His Best Friend

“Not yet.” Jason Webb, a friend of Matt’s who had recently become a regular part of their group, licked the salt from his margarita.

Just then, their waitress, a pretty young thing with wildly curly red hair, bounced over to their table. “Y’all ready to order?”

While the other three flirted with the waitress and placed their orders, John looked around the room to see if he could spy the Meg Ryan look-alike. Nope. He couldn’t see her anywhere.

“Are you ready, sir?” the waitress said.

John grinned. “Sir? You think I’m a sir?”

She laughed. “I have to call everyone sir.”

“Even girls?” John teased. Then, taking pity on her, he said, “I’ll have the chicken quesadillas.”

As he handed her the menu, he suddenly saw the blonde. She must have just returned from the rest room because she was in the process of sitting down at a table where a pretty brunette was already seated.

Listening to his buddies with half an ear, he covertly watched the blonde, all the while trying to figure out if he had nerve enough to approach her again. He had just about decided to get up and walk over when she and her friend stood, gathered their belongings and walked off.

Damn!

They were leaving!

“John. Hey, John. You deaf or something? I asked you a question.”

John looked blankly at his friends, mumbled an apology, pushed back his chair and, ignoring their startled questions, took off after the blonde.

By the time he got to the front door, they’d already exited. John dashed out, looked left, then right. There they were, walking toward the parking lot. He reached them just as they climbed into a Jeep Wrangler—the blonde on the driver’s side. Her eyes widened when she saw him.

“Don’t be alarmed. I’m not a stalker.” He grinned. “I did follow you out, though.”

Now she smiled, too. “You did?”

Was it his imagination, or did she seem pleased?

“Yeah, I, uh…” Oh, hell. Might as well go for broke. “Look, I know you don’t know me, but I’m a really nice guy. If you doubt it, my friends inside will all vouch for me.”

Now the friend was smiling, too.

“Anyway, I wondered if I could call you sometime. Maybe we could catch a movie or even just meet for coffee.”

Her smile turned regretful. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think so.”

John was surprised by how disappointed he felt.

“Thing is,” she continued, “I don’t live in Austin.”

“Oh.”

“I’m just visiting for the day.”

He nodded. “Just my luck, I guess.”

“But thanks. I…I’m flattered.”

Still smiling, she turned the key in the ignition.

“Hey, wait,” he said. Digging into his shirt pocket, he pulled out one of his business cards. He handed it to her. “If you come back and feel like it, that’s my number.”

She didn’t say anything, but she did tuck the card into her purse. Then, with a wave, she drove off.

John stood and watched until the Jeep was out of sight, then, regretfully, he headed back inside the restaurant.

Chapter One

One month later…

“You’re breaking up with me?” Allison Carruthers, who had been John’s girlfriend for the past year, stared at him in disbelief. “But I—I thought we were—” Her voice broke.

John knew what she’d thought. That one day they would probably get married. How could he explain without making the situation even worse than it was?

He wished he could explain how her anger and negativity had finally worn him down. But the one time he’d tried to talk to her about her tendency to expect the worst, she hadn’t understood what he was talking about. She’d told him he was the one with the problem and that at least one person in a partnership had to be cautious and sensible.

Maybe if he loved her, he could have coped with that aspect of her personality. But the bottom line was, he had finally realized he wasn’t in love with her.

“I’m sorry, Allison. I don’t blame you for being upset. You deserve better.” Why not try to leave her with her pride?

“I should have known this would happen. It’s so typical. Men are so self-centered. I guess I didn’t stroke your ego enough, right?”

John knew it was best to just ignore her gibe. “Look, I’ll move my stuff out tomorrow.”

She shook her head. Her face had become stony. “No. You’ll move your stuff out today.”

John nodded. He’d wanted to make a clean break, but he’d been afraid it would have been adding insult to injury to dump the news that he wanted to sever their relationship, then immediately move his things out of her apartment.

He headed for the bedroom they’d shared for the past nine months. Opening the closet, he pulled down the suitcase he’d stored on the top shelf, then placed it on the unmade bed. Not wanting to take the time to fold his things properly, he pulled clothes off hangers and haphazardly tossed them into the open suitcase. Next came the contents of the two drawers that held his underwear, socks and T-shirts. Soon it was obvious to him that the suitcase wasn’t going to hold everything. Damn. He looked around. He needed some kind of big bag.

Remembering the garbage bags in the kitchen pantry, he headed in that direction. He stopped dead when he saw Allison. She was standing at the living room window with her back to him. Her shoulders shook. She was crying.

He swore to himself. He felt like a complete and total jerk. “Allison,” he said softly, walking toward her. When he touched her shoulder, she twisted away.

“Don’t touch me.” Her voice was thick with tears.

Knowing the best thing he could do now was clear out of there fast, he left Allison and went into the kitchen for the garbage bags. Doubling two of them, he headed back to the bedroom and threw in the rest of his belongings. Once he was sure he had everything, he closed the suitcase. Removing the key to the apartment from his key chain, he placed it on the dresser. With the suitcase in one hand and the garbage bags in the other, he walked back out to the living area.

Allison still stood at the window. She turned around when she heard him. The tears were gone, but her face was blotchy. She was trying for an I-don’t-give-a-damn look, but her eyes gave her away. It made John feel even worse to see the sadness in them. Despite everything, they’d shared a lot of good times together, and he hated that she was hurting.

“I’ll call you, let you know where I’m staying, okay?” he said.

“Don’t bother.”