Lindsey, I don’t know if you’ve ever met my sister. Stephanie, this is Lindsey, Rick’s sister.”

“Rick’s sister, eh?” Stephanie raised a brow. Then, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, she extended a hand and said, “I promise not to hold it against you.”

Lindsey stared at her, uncertain what to say.

“Ignore her, Lindsey,” Alex said, looking amused.

“She remembers Rick from when she was in junior high. He used to pull her ponytail and call her brat.”

“Well, in that case, you have my fullest empathy. He calls me by that awful nickname, too,” Lindsey said, accepting the proffered hand.

“Stephanie, Alex, where are your manners? Stop chattering and bring our guest inside,” an older woman scolded from the doorway.

“Yes, Mother,” Alex and Stephanie chorused, chagrined looks on their faces.

Alex slammed the trunk lid, startling her. Lindsey jumped, uncertain why she should suddenly feel ill at ease. It wasn’t until Alex rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder that she forced herself to move.

His mother was a petite woman. Her silvery-blond hair had faded slightly with age. Her face was kind and beautiful. It was easy to see where Alex had gotten his good looks. After giving her son a hug and a fond buss on the cheek, she turned her attention to Lindsey. She seemed inordinately pleased by her presence.

“I’m so glad you could come, my dear,” she said, taking Lindsey by the arm, speaking gently as she led her up a stairway of marble. “Have you eaten dinner, yet?”

“Um—no,” Lindsey said, trying not to ogle the house’s rich furnishings. “But I’m really not that hungry.”

With the walls painted white and the windows placed with an optimum view of the ocean in mind, the house had a light, airy feel about it. It was large and spacious, with an eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional furnishings. Yet it had a comfortable, lived-in quality. It was a place where anyone could feel at home.

“Well, perhaps you’d like a sandwich later. Right now, I’ll show you to your rooms. I thought you and Alex might like to freshen up after your trip.”

“Thank you, that would be wonderful,” Lindsey said, glancing back at Alex. He followed behind, deep in a conversation with his sister.

“I do hope you’ll enjoy your visit,” Mrs. Trent continued. “I was so pleased when Alex called to say you were coming.”

“Thank you,” Lindsey repeated, wondering what else Alex might have mentioned about her. Since Jamie’s birthday party, they hadn’t discussed the details of her role in this weekend’s festivities. As far as she knew, Alex might still be expecting her to play the part of his “girlfriend.”

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