“But still, you could—”
“No, I couldn’t. We didn’t exchange numbers. We’re not seeing each other again. We met at the bar, we had one fantastic night of sex, and that was that.”
The waitress appeared at our table just then, smiling as she took our order. I hadn’t had a chance to think about what I wanted, so I copied Sam and had the Hawaiian chicken salad, too.
Once we were alone again, Samantha heaved a sigh. “Well, damn. I was hoping you’d met someone and maybe he’d turn out to be the one for you.”
I shook my head. “Sorry, sweetie. If the one really exists, which I’m not sure he does, this dude wasn’t him.” Something clutched in my stomach as I said the words, and the restlessness I’d been experiencing since Saturday ratcheted up a little. It felt as if I were lying to both my friend and to myself.
“Well, maybe you’ll meet someone at the engagement party this weekend. You’re all set to be there, right? You got the time off work and everything?”
“I did, and I will. I can’t wait. Are you excited?”
She grinned. “I really am. It’s starting to feel so real now, you know?” In a move that I was fairly certain was unconscious, she lifted her left hand, where the diamond solitaire glittered. “Sometimes it’s hard for me believe that Max and I are ...well, Max and I. Or Max and me, more correctly, I guess. Some mornings I wake up in his arms, and I have to pinch myself to be sure I’m not dreaming.” She lifted one shoulder. “I’m not saying we have something perfect, because nothing is that. But I’m so damned happy, and I think he is, too. I never imagined it could be like this.”
“I’m glad for you both.” I really was, too. I liked Max, and Samantha deserved every bit of happiness she could find.
“And if I found my forever, there’s no reason to think you can’t. That’s why I’m saying, on Saturday night, come with an open mind, all right? A lot of Max’s friends—hissingleand very attractive friends—are going to be there. I think you’d hit it off with at least one of them.” She tilted her head, thinking. “I wish Derek were coming. He’s funny and really smart, and you two would hit it off. But he was injured a while back, and Max thinks he’s dealing with post-traumatic depression. So that wouldn’t work.” She brightened. “Oh! Owen Hughes. He’s single, and he’s a really nice guy.”
The name rang a bell in the back of my head, but I couldn’t figure out why exactly. I didn’t think I knew anyone named Owen. I was just grateful that she hadn’t mentioned any of Max’s friends named Jake. I’d realized after he’d left that I didn’t know his rank in the Army or what he actually did. He’d said he was stationed at Fort Lee, but beyond that, we hadn’t gotten into details. But I figured it was a big post; the chances that he might be acquainted with Max and Samantha had to be pretty small.
“Look, Sam, I appreciate the sentiment, and I know that you want me to be happy because you are. I love you for that. But I really am happy now. I like my life. I don’t need a husband, a fiancé or even a boyfriend. I like my occasional nights of fun with no strings.”
“Hmmm.” She stared at me, and I wasn’t sure I liked the expression on her face. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I didn’t trust the tone of her voice, either. “That’s it?”
“Sure.” Our salads arrived then, and we were quiet as the server placed the plates in front of us. When she’d left again, I frowned at my friend.
“I don’t trust you.”
Sam flashed wide eyes at me. “Why would you say that? Look, Harper, if you tell me you’re satisfied with your life, with your lonely, solitary and empty life, who am I to tell you that you’re wrong? I only hoped you might meet someone you’d like at the party this weekend. That’s all. But if you tell me you’re not interested, you know me. I don’t push.”
Stabbing a chunk of pineapple, I stuck it into my mouth. “Uh huh.”
“Now let me tell you about how wedding planning is going. Do you think you can carve out an afternoon next month to go bridesmaid dress shopping? Your schedule is the most demanding, so if you give me a date, I’ll make sure everyone else can work around it.”
For the rest of our lunch, Samantha chattered about the wedding, the party and other topics that had nothing to do with my love life or lack thereof. I should have been relieved and thankful.
But I knew it wasn’t in Sam to give up that easily. I was suspicious and more than a little trepidatious about the engagement party. I was going to have to be vigilant, or I’d find myself paired off with one of Max’s Army buddies, forced to put on a happy face and pretend I was interested.
That would be annoying, considering I wasn’t interested in any man right now. Certainly not one with short hair and fathomless dark brown eyes. That face, that body and that voice definitely hadn’t been haunting my dreams since Friday night. I hadn’t even thought about Jake Robinson once since I’d locked the door behind him in the wee hours of Saturday morning.
Once, twice, a hundred times ... what difference did it make? I’d done everything in my power to make sure he’d left me in the worst possible way, with no chance for another night together. I didn’t want him to think I was interested in seeing him again. I was fully aware that I’d been the one to shut down that night, but I’d had a good reason. I liked Jake. From the time we’d spent together, I could already tell that I liked him too much. We had chemistry, a connection that was even more than sex, and that scared the shit out of me.
When I’d heard myself beginning to explain the complicated relationship I had with my family, I’d been appalled. I knew better. That was when I’d realized he had to leave before I gave in and asked him to stay.
Sure, I could’ve handled it more gracefully, but in the end, what did it matter? He was gone, and I’d made sure to be enough of the bitch that he’d never want to come back.
And that was how I wanted it. Or so I kept telling myself.
* * *
The townhouse was already filled with guests when I arrived Saturday night, and I smiled at a few I recognized as I made my way across the living room. Max and Samantha had wanted to keep things casual for this party, although I knew that both sets of their parents had been eager to help, offering tons of ideas and well-meaning suggestions. Still, from what I could see, nothing was too over the top. Sam had told me privately that she felt she’d had to dig in her heels now so that she didn’t lose control of the entire wedding planning process. I shuddered at the thought of having to face that ordeal. Happily for me, it wasn’t going to be an issue any time in the foreseeable future.
A few servers were passing food on trays, and my chef-trained eye examined what they were handing out. The canapes looked fresh and enticing, not sloppily assembled. The presentation was subtle but professional. I approved.
I was just reaching for a glass of champagne from the self-serve wine and beer bar when I saw him. He was standing about a foot away, and his eyes were trained on me, disbelief and surprise evident there.
