Page 2 of One Kind Soul

“Tessa?”

“Yeah, hang on a minute.” More indecipherable talking ensued while Nicole licked her lips then got mad that she’d licked her lips. Stupid lip balm. She never left home without it. Where had it disappeared to? She glanced into her purse again, knowing she’d checked every nook and cranny.

“Tessa, what’s going on?” If she waited too long, would all the rooms at the closest—and cheapest—hotel be taken as the rental cars had been? Shit. Nicole had never been to Boston, but she didn’t imagine sleeping outside in the city would be enjoyable. Temperatures in May weren’t frigid, but they also weren’t tropical like on Kauai.

And when had she become someone who would sleep on the streets? Ugh.

“Okay, Nicole,” Tessa said. “I’m back and you’re going to love me.”

“I already love you. You’re my best friend.”

“Love you too, but you’re going to love me more because I got you a ride.”

“What? How? Did you find something online I couldn’t do in person here?” God, getting out of here and being on her way to Tessa would be great.

“No. Donovan’s brother, Christian, volunteered to come get you,” Tessa said.

What?

“Why would he do that?” And wasn’t he the flirty one? Tessa had regaled her with tales of this brother, hadn’t she? A shameless tease. Why in the world would he want to drive four hours to Boston and then drive four hours back to Maplehaven? Had his flavor of the day cancelled on him?

Did that make her the flavor of the day? That wasn’t happening.

“He’s over here helping Donovan deal with a chimney problem. They both came in for a drink. Christian progressed from a drink to pulling things out of our refrigerator and, upon hearing of your plight, said, ‘I’ll get her.’ We debated the issue for a few,” Tessa said. “Me saying, ‘You don’t have to do that,’ though I wanted him to do exactly that. Him saying, ‘I don’t mind, Tessa. Donovan and I are done with the chimney and now I’m bored.’ I did remind him he has any number of projects to do on his property, but he appears to want a break from that. You’re providing that break. Win-win.”

“Is he sure? That’s a lot of driving.” But Nicole was already imagining being on Tessa’s couch in her pajamas, getting all caught up so she could take on her duties as maid of honor.

“Christian,” Tessa asked, “are you sure you want to do this?”

“Tell Nicki to get some road trip snacks!” a deep male voice yelled in the background.

“There you have it,” Tessa said. “He likes cheese curls.”

“Did he call me Nicki?” Nicole cringed. No one called her that because she hated it.

“Umm . . .” Tessa hesitated. “I’ll tell him not to call you that.”

“That’s going to make me call her that,” Christian said, his voice not so much in the background anymore. “Hey, Nicki.”

“Give that back to me!” Tessa shouted.

“So I’ll be swinging your way in about three-point-five hours, Nicki. Faster if I bend speed limit rules,” Christian said. “That gives you time to pick up some good snacks. Tessa told you I like cheese curls, which is true, but I also dig chocolate-covered raisins, dried pineapple, peanuts, and licorice.”

Nicole pulled her phone away from her ear and gaped at it. Was this guy for real?

Still . . . he was offering to get her ass to Maplehaven tonight. Her only other option was staying in Boston.

“What kind of licorice?” she asked, guessing that meant she’d accepted his offer.

“Red. See you soon, Nicki.”

“Don’t call me that,” she said.

“It’s me again,” Tessa said. “But I’ll remind him not to call you Nicki.”

“Why do I feel as if a reminder won’t do the trick?”

Tessa laughed. “Uh, yeah. Christian can be . . .”