My Best Friend's Bride (20 page)

“It’s fun you’ll be there for the Fourth.”

“What are you and Hunter going to do?”

“Hard to say since I haven’t talked to him.”

“Jill,” Morgan said seriously. “You have to stop this. Go ahead and break down, release some of your pride, and talk to the man.”

“I would, but he gets up early.”

“Then set your alarm and get up earlier.” She shuffled some pages in front of her. “Isn’t that one of the chapters in your new book? Compromise?”

“How is it compromising if I’m giving in?”

“Giving in to what, exactly?”

“Making an effort at reconciliation.” She frowned into her coffee. “I already made one effort, you know.”

“If you’re talking about making Hunter coffee, he doesn’t even know that you did that.”

“I don’t think things are really so terrible,” Jill lied. “The way things are, Hunter stays out of my hair and I get my work done.”

“Aren’t you worried someone will notice he’s never here? Like someone in the press?”

“If you’re speaking of Cassandra, she hasn’t come around at all. In fact, I think she’s moved on to greener pastures.”

Morgan gave a weighty sigh and handed Jill’s outline to her. “This still needs work.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m not feeling it, Jill. There’s no heart in it.”

“It’s just an outline!”

“Well, go back and outline it again. Come up with an angle. That more personal thing the publisher is looking for. We can meet again when I get back from my trip.”

Cassandra approached Mauve wearing a trench coat and dark glasses. He was dressed just the same even though it was July. They were meeting at an out-of-the-way restaurant to plan their next move. Cassandra didn’t know why she’d let Mauve talk her into the Dick Tracy getup, but it was kind of exciting pretending to be amateur sleuths. Mauve was so full of fun ideas.

The hostess eyed them curiously as she led them both to their table. They’d requested one in the back in a dark corner. “So,” Cassandra asked in hushed tones once both of them were seated. “What have you got?”

“No one at Browning is squawking. Jill’s new project is strictly hush-hush.” He lifted his menu and spoke behind it. “What came of your recon?”

“Hunter’s hardly at home,” she told him. “Out early and back late.”

“Marital woes?”

“Either that, or he’s under job demands.”

“Kaleidoscope Kids,” Mauve told her. “That’s the big account he just landed. The one he snagged from Fred.”

“So it could be he’s working late?”

Mauve met her eyes. “How many newlywed guys do you know who’d rather spend their nights at the office?”

Chapter Twenty

Max Abrams appeared on the threshold of Hunter’s new office. It was big and roomy with two corner windows and a large drafting table. Hunter angled forward on a tall stool, redrafting a sketch. “You’ve been working awfully hard,” Max said, causing Hunter to look up.

“Now that we’ve got Kaleidoscope Kids, I figured it would be good of us to keep them. Plus I’m working on ideas for the Metro Mart pitch.”

Abrams pointedly checked his watch. “All of that can wait until morning.”

“But, sir—”

Max’s face wrinkled in a frown.

“I know the Edwards team is going after Metro too,” Hunter explained. “The early bird catches the worm.”

“The early bird also requires some sleep.” Max studied him thoughtfully and leaned into the doorjamb. “When’s the last time you got any?”

“Well, I—”

“Hunter, my boy, you’re a newly married man, and your new bride is gorgeous. It seems you ought to be spending a little more time there, and less of it here. Especially after hours.”

Hunter started to speak but Max held up his hand. “From now on I want you leaving by six.”

“But, Max—”

“Okay, fine. Seven o’clock at the latest. I don’t want you making the same mistakes that I made when I was your age.” For a moment he appeared distant, then he solemnly met Hunter’s eyes. “I was just like you, driven and ambitious. Also, like you, I had a lovely, caring wife at home. Unfortunately, I put more time into the job than I did my marriage. I’ve admitted this to very few people, Hunter. But in those early years, Diane and I almost didn’t make it.”

Hunter swallowed hard and the back of his neck felt hot.

“I’m not saying I don’t appreciate what you’re doing for the company, because the truth is I do and your work is outstanding. I just don’t want to be responsible for one more troubled relationship.”

“But, you and Diane?” Hunter said, surprised. “I thought you seemed so happy.”

“We are happy together. Ecstatic, most days. But that’s only because I was called up short and told what a numbskull I was being.”

“Did Diane…?”

“She gave me an ultimatum, son. Either I got my priorities straight or she was walking. Fortunately, I had the good sense to listen. Now, I’m sharing a bit of advice with you. You married Jill, so she must be the one. Nobody stands up and says ‘I do’ without meaning it. Even couples whose marriages fail go into them with good faith in the beginning. This is your good faith window, Hunter. The time for you to show Jill what you’re made of, and make her glad every single day that when you asked her to marry you, she said yes.”

Hunter felt as if he were drowning, with high-peaked waves crashing in on him from all sides. Everything Max was saying made sense, and would certainly hold water in a regular marriage.

“There’s another thing,” Max said, interrupting Hunter’s train of thought. “Diane and I are hosting a barbecue this Fourth of July and we were hoping you and Jill could attend. I’m sorry if this is last-minute, but we’d originally planned to be out of town. Then our daughter, Marina, surprised us saying she was coming home with her husband, Dave, and the baby. It will just be family and a few of the neighbors. I hope you and Jill will join us.”

Hunter caught his breath and forced a smile. “I can’t think of any better way to spend the holiday, Max. Thank you. I’m sure Jill will agree.”

Max grinned broadly, seemingly satisfied. “I fire up the grill at five o’clock and could probably use your assistance. My son-in-law, Dave, is often too busy with the baby.”

“Anything I can do to help.”

An hour later, Hunter shoved his hands into his pockets and stood on the front porch. It was his home for now, so he could go on inside, and yet he hesitated, unsure of what he’d do or say. He hadn’t spoken to Jill in nearly two weeks, which must have been fine with her because she hadn’t made any efforts to contact him. She had his cell number. Plus, she knew where he slept, for crying out loud. If she’d wanted to talk to him badly enough she could have. Hunter’s conversation with Max had left him feeling out of sorts and confused. If Hunter abided by the terms of his contract with Jill and ended the marriage after a year, would Max view him as a failure? Particularly after he’d taken time to share some fatherly, and truly personal, advice?

Rather than going inside, Hunter opted to sit on one of the wicker chairs on the porch and sort through his thoughts instead. He inhaled deeply, taking in a breath of summer evening air. Now that spring had passed, his hay fever had pretty much ended. The only thing he appeared to have continued trouble with was that darned cat. Fifi seemed okay, but he hadn’t spent much time with her. Of course, Hunter had barely been around. As if on cue, the dog loped out of the bushes and galloped through the grassy front yard. Spying Hunter on the porch, Fifi raced toward a tennis ball on the lawn and scooped it into her mouth. Before Hunter knew what was happening, Fifi was on the porch, resting her chin on his knee. Big puppy eyes stared up at him as Fifi clenched the ball in her teeth, her tail whipping furiously back and forth behind her. “What is it, Fifi?” Hunter cringed when he said the name. What had Jill been thinking?

The dog nuzzled in closer, pressing the front of her body against Hunter’s legs. She shook the ball side to side in her mouth, then again met his eyes with a hopeful expression. “Is that it?” Hunter asked with a chuckle. “You want to play ball?”

The dog excitedly lowered the front of her torso, crouching on the porch. Then she dropped the ball at Hunter’s feet. “Okay, but here’s the deal.” Hunter leaned forward with a whisper. “I’ll play with you, if I can give you a new name. Something we’ll just use between us.” Hunter picked up the tennis ball and pondered the dog’s face. “How do you like the name Sport?”

Fifi immediately sat on her haunches and smiled. Hunter laughed out loud and held up his hand. “High five, Sport!”

Fifi immediately raised her paw to slap his palm. “Well, what do you know?” Hunter said, getting to his feet. “Maybe you and I can be friends after all.”

Jill didn’t know if her eyes were playing tricks on her, but when she looked through the kitchen window, she thought she saw Fifi running across the yard. Not only was Fifi running, she was retrieving a ball! For—wait a minute—Hunter? Jill hadn’t heard Hunter’s SUV pull in the drive. He must have arrived while she was washing dishes at the sink and had the water running. She’d just made up a large batch of chicken pasta salad that she planned to munch on this week. Jill often made a casserole or pot of soup that could stretch into several meals. This proved convenient when she was caught up with writing and didn’t want to stop to prepare food. It was always nice to have something ready-made on hand.

Jill watched as Hunter pulled back his arm and threw the ball again. He was dressed in shirt sleeves and his nice slacks. Jill presumed he must have removed his jacket and tie and left them on the front porch. But why hadn’t he come into the house or told her he was home? Jill’s cheeks heated when she suspected the reason. Hunter felt uncomfortable facing her. They’d both been avoiding each other forever, it seemed. But Morgan was right: This silliness had to stop. If she and Hunter had been a couple Jill was advising, she would have insisted they talk with each other long before now. The main difference was that none of the couples who’d come to her for counseling had married by contract. At least as far as Jill knew. Who else on earth would be crazy enough to do that? And here Jill was a relationship expert. She sighed weightily, deciding what to do. She’d been about to pour herself a glass of Chablis. Perhaps she should offer one to Hunter too? He hadn’t been here when she’d made him coffee, but he was clearly present now.

Jill walked out the front door a few minutes later holding a couple of glasses of chilled wine in her hands. Hunter stood up to greet her and hold back the door. He’d apparently finished playing ball with Fifi, who now rested, panting, at the base of his chair. “You’re home!” she said, acting as if she didn’t know.
Yeah, right. Then why am I holding two glasses of wine?

Hunter stepped aside, then closed the front door behind her. “Hard day?” he asked, his eyes on both full goblets.

“Oh, no.” Jill felt herself flush. “These aren’t both for me.” She quickly handed one to him. “The other’s for you!”

A slow grin replaced his perplexed expression. “Thanks, don’t mind if I do.” He accepted the wine and sat back in his chair beside Fifi, who laid her head on his shoe.

Jill sat in the chair beside him. “I saw you playing ball with Fifi,” she began, looking for something to say.

“She’s a good dog.” Hunter reached down and patted Fifi’s head. “The two of us have come to an understanding.”

“Well, good. That’s good.” Jill took a small sip of wine, trying to come up with something else to say. Eventually she braved it. “You’re home early today. I mean, earlier than you have been.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that.” He pursed his lips for a beat. “It’s been crazy at the office.”

“I know what you mean. Here too.”

They both sat staring at the sunset as its gentle glow faded behind the trees. “It’s nice out here,” Hunter said, referring to the porch. “Now that spring is over, my allergies aren’t bothering me half as much.”

“How are you sleeping?” Jill asked softly.

He met her eyes and she saw his were ringed with dark circles. “Not well.”

“Oh Hunter, I’m so sorry. Maybe we can make some changes?”

“Yeah? What kind?”

“I’ll call a cleaning service tomorrow, some place specialized. There’s allergy-proof bedding we can buy.”

He viewed her doubtfully. She continued, “You won’t have to do a thing. I’ll research it all, put it all in place.”

“If you think that will help, then I’m all for it.”

Jill nodded, realizing she was getting hungry. She guessed Hunter might be too. “If you want something to eat, I’ve made some pasta salad.”

“That sounds delicious, Jill. Have you eaten?”

“No, I was thinking maybe we could eat together? Out here on the porch?”

“I like that plan,” he said with a grin.

So they ate and they talked about nothing too sensitive or particular, all the while Fifi keeping them company and Mimi dozing contentedly nearby. At this point, Jill felt it better not to bring up their previous disagreement. It was so small, and she could barely even remember what it was about. She and Hunter appeared to be getting along and that’s what mattered. They weren’t getting along as well as they’d done in Niagara Falls, but they were at least being civil to each other and “civil” was better than not talking.
 

Hunter thanked her for the dinner, which he said was delicious, then broached a new topic. His boss, Max, and Max’s wife, Diane, had invited them both to a Fourth of July cookout. That sounded like fun, but it was only a few days away. “Is there anything we’re supposed to bring?” Jill asked him.
 

“I didn’t think to ask, but it sounded like Max has things covered.”

“How about I make some brownies and you bring some wine?”

“I’m sure both would be appreciated,” he told her.

Cassandra lowered her binoculars in front of her. “Well, darn.”

“Looks like domestic bliss to me,” Mauve said from beside her.

“It sure does.”

“A man, his wife, and his dog.”

“I think the dog belongs to Jill.”