Page 5 of Mountain Dreams

“He won’t. I’ll call and ask him to meet me for a beer. I’ll say it’s been a while and I just want to catch up.”

The idea sounded plausible, but she still felt uneasy about it. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

“You want to find out what’s going on, right?”

She nodded.

“Maybe he’ll open up to me. If not about the napkin, then something else.”

That was partly what she was afraid of. Aside from the possibility of Wyatt cheating on her, there could be any number of reasons for why he was acting so strangely. Once she knew, she’d have to face whatever it was.

Tears pricked her eyes, and she dipped her head to hide them from Cody. However, he reached out, placed a finger under her chin, and gently tipped it up. She gazed into his eyes, which were a mesmerizing light brown with flecks of gold. She’d always thought he had pretty eyes, though she’d never told him so.

“Let me help you,” he said softly.

Suddenly she became aware of how intimate this was. She and Cody were tucked away in his cozy cabin, unbeknownst to anyone but the pretty receptionist at the resort. She wondered what Wyatt would think if he knew she was here.

“I hate to put you in the middle of this,” she said.

“You’re my friend too, and I hate to see you so upset.”

Friends. True, friends helped each other, but this situation was different. She’d always had a crush on Cody, and how could she not? He was good looking (or HOT, according to the girls in high school), charismatic, and charming. Plus, he had an excellent sense of humor and a knack for putting people at ease.

When she’d first met him, he was dating a cheerleader who was popular and outgoing just like him. She thought they made the perfect pair. When the cheerleader broke up with him to date the high school quarterback, Cody didn’t miss a beat, because there were dozens of girls waiting to take her place.

Madison (or Maddie to her friends) decided that she was in the best position of all simply by being his friend. That way, she got to enjoy his company without being bested by some other girl. They became so close that they confided in each other about almost everything. When he introduced her to Wyatt, she told Cody she thought he was “cute,” and the next thing she knew, Wyatt had asked her out. The rest, as they say, is history.

“Do you really think it will work?” she asked.

“It’s worth a try, and don’t worry. I won’t say anything about the napkin. I’ll just ask a few questions and try to get him talking.”

She scrunched up her face. “It sounds like spying.”

“I’ve been meaning to call him anyway. You just gave me some added incentive.”

She nodded, though she still felt conflicted.

“If you feel uncomfortable, I won’t do it.”

“It’s just that…I guess I’m afraid to know the truth, if that makes sense.”

Her hands were clasped in her lap, and he moved a little closer and placed a hand over them. His touch was warm, comforting, and something else she didn’t want to acknowledge.

In addition to his beautiful eyes, he had a thick head of disheveled hair, like he’d been running his fingers through it. He was also sporting some stubble, like he’d forgotten to shave that morning, which only added to his appeal. He was wearing faded jeans with rips in them that hadn’t been placed there by a designer but had resulted from natural wear and tear. He wore a long-sleeved T-shirt with the sleeves pushed up, showcasing his muscled forearms. Even with dirt stains on his jeans and paint flecks in his hair, he was a sight to behold.

“It makes perfect sense. Sometimes the truth is a hard pill to swallow,” he said thoughtfully.

He pulled his hand away, and she immediately missed his warmth. She took a long look at him and made her decision.

“I can’t marry Wyatt without knowing the truth. It’s better to have a broken engagement than a broken marriage, right?”

“I’m no expert on relationships, but yes, I agree with you.”

Suddenly she realized she’d been talking about herself the entire time and hadn’t asked anything about him. “Speaking of relationships,” she prompted.

“Still single,” he said and grinned.

“Hmm. Some of the girls from high school would probably be happy to hear that.”