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“Winn told me he considers any woman available as long as there’s no wedding ring on her finger.” Adrianna cursed herself for sounding breathless. But darn it, when the back of his knuckles brushed her cheek, it took everything she had not to close her eyes and sigh in ecstasy.
“Is that what you believe?” His voice gentled to a husky caress.
“No. Yes. I’m not sure.” Adrianna found it hard to think clearly with him so near. “But you and I aren’t dating, so I don’t see that it’s any of your business who I see or don’t see.”
“I care about you, Anna.” Tripp caught her hand in his, lifted it to his mouth and pressed a kiss in the palm. Time seemed to stretch and extend as he looked deep into her eyes. “I’ll find you a good man.”
Her spine stiffened. She could feel it go hard vertebra by vertebra. She pushed away from him, irritation fueling her movements. The only problem she had in the man department was her attraction to Tripp, a man who didn’t want to date her but apparently wanted to run her social life. “I don’t mind your introducing me to your friends, but I’m more than capable of taking it from there.”
Tripp made a scoffing sound. “You haven’t been on a real date in months.”
“That’s not the point. I decided only last week to be more proactive on that front,” Adrianna said with a studied nonchalance. “My dateless status will be changing soon.”
Tripp’s brows furrowed. “It’s important not to move too fast.”
The genuine concern in his voice and the protective look in his eyes whittled away at her irritation.
“I’m going to be thirty in less than a month.” Adrianna experienced a pang at the thought. “If I want a husband and children, I need to get busy. Who knows—perhaps Winston Ferris will end up being my destiny.”
Tripp’s arms tightened around her, bringing her closer. “He won’t.”
“I guess we’re just going to have to see which one of us is right,” she answered with a breezy sigh.
A soft expletive slipped past his lips. Tripp couldn’t believe they were having this conversation. Winston Ferris was not Adrianna’s destiny. Tripp knew that as well as he knew his own name.
As the sultry scent of Adrianna’s perfume teased his nostrils and his gaze was drawn downward to her voluptuous breasts, he realized why he was so concerned.
Adrianna might give the appearance of being a woman of the world, but it was all for show. He knew her secret. She was very much an innocent in the ways of men. Winn wasn’t pursuing Adrianna with marriage in mind. The wealthy bachelor had a much simpler goal: get her into his bed.
“Tripp, I don’t want to argue with you tonight.” A self-conscious-sounding laugh escaped her lips.
His heart stumbled over itself at the worry reflected in the depths of her green eyes. “I don’t want to argue with you either.”
Determined to make this a wonderful evening for her, Tripp spent the rest of the dance and the ones that followed making sure Winn’s name didn’t come up. The conversation flowed effortlessly and Tripp was once again struck by how much he and Adrianna had in common.
After a fast-paced salsa that saw the older crowd exit the dance floor in droves, Adrianna mentioned she was thirsty. Taking her arm, he led them to one of the bars scattered around the large ballroom.
Because Adrianna was on call and couldn’t drink, he got her a club soda and ordered himself a beer. After they’d gotten their drinks, they circled the ballroom. They were pushing their way through the densely packed crowd to say hello to some friends when they ran into Merle Bach, one of the trustees who’d been at their table for dinner.
Unfortunately, this time it wasn’t Merle’s wife at his side, but Jim Ferris.
“Good to see you both again.” Merle favored them with a bright smile. With his snow-white hair, midsection paunch and jolly laugh, Merle had always reminded Tripp of Santa Claus … with cowboy boots. “I was telling Jim how much Helen and I enjoyed visiting with you and Adrianna. It’s good to see you settling into the community.”
“I grew up here, Merle.” Tripp kept his tone light even as he tightened his hold on the bottle of beer. “It didn’t take much for me to settle back in.”
Tripp saw Merle and Jim exchange a quick, significant glance. It was common knowledge that when the previous hospital CEO had retired, Jim had liked another man for the position. The rumor was that while Jim conceded Tripp had the experience they needed, he hadn’t liked the fact that Tripp was young and single.
“You know what I mean.” Merle slapped him on the back and turned to Adrianna. “We couldn’t be happier about the woman who’s putting an end to your bachelor ways.”
“You’re a lucky man,” Jim added.
Even though she stiffened beside him, Adrianna didn’t say a word. Obviously she was leaving the delicate response to him.
Diplomacy and tact, Tripp told himself. He scrambled for the right words that wouldn’t make Merle feel awkward for misunderstanding and also wouldn’t be disrespectful to Adrianna.
“I’ve decided to have a barbecue at my place next Saturday,” Jim announced before Tripp could respond. “A party to welcome my boy to Jackson Hole. I’ll be inviting board members and many of the medical staff. I’m sure your parents will be there, Tripp. I hope we can also count on you and Adrianna.”
Tripp hesitated. If he didn’t take Adrianna, he knew who would. That would be tantamount to throwing her to the wolves.
He cared about her too much—er, she was too close a friend—for him to allow that to happen.
“I don’t think I have anything on my calendar.” Tripp slanted a sideways glance at Adrianna. “Do you remember if we had any plans?”
“No—” she cleared her throat “—I’m available.”
“Well, I’m delighted you can make it,” Jim said in a gravelly voice. “I know my son is disappointed that this lovely young woman is already taken, but I’m happy for you both.”
Even though a polite smile remained on her lips, Adrianna gave Tripp a quick thrust of her elbow.
She was right. He needed to respond to Jim’s statement, to make the limits of their “relationship” clear.
The words were poised on Tripp’s lips when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Winn approaching.
With an unsteady hand, Tripp slipped an arm around Adrianna’s shoulders and smiled. “I feel lucky to have her in my life.”
Chapter Four
Adrianna rocked slowly back and forth, smiling down at the baby cuddled in her arms. It was warm for early September, so she and Betsy had decided to sit outside on the front porch. The cottage in Jackson that Betsy and Ryan now called home had originally belonged to Betsy’s great-aunt. After much renovation, it had a warm, homey feel that Adrianna’s recently built condo could never hope to emulate.
She stared into baby Nathan’s dark blue eyes and shared her most recent dilemma. “You remember Tripp. Yes, he’s a nice guy. But we both know I was crazy for saying I’d go to the barbecue with him.”
“I hate to tell you, but Nate’s more concerned about his next meal than your social life.” Betsy spoke through the screen door. She pushed it open and placed a tray filled with glasses of iced tea and a plate of snickerdoodle cookies on the small table. “You like Tripp. Why not go to a party with him?”
Betsy settled herself into a matching rocker, apparently content to leave the baby in Adrianna’s arms.
“I want what you have, Bets.” Adrianna lifted the crystal tumbler with one hand, careful not to disturb the infant in her arms. “But how am I going to find Mr. Right if I keep hanging out with Tripp?”
Instead of tossing out some platitude, her friend’s expression turned thoughtful. “I understand. I really do. But it’s obvious Tripp likes you. Perhaps, given time—”
“He’s not going to come around.” Adrianna spoke so loudly the baby stirred in her arms. She softened her tone. “Tripp has made it perfectly clear that he thinks of me only as a friend.”
“But at the country club he was being so attentive—”
“A dog with his bone. Nothing more.” Although the realization hurt, Adrianna refused to sugarcoat the truth. “Winn was showing interest. Tripp reacted.”
“If you’re so convinced there’s no hope, why are you going with him to the party?”
Exactly the question Adrianna had been asking herself.
“Well, Winn will be there.” Adrianna settled back against the rocker and tried to picture the dark-haired man. Unfortunately, the only male image that sprang to mind had blond hair and chin scruff. She determinedly blinked it away. “It’ll give me the opportunity to get to know him without going on an actual date.”
“I guess that could occur.” Betsy chewed on her lower lip, her gaze thoughtful. “Unless Tripp continues to play the possessive-boyfriend card.”
That was definitely a possibility. Adrianna sighed. Perhaps she should cancel. Of course, with the party scheduled for tomorrow night, if she was going to bail on Tripp, she had to tell him soon. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Maybe I should forget about men, get a couple cats and save myself all this stress.”
“Yeah, right,” Betsy said with a laugh.
Adrianna had done so much thinking about her situation that her head felt ready to explode. “Enough about me. What’s new with you? Other than having a wonderful husband and this fabulous baby boy.”
“Well …” Betsy stared at the tea in her hands. She cleared her throat, then lifted her gaze. “Keenan may be getting a new trial.”
Adrianna had known Betsy’s older brother since childhood. Keenan McGregor had been a fearless risk taker, brilliant but angry. Angry at his mother for being a drunk, angry at watching his little sister go without food, angry at the lousy cards he’d been dealt in life.
Still, as volatile as Keenan had been, Adrianna believed—as Betsy did—that he was innocent of the crime that had sent him to the penitentiary in Rawlins two years ago.
“That’s wonderful news,” Adrianna said cautiously, knowing that it would be an uphill battle for someone already convicted to get a new trial. “Is his public defender spearheading the effort?”
“As if that would ever happen,” Betsy snorted, a look of disgust on her face. “No, Keenan has finally agreed to let Cole and Ryan help him. You know how resistant my brother has been about accepting assistance from family or friends.”
“I remember.” Betsy had been devastated when Keenan had refused to take her savings to hire a better attorney when he was originally brought up on charges. “What changed?”
“I don’t want to say he found religion—that’s a bit too clichéd.” Betsy’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “But one of the prison chaplains somehow convinced him there’s no shame in accepting assistance.”
“I’m so glad.” Adrianna reached over and squeezed her friend’s hand.
“Ryan is now in charge of the legal team. Cole insisted on hiring—and paying for—a private investigator.”
Cole Lassiter had also been Keenan’s friend growing up. He’d come from a similar home situation as Betsy and Keenan, but had turned his frustration into determination and now was the head of Hill of Beans, with over twenty-five coffee shops west of the Mississippi, including one in Jackson Hole.
“Have they unearthed any new evidence?” Adrianna asked.
“It’s looking that way,” Betsy said cautiously. “I’m trying not to get my hopes up.”
“I’ll say a little prayer for him.”
“I’d appreciate it.” A truck turned the corner and Betsy gave Adrianna a curious look. “Have you decided what you’re going to do about Tripp?”
“You mean since we last spoke about him a minute ago?” Adrianna’s lips twisted upward. “I still have time to make up my mind.”
The barbecue wasn’t until tomorrow night. Once she left Betsy’s house, Adrianna had a full schedule of appointments at the clinic where she practiced with two female ob-gyns. After her last appointment, she planned to do a pro–con list and then make her decision. If she decided to opt out, that would still give Tripp twenty-four hours to find someone else.
Even though she told herself she didn’t care, the thought of Tripp attending the party with another woman made Adrianna reach for a cookie. And she didn’t even like snickerdoodles.
“I’d say you have about sixty seconds.”
Confused, Adrianna followed her friend’s gaze to the street where two men were getting out of a pickup.
Her traitorous heart skipped a beat. When Tripp saw her and lifted a hand, she had little choice but to smile and wave.
“What’s he doing here?” she asked Betsy, keeping the smile firmly on her lips.
“No idea.” Betsy rose to her feet. “Ryan called earlier and said he’d be stopping by to pick up the laptop he’d forgotten. He didn’t mention bringing Tripp with him.”
Of course he didn’t, Adrianna thought with a sigh.
She glanced down at her stylish paisley dress and heels. At least she looked presentable. Not that it mattered. After all, Tripp was just a friend.
Betsy greeted her husband on the steps to the porch, wrapping her arms around his neck and ardently kissing him.
Inside the house, a Pomeranian barked a welcome.
“Maybe we should have someone around to hold the baby more often.” Ryan stepped back with obvious reluctance, keeping his arm around his wife’s shoulders.
“Looking good, Betsy.” Tripp’s words made the new mom blush.
Adrianna knew the compliment was sincere. Even though Betsy often referred to herself as a “Plain Jane,” nothing could be further from the truth. Her friend looked adorable in a flirty blue print skirt and cotton sweater.
Tripp shifted his gaze to Adrianna. “You look lovely, too, Ms. Lee.”
“As do you, Mr. Randall.” Actually, Tripp looked positively yummy in a dark suit and gray shirt. And as he stepped close, Adrianna discovered he smelled just as good as he looked. A thousand times more appetizing than the cookie in her hand. Adrianna dropped it to her plate and cocked her head. “Isn’t this a workday for you?”
“I might ask you the same question,” he responded with a raised brow.
“It’s my morning off,” she informed him. “I have clinic this afternoon.”
“I’m taking an early lunch,” Tripp explained.
She smiled. “Pays to be the boss.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Adrianna saw that Ryan had pulled Betsy close once again. They were speaking so softly she couldn’t hear what they were saying.
“He seems to be a good baby.” Tripp crouched down beside Adrianna, a curved finger caressing the baby’s soft cheek.
His gaze took on a distant look and Adrianna wondered if he was thinking of the baby he’d lost. Her heart clenched. Sometimes life simply wasn’t fair.
“I confirmed the barbecue tomorrow night starts at seven.” Tripp’s blue eyes met hers. “I thought I’d pick you up around six-thirty?”
Something has come up and I’m not able to make it after all. The words, poised on the tip of her tongue, morphed as they hit her lips.
“Sounds good,” she heard herself say. Nonono. “I mean—”
“Tripp—” Ryan motioned to him “—do you have a second to look at the notes on Keenan’s case?”
“You’re in on the effort to get Keenan released?” Adrianna didn’t know why she was so surprised. Tripp had been part of that close-knit group of athletes and friends.
“Not yet.” Tripp pulled to his feet. “But when I heard what was going on, I told Ryan I wanted to help.”
Tell him you can’t go with him to the party, Adrianna’s inner voice nagged. Tell him now.
