Since I Found You (Crystal Springs Romances: The Wedding Chapel Book 2)

by Mary Jane Morgan

  “Admit it. You want me.” She laughed and he couldn’t help but join her. “I’m glad you stopped by,” he said. “I almost didn’t come into work tonight, but decided I might as well since the prettiest lady in town didn’t want to go out with me.”

  She blushed and glanced down, and he loved that his words had flustered her. He laced his fingers through hers. “Seriously, I’m glad you changed your mind and stopped by,” he said with a smile.

  “Me too,” she said shyly.

  He bent down until their eyes were level. “Sorry if I came on a bit strong the other day.”

  Her brows furrowed. “I need to get out more, so I should probably thank you.”

  Another slow song started, one of Justin’s favorites, Savage Garden’s “Truly, Madly, Deeply. “Dance with me?” he asked.

  She nodded and he dropped her hand and rounded the bar, then guided her onto the dance floor and back in a corner, pulling her flush against him. God, she felt good, and he couldn’t help but notice she followed him without missing a step.

  “It’s been a while since I’ve danced,” she admitted, leaning back and looking at him. “But you make it feel almost effortless.”

  He pulled her back up against him, not about to say how dancing with her made him feel. When the song ended, he reluctantly led her back to the bar. “You hungry?”

  “A little,” she said, her gaze never leaving his face.

  “Guess I’ll be a gentleman and share my sweet potato fries with you.”

  Her eyes twinkled. “Are you always a gentleman?”

  He felt caught in a web of emotions—emotions he wasn’t at all sure he welcomed—and he all but forgot they were surrounded by a rowdy bunch of people with loud music blaring in the background. “No. Not always,” he admitted. He motioned to Brian, gave him his order and turned back to her. “Where’s the fun in always being a gentleman?” He ran a finger down her cheek and traced her jawline, then her full lips.

  She swallowed hard and broke eye contact. “I came by tonight to tell you I’d like to be friends. Just friends,” she emphasized.

  Justin fought back disappointment. “And why’s that?” he asked smoothly, doing his best to not let her know how her statement had affected him. “We have chemistry, Paige, and we both know it.”

  The band started another song and numerous couples headed out to dance. Justin took Paige’s hand and tugged her down the hall to his office. The minute they were behind the closed door, he took her in his arms, but she jerked away.

  “I’m serious, Justin. I can only be your friend. It’s pretty obvious we have chemistry, but friendship is all I can handle now.”

  He dropped his arms and stepped back, leaned a hip on his desk. “Why is that?”

  “There are things you don’t know about me.”

  He arched a brow. “How many states are you wanted in?” She laughed and he grinned. “Come here,” he coaxed. “Nothing can be that bad.”

  She shook her head, and he wondered what had happened to make her so wary of men. Of him. He reached for her, pulling her gently toward him and resting his forehead against hers. “What’s allowed in this friendship thing? This?” He kissed her neck and she sighed. He took that as a yes. “How about this?” He grazed her jawline with his teeth and had almost reached her luscious lips when she edged back and plopped her hands on her hips, those green eyes of her flashing at him. He blew out a frustrated breath.

  “Listen to me, Justin. For now, this needs to be strictly friendship. I’ll understand if you don’t want to hang out with me anymore.”

  The woman had no idea what she was up against. She’d way underestimated both his determination and his patience. He took both her hands in his. “This is okay, right?”

  She narrowed her gaze on him again. “You’re making fun of me.”

  “Kinda,” he admitted.

  “And torturing me on purpose.”

  “I’m torturing us both,” he said with a frown. After a short pause, he asked, “Want to tell me what’s got you so jittery?”

  “I’m not jittery,” she said with a frown. “I just don’t trust easily.”

  There was only one reason a woman felt that way. “What’s his name? I’ll find him and beat him up for you.”

  She laughed. “You would not. Besides that, it wouldn’t solve anything.”

  Justin wanted to pull her closer then thought better of it. “So you want to take this real slow and see if I’m what I seem? That it?”

  She scowled at him. “Is mind reading one of your attributes, too?”

  “Too? Does that mean you think I have some attributes?”

  “You know you do. You’re the kind of charmer women are drawn to.”

  “I don’t know about that, but I like women. All kinds of women. And I like talking with women. Must be because I have two sisters who are great, and my mom was one of a kind. I’m also an extrovert, so if that makes me ‘charming’, I can’t help it.”

  “Oh God, Justin. There you go. Charm just oozes from you every time you open your mouth. Plus, you make me laugh.” She took a step closer. “Can we please be friends? At least try that out first?”

  He nodded, even though he wasn’t at all sure that would work for him. “I’ve had a fair number of women friends, Paige. It worked. But that’s not what I want with you. However,” he added when she started to say something, “I’m willing to give it a try because, even though I think you’re hot as hell, I really like you.” She stared at him, her mouth open like a baby bird waiting for a treat. “Don’t look so surprised. I don’t scare easily, so if what you said earlier was meant to scare me off, it didn’t work.”

  “Okay,” she said slowly, a tiny smile lifting the corners of her mouth.

  “Good. Want to hang out with me tomorrow?”

  “What are we doing?”

  “Being casual,” he teased. “Or have you already forgotten that stipulation? Considering my abundance of charm,” he tacked on. She shot him a look that would have had most guys running for cover, but he had to work to hold in a grin. “We could get brunch at Saint Anejo’s.” He raised a brow, waiting for her response.

  “That sounds…” She hesitated. “Nice,” she finally said. “I’ve heard it has a good brunch.”

  “It does. Meet you there at ten thirty.” Two could play this game. She wanted strictly friendship. That’s what she’d get. God knows he knew how to be a friend to a woman. Jillian and Claire had come to him for advice and a shoulder to cry on more times than he could remember. He and his brother, Logan, had both been broken in by the best.

  He headed toward his office door, pulled it open and waited for her. When she passed him, it was all he could do not to pull her close and take deep breaths of her fresh, clean scent with a hint of spring flowers. Instead, he merely grinned at her and closed his office door behind them.

  “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” she said when they reached the bar.

  He wished she’d hang around for a while. Maybe dance with him a few more times. Or maybe not. Why torture himself with anymore slow dances? “Yeah, see you then.”

  She looked like she wanted to say something, but instead she turned and headed out the door. He watched her go, wondering what that ex of hers had done to make her so mistrustful of men. And wondering even more what the hell he was doing? “What can it hurt?” he muttered. Starting out as friends would be a smart move. It would keep Paige from getting burned, and him from becoming too involved with a woman he’d already decided wasn’t in the cards for him at this point in his life.

  * * *

  Paige opened the door to Saint Anejo’s and stepped inside, her nerves frayed. She’d been awake most of the night wondering why Justin had agreed to this friendship thing, and wondering even more what she had hoped to accomplish by suggesting it. Not only did she doubt he could stick to the friendship bargain, she also had doubts about her own will power. What in the world had she been thinking?

  �
�Quit thinking so hard,” a male voice said behind her.

  She whirled around and ran smack into Justin. He grabbed her shoulders and steadied her, and she knew she was in big trouble. A simple touch and she couldn’t think straight. “I was afraid you’d changed your mind,” she said, letting her gaze coast over the broad shoulders that filled out his red t-shirt.

  “Of course, I didn’t change my mind. I’m looking forward to our adventures today.”

  She narrowed her gaze on him, determined to figure this guy out. He took her elbow and guided her to a table by a huge window. “Do you have brunch here often?” she asked, opening the menu the waitress set in front of her, along with some ice water.

  “Not often enough. I recommend their dark chocolate waffles by the way.”

  She pursed her lips, trying to imagine chocolate waffles. “I can see hanging out with you will broaden my hips in no time.”

  “We’ll work it off on a bike ride later,” he said, his gaze coasting over her and making her shiver with awareness.

  “I don’t have a bike.”

  “I thought we might rent a tandem and do some pedaling along the Nashville Greenways.”

  “Great. I’ve never done that. Which seat requires the most amount of work?”

  “Feeling feisty this morning I see.” He set his menu down. “The front seat and I’ll be in it. You still have to do your share, though. And we have to stay in sync riding tandem or it won’t work very well.”

  She frowned. “What if I don’t catch on?”

  “We might look like drunk drivers. Even crash, so I hope you’re a fast learner.”

  She did, too. No way did she want to crash and burn, especially wearing shorts. The waitress returned to their table, and Paige decided to trust Justin’s recommendation and try the chocolate waffles along with a cup of fresh fruit. “Sounds like you have the day all planned out,” she said when their waitress left.

  Justin shrugged. “I admit I have some ideas. I’m the kind of guy who likes to plan, but if you have other suggestions, I’m certainly open to them.”

  She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t have any other ideas,” she muttered. “I should probably hang around with you more often, since you seem to be full of ways to be entertained. A bike ride really does sound fun,” she added. “I haven’t ridden a bike in years, so I might wear out long before you do.”

  “You look like you’re in pretty good shape, but I’ll go easy on you. And if you get sore, I know a place outside of town that has a hot spring. My sister, Claire, swears by it.”

  “That sounds wonderful. Years ago, I lived in Colorado and there were hot springs all over the place. You can’t beat them for easing sore muscles.”

  “The place I’m talking about is a dude ranch and it also has horses you can ride. Have you ever ridden?”

  “Of course. Hasn’t everyone? I’m not saying I know a whole lot about what I’m doing, but I can stay on one, unless they buck or something.” Paige leaned back as the waitress set her food in front of her.

  “How often do they do that?” Justin asked with a scowl.

  “Buck?” He nodded, obviously not comfortable when it came to horses and she couldn’t hold in her grin. “I’ve never had one buck with me. Does that make you feel better?” she asked, patting his hand.

  “Nope. I’m the only one in my family who doesn’t ride horses, and there’s a reason for that. I’m not sure why I even mentioned the beasts.”

  She laughed, even though his admission touched her. “This is the first time I’ve seen you unsure of yourself.”

  “It’s a rare occurrence. Better enjoy it.”

  “Does that mean I can’t talk you into taking me out to ride horses?” she asked, trying her best to pout.

  “I’ll take you,” he said after a long pause. “I wouldn’t have brought it up if I wasn’t going to follow through.”

  And there he went being nice again. “Shorts aren’t exactly horseback riding attire, so you’re safe for today, Justin.”

  “As luck would have it,” he said with one of his sexy grins.

  Shaking her head, she took a bite of chocolate waffle and practically moaned out loud. “These are delicious. I would have never ordered them without your prodding.”

  “I can see I might have to work hard to bring out your adventurous side.”

  The truth of his words took her back. Somewhere along the way, she’d lost the carefree woman she used to be. No, not somewhere. She knew exactly when it had happened, but she’d never known how to recapture it. She fought back tears as she gazed into Justin’s eyes, which for once looked serious. “I think maybe it’s time I tried to get that part of myself back,” she finally said. “I’ve played it safe ever since my ex left during a very difficult time for me.” And her dad had basically deserted her, but she kept that to herself.

  Justin took her hand and she was embarrassed at how cold it was. She tried to pull free, but he held on. “Your ex was a total jerk to do that.” She nodded, unable to speak. “So tell me, Paige, what made you decide to go out on a limb and get to know me better?”

  She pulled her hand free and took a sip of orange juice, then dabbed at her mouth with her napkin as she fought back the awkwardness that welled up in her. “I guess I came to the realization it was time for me to quit being such a coward,” she admitted. “I was devastated when Derrick left. My life had already taken a downward tumble and then he packed his bags and walked out. It took me a long time to begin to enjoy life again.” She fought for composure. “You seem like a nice guy, but I tend to not trust men.” And she felt like a part of her didn’t deserve a relationship with a man, she realized with a start. She’d felt that way ever since her father had left one morning even as she pleaded and begged for him not to leave.

  “Thus, the friendship deal,” Justin said softly.

  “Yes.” She swallowed around the lump in her throat, wishing she hadn’t confirmed that. She’d probably just made a huge error in judgement. Now that Justin knew her vulnerability, he could keep up a nice façade for however long it took to win her over.

  “I won’t take advantage of that,” he said, surprising her. “I really like you and want to know you better. I assume you’d like to know me better, too, seeing as how we’re hanging out today.”

  “Yes.”

  He nodded. “Good. Now let’s finish stuffing our faces and let the food settle so we can try the tandem biking. You up for that?”

  She straightened her shoulders. “I’m not only up for it, I’m looking forward to it,” she lied. Although she had to admit a small—very small—part of her did look forward to it.

  “I’ll remind you of those words later today.” Grinning, he motioned to the waitress and paid the bill. She started to protest, but he held up a hand. “You can pay for the bike ride if you want. That way you’ll be more invested,” he teased.

  Laughing, she scooted away from the table, surprised that she suddenly looked forward to what the rest of the day held.

  * * *

  “You ready to try this?” Justin asked as he held the tandem. Paige’s brow furrowed. “How about we go over the important stuff one more time?” he suggested. “I’m the captain; that’s the most important thing.” She slapped his arm and he grinned. “And you’re the stoker.”

  “That makes me sound like I’m stoking a fire.”

  “You are,” he said with a devilish grin, enjoying her laughter at his comment. “You’re so easy,” he responded with a chuckle.

  “You wish,” she responded back. “I sure hope we don’t crash and burn.”

  “Have you not read your brochure, Paige? The stoker needs to have trust in the captain. So, trust me.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Just give me my helmet and let’s get going.”

  “Fine, but remember you can’t so much as twitch back there without letting me know, even if it’s just to take a drink of water, or we might crash.”

  “Seems to m
e, that brochure makes everything that could possibly go wrong with this ride the stoker’s fault. How about I be the captain?”

  He patted her shoulder. “Because you’ve never ridden a tandem bike before, and neither one of us wants to end up in the emergency room.”

  She grabbed a helmet from him and put it on, then straddled the bike. “You coming?”

  “Yep.” He looked down at her feet. “Just as soon as I see if you’ve tucked your shoe laces into your shoes.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m totally ready for take-off.”

  “I knew you had it in you to be mouthy. Don’t forget, on the count of three we start off together.”

  She arched her brows at him and he shrugged, then pulled his helmet on, got on the bike, and counted to three. Off they went, wobbly but moving.

  “Why is this thing so unsteady?” she asked his broad backside.

  “Because you can’t sit still,” he answered.

  She wanted to shove his back but didn’t dare. Instead, she decided to test out his rules and raised a hand. They tilted and she gasped. “Oops. Guess you were right.”

  “I can see you’re not a follower,” he hollered back at her.

  They went around a curve and fear gripped Paige when they almost tipped over. “Quit leaning when we turn,” Justin ordered, and she quickly straightened. Good grief this thing was sensitive.

  After about thirty minutes or so of riding through parts of downtown and a neighborhood with tree-lined streets, two-story Victorian homes, and young couples pushing strollers or helping their youngsters learn how to ride a bike, Paige’s shoulders began to ache. “I have to change positions.”

  He nodded and she moved first her right hand and then her left. It helped the ache in her shoulders only minimally. She tapped him on the shoulder and the bike lurched to the right. They both stopped the fall with their foot.

  Justin turned around. “Not as easy as it might seem, huh?”

  “That’s an understatement.”

  “Let’s park this thing. Sit on a bench and people watch.”