She shook her head. Maybe she was going crazy. Maybe she’d misunderstood. But it hadn’t felt like a misunderstanding. It had felt as if Cat was going to kiss her. Right there in front of Starbucks!
After their encounter, Nevada had gone back to her apartment, only to find she was too restless to stay there. She’d phoned Montana and had been thrilled to learn that Simon had been called into emergency surgery. That made her a hideous person, because that meant someone was hurt.
Telling herself she wasn’t responsible hadn’t helped much, but spending the evening with her sister had. They’d packed up most of Montana’s small house for the impending move to Max’s place. She’d gotten home late and exhausted, and still hadn’t been able to sleep.
“We were talking about her,” she said, going over the material for the four thousandth time.
“It is Cat’s favorite topic.”
“You’re not helping.”
“Sorry.”
He didn’t look sorry. He looked like a man trying not to laugh.
“I could kill you, you know,” she told him. “This is my town. They’d help hide the body.”
“You’d miss me.”
“Not as much as you’d think.”
He crossed to her and put his hands on her shoulders. “I think Cat was just being her normal, narcissistic self. It was all about her, and somehow you read that as something else.”
“Maybe.” She’d been so sure at the time, though. Scared, even. “You weren’t there. She keeps talking about being in her feminine phase. Maybe this is part of that.”
His mouth twitched again. “Were you tempted?”
She slapped his hands away. “Did I mention I hate you?”
“Can I watch?”
“Yuck. What’s wrong with you? I have a serious problem.”
“A beautiful woman wants you. That is a problem.”
She grunted in irritation, then stalked to her desk. “You’re not taking this seriously.”
“And you’re taking it too seriously. Even if she did try to kiss you, this is Cat we’re talking about. She was just being her usual attention-seeking self. It doesn’t mean she’s serious about wanting to have sex with you.”
At last he was making sense. “I can buy that,” she admitted. “I was being sympathetic. I’m sure that’s all it was. Her responding to that.”
“Right. And if it turns out she is serious, are you making a video?”
She picked up the folder on her desk and opened it to study the compaction report inside. “Are you talking? All I hear is a buzzing sound. It’s the strangest thing.”
He crossed to her, turned her and kissed her. “I’m sorry she upset you. I’m sorry you were uncomfortable.”
She leaned against him. “I don’t have anything against girl kissing,” she whispered. “In theory. I just don’t want to share in it.”
“Cat was playing. She’ll have moved on to something else by the time you see her again.”
“I hope.”
“Trust me.”
WHEN A DAY OF MOVING lumber and walking the site that would be blasted didn’t make Nevada feel any better, she gladly accepted an invitation to join her friends at Jo’s Bar after work. Heidi had promised to call Annabelle and Charlie, and the other women were waiting when Nevada arrived — as was a very tall, very cold vodka tonic.
“You read my mind,” she said, slipping into the seat they’d saved for her. “Thanks.” She took a sip. “How are things with everyone?”
“Good,” Heidi said with a grin. “No recent goat escapes, which is working for me. And the feral cows are keeping their distance.”
Annabelle laughed. “You’re the only person I know who’s frightened of cows.”
“I’m not frightened. They’re a bad influence.”
Annabelle shook her head. “Keep telling yourself that. I’m fine, too. Loving the library, loving the town. Did you all see the leaves over the weekend? Talk about beautiful.”
“Leaves catch fire,” Charlie grumbled.
“Ever the romantic,” Nevada teased.
Charlie eyed her over her margarita. “Your sisters are getting married.”
Nevada took another drink, then sighed. “That sounds more like an accusation than a question.”
“I didn’t mean it to. I guess I’m surprised.”
Nevada realized the other two women were looking at her with identical expressions of concern. “Uh-oh. You’ve been talking about this.”
Heidi leaned toward her. “A little. Don’t be mad. We’re worried. You’re a triplet.”
“I kind of knew that.”
“What she means,” Annabelle said, “is you’ve always done things together and now they’re getting married. We’re worried.”
Nevada felt a rush of affection for the three of them. “Thank you, but don’t be. I’m fine. I love my sisters and I’m okay with the wedding.”
She paused, admitting to herself that she felt a little left out. “Maybe it’s a little strange, but I don’t want anything to change.”
Heidi wrinkled her nose. “I know I’m new and I shouldn’t have an opinion.”
“Don’t let that stop you,” Charlie told her.
“I like your sisters,” Heidi continued. “But it seems kind of mean to have a double wedding, leaving you out. Shouldn’t they have gotten married separately?”
“Yes,” Jo said, coming up to the table with a huge plate of nachos. “That would have made the most sense. But they’re in love and happy and people do crazy things when they’re in love. Dakota and Montana love their sister and would never want to hurt her. They really want to have a double wedding. There’s no way to reconcile the two.”
“I’m not hurt,” Nevada said. “I mean that. Sure, I feel funny about it, but I want them to have the wedding of their dreams. I’ll be part of it and that’s what is important.”
Jo put down a stack of napkins and four small plates. “You four are going to get drunk tonight, aren’t you?”
“Maybe,” Charlie admitted.
“Everyone walking?” Jo asked.
When they all nodded, she said, “The next round is on the house, then.”
“Someone’s in a good mood,” Nevada said, staring at the bartender.
Jo gave a slight smile. “Maybe. But don’t press me on it or I’ll rescind the offer.”
With that she strolled away.
Nevada stared after her. “I guess things are going well with Will. He’s been a pretty happy guy. Everyone’s in love but me.”
The second the words were out, she winced. “I said that aloud, didn’t I?”
The other three nodded.
“Crap. Sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Annabelle told her. “Love is great. Except for when it’s ripping out your heart and stomping on it.”
“You, too?” Heidi asked.
“Oh, I’m the poster girl for picking the wrong guy. Trust me, if there’s a selfish bastard within a fifty-mile radius, I’m all over him. Or I was. I’m in the process of retraining myself.”
“How’s that going?” Charlie asked.
“Slow. What about you?”
“Guys find me intimidating.” Charlie shrugged. “Most days I like that.” She glanced around the table. “So Heidi is dealing with her fear of cows, Annabelle’s trying to get over falling for the wrong guy.”
“Again and again,” Annabelle added. “Let’s be specific.”
“Sure. I’ve given up on finding anyone because men are stupid.” She turned to Nevada. “It’s all up to you. You’re going to have to represent us all on the road to happily-ever-after.”
Nevada had been swallowing as Charlie spoke and now she started to choke.
“Me? No way. I’m not good at relationships.”
“You’re seeing Tucker,” Heidi said. “Someone told me that at the grocery store, so it must be true. All the most accurate gossip comes from the grocery store.”