A tall, good-looking rancher, Holt Rawlins, walked to his bride-to-be and hugged her. His sandy colored hair had been recently cut, leaving a soft wave over his forehead. He had an easy smile and green eyes that sparkled with mischief.
“Boy, am I glad that’s over,” he said. “I’m also glad that I didn’t have so much trouble choosing my best man.”
“Who’s doing the honors?” Paige asked.
“Holt asked me.”
Everyone turned to see Reed Larkin standing in the doorway. He was dressed in jeans and a pale blue, Western-cut shirt, and looked devilishly handsome.
“Isn’t it great?” Leah gushed. “Reed is going to be escorting you down the aisle, and you two get to toast us at the reception.”
“Yes, that’s great,” Paige agreed as she caught the smile on Reed’s face.
So much for not running into each other.
CHAPTER TWO
AFTER dinner, Paige made her way out to the porch. With all the wedding talk it was getting a little stifling inside the kitchen. She also hated the fact that she was keeping a secret from her family. An important, life-changing secret. Even though she’d come home several times since moving to Denver, tonight seemed different. Soon a lot of things were going to be different.
Leah was getting married in a matter of days. Paige was going to have a baby. The Keenan family was growing. In a few months the clan would have added three new members.
She pressed her hand against her stomach protectively, a habit she’d acquired since learning of her pregnancy. This wasn’t the way her mother and father had expected to welcome their grandchild. It hadn’t been how Paige planned, either. She’d planned to bring her special guy home this summer to meet her parents.
How could she’ve been so wrong about a person? She’d believed him when he said he was divorced—that he hated his wife, Sandy.
The day Paige had learned about her pregnancy, Drew announced that he was going back to his wife. In truth they’d only been separated for the past year, and Drew finally admitted that he wanted a second chance at his marriage. What she hadn’t expected was his anger and his threat not to get in the way of his reconciliation. Then he stormed out of her condo and her life.
Paige wiped a tear from her cheek, refusing to cry over the man, or the past any longer. It was all about the future. The Keenans were going to be her baby’s family. She and her child didn’t need any man, especially a man who didn’t want them.
“Would you mind some company?”
Paige tensed and glanced over her shoulder to see Reed. She shrugged. “It’s a free world.”
“Thanks,” he told her, nodding toward the back door. “There’s way too much talk about Gerber daisies and banana cream or strawberry filling for the wedding cake going on inside.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Can’t take it? And you’re supposed to be the stronger sex.”
He cocked a thumb toward the kitchen. “If you think I’m in bad shape, you should see how blurry-eyed Holt is.”
That made Paige smile. Although she didn’t know the groom well, she liked him. “Losing testosterone, huh?”
“Be careful, I’m feeling the urge to spit and find a belching contest.” Reed walked to the railing, sat down.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d resist.”
“I’ll try.” He leaned against the post and looked out at the rows of moonlit pines. “This is nice.”
Paige wanted to ignore the fact that his nearness bothered her. What was wrong with her? She’d left those feelings back in high school. “I know. I’ve missed this place.”
Reed turned to Paige. He could see that she’d been crying. He knew from his sister’s pregnancy that women got emotional. Paige coming home to tell her family about her baby had to be rough. “Your family is going to be happy about the baby.”
She glared at him. “I don’t want to talk about this. And you promised that you weren’t going to say anything…”
He raised a hand. “Hey, you have to know I wouldn’t break a promise to you. I’m just trying to be a friend, Paige.”
She remained silent.
He changed the subject. “Have you seen a doctor?”
She nodded. “Just to verify that I’m pregnant and to start my vitamins.”
“You need a doctor here?”
She hugged herself. “I want an obstetrician.”
“My sister had a good doctor. She’s in Durango.”
She nodded, but looked sad.
“Are you sure that you don’t want to contact the father…?”
“That’s the last thing I want,” Paige whispered as she stared out into the night. Reed felt the familiar ache of wanting to take her in his arms and tell her he was here for her.
Damn, he hated that she could still turn him inside out. She’d come back to town and all he wanted was to be with her.
“I’m sorry…that things didn’t work out for you, Paige.” As much as he wished it, he couldn’t make this right for her. Reed looked over at her and instantly wanted her. He always had, but it wouldn’t work for either of them. They were both carrying too much baggage.
He stood up. “I should be going. I work tonight.” He started to walk away, then stopped. “If you need to get a hold of me for anything, just call the station. If I’m not there, leave a message on my voice mail.”
Paige turned around. “Reed, this isn’t a good idea…I need to stand on my own. I have a lot to figure out.”
He smiled as he reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, grazing her incredibly soft cheek. “I know, I was just thinking that if you needed a friend.”
Her lower lip quivered. “We tried that once.”
“Yeah, we did. Maybe this time we can handle it better.”
He turned and walked away, knowing he was lying through his teeth. When it came to Paige Keenan, friendship wasn’t all he had in mind.
The next morning, Paige woke up about eight o’clock, and made it into the bathroom before she got sick to her stomach. Luckily the family had gone downstairs and she was alone. How would she explain puking her guts out?
Paige showered and dressed in a pair of worn jeans, but had to leave the top button undone. While she put on a pale pink blouse she was unable to stop thinking about Reed. It would be such a bad idea to get involved with him, especially in her condition.
She was vulnerable, and could so easily lean on Reed. And that wouldn’t be fair to either of them, even though he had suggested they could be friends again.
Paige smiled. In grammar school she could be friends with him, but now, the man was too good-looking and sexy not to stir her hormones. Any woman’s hormones. No, she needed to stay as clear of Sheriff Reed Larkin as possible. Of course until the wedding was over, that wouldn’t be easy.
She arrived in the kitchen to find her mother.
“Good morning,” Claire said and kissed her daughter on the cheek. “How about some breakfast?”
No way. “Maybe some toast and juice.”
Her mother put a cup of coffee in front of her. Of course Paige couldn’t have caffeine during her