by Jeannie Moon
Pffft. She was letting her imagination run away with her. There wouldn’t be any handling of Jonah, especially by her. He saw her the same way as he always did. As Gabe’s sister. That put her solidly off limits.
And it was incredibly depressing.
“Hi. Can I get you anything?” A beautiful dark haired woman stood next to her small table. This must be the new owner of the diner. Her mother mentioned the other day that it had been sold and the new owner was just settling in.
Checking out the menu, she saw it was mostly the same old favorites, but there were some nice additions clipped in as specials. “Um, it all looks good, but I think I’ll have a burger. Medium. With onion rings and a chocolate shake.”
“Ah, no diet today?”
Keely laughed. “Nah, what you see is what you get.”
The woman, who was tall and slender, laughed and extended her hand. “I’m right there with you. My name is Gabriella Marco. I just bought the diner.”
Keely reciprocated. “Nice to meet you. Keely Andersen. I grew up here—back home to work on a research project.”
“Nice to meet you, too. Let me get your lunch started.”
“Thanks.”
New blood in town. That was always a good thing. It kept the gossip fresh, if nothing else.
Now Keely could relax and gather her thoughts. Of course, that’s when she saw Jonah’s truck parked by the ice cream parlor. He was sitting in the cab, and staring down, making Keely wonder what had captured his attention.
He looked up, and when he turned his head, he caught her watching. If she’d gone one booth back, she’d have been able to spy on him without him noticing. But no, she was right in the window, like a stalker.
To her surprise, he smiled, and gave her a little wave. She couldn’t tell if he was being sweet, or teasing, but either way, her stomach was fluttering. Then, strangely, he got out of the truck and headed back down Main Street. The man was a mystery.
“Lord, I’m a weak woman,” she whispered.
“Honey, with a smile like that, he’d make me weak.” Gabriella was looking outside as she set Keely’s milkshake on the table. “That boy is fine.”
“He’s stubborn.”
“The good ones always are. Your burger will be up in a minute.”
He was a good man. Probably one of the best—honorable, loyal, brave—these weren’t just words to a man like Jonah. She knew nothing romantic would happen between them, but there were times she wished… she imagined it would be pretty wonderful.
When she was near Jonah, something sparked, and in her heart, she knew he felt it too. She couldn’t give anyone a good reason why she thought that way, but she did.
“I’m such an idiot.” Taking a bite of the burger that was now sitting in front of her, Keely let the juicy goodness roll over her tongue. Her phone beeped and she checked the screen.
It was a text from her best friend, Malcolm Strand. He was a geologist, and the last she heard he was on Reunion Island studying the volcanic activity in the Indian Ocean. He was always someplace.
Where are you? he texted.
In Marietta. “He knew I was coming home,” she mumbled to herself.
I know! I’m here and I’m lost. Although, I’m standing in this divine chocolate shop.
Keely looked out the window again; she couldn’t see the chocolate shop from where she was sitting in the diner, but she could picture Mal standing in the middle of all that decadence and charming every person he met with his sexy Southern drawl.
I’m at the Main Street Diner. Ask anyone, they’ll direct you. You’re just a few blocks away.
On my way! With chocolate.
What the hell was Mal doing in Marietta? He was all about exotic locations, the last place she expected him was small town Montana.
She watched out the window and within minutes saw him walking at a good clip, carrying a white bag, presumably from the chocolate shop. He spotted her in the window and waved, flashing his trademark million-dollar smile. The man was devastatingly handsome, turning heads all the way down the street. She wanted to tell all the women who were looking that Mal might have been everything they were looking for in a man, but he batted for the other team.
They’d been best friends since meeting freshman year at Duke. She’d never hit it off with anyone like she did with him, and it was nice to be around someone who understood her. For four years, they were inseparable, and then Mal went to MIT for his grad work while Keely went to Stanford. But even with a country between them, they never lost touch. They met up in different locations more than once when one or the other was researching, but at this point, she hadn’t seen him in eight months. It had been a long time. Too long in her book.
He entered the diner with a whoop, and he wrapped her in a strong hug as soon as he got close enough. Mal was like a brother to her.
“Oh, my God. It’s so good to see you!”
Keely held on and she could feel herself smiling into his chest. “It’s been too long,” she said before looking up. He kissed the top of her head before releasing her.
“I didn’t know how I was going to find you. My cell keeps cutting in and out. I found a hot spot in the candy store, and I was able to text.” Taking a seat opposite her at the table, he grinned. “I didn’t even know if I was in the right town.”
“You are a sight for sore eyes.” He looked like a local with his dark, mountain man scruff and flannel shirt. Of course, his haircut probably cost over a hundred bucks, and the shirt was definitely designer.
“You’re looking good, girlfriend. You’re a little skinny, though. Everything alright? Feeling okay?”
He was a mother hen. “I’m fine. I was working too hard, skipping meals. I’m looking after myself better since I’ve been home.”
“This town is stinking adorable.” Grabbing an onion ring from her plate, he closed his eyes to savor the taste as he bit down. “Sweet Mama. That is the best thing I’ve had in forever. Reminds me of my granny’s cooking.”
“Well, thank you very much.” Gabriella was back smiling at him.
“You are most welcome, darlin’! Now can you be a love and bring me exactly what she’s having, but instead of a milkshake, a gallon of sweet tea? Pretty please?”
Gabriella chuckled and nodded.
“Charmer,” Keely crooned as soon as Gabby walked away. “You just play your game with all the ladies.”
“Yes, I do. And it gets me what I want, usually. So, tell me how it is being back at the old homestead? I can’t wait to see your folks. Do you think they have a couch for me?”
He spoke so quickly she couldn’t keep up, but the only thing that required an answer was if he could stay at the house. Mal had met her parents a dozen times when they were in California, but he’d never visited her at home. She had no doubt her parents would find a place for him to sleep, they had bedrooms to spare, but she was more excited that he was there. He hadn’t ever seen her life.
Just his reaction to her town made her understand what a unique place this was. If cynical and snarky Malcolm Strand was impressed, that was something.
He sipped the iced tea brought to the table, and then added at least a cup of sugar. While he was stirring, he looked out the window at the mountains in the distance. “This is amazing terrain. You have your work cut out for you.”
“I do. I’m going out in the field tomorrow if you want to come.”
“I would love that, but I’m meeting a guide tomorrow who’s going to take me into some pretty remote areas of Yellowstone. I’ve never been anywhere close to this part of the country. I figured I’d take advantage.”
“Sure thing.” As she said it, she caught sight of Jonah heading back to his truck. He had a box that he secured in the rear bed, and she noticed him glance over when he stepped off the bumper. He froze for a second, obviously seeing that she wasn’t alone.
“And who is that handsome man?” Mal’s whisper was part inquisition, part conspiratorial.
&
nbsp; “Oh, just a friend.”
“A friend. I see. Your friend is coming this way.”
“What!” Looking out the window it was exactly as he said. Jonah was heading right for the front door of the diner. Fantastic.
“He means something?” Mal whispered.
“Kind of. I’m not sure. Maybe.” Jonah would be inside in seconds.
“So precise, you should be a scientist or something.” The bell on the door of the diner tinkled Mal turned toward the sound. “Hey. Malcolm Strand.”
“Jonah Clark.” Jonah took Mal’s outstretched hand and nodded.
“I didn’t know you were meeting anyone, Keely. I wouldn’t have held you up before.”
“Oh, no… um… Mal is an old friend. He came by. I didn’t even know.”
“Ah,” Jonah said, pulling up to his full height. He was sizing up her friend. Since when was he so protective? “Passing through?”
“I guess you could say that. I’m heading back to Boston. Thought I’d see my friend since she hasn’t been too easy to find the last year.”
“Nice of you.” Jonah’s answers were barely a grunt.
“Why don’t you have a seat and join us? I’ve only met Keely’s family, so I’d love to meet more of her people. How long have you two known each other?”
“Thanks,” he said. Keely never expected Jonah to take Mal up on it, but there he was, parked right next to her in the booth. “My history with Keely is pretty dull, I was her brother’s best friend growing up. Just heard from him, for that matter.”
“Wait. What? When did that happen?” She leaned in, curious about what was going on with her incredible vanishing sibling.
“This morning. He sounds good. Was asking after you, Keely.” Folding his large hands on the tabletop, Jonah leveled his gaze at Mal. “But what about you? How do you know Keely?”
“Oh, me? We went to school together. Met our freshman year. We’ve been buddies ever since.”
Jonah clenched his hands together so tightly, his knuckles turned white. “That was at Duke? Where you became buddies.”
“Right,” Keely said. “We were in the same dorm.”
“Ah. That was convenient.”
Keely froze. What the hell? “Convenient? What’s that supposed to mean?”
Jonah shook it off. “Nothing.”
Here she was with two gorgeous men and Keely didn’t know which one she wanted to kill first. Mal for being nosy about Jonah, or Jonah for being nosy about Mal. Either way she looked at it, they were both butting in when they shouldn’t have.
Neither one of them had the right to be bossy or nosy. Part of her wanted to get up and walk right out of the place.
Mal’s food arrived, and Jonah ordered coffee and a sandwich. So much for a quiet lunch.
“I might actually get to eat this,” Jonah spat out.
“What do you mean?” Keely was confused.
“When I was at the house earlier, Kyle and my brothers were acting like tools. You know, about that special project we were talking about. I didn’t want to deal with it, so I left. My sandwich was on a table in the room we were working in.
“I guess you don’t want me talking to you about it?” she asked.
“Please don’t.”
“What project?” Mal wasn’t about to be left out of the loop. Served Jonah right.
“It’s a fundraiser, and Jonah is… hesitant.”
He dropped his sandwich. “Here we go…”
“We need to raise money for a town project,” she continued. “Fifty grand in three months. A photographer who’s in town offered to take the pictures for a calendar project.”
“A calendar?” Mal was intrigued.
Keely grinned. “A first responders calendar.”
Mal stopped chewing mid bite. “A hotties calendar? Oh, son, you so have to do it.”
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“He gets touchy about it,” she said, taking a sip of her milkshake. “He’d have to get waxed.”
“How did you know about that?”
“Are you kidding?” Keely had been hearing the stories about the waxing session since last week. “The cursing coming out of the back room at Main Street Style? It’s the stuff of legends.”
“Of course you have to be waxed. Let us see all that muscle.” Mal shuddered for good measure.
“Would you knock it off,” Keely said. “You’re not helping.”
Jonah glared. “I don’t want to get waxed.”
“You served three tours in Afghanistan. How can you be afraid of a little wax? I get waxed all the time.”
“You do?” Jonah asked, curious. “Where?”
“I want to know that, too,” Mal added.
Keely dropped her head. She could not look up because her face had flamed red. Talk about turning it around. Now she was getting teased. “I’m not talking about this. If either of you want to know, you’ll just have to find out.” When they both burst out laughing, Keely was done with them. “Okay. Let me out. I’m leaving.”
Mal put his hands up, confused. “I’m not done yet.”
“Get directions, I’ll see you at my house.”
“Keely, come on…” The big baby was pleading with her.
“You travel all over the world, Malcolm. Find your way.”
Jonah let Keely out of the booth. “I’m sorry.”
“Fine. Go man up and tell Charlie when you’re getting your picture taken and I might forgive you.”
“I did.”
Holy crap. “What? Really? You talked to her?”
“Texted, but yeah, I did. We’re going to get the logistics worked out.”
Without knowing what possessed her, she threw her arms around Jonah’s neck and hugged him tight. Pressing her body into his, she felt his arms settle around her and pull her in. When he did that she felt something else, something hard, pressing into her belly.
It took her a second to realize, it was Jonah. And he had an erection.
She tried to pull back, but he held tight. She felt his cheek rest on the top of her head, and when he shifted ever so slightly, she felt more. He wanted her to know he was aroused, and she didn’t know if it was an invitation, or a way to scare her off.
Stepping back, he sat down quickly. “I’ll talk to you as soon as I know more.”
Keely nodded in response, and made a quick exit when Mal said he’d take care of her burger.
She had to get out of there before she did something she couldn’t take back. There was no denying that the heat curling in her belly was her own need. God, she wanted him. But if she had any chance of being with Jonah, it was going to take some careful planning. Because once she dropped the news on him that he’d be her first, it was going to take some convincing. A lot of it.
Chapter Five
Jonah sat back in the booth and blew out a breath. Sweet Jesus, he was in deep shit. What was he thinking, grinding into her like that? He wasn’t the type to come on so strong, but he couldn’t stop himself. She wasn’t like other women—she was sweet, naïve… and she’d turned tail and ran. But since the day he picked her up on the side of the road, something had flared inside him. Now, it was full blown lust. Every time she looked at him with those deep brown eyes, or chewed on her full gorgeous lips, his libido went into overdrive.
He’d never felt so out of control. Staring at his plate, almost in a trance, he got kicked under the table.
“So,” a deep voice snapped. “You going to tell me what’s going on with you and my best girl?” Mal was a big guy, and had the look of someone who took no shit. Jonah could lie, but he didn’t even know what to say. He was going to have to go for honesty.
“I have no idea,” Jonah responded. “Really. No fucking clue.”
That elicited a big belly laugh from Mal. Pretty much the last thing he was expecting. “Got you by the balls, does she? Doesn’t really surprise me.”
“Yeah? ’Cause it surprises me. I’ve known her since she was
five years old; I should not be reacting to her like this. Jesus Christ.”
Mal grinned, and took a drink of his iced tea. “She’s brilliant, beautiful, and funny. You want to tell me what’s not to like?”
“It’s just, she’s like a sister to me. Or at least she was. Not to mention, her brother asked me to watch out for her.” Jonah felt like he needed to gouge his eyes out or something. What he told Mal was the absolute truth. Keely had always been like a sister to him. Gabe never paid her much attention; in fact, he pretty much ignored her when he wasn’t teasing her. But Jonah didn’t have sisters, and somehow, giving Keely some brotherly attention helped him grow up.
“She’s different.” He didn’t know exactly what he meant by that, but it was the truth. “I mean, she’s done so much.”
“Hardest working person I know. Whip smart, determined. Always trying to prove herself. But she knows what she wants. Don’t doubt that.” Mal motioned to Gabby for the check. “Lunch is on me, man.”
“Thanks for the advice.” Nodding his head in thanks, Jonah slumped back in his chair. “If there’s anything I can do for you while you’re in town, let me know.”
“Actually,” he said as he crumpled the napkin on his plate, “I’m in need of a guide.”
A guide? “Keely is one of the best you’ll find. She knows the mountains better than anybody.”
“Nah. I don’t need a mountain guide. I need somebody to get me to Keely’s house. Never been there. And I have no desire to get lost in bear country.”
Now it was Jonah’s turn to laugh. “I guess you could follow me out. The house is only a couple of miles out of town, but it’s easy to get lost.”
“Thanks, we wouldn’t want that.”
“Nope,” Jonah said. “It’s real bad for tourism when a visitor drives his car off a cliff.”