She tilted her head. “And why would anyone want to do that?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe to sell newspapers? Because people like to see celebrities stumble and fall to prove they’re human and no better than they are? I have no idea. All I know is that I’m not three-timing you or even two-timing you.”
“I know about the woman who won you in the auction, but who’s the other one?”
“No idea. She said she was a fan. She grabbed and hugged me before I had a chance to react. I practically had to peel her off, but that wasn’t my fault. For all I know, the reporter paid her to do it.”
“Either that or she was in the right place at the wrong time.”
“Merry, I swear…!”
“So did I—when my father told me about the article.”
“Your father saw it?”
“Yeah. So did the neighbors back home.”
“But it’s all a lie!”
Roz poked her head around the corner and said, “Is everything okay?”
Merry shrugged.
Jason looked surprised. “Oh, I didn’t know you had a friend here.”
“Yeah, imagine that. I have someone who cares about me.”
“You know that’s not what I meant. Besides, I care about you too—a lot, and you know it.”
She heaved a sigh. Then she looked into his sincere face and said, “I know. I care about you too.”
“Then could you please stop torturing me for something I didn’t do? I swear you’re the only woman I’m dating and that’s how I want to keep it. I can’t leave with you feeling this way.”
She stepped forward into his grasp, and they held each other tight.
“Now that’s more like it,” Roz said.
Merry had almost forgotten she was watching them. “Oh.” She let go but kept her arm around his waist. “Jason Falco, this is Rosalyn Wells. My best friend from home.”
He extended his hand but kept one arm around Merry’s waist as if she might try to escape. “Nice to meet you, Rosalyn. Did you drive up here from Rhode Island?”
“No, I live near the Allston line now, and feel free to call me Roz.”
“Part of the reason I moved to Boston was to be closer to Roz,” Merry said. “We’ve been best friends since grade school.”
“I’m glad you live in Boston, then. I might not have met Merry otherwise.”
“Unless you believe in fate,” Roz said.
Merry tipped her head up to look in Jason’s eyes. He smiled. “Maybe I do. I can’t imagine my life without Merry in it anymore. You scared me, babe.”
She wrapped her other arm around him again and squeezed. “You scared me too.”
“I told you things like this might happen. Please talk to mebefore believing any crap like that. I’ll always tell you the truth, I promise.”
They exchanged warm smiles and a short but very sweet, tender kiss. “I love you,” he whispered in her ear.
Roz cleared her throat, “Well, I should be going…”
