From Best Friend To Daddy

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Kate sank onto the chaise in the seating area of the women’s restroom. She slid out of her heels and resisted the urge to moan. Between all the food she ate and dancing and the lack of sleep, she was ready for bed.

It was that whole lack of sleep—or the reason behind it—that had her escaping to the restroom to hide for a bit. She’d known Gray would bring up their situation, but their friend’s wedding was sure as hell not the place she wanted to hash things out.

She couldn’t think when he was holding her, because now that they’d been intimate, any type of touch triggered her memories...not that the images of last night had ever faded to the background. Would they ever?

Besides, Kate had no clue what she wanted to say anyway. Did she say thank you? Did she compliment him? Or did she broach the fact that she’d had her first taste of alcohol and it wasn’t that bad? What exactly did she lead in with after such an epic, mind-boggling night?

The bathroom door opened, but Kate kept her eyes in her lap, not wanting to face any guests.

“Who are we hiding from?”

So much for not facing anyone.

Kate glanced up to see Tara and Lucy holding the skirts of their gowns and coming in from the madness and noise outside. Once the door shut, her friends waited for her answer in silence.

“Tara—”

“Is it Bryan?” Lucy asked, rolling her eyes. “I swear, he and Noah are close, but I had no idea how annoying that man could be when presented with a single woman. Guess he thinks he has a chance with you.”

Kate blew out a sigh. If her only problem involved a man who was a complete goober and found her attractive, she’d be golden and certainly wouldn’t be hiding in the bathroom.

No, her issues came in the form of a six-foot-four-inch bar owner who could make her tingle just from the slightest brush of his fingertips.

“This isn’t about Bryan. I’m just taking a breather,” she told them, which was the absolute truth.

Lucy gathered the full skirt of her wedding dress and flopped next to Kate on the chaise. Tara crossed and sat in the floral armchair.

“I told you something was up,” Tara stated, looking at Lucy.

“This is her wedding day.” Kate glared at her friend. “You told her you thought something was up with me when she should be focusing on how quickly she and Noah can get out of here and head to their honeymoon?”

Tara’s eyes widened as she shrugged. “We’re friends. She can go have sex with Noah whenever. I need to know what’s going on with you and Gray.”

“Are you two arguing again?” Lucy asked. “I swear, you’re like an old married couple, just without the sex.”

Kate nearly choked on the gasp that lodged in her throat. Fortunately, she recovered before giving herself away. She was nowhere near ready to spill her secret. Her friends would be completely shocked if they learned she’d had sex with Gray. Kate was still reeling from the fact herself.

“What? No, we’re not arguing.” They couldn’t argue when she was running away and dodging the issue. “Why would you think that?”

“Because you two were dancing, then you rushed out in the middle of the song.”

Kate stared at Tara. “I didn’t see you on the dance floor.”

“I wasn’t there. I was getting Marley another plate of fruit and dip when you scurried by,” Tara explained. She pinned her with those bright eyes. “I’d assumed you were running from Bryan, but I saw Gray’s face as he watched you.”

Oh, no. Damn it. Kate didn’t want to ask what emotions Tara had seen on his face, what feelings he’d been unable to mask. She honestly had no clue what he was feeling because he’d been so good at keeping that to himself since last night.

Of course, if she’d waited to hear what he had to say, maybe she’d be better in tune with what was happening in his mind.

“He stepped in and saved me from Bryan. You know how Gray is,” Kate explained, smoothing down her chiffon-overlay skirt. She had to convince them there was nothing more than what was on the surface. “We just danced a few minutes until Bryan was gone. That’s all.”

Silence filled the room, which was good because the door opened again and an elderly lady came in. Kate didn’t know her, but she’d seen her on the groom’s side during the ceremony. Considering Noah wasn’t from here, it would make sense that there were guests Kate didn’t know.

“Would you go back out to your husband?” Kate hissed. “I’m just taking a break from those killer heels. Nothing is wrong.”

Lucy took Kate’s hand and squeezed. “Promise?”

“Of course.” Kate nodded. “Go on.”

Lucy finally got up and left. Once the other guest left as well, Kate was alone with Tara and her questioning gaze.

“What?” Kate demanded. “Can’t a girl just take a break?”

“Lucy can and I can, but not you.” Tara crossed her legs and leaned back in the seat. “You are always on the go, always planning the next thing, and I’ve never seen you relax. So what’s really going on? And don’t lie. I’m done with lies.”

Kate swallowed a lump of guilt. Tara had been dealt too much lately, but there were just some things Kate wasn’t about to share. That was not a reflection of their friendship. She’d tell her and Lucy...someday.

“Not now, okay?”

Tara’s curiosity quickly turned to concern. “Promise me you’ll come to us if you need anything. I know what it’s like to be lost in your own thoughts and worry what to do next.”

True story. Tara and Sam were going through hell all while trying to keep their daughter out of the fires.

“Same goes.” Kate reached over and took her friend’s hand. “Sam looked like he was doing really well.”

Tara nodded. “He is. He left me a note on my windshield this morning.”

How could anyone not find Sam and his handwritten notes simply heart-melting? He’d done that when they’d been married and since their split, he continued to leave her notes. Tara always mentioned them and Kate wondered what it would be like to have a man who cared that much.

The man was a hopeless romantic who’d just made some bad choices. Kate didn’t blame Tara for being cautious, though. Some obstacles were just too great to overcome.

“We should get back out there.” Kate came to her feet and stared down at her heels. “If I ever get married, we’re all going barefoot.”

Tara laughed as she stood up. “Deal.”

Kate had pushed marriage thoughts out of her head long ago when her engagement ended. The whole ordeal had left her a bit jaded, but seeing Noah and Lucy come together after they’d both experienced such devastation in their lives gave Kate hope. She wanted to marry one day, to have a husband who loved her, start a family and live in the picturesque mountains of Tennessee.

One day, she vowed. But first she was going to have to figure out how to get back on that friendship ground with Gray. Every time she thought of him now, she only remembered him tearing off her underwear and climbing up on that bar to get to her.

And her body heated all over again. She had a feeling the line they’d crossed had been erased. There was nowhere for them to go that was familiar and comfortable because they were both in unknown territory.

Chapter Five (#u42d65de2-c7f1-578e-8096-b416b38fc1f1)

Gray slid another tray of glasses beneath the bar. For the past five days he’d gone about his business and mundane, day-to-day activities. This wasn’t the first time, and wouldn’t be the last, that he couldn’t shake the void inside him. Something was missing, had been for quite some time, but he’d never been able to quite place it.

His father always said it was a wife and children, but Gray didn’t believe that. He wasn’t looking to settle down and worry about feeding a relationship. His parents had been completely in love up until his mother’s death when Gray had been five. He’d seen how the loss had affected his father, seen how the man had mourned for decades. Gray didn’t want to subject himself to that type of pain.