“Thanks, Jarrett. I might take you up on it.”
“Great.” He cleared his throat. “Do you talk to Carlie often?”
Her stomach twisted. How could she be so stupid? She should’ve known he was only being nice to her to find out about Carlie.
With her heart in her throat she gave him the information he craved. “If you want to see Carlie, you’re in luck. She happens to be staying with me for a little while.”
“She is?”
The way his face lit up told her all she needed to know. Even nine years later, he was still pining for Carlie. Rylie’s eyes stung, but she didn’t cry. She never cried. Controlling her emotions was her super-power.
“I’ll send her over after she wakes up. I’m sure she’ll be thrilled to see you.” Rylie kept a high, happy note in her voice as she moved toward her garage door, intent on escaping his enticing presence. No use torturing herself with hopes of what could never be. But she was going to give her sister a stern talk before she let her start dating Jarrett again.
“Wait.” His hand grabbed her elbow, and she ignored the ensuing tingles. His eyes studied the ground. “Please don’t send her to my house.”
“You don’t want to see her?”
“I want to, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea.” His hand came up to push through his dark hair. “I need to get some things straight in my head, first.”
She shrugged, like the decision was of no consequence to her. But inside her head, she yelled, “What about me?”
“I have a great idea.” His eyebrows arched high. “I’m cooking steaks for some friends tonight. Why don’t you both come over? Say around five o’clock?”
“Gee, thanks,” she replied in a flat tone. “A chance to make small talk with a bunch of people I don’t know. Sounds almost as fun as driving tiny slivers of wood under my fingernails.” Besides, she’d rather watch a documentary about cockroaches than witness Jarrett and Carlie getting back together.
He chuckled. “You can do it. You’re not any more introverted than I am.”
“Yes, but you know all these people.”
“If you want, you can sit at the children’s table.”
He must remember she was crazy about kids. “No fair. You’re hitting below the belt.”
“Not only will there be three kids…” He paused, looking up to the sky while his lips moved in silent counting. “…but also two babies.”
“Babies?” Her longings battled inside her. She could sit in a corner, holding a baby, with her back to Jarrett and Carlie.
“Please say you’ll come.”
He really wanted her there. Could it mean something? Maybe tonight was his chance to close the book with Carlie and open a new one with her.
“Fine. I’ll come for a little while.”
“Thanks, Rylie.” His knitted brows relaxed. “If you’re there, too, it’ll be easier. I can treat Carlie like we’re pals, the same as you and me.”
“Pals. Sure.” His words hit her like a brick. “We’re such great pals that you haven’t spoken to me since Carlie left for Nashville.”
His jaw dropped, and the air between them curdled with tension.
I can’t believe I said that.
“I’m sorry, Jarrett. I shouldn’t—”
“No. You’re absolutely right. I was mad at Carlie when she left, and I took it out on you.” His hand reached out, and she held her breath, waiting for the thrill of his touch. But he pulled back at the last second, stuffing his hands back in his pockets.
“It wasn’t your fault,” she said, feeling guilty for her outburst. At the time, he’d been hurting. And of course, he’d had no idea Rylie was in love with him. “I knew you couldn’t stand seeing my face when you were missing Carlie.”
“That’s no excuse.” He shook his head. “Our friendship was important, Rylie. It still is. I won’t make that mistake again. We’ll be friends, no matter what happens between Carlie and me.”
He wants to be friends. Lucky me.
CHAPTER 2
Jarrett’s feet pounded the pavement in a steady rhythm. He ran with a perfectly even gait, a difficult feat made possible by a state-of-the-art prosthesis on his left leg, along with years of practice. Usually running was a great way to clear his mind, but today his mind resembled a hoarder’s closet.
Carlie!
Carlie had taken his heart, and he’d never gotten it back. Nine years ago, she’d made him feel like he was the most amazing man in the universe, back when he was a poor, computer-nerd, grad student. All this time, he’d thought nothing would make him happier than to see her again. To have another chance. But now, knowing the dream was becoming a reality, he felt sick to his stomach.
After the initial shock of seeing Carlie’s face, he’d been relieved to learn it was Rylie, instead. At least he had time to pull himself together and figure out what he was going to say when he saw Carlie again. What he didn’t know was if he would be able to stick to his plan when she was standing in front of him in the flesh.
Jarrett turned off the road onto the paved running trail that wound through the foothills, its close proximity to his new home one of the reasons he’d purchased it. He forged up the incline without slowing, pushing his limits. He relished the physical pain, a distraction from the pain inside his mind.
He wasn’t the kind of man who ran away from problems. He had to face Carlie and settle things from their past. But a little extra support would make the task easier, which was exactly why he’d invited the sisters over for steak when his friends would be there.
He turned up the music in his ears, hoping the sound would drown out his painful memories. But Carlie’s face kept intruding into his mind. Or was it Rylie’s face?
