Scandalous Engagement

For someone normally so methodical about her life, that rush to the courthouse had been completely out of character. But Reese had just gotten engaged and that act had made her wonder if she should be entering the next chapter in her life as well.

Obviously, the answer had been no.

Now here they were: she was divorced and Reese had a broken engagement. Maybe they just needed to stay as they were, as they had been for years. They were happy hanging out and traveling together. Having significant others enter the mix would only mess up their perfect best-friend vibe.

But she had yet to get Chris to understand her point of view. Unfortunately, no matter how much she told him she wasn’t getting back together with him, he didn’t get it. Maybe if he believed there was someone else he would realize there was absolutely no room for him in her life.

“I’ve moved on,” she blurted into the phone as she came to her feet. Josie darted her gaze to Reese, who merely raised his brows in surprise. “That’s right. He’s here right now, so I have to go.”

Josie disconnected the call and tossed her cell onto the lounger she’d just vacated. Reese continued to stare at her, but she just sighed and shrugged.

“He’s getting relentless,” she defended. “I had to say something.”

“So I’m your rebound guy?”

Josie smiled, feeling a tiny bit guilty for using Reese. “He doesn’t know who’s here, and it was the first thing that came into my head. He has to think I’ve moved on with someone else or he’ll keep wasting his time trying to win me back. He has to let it go.”

She crossed the patio and placed her hand on his arm. “I’m sorry I used you as the scapegoat. Let’s forget about Chris. What were you getting ready to say before?” she asked.

“I went to Green Valley, Tennessee,” he told her. “It wasn’t just about business.”

Josie dropped her arm and wiggled her brows. “Something personal? A woman?”

He hadn’t dated since he’d ended things with his fiancée nearly a year ago. He’d been too busy taking over his family’s posh restaurant empire, with establishments up and down the East Coast. Recently his father had suffered a heart attack, which led to open-heart surgery. Reese’s parents were now at some tropical resort to celebrate his life and their new retirement.

So what had Reese been doing in Tennessee if the trip didn’t pertain to his business?

Before he could explain further, the doorbell chimed and echoed through the house and out the patio doors. Why did she have to keep getting interrupted when she was just trying to get the scoop on her friend, who obviously had something serious going on?

“Sorry about that,” she told him as she came to her feet. “I’m not expecting anyone, so just give me one second.”

Josie crossed the living area to the foyer and glanced through the sidelight. Seriously? What would it take for Chris to get the hint?

On a frustrated sigh, Josie opened the door. Her ex stood before her. The man was tall and strong, and always took pride in his athletic build. He wasn’t unattractive. He just wasn’t the right guy for her. If she could keep him in the friend zone, that would be fine, but he didn’t want to accept that.

“Chris,” Josie groaned. “We just hung up.”

“I know, I know, but I had just pulled up to your house when I called and I only want a few minutes of your time.”

Chris stared at Josie with his heart in his eyes and she wanted to tell him to go out with some dignity, for pity’s sake.

“I only wanted five minutes in person,” Chris explained. “That’s all. Just five minutes.”

“Chris, we’re not doing this again. We’re not meant for each other.”

“But what if we are?”

Before she could respond, Reese’s arm slid around her waist and he pulled her against his side.

“Everything all right, babe?”

Babe? What the hell was he doing?

She glanced from Reese to Chris and remembered what she’d said earlier. Well, damn. Looked like she’d caused a minor mess here.

Chris’s eyes went from Josie, to Reese, and back again.

“Can we talk alone?” he implored.