“Who the hell is Dave?” Colt asked, narrowing his eyes at both men. “And why is this the first I’m hearing about her dating someone else?” To Wes, he said, “I thought you were my best friend? You’re supposed to have my back.”

  “Listen to me, you dumbass,” Wes said, gripping Colt’s forearm. “I love that girl like she was my own sister. I hate that you hurt her, and if you think I’m going to let that happen again, you’re crazy.”

  “You think I wanted to hurt her?” Colt demanded, shaking off Wes. “I hate myself for that. I just thought I’d hurt her more by sticking around.” Before Wes could argue, Colt asked Rush, “Who is this guy she’s seeing? Is it serious?”

  “I think they’ve only been out a few times, but he did say something about Gabby inviting him to the wedding.”

  Colt turned on Wes, his face red and his fists clenched. “You didn’t think to tell me Gabby was bringing a date to your wedding? What the hell?”

  Wes shrugged. “I didn’t think you’d care. When you left town, I assumed you were done with her. You haven’t even asked me about her since you left.”

  “I couldn’t.” Colt pressed his thumb and forefinger into his eyes. “I didn’t think I had the right. I knew if I ever came back here and asked for another chance, it had to be with hat in hand, promising Gabby that I could be a better man.”

  “Can you say that now?” Rush asked, willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. “That you’re ready for a real relationship with Gabby?” Like Wes, Rush loved Gabby. They’d all grown up together, and that meant he considered her family. But Colt was family too, and Rush wanted to believe he’d changed, that he was seeing things clearly now.

  “I still have this mess with my folks to clean up,” Colt said. “That’s gotta be my first priority, ‘cause I can’t come to Gabby weighed down with all this drama from my past.”

  “Can’t argue with that,” Wes muttered. “But you know by then it may be too late, right?”

  Colt swallowed, a flash of pain crossing his face.

  “I’m not telling you this to be a dick, Colt,” Wes said. “I just want you to be prepared for the worst. ‘Cause what kind of friend would I be if I let you get blindsided, right?”

  Colt nodded reluctantly. “You guys still haven’t told me about this character she’s dating. What’s his deal?”

  “It’s Dave Reynolds,” Rush said, glancing in his brother’s direction.

  “Shit,” Colt whispered, swiping a hand over his mouth. “Last I heard, he moved to Cali after he and his wife divorced. They’ve got a daughter, right?”

  “Yeah, they do,” Rush said. “She’s the reason he moved back actually. He was a cop in the San Fernando Valley—sergeant, in fact. But he realized he was missing out on too much, not being here with Mandy. So he gave it up to come back to Vista Falls. Now he runs a landscaping business. In fact, he takes care of things around here for me, and Mandy’s a waitress here.”

  “He was a few years ahead of us in high school,” Colt said to Wes. “I didn’t get to know him all that well, but I remember him being a good guy.”

  “You have any idea how he feels about Gabby?” Colt asked, looking more miserable by the minute.

  “I wish I did,” Rush said, “but he’s been pretty tight-lipped about her.”

  “What about you?” Colt asked, frowning at Wes. “You can’t tell me you don’t know what’s going on. Gabby’s your girl’s best friend. You’ve probably heard all the dirty details.” He grimaced. “God, I don’t even want to think about that.”

  “All I know is that she’s taking it slow,” Wes said, lifting a shoulder. “She doesn’t want to rush into anything, risk making another mistake.”

  “Are you talking about me or her ex-husband?” Colt asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “What can I say?” Wes asked with a half-smile. “Gabby may be a smart girl, but she has lousy taste in men.”

  “You’re a bastard,” Colt said, trying to keep a straight face.

  “Takes one to know one, buddy,” Wes said, chuckling.

  ***

  “The ceremony was beautiful, wasn’t it?” Taylor asked, resting her head on Rush’s shoulder.

  “Yeah.” He smiled at the bride and groom. “I’ve never seen my brother happier.”

  “They deserve to be happy,” Taylor said.

  “You know who doesn’t look too happy?” Rush inclined his head toward Colt, who was eyeing Gabby dancing with Dave.

  Taylor pursed her lips. “Don’t expect me to feel sorry for him. Not after what he did to Gabby. If you ask me, guys like that, who use women for one thing, deserve to get theirs.”

  “It wasn’t like that,” Rush said, shaking his head. “Trust me, babe. I’ve known that guy a long time, and Gabby… well, she’s it for him. Always has been, I think.”

  “Then why did he bail on her after they slept together?”

  “He thought he was doing her a favor.” At Taylor’s puzzled expression, he said, “I know it doesn’t make sense, but Colt’s got some issues with his family. Last time he left Vista Falls, he wasn’t ready to deal with them. It seems now he is.”

  “Does that mean he’s coming back to town?” Taylor asked, wide-eyed. “For good?”

  “That’s what he told us last night.”

  “Oh.” Taylor felt a surge of hope for Gabby, but seconds later, her protective instincts kicked in, reminding her that he’d already hurt Gabby not once, but twice. He clearly couldn’t be trusted. “Well, I hope he’ll leave her alone. Dave seems like a really nice guy, and Gabby deserves to be happy.”

  Rush smiled, his grip on her waist tightening. “You’ve really made some good friends here, haven’t you?”

  Taylor smiled, nodding. “I have. And you want to know who my best friend is?”

  Rush brushed his lips across hers. “Who?”

  “You.”

  “Is that so?” His expression was serious as he pulled back to whisper, “Same goes, Tay.”

  “I love you.” She didn’t have to say it. He knew. But she’d make sure he never had reason to question it because this was a love she never intended to take for granted.

  About the Author

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  Thank You

  Other Books by Cheryl Douglas

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  Holiday Homecoming

  Game On

  Burn Out

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  Strike Out

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  Cheryl Douglas, Lost and Found (Vista Falls #2)

 

 

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