The Last Single Maverick

“He was always good to her—kissing up to her really, it seems to me, in hindsight. When she would have us over for dinner, he would bring her flowers every time and fall all over her praising her cooking. And she knew how well he was doing at work, getting promotions, one after the other. She just… bought Kenny’s act, hook, line and sinker. She refuses to believe that the thing with Kimberly even happened. Kenny’s convinced her that I’ve blown an ‘innocent encounter’ all out of proportion.”

“Convinced her? You’re saying she’s speaking to him, after what he did to you?”

“Because she doesn’t believe he did anything bad, I guess she figures she’s got no reason not to speak to him.”

“She’s your mom and I won’t speak ill of her. But I will say she ought to get her loyalties straight.”

“Hah, I wish. When it comes to Kenny, she’s got on her rose-colored glasses and I’ve yet to convince her she really needs to take them off. I try to see it from her point of view. She finally decided to give another man a break, to trust Kenny—for my sake. And now she just can’t bear to admit she got it wrong again.”

“I guess it’s understandable,” Jace said. “But still. You’re her daughter. She should be backing you up.”

“Yeah, I wish. You know how I told you I had doubts about Kenny before I caught him with Kimberly?”

“I remember.”

“Well, I went to my mom and confided in her. I told her that Kenny wasn’t the guy I loved anymore, that sometimes I felt like I didn’t even know him, he was so different from who he used to be. She was the one who convinced me my fears were groundless, that I only had a very normal case of pre-wedding jitters, that Kenny was a wonderful man and it was all going to be fine.”

Jace touched her hair again, gently, an easing kind of touch. “So your judgment about the guy was solid. And your mom couldn’t—and still can’t—let herself see the truth. I’m betting she’ll get the picture in time.”

“I hope so.”

“And the main thing is that you didn’t go through with it. You had the guts to turn and walk away. You’re a strong woman. And you’re going to be fine.”

Joss could have stayed in Jace’s arms all night. But she’d had her head on his shoulder for several minutes now—too long really. She needed to pull herself together, no matter how good it felt to lean on him.

She sat up and retreated to her end of the sofa. That time, he didn’t try to stop her, and she was glad that he didn’t. If she was going to have a man for a friend—even just for a week—it was nice to think he was the kind of guy who would know when to put his arm around her.

And when to let her go.

“Mostly,” she said, “I think I’m doing pretty well, you know?”

He gave her a slow nod, his dark eyes steady on hers.

“I tell myself I’m getting past what happened last Saturday. But every time my mom calls, she just brings the whole mess into painful focus all over again. Her blindness to the reality of the situation makes me see way too clearly what a huge mistake I made.” She held up her thumb and forefinger, with just a sliver of space between them. “I got this close to marrying a guy who cheated on me on our wedding day—and with my own cousin, no less.”

“But you didn’t marry him. Focus on that, Joss.”

She braced her elbow on the sofa arm and rested her chin on her hand. “You’re right, I didn’t. But I did quit my job for that rotten, no-good cheater. I gave up my cute apartment. When I go home, I’ll be starting all over again.”

“Maybe you can get your job back.”

“Maybe I can. We’ll see.” She straightened her spine. What she wanted right now was a long bath accompanied by an equally long, totally self-indulgent crying jag. “Thank you for listening—and I need to stop whining.”

He gave her a slightly crooked smile. “I have the strangest feeling you’re giving me the boot.” He picked up his beer from the coffee table and downed the last of it.

“It’s only, well, lately talking to my mom really brings me down.” She tried to think of something snappy and charming to say, so they could end the evening on a happier note. But right then, she was all out of snappy, totally bereft of charming.

He rose. “It’s the great thing about a best friend. Even a best friend for a week. You don’t have to explain anything. All you have to say is good night.”

Jace thought about Joss all the way out to Jackson and Laila’s place.

He hoped she was okay. And he hoped he’d done the right thing by leaving when she asked him to.

What else could he have done? She’d had that look. Like all she wanted was to get into bed—alone—and pull the covers up over head. He’d figured the best thing he could do for her right then was to get lost.

Jackson and Laila had ten beautiful, wooded acres with a big two-story farmhouse, a barn and a paddock where they kept a few horses. When Jace pulled up in front of the house, the lights were off upstairs. But through the shut blinds of the front room’s picture window, Jace could make out the faint glow of the flatscreen TV. He figured he would find his brother in there, channel-surfing, waiting up.

Jace was right.

Jackson sat in his favorite recliner, the mutt he and Laila had adopted from the animal shelter snoozing at his feet. Jace entered the room and Jackson turned off the TV. “Beer?”

“No, thanks.” Jace dropped into the other recliner and popped out the footrest. “Good party at the Rib Shack.”

Jackson grunted. “Ethan get after you?”

“Yeah.”

“He thinks he’s going to talk you into coming in with us.”

“It’s not gonna happen.”

“Yeah.” Jackson set the remote on the table by his chair. “I told him that. More than once. But you know how he can be when he gets an idea in his head.”

Jace closed his eyes. He felt comfortable. Easy. It was always like that with him and Jackson. Even when they fought—which they used to do a lot when they were younger—there was a certain understanding between them. They didn’t need a lot of words. They just accepted each other.

The mutt’s collar jangled as he scratched himself. The dog’s name was Einstein. He wasn’t much to look at, but Jackson claimed he was really smart.

Jackson said, “You know, I thought you said you’d sworn off women. But you’re in Thunder Canyon barely twenty-four hours and already you’ve got a girl.”

“No, I don’t.” Jace gave the denial in an easy tone, knowing his brother wouldn’t believe him.

“Shame on you, Jason. Lying to your own twin brother.”

“Joss is great. I liked her the first minute I saw her. But it’s not like that. We’re just friends.”

Jackson chuckled. “Yeah, and if you think I believe that, I’ve got some oceanfront property in Kansas to sell you.”

“I mean it. We’re friends. She’s here for another week. I’ll be hanging around with her if she’ll put up with me, but nothing’s going to happen between us.”

“Hey, whatever you say. I’m just glad to see you taking an interest in a woman again. And she seems like a great girl to me. Laila liked her, too. So did Ma.”

Jace made a low noise that could have meant anything and hid his smile. His family—including his twin—were all so predictable. He showed up with a woman at his side, and they couldn’t believe there was nothing but friendship going on.

Which suited him just fine.

Jackson spoke again, gruffly this time. “And it’s good, that you came back to Montana finally.”

Jace knew he’d hurt his brother’s feelings by not coming to Thunder Canyon over the holidays—and worse, he hadn’t been there for Jackson and Laila’s Valentine’s Day wedding.