Page 65 of Nice Guys Don't Kiss Like That At Christmas
“Nice to meet you.”
“Mind if I join you?”Without waiting for an answer, he slides into the chair across from me.“Small world, huh?I heard you’re staying at the B&B.With Adam Harrison.”
The way he says Adam’s name carries a weight I can’t quite decipher.
“I’m staying there, yes.”My voice stays neutral despite the insinuation.The entire town must know we’ve been sharing the honeymoon suite.
Frank leans forward.“Adam and my sister Faye were together for a while.”
“Oh?”I take a sip of water, refusing to show interest despite the very unwelcome tightness in my chest.
“She’s on a cruise until next week.Her ex has their kid until then, but she should be in Pine Creek as soon as she finds a place.”Frank watches my face carefully.“Faye always had a crush on Adam.When they finally got together, I thought it was for the long haul.”
I fiddle with my napkin, not wanting to be pulled into whatever this is.
“He broke my sister’s heart,” Frank says, his voice dropping.“Even though he’d say she broke his by taking that job in DC.”He shrugs, but there’s nothing casual about the gesture.“He let her go.”
“Not everyone’s ready for compromises,” I say, aiming for neutral but hearing the defensiveness in my voice.
“The funny thing is,” Frank continues, “he never really sent her messages at night just wanting to make her laugh.Or didn’t learn crochet for her, either.”
Those details have me look up sharply.“Why would you say that?And what do you mean learning crochet for her?”
His smile turns knowing.“Kellan told me about you.Back then.Before the ghosting thing.”
The realization that Adam’s brother had talked about me—about us—sends a wave of heat up my neck.I focus on my coffee, stirring it unnecessarily.
“You planning to stay in Pine Creek long?”His question shifts abruptly, pointed as a scalpel.“Or is this a holiday layover on your way back to the big city?”
“I have a job in Chicago,” I say simply.Half a truth.Okay, a total lie.
“So did my sister.”Frank’s gaze drifts to the window, then back to me.“Sometimes I wonder if staying would’ve been better for her.The guy she met after Adam...”He shakes his head slightly.“Well.That’s ancient history.”
Something in his tone makes me think it’s anything but ancient history.I shift in my seat, uncomfortable with the weight of his unspoken implications.
His expression changes, a smile replacing the momentary vulnerability.“You know, Pine Creek doesn’t get many big-city medical professionals who can handle both a Great Dane and small-town gossip.”He leans forward slightly.“While you’re in town, you should see it properly.The tree lighting’s on Friday.I could show you around.”His smile reveals perfect teeth.“No pressure.Just a local showing a visitor the sights.”
A familiar voice cuts through the ambient noise.“Frank.Didn’t know you took lunch breaks.”
Adam stands beside our table, his expression carefully neutral, but I recognize the tension in his jaw.He’s wearing his clinic coat, the sleeves rolled up.
Frank’s smile doesn’t falter.“Catching up with old friends.Getting to know new faces.”He glances meaningfully at me.
“How’s Dana?”Adam asks, shifting slightly so he’s angled between Frank and me.Not possessive, but present.
“We’re on a break.”Frank stands, seemingly reluctant to surrender his position.“I should get going.Meeting across town.”He turns to me.“Think about Friday, Eve.The offer stands.”
As he leaves, Adam takes the vacated seat, his blue eyes finding mine.
“Sorry about that,” he says, voice low.“Frank has a habit of marking territory that isn’t his.”
“Marking territory?”I arch an eyebrow.“Are we talking about Frank or you right now?And am I the territory?Are you going to pee on me?”
A flicker of surprise crosses his face before his lips curve into that half-smile that does dangerous things to my pulse.“Fair question.”
“So,” I say, leaning forward slightly.“You and Faye were serious?”
His jaw ticks, but he doesn’t answer the question.“We were together for a while,” he acknowledges.“It ended when she got a job offer in DC.”
