by Cindy Kirk
Charlie was intently explaining to her how he’d made the bead vanish from the paper cup and show up in his pocket when he heard the front door open.
“Daddy’s home.” The brown-haired boy jumped to his feet and raced from the room.
“We have extra food in here,” Meg called out. “If you’re hungry.”
The sound of heavy footsteps sounded on the hardwood. From the rumble of deep voices, Adrianna guessed that Cole Lassiter wasn’t alone.
She half expected to see him with Ryan. After all, he and Betsy’s husband were best friends from way back. Until she remembered Ryan would be home tonight with his wife and newborn son.
The second Tripp stepped into the room, Adrianna’s heart stopped beating.
No, the voice inside her head cried out, it’s too soon for the charade to begin.
At first, it appeared she may have been granted a reprieve. Meg busied herself preparing a plate for the two men, while Lexi got them each a beer from the refrigerator. Charlie was talking nonstop to his dad about his magic tricks. And Tripp was teasing Mary Karen about something related to her boys. Then his gaze shifted.
When her eyes met his, she realized he hadn’t expected to run into her this evening either. But from the smile lifting his lips, he was far better at reacting to unexpected changes than she was.
“Anna.” He crossed the room and bent down. Before she could react, he kissed her cheek. “I didn’t know you’d be here. But then, I was tied up in meetings all day.”
The eyes of the three women in the room appeared to widen at precisely the same instant.
“Anna?” Mary Karen sputtered. “Only Betsy calls her Anna.”
Lexi’s gaze shifted from Adrianna to Tripp. “Is something going on between you two?”
Tripp laughed, his hand resting on Adrianna’s shoulder. “What was your first clue?”
Meg smiled. “I always thought you’d be a perfect match.”
Cole chuckled. “My wife, the matchmaker.”
“I just want everyone to be as happy as we are,” Meg said with sudden seriousness.
Adrianna gazed up at Tripp. When he looked at her that way, she couldn’t help but blush. Her cheek still sizzled from the warmth of his lips. What would it be like if he really kissed her? Not the chaste kisses of the other night, but ones fueled by passion?
Then she reminded herself that none of this was real. He was only pretending to be happy to see her. Deep down, he was probably irritated he’d been forced to put their game plan into play so soon.
The gentle kiss on the cheek wasn’t real. The way his hand lingered on her shoulder as he played with her hair wasn’t real. The only thing that was real was her response to his nearness.
Her heart had picked up speed. Heat washed across her cheeks. And desire uncurled and stretched in her belly. That was when Adrianna realized the hardest thing about this charade wasn’t going to be making people believe she cared about Tripp. It was going to be walking away from him when the month was over and pretending her heart wasn’t broken.
Chapter Eight
Once the men left to go upstairs to Cole’s office, Adrianna tried to forestall the inquisition by beginning a discussion of The Garden of Forking Paths, sure that Lexi would take part. No such luck. Then she brought up the romance novel she’d recently read. Not one bit of interest. Not when they had a love story right in front of them.
“When did this thing with you and Tripp happen?” Lexi pinned Adrianna with her gaze. “It had to have been recently.”
The other two women were equally focused.
Adrianna rose to her feet and started clearing the table. “Well, you know we went to that hospital function at the country club together. Then he invited me to a barbecue at Jim Ferris’s house last Saturday.”
Lexi took several plates from her hands and gave them to Meg, who was loading the dishwasher. “Yes, but I thought that was just as friends.”
“Friendship has a way of turning into something more,” Mary Karen pointed out, obviously thinking back to her own romance with her husband, Travis. Her lips curved up in a smile. “It’s such fun when that happens.”
“Cole and I had to find our way back to an earlier friendship.” Meg’s eyes took on a distant glow. “Yeah, it was fun, but stressful, too. Not knowing if we were just together because of Charlie or because our feelings went deeper.”
“Is that what’s happening with you and Tripp?” Lexi asked.
“I’ve liked Tripp since I was in high school,” Adrianna admitted. “Back then he only had eyes for Gayle.”
Lexi cocked her head. “That was his first wife, right?”
Even though Lexi had been a Jackson Hole resident for a number of years, she hadn’t grown up in Wyoming.
Adrianna nodded. “Gayle and I were next-door neighbors.”
“She was beautiful. But no more beautiful than you,” Mary Karen added hastily.
“Gayle was a lovely person inside and out.” Adrianna’s exhalation came out sounding more like a sigh.
“But she’s been gone three years,” Mary Karen said gently. “It appears he’s finally ready to move on.”
“That’s what he says.” Adrianna forced a light tone.
“You don’t believe him?” Lexi’s gaze turned sharp and assessing even as her eyes filled with concern.
“I want to believe,” Adrianna heard herself whisper.
She wished she could tell them that she’d always known Tripp was the guy for her. Even back in college when she’d convinced herself she was in love, those emotions had been child’s play compared to what she felt for Tripp.
Meg moved to her side and gave her arm a squeeze. “Give it time. This is new for both of you.”
“Believe me, there were so many times that I said to myself that no way would Travis Fisher and I ever be together.” Mary Karen’s eyes then took on an impish gleam. “But I’m the best thing that ever happened to him. Just ask me.”
The women laughed and the talk turned to men and how they often didn’t know what was best for them until it bonked them over the head.
Adrianna felt the tension slip from her body and she realized she felt close to these women. They were her friends. They cared about her.
Mary Karen filled their cups with coffee and Meg brought out the dessert: a banana-split cake that was Charlie’s favorite.
Adrianna had never even heard of such a thing. It was a layered dessert, not really a cake and without any ice cream. The butter cookie crust was followed by an “ice-cream” filling of butter, vanilla, eggs and confectioner’s sugar. Meg had added toppings of bananas, pineapple, strawberries, shaved chocolate and nuts. Maraschino cherries added some bright color.
Over bites of the delicious confection, Mary Karen informed them that instead of an end-of-summer barbecue, she and Travis had decided to host a retro party. There would be Twister, spin the bottle and plenty of mistletoe, a staple of any party at the Fisher household.
“Make sure you put it on your calendar, Adrianna,” Mary Karen urged. “With all that mistletoe, you’ll want to be there with Tripp.”
“Mistletoe. Party?” Tripp said from the doorway. “I’m there.”
“I was telling Adrianna about the retro party at our house. Everyone else already heard about it over breakfast Sunday. But you two weren’t there.” Mary Karen tried to look severe but failed.
Every Sunday, their particular group of friends got together after church, while the children were in Sunday school, at a local café, The Coffeepot.
Adrianna knew that Ryan and Betsy used to meet everyone for breakfast before their son was born, but she’d never been sure she was welcome. Until now. A warmth flowed through her veins.
“When’s the party?” Tripp asked.
Mary
Karen gave him the date and he glanced at Adrianna.
It was well within the one-month timetable of her and Tripp’s romance and it would definitely be odd if they didn’t attend.
“I think it sounds like great fun,” she said. “I’ll be there.”
“We’ll be there.” Tripp smiled at her, his tone slightly chiding. “You’re part of a couple now, sweetheart.”
Couple. Sweetheart. The words were bittersweet.
If this was real, she’d be on top of the world. But it wasn’t. Being with Tripp in a fake relationship was like having a maraschino cherry in reach but only being able to look, not touch.
“Well—” Adrianna pulled to her feet “—this part of the couple needs to head home. I have a busy day tomorrow.”
“I’m so glad you came.” Lexi gave her a hug, then whispered in her ear, “I have a good feeling about you and Tripp.”
“Goodbye, Anna,” Mary Karen called out, earning her surprised looks from the other women. “Hey, if Betsy and Tripp can call her that, I can, too.”
Meg shot a questioning glance in her direction.
Adrianna smiled, conscious of Tripp’s unwavering gaze. “I’d love it if all of you would call me Anna.”
It had been what she’d gone by in college, but then, after the...incident, she’d switched back to the more formal Adrianna. Had it been a way to put distance between her and others? Perhaps. If so, maybe it was time to bring down those barriers.
“Well, Anna—” Meg’s eyes were warm “—come back anytime. Don’t be such a stranger.”
The words only confirmed her earlier realization. She had been keeping everyone at arm’s length. She’d always been more reserved, but she’d taken a step back after her parents had died. And then when the scandal had erupted...
“I’m leaving, too,” Mary Karen announced, moving to the door. She shifted her gaze to Tripp. “If you and Anna decide to have a big family, Travis and I will be happy to give you a few pointers.”
“Good to know,” Tripp said with an easy smile.
“I had a perfectly lovely time,” Anna told her hostess.
“I did, too.” Mary Karen giggled. “Especially because we didn’t have to discuss The Garden of Forking Paths.”
“Anna, call me,” Lexi called out from her seat in the great room. “We’ll do lunch.”
“I will.” When Anna turned toward the door, Tripp turned with her.
He looped an arm around her shoulders. “I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Not necessary.” The words left her mouth before she realized they hardly sounded like a woman falling in love.
“It is unless you want me to kiss you right now in front of everyone,” Tripp said with a wicked grin.
Anna felt her face warm. “Come on, then.”
Tripp chuckled. “As you can see, she’s quite infatuated with me.”
She jabbed him with her elbow. An audible oof escaped his lips. But he quickly rallied and caught up with her, taking her hand and waving a quick goodbye to Cole, Charlie and her friends.
Once the door closed behind them, he released her hand.
“I think that went well.” He sounded quite pleased with himself.
“I was shocked to see you.”
“I could tell.”
“Meg said Cole was at work and then all of a sudden you show up with him.”
“If you’re asking if I came over deliberately knowing that you would be here, the answer is no,” Tripp said in a casual tone. “He mentioned something about his wife having some women over for a book club, but it didn’t register.”
“Why were you with him?” The second the words left her mouth she realized she’d overstepped. After all, where Tripp went—and for what reason—wasn’t any of her business.
Tripp just smiled. “Cole wanted to show me what the P.I. has uncovered. Ryan will use the information in his efforts to get Keenan’s case reopened.”
“I didn’t know Cole was so heavily involved.”
“Cole is bankrolling much of the costs,” Tripp said. “Even with Ryan donating his time, there are still court fees and a detective doesn’t come cheap.”
Anna remembered her friend’s despair when Keenan was convicted. “Betsy would be over the moon if he was freed.”
“So would I.” Tripp’s blue eyes turned serious. “Keenan is a friend and a good guy.”
“What I don’t understand is why he wouldn’t let anyone help him earlier. Why did it take two years behind bars?”
Tripp shrugged, but she had the feeling he knew exactly why.
They reached her Subaru and he opened the door for her. Instead of slipping behind the wheel, Anna turned, resting her hand on the top of the door. “Even though we want to make everyone believe our relationship is real, there’s no need for you to go overboard.”
“Surely you’re not referring to that simple kiss on the cheek?” His lips twitched. “Anna, that’s the kind of kiss I’d give my grandmother.”
“Oh.” Anna didn’t know what else to say. It had felt like more at the time, but perhaps she was the one who’d overreacted.
“Going overboard would be doing something like this.”
Before she knew what was happening, he’d wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him. Curling a finger under her chin, he lifted her face and closed his lips over hers.
The kiss started off slowly and she decided this wasn’t so bad. A nice little kiss like they’d shared before. But unlike that night, this time Tripp didn’t step back.
Like a volcano that had lain dormant for many years and was beginning to stir, the longer the kiss continued, the hotter it burned. Something clenched low and deep in her belly. When his tongue swept her lips, she opened her mouth to him.
Suddenly close wasn’t close enough. She laced her fingers through his hair and pressed her body against his. They fit perfectly together.
Where she was soft, he was hard. Very hard.
She abruptly pulled back, her heart pounding, her lips tingling and her body aching with need.
“Good night.” She gave him a little shove back and slid behind the wheel of her car, pulling the door shut.
She paused for a couple of seconds before starting the vehicle. When she realized she was waiting for him to say anything—or do something—she cursed herself and turned the key.
She lifted her hand in a wave and drove off, leaving Tripp standing beside the driveway, a strange look on his face.
Perhaps he was wondering what had just happened. She understood his confusion. She hadn’t expected such passion between them.
Oh, she’d once hoped for such a thing, but had given up on that long ago. Of course, she’d learned the hard way that lust didn’t equal love.
It was a lesson she’d be wise to keep in mind.
* * *
The next day, Tripp found himself daydreaming through two important meetings. The heat that had exploded between him and Anna last night had been a surprise.
Okay, maybe not that much of a surprise. She was a beautiful, sexy woman. Ever since he’d moved back to Jackson Hole, there had been something in the air between them. Something he tried very hard not to think about.
While he’d been married, despite Gayle’s unfounded accusations, he’d never given Anna—or any other woman—a second thought. Yet, now he couldn’t stop thinking about the very woman Gayle had accused him of secretly wanting.
Tripp raked a hand through his hair. Perhaps this thirty-day thing wasn’t such a good idea after all. If only his mother hadn’t been so happy when she’d stopped by his office yesterday.
He knew his parents wanted him to find someone special, to get married again and give them some grandbabies. They couldn’t understand that lately his job had kept him
too busy for serious dating. They’d find it even more difficult to understand that once he had time, that woman could never be Anna.
Tripp knew it made no sense, but in his mind, to be with her would somehow lend credence to Gayle’s accusations.
He told himself there were hundreds of other single women in Jackson Hole.
But they’re not Anna.
Tripp shoved aside the thought and refocused on the problem at hand. Kissing Anna had reawakened the desire he’d thought had died with his wife. Which meant he had to proceed carefully. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her. Even though she never spoke of her past relationships, something told him she’d experienced difficult times. Perhaps she was still carrying a torch for some long-ago boyfriend.
A knife twisted in his chest. Not because he was jealous but because he didn’t like the thought of someone hurting her. Despite her cool, composed demeanor, Anna was a sensitive soul. That was why his protective instinct had reared up when Winn Ferris started showing an interest in her.
A knock sounded at his door and he glanced up.
Speak of the devil.
“Winn.” Tripp rose to his feet, forcing a friendliness he didn’t feel into his voice. “Come in.”
Why the heck hadn’t Paula told him Winn was in the outer office? He could have come up with some excuse about a meeting.
“No one was at the desk, so I thought I’d see if you had a few minutes.” Winn strode into Tripp’s office as if he owned the place. Dressed in a dark suit with a gray shirt and tie, he looked every inch a successful businessman.
“You caught me between meetings.” Tripp gestured to a pair of large leather chairs. “Have a seat.”
Instead of retreating behind his desk, when Winn sat, Tripp settled himself into the matching chair. “What brings you to the hospital this morning?”
“I need some help,” Winn said, looking surprisingly serious. “Dad suggested I speak with you.”
Tripp knew the mention of Jim Ferris, chairman of the board of trustees, had been deliberate. Whatever Winn wanted, alluding to the fact that his father had specifically thought he could help his son almost guaranteed he’d get what he wanted.