The Man She Should Have Married

Olivia Britton grinned at her cousin, the newly married Eve Crenshaw. “I’m so happy you’re here!”

Eve laughed. “You’ve already said that at least ten times.”

“I know. But I am. I’ve missed you.” In fact, Olivia couldn’t believe how much she’d missed Eve.

“Oh, come on, Liv. I’ve only been gone six weeks. And we’ve texted and talked on the phone almost every day.”

“It’s not the same,” Olivia insisted. “You’re not here. We can’t meet for lunch or have dinner together or just sit and talk for hours. And Thea misses you, too!” Thea, short for Dorothea, was Olivia’s four-year-old daughter.

Eve nodded. “I know. But no matter where I am, I’ll always be here for you...and Thea. You know that.” She drank some of her wine, then reached over and squeezed Olivia’s knee. “And I’m here now.”

The cousins were sitting on either end of the sofa in Olivia’s living room. Their children were settled upstairs for the night and it was blessedly quiet, so Olivia hoped they were all asleep. They should be. It was after eleven, and she and Eve could finally talk without curious ears.

Olivia sighed. Eve wasn’t just her cousin. She was also her best friend, someone Olivia had always looked up to, someone she’d known was just minutes away for a hug, a shoulder to cry on or a listening ear. The only person in the world who knew everything about her—well, almost everything—and could be completely trusted.

But now Eve would be spending the majority of her time in either Los Angeles or Nashville, where her new husband (and the twins’ birth father), the famous and fabulous Adam Crenshaw—composer and lead singer of the band Version II—had two magnificent homes.

Eve, along with her twins Nathan and Natalie, had come back to Crandall Lake for the weekend to join in the family celebration of Olivia’s mother’s birthday.

Olivia sighed again. She was thrilled for Eve. Her cousin had waited a long time for some true happiness. But Olivia also loved seeing her daughter with her older cousins, both of whom Thea adored. And now that Eve and the twins had settled in Los Angeles for the school year, nothing would ever be the same again, no matter what Eve said.

Eve was still talking, still making an obvious attempt to reassure Olivia. “I’ll be coming to Crandall Lake a lot. And you’ll be visiting us wherever we are. And you know, I’ve been thinking. If you want to, you and Thea can even travel with us when Adam has a concert and we’re able to go with him.”

“I have a job, you know.” But wouldn’t it be wonderful to be free of everything tying her down and just take Thea and go, the way Eve was suggesting? “Besides, I don’t think I should leave my mom.” Norma was newly diagnosed as a diabetic—something their family seemed to be genetically disposed to—and was having some trouble dealing with the disease.

Eve gave Olivia a sideways look. “Stella’s here.” Stella was Olivia’s younger sister and she lived within walking distance of their family home. “You said yourself she’s really stepped up to the plate and has educated herself about the disease so that she can help your mom.”

“I know, but...” Olivia evaded Eve’s gaze.

“Let’s talk about the real reason. You’re afraid Vivienne would make trouble for you if you moved.”

Olivia made a face. Her mother-in-law hated her in direct proportion to the possessiveness she felt for Thea, her only grandchild, the daughter of her perfect younger son, who had died so tragically in the crash of his Black Hawk helicopter in Afghanistan.

“Am I right? Or am I right?” Eve pressed.

“You’re right.”

“She’s a piece of work, isn’t she?”

“That’s a kind way of putting it.”

“I’ll never understand her.” Eve finished her wine and set the glass on the coffee table in front of them.

“I’m not sure anyone does.” Olivia got up and retrieved the still-half-full bottle of Merlot she’d opened earlier. She poured more into Eve’s glass. “Even Matt says she’s just used to getting her own way, and when she doesn’t, look out.”

She was referring to Matt Britton, her brother-in-law, Vivienne’s oldest son. He’d always been good to Olivia, in spite of his mother. In fact, since Mark’s death, Olivia wasn’t sure how she’d have coped with her mother-in-law if not for Matt.

From day one, Vivienne Britton had been furious that Mark, her obvious favorite child, had wanted to marry “a nobody” like Olivia Dubrovnik instead of Charlotte Chambers, the daughter of the Brittons’ oldest friends. Charlotte was “our kind” and “perfect for you” as she’d told Mark many times, once even in Olivia’s hearing. It still amazed Olivia that Mark had defied his mother, because in all other things he had always done what she wanted him to do.

“Let’s not talk about her anymore.” Olivia poured more wine into her own glass and sat down again, curling her bare legs under her.

Eve smiled. “Good idea. Instead, let’s talk about you dating again.”

“I’m only thinking about dating again,” Olivia corrected. “I haven’t really decided. Besides, it’s not like there’s a line of eligible men out the door.”

There was one person who interested her, and for a moment, she was tempted to tell Eve about him, but pushed the urge away, because the situation was impossible. She felt a bit guilty about not telling Eve, because normally she told her everything, but in this case, her gut told her it was best not to put her feelings into words.

“The reason guys aren’t lining up is because no one knows you’re ready,” Eve said.

“I can hardly make an announcement.”

“No, but I can get the word out.”

Olivia stared at her. “What are you going to do? Put a notice in the Courier?” Eve had worked for the Crandall Lake Courier before marrying Adam in August.

Eve grinned, a sly look in her eyes. “No, but I just might mention it casually to Austin when we see him Sunday morning.”

“Austin!” Olivia was startled. Austin Crenshaw was one of Adam’s younger brothers. A successful lawyer, he took care of all Adam’s personal and professional legal and financial matters. “Why would he care?”

“Surely you saw how he was checking you out at the wedding,” Eve said. Austin had been Adam’s best man, and Olivia had served as Eve’s matron of honor.

“That’s ridiculous!” Olivia said. “He was just being polite to his new sister-in-law’s cousin.”

Eve shook her head knowingly. “Nope. He’s interested. I know the signs. And he’d be perfect for you.”

“That’s crazy. I am so not in his league.”

“Why are you constantly putting yourself down? He couldn’t find anyone better if he tried!”

Olivia loved that her cousin was always so loyal, but she had to face facts. “C’mon, Eve. If he’d really been interested, as you say, why hasn’t he called me or something?”

“I don’t know. But I’m going to find out.”

“No, no. Please don’t say anything to him.”

“I’ll just casually bring up your name Sunday.”

“No! Please, Eve. I really don’t want you to.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Eve insisted. “Austin and I have a great relationship. Since Adam and I got married, I’ve really gotten to know him. We’ve sort of bonded. And he’s a really great guy.”

Olivia knew, just from the determined look on Eve’s face, that she was not going to be dissuaded. It was useless to keep trying. Because, if she did, Eve would eventually wonder why. “Okay, but don’t say anything in front of the kids.” Eve and her twins were meeting Austin for breakfast Sunday.

“Don’t worry.” Eve smiled, happy now she’d gotten her way. “I’ll be discreet. The kids won’t hear me.”

“Thing is, I don’t want him to think I put you up to talking to him.” The very idea made Olivia cringe. Why had she even mentioned she was thinking about dating? She should have known Eve would latch on to that and start suggesting possible candidates. She gave a mental sigh. Austin did seem nice. Plus he certainly was easy on the eyes. All the Crenshaw men were. And since the one man who did interest her was completely and totally off-limits...

“Quit worrying,” Eve said. “That’s my job, remember?”