Everyone loves Jack Holland, but Emmaline Neal needs him.
Her ex-fiance is getting married in Malibu and, obviously, she can't go to the wedding alone. In Manningsport, New York, tall, blond and gorgeous Jack Holland is practically a cottage industry when it comes to rescuing desperate women. He knows the drill, Em figures, so he won't get the wrong idea.
What Jack needs is an excuse to leave town. Ever since rescuing four teenagers from a car wreck, he's been hailed as a hero and the attention is making him itchy, especially since his too-pretty ex-wife is back, angling for a reunion. He's always liked Emmaline. She needs a weekend date? No problem.
So when they wind up in bed together, Em chalks it up to red wine and chocolate cake, just one impulsive night not to be repeated. But Jack's pushing for more, and if she lets down her guard, either she'll get her heart crushed again, or discover that Jack's worth more than just dreaming about.
Praise for Kristan Higgins' Blue Heron series
THE BEST MAN
~Named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon,
Library Journal and Kirkus Reviews~
"Another sweet, touching must-read for Higgins fans and anyone who enjoys a perfect combination of humor and romance."
--Kirkus, starred review "A deliriously funny story.... The Best Man is Kristan Higgin's best book--and that's saying a lot."
--Eloisa James
"You'll adore every bit of this story--the setting bits, the funny bits, the sweet bits, the sexy bits and the emotional bits.... Higgins's latest is sexy, screwy, funny and fulfilling--a simply radiant read."
--USA TODAY
"Emotional resonance balances zany antics in a powerful story that feels completely real."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review
THE PERFECT MATCH
"Higgins offers readers a journey filled with tears and laughter and the best kind of sighs, proving she only gets better with each book."
--New York Times "Tender insight, bright humor and flawless character development.... Another delightful, funny, yet heart-wrenching must-read romance from Higgins."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Zingy dialog and hilarious asides...make this refreshing riff on the classic marriage-of-convenience plot a delightfully unorthodox, captivating winner."
--Library Journal
WAITING ON YOU
"Romance star Higgins continues the Blue Heron series with her signature combination of wit, humor and soul-jarring emotional depth."
--Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Fans should take care not to read this one in church or anywhere else a gut-busting laugh would be inappropriate."
--New York Times Journal of Books "Embodies everything fans of contemporary romance are looking for."
--RT Book Reviews
Also by Kristan Higgins
The Blue Heron Series
WAITING ON YOU
THE PERFECT MATCH
THE BEST MAN
SOMEBODY TO LOVE
UNTIL THERE WAS YOU
MY ONE AND ONLY
ALL I EVER WANTED
THE NEXT BEST THING
TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE
JUST ONE OF THE GUYS
CATCH OF THE DAY
FOOLS RUSH IN
KRISTAN HIGGINS
In Your Dreams
This book is dedicated to my great friend--the wonderful, the generous, the mighty Robyn Carr.
Contents
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
EPILOGUE
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
EXCERPT
PROLOGUE
Well, now, it goes without saying that we all love Jack Holland. Especially us women.
But the Midwinter Miracle... Oh, gosh, can you even imagine? Not that we were surprised that Jack was wonderful--of course he was! First of all, he's John Holland's son, the only boy in the family, though I guess we'd have to say "man" now, of course. And he was in the navy, too, just in case he hadn't already won us over by being the nicest thing ever. Not to mention handsome! Those blue eyes... Even Cathy and Louise were talking about those eyes the other day!
Jack's just about royalty around here, since the Hollands are a founding family of Manningsport, and Jack's the head winemaker at Blue Heron, the Hollands' vineyard. Guess we won't have to worry about them selling their land to a developer, not with all those kids in the family business. And then there's the way Jack treats those three sisters of his, and his stepmother! A prince, that's what he is! Don't get us started on that ex-wife of his. She never deserved him.
Anyway, what we were saying? Oh, yes, the Midwinter Miracle! Well now, sure, it was a group effort. Levi Cooper, our police chief, he was wonderful (no relation to Anderson, and don't think we didn't ask). Levi and his deputy, Luanne Macomb's granddaughter, what's her name again? Emily? Emmaline? Anyway, they did the CPR. And that handsome Gerard Chartier, him, too.
But mostly, it was Jack.
Which was no surprise to us.
It was quite...well, exciting isn't quite the right word, is it? But it was remarkable, no disrespect meant to that poor family, of course. Manningsport just about shuts down in the winter, just us year-rounders left, no tourists until spring when the wine tastings start up again. So the Midwinter Miracle brought all sorts of media celebrities here--Brian Williams stayed at the Black Swan; did you know? So charming! And just about everyone and their brother had to drop by O'Rourke's when Anderson Cooper was in there.
That night put our little lakeside town on the map, and given that it happened in January, well, we could all use the distraction. Laney Hughes even opened up the gift shop off-season, there were so many people flocking to town. Unloaded plenty of Keuka Lake T-shirts, she sure did. Lorelei's Sunrise Bakery sold out of everything by 8:00 a.m. that entire week.
What's that? How's Jack doing? He's fine! He's wonderful! A true hero. Anyone will tell you that.
Why would you even ask?
CHAPTER ONE
NOTHING KICKED OFF Emmaline Neal's weekend like using a Taser.
Okay, okay, she hadn't used the Taser yet and she probably wouldn't get to (dang), but the tiny thrill of anticipation didn't lie. If indeed there was an intruder in the McIntosh house, it would be deeply satisfying to apprehend him. Barb McIntosh suspected a sex offender, and, if she was right, Em knew exactly where she'd target the electrodes.
Granted, Barb had already admitted to being addicted to Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ("That Christopher Meloni! So handsome!"). But she'd heard strange noises in the utility part of her basement, and her grandson, the notoriously creepy Bobby, wasn't home.
"Approaching cellar stairs," Everett Field whispered.
"Yeah, I can tell that, Ev, since I'm right behind you," Emmaline said. "And there's no need to whisper."
"Roger that," E
verett whispered.
Despite the fact that Emmaline had only been on the job for nine months and Everett was more senior, they both knew she was a better cop. Ev wasn't the crunchiest chip in the bag.
"You sure Bobby's not here?" Em asked Barb over her shoulder.
"No. I called him on the phone and yelled down there, so..."
"Roger that," Everett said, reaching for his holster. "Alert for incoming hostiles."
"Get your hand off that gun, Everett," Emmaline said. "And where do you get this language?"
"Call of Duty."
"Great. Just calm down. We're not shooting anyone." Taser at most, and only then if there was a struggle.
The crime rate was pretty low in Manningsport, New York, population 715, a tiny town at the base of Keuka Lake. Everett and Em made up two-thirds of the police department; their boss, Levi Cooper, was the other third. Traffic patrol, the occasional DUI, vandalism, parking tickets... That was about as exciting as it got around here. Em ran a group for at-risk teenagers, of whom there were four. In the summer and fall, when the tourists came to taste wine and swim and boat on Keuka Lake, they were busier, but this was January, and things were quiet. In fact, this was their first call in three days.
Something thumped, and Everett squeaked. Chances were that it was a malfunctioning furnace. Possibly a raccoon. Levi always said if you heard hoofbeats, expect to see horses, not zebras.
They were in the cellar now; in front of them was Bobby's apartment; to the right was the door to the other half of the cellar, which housed the furnace and water heater and, Barb had told them, several dozen jars of pickled vegetables she'd put up this summer.
Thud.
Okay, something was in there.
"It's probably an animal," Em murmured, taking the Maglite off her belt. The utility room wasn't accessible from the outside, so a person would've had to come in through the house. And Barb always locked up (again, the mighty influence of Law & Order).
Everett put his hand on the doorknob and looked at Em, who nodded. Then he flung open the door, and Em flashed the light, and something moved inside, and Everett screamed and, before she could stop him, drew and fired.
Damn! The noise slapped her eardrums hard.
"It's a cat! Everett, it's a cat!" she yelled. "Holster your weapon!"
Everett obeyed. As he did, a ball of black and white leaped on him, hissing, and sank its teeth into his thigh. Apparently Puss in Boots didn't appreciate being shot at.
"Officer down, officer down!" Ev yelled, swatting at it. "Ten double zero, officer down!"
"Shut up," Em ordered. "You deserve it." He'd missed the kitty, of course. The guy was a terrible shot.
She lifted the cat gently by the scruff of the neck and pulled it off Everett's leg. All of a sudden, Everett was grabbed around the throat by Bobby McIntosh, who apparently was home after all.
"Why did you shoot my cat?" he yelled.
"Bobby! Let go of him!" Emmaline said.
"We don't have a cat!" Barb said from upstairs. "Bobby, did you bring a cat home?"
Everett was sputtering and red-faced. Em sighed. "Let him go, or I'll have to use this," she said, taking her Taser off her belt. "It hurts."
He hesitated. She cocked an eyebrow, and, with a sigh, he released her partner.
Drat. "Thank you, Bobby," she said. So close.
"Bobby! What were you doing down there?" Barb said. "I called you and you didn't answer! Where did you get that thing, anyway? I hate cats."
"I love them," Bobby said. "I got it from the shelter."
"Okay, so we're good here," Emmaline said. Everett's eyes were wide. "Come on, Ev--let's go. You're gonna have to file a report for discharging your firearm, you know."
"I thought it was a sex offender," Everett said, his hands shaking.
"It wasn't. You're safe now, buddy," she said, patting his arm. "Come on. Back to the station."
*
"YOU SHOT A CAT?" Chief Cooper said fifteen minutes later, staring at Everett.
"I'm sorry." Ev stood there like a chastened kid.
"He missed," Emmaline said. Now that the ringing in her ears had faded, it was hard not to laugh. "The suspect was quite fast." Levi gave her a look.
"File the report, Everett. The incident is under review, which means you just increased my workload."
"Sorry, Chief. Um, Bobby McIntosh attacked me."
"Because you shot at his pet."
"In self-defense."
"Not really," Emmaline said. "The cat was the one acting in self-defense."
Levi bit down on a grin. "Your mother won't be happy about this, Ev."
"Do you have to tell her?"
"She's the mayor. So, yes."
"Shit." Everett heaved a sigh. "Anything else, Chief?"
"No. Fill out the report and get out of here."
Everett left the office and swiped a cookie from the desk of Carol Robinson, their newly hired administrative assistant, who'd been shamelessly eavesdropping.
"Thanks for not letting Bobby kill Everett," Levi said to Emmaline.
"I was kind of hoping to use the Taser."
"Could've used it on Everett," he said. "But good to see cooler heads prevailed."
It was about as high praise as the police chief gave, and Emmaline felt a small rush of pride. Granted, it had been an idiotic call in the first place, but still.
Levi, who'd been a year behind her in high school, stood and picked up a bouquet of red roses wrapped in green florist paper and tied with a white ribbon. His look warned her not to say anything.
"Aw," she said. "Flowers for the wife? You're such a snuggly teddy bear, Levi."
"Inappropriate, Officer Neal," he said, giving her his famous "I tolerate you because I have to" look. "By the way, about that crisis negotiations class. I got you a grant. You start in two weeks."
"You did? Oh, you're the best! I take back every complaint I ever filed about you."
"Very funny," her boss said. "I'm going home. Maybe I'll see you at O'Rourke's later."
"Maybe. Tell Pregnita I said hi."
He smiled and left the office, stopping to say something to Carol before he left the station.
It was hard not to feel a little jealous. Levi and Faith had been married a little over a year and had a baby on the way. Seemed like everyone was getting married these days; Em had been to three weddings over the summer. In fact, she was considering marrying herself, just so she could register for the fun housewares.
Well. Time for her to go home, too. The O'Keefe Emergency Services Building, which housed the fire, police and ambulance departments, was about five minutes from town. Em drove past Hastings Farm, past the high school and into the Village part of Manningsport, three blocks around a small green at the edge of Keuka Lake.
Emmaline lived on Water Street, right next to the library, and often parked the cruiser along the green where the good people of Manningsport could see it and reconsider any bad decisions, like driving under the influence. O'Rourke's Tavern, the only place in town open year-round, glowed warm and bright. Maybe she'd eat there tonight, since she didn't have any plans. But first, home to the Wonder Pup--Sarge, her recently acquired German shepherd puppy, who'd need a walk and some exercise, despite his doggy door to the backyard.
She got out of the cruiser, her breath fogging in the cold, clean air.
"Hey, Em!" called a voice. Lorelei Buzzetta and Gerard Chartier waved as they went into O'Rourke's, and Em waved back. Gerard was a firefighter and paramedic. Em saw him nearly every day at work (and also saw Lorelei, who owned the bakery and could make the angels weep with her chocolate croissants). The two had started dating a while back.
Through the windows, she could see Colleen O'Rourke, now Colleen Campbell, kissing her gorgeous husband, Lucas. There was Honor Holland and her husband, the lovely Tom Barlow. Paulie Petrosinsky and Bryce, who ran the animal shelter and had fixed her up with her puppy just two weeks ago.
Seemed like couples' nigh
t at the pub.
Maybe she'd stay in tonight. She and Sarge could watch YouTube videos of hostage negotiators, eat Kraft Mac & Cheese (don't judge, it was delicious). Maybe binge-watch The Walking Dead. She had a stack of books from the library, too. Or she could call around the Bitter Betrayeds, the name her book club had given itself, and see who else was climbing the walls.
Suddenly, the weekend spread vast and empty in front of her. No shifts till Monday. No plans other than a hockey game on Sunday--she played in the town league. She could do laundry and clean. Um...maybe buy some new towels. Go to the shooting range. That'd be fun, if solitary.
Her feet were getting numb. Time to get moving. Still, she stood there on the tiny town green, looking into the cheerful pub.
Maybe she'd drive to Penn Yan and see a movie, but it was a half an hour away, and there was more snow in the forecast. And after the big accident, everyone was feeling a little wary about winter driving.
Speaking of that, there was Jack Holland.
He stood outside O'Rourke's, staring at the building as if he'd never seen it before. Maybe she should check on him. They played hockey together, and he was her boss's brother-in-law and an EMT, so it wasn't as though she didn't know him.
He didn't move, seeming to be trying to decide whether or not to go inside the bar.
Em crossed the street. "Hey, Jack," she said.
He didn't answer.
"Hi, Jack," she said again. He jerked, then looked at her.
"Hey, Emmaline," he said, forcing a smile.
"How you doing?"
"Great."
He was so not great that her heart ached, looking at him stalled there, dead in the water.
Poor choice of words.
But he was clearly not great.
"You going in?" he asked, aware perhaps that too long a pause had elapsed.
"No. I'm headed home. I just got a puppy. Sarge. He's a German shepherd. Very cute. Hopefully he hasn't pooped on the floor."
Oh, yeah, the babbling thing. See, in addition to all the above, Jack Holland was ridiculously gorgeous. As in, Hi, I've just dropped down from Mount Olympus. How you doin'? Tall and blond with eyes that were so clear and perfect and pure that they made a person think of all sorts of ridiculous synonyms for blue--azure and cerulean and aqua. His smile stopped traffic and made trees burst into flower and all that crap.
So yes, he rendered women stupid. Even women who were slightly prejudiced against very, very good-looking men. But everyone, including Emmaline, also knew that Jack was a tremendously nice guy.
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