The Best Man to Trust - By Kerry Connor Page 0,14

facade. That was gone now, her feelings bare and plain to see. She looked lost, as though the world had just come crashing down on her and she had no idea what to do next.

It wouldn’t have been a good look for anybody but somehow seemed especially wrong on this woman’s face. His gut clenched at the sight. He automatically stepped forward and started toward her, the need to do something, say something, to make it better rising from the pit of his stomach.

Before he could, she abruptly lifted her head and spun away toward the door. “I have to get to Ellen and Rick,” she said, her voice wobbly. “Make sure they...know what’s happening.”

He had a feeling make sure they’re all right was what she’d started to say. “Okay,” he agreed. “Let’s go.”

She was already brushing by him as he said it, her strides long and full of purpose. He quickly moved to follow as she pulled the door open and plunged back out into the hallway.

She headed toward the back of the house, away from the front hall and living room where they’d left the others, down another long corridor.

She plowed forward, her head bowed slightly, her movements rushed and uneven. Concern rippled through him. “Hey.”

When she didn’t react to the word, he caught her elbow to stop her progress. A split second after his hand made contact, he felt the tremor rip through her body, every inch of her tensing even more than she already was. A strong reaction, far stronger than normal for such a minor touch. He suspected he knew the reason for it, unease roiling in his gut.

Still, she did stop. He dropped his hand. “Are you okay?”

She nodded tersely, her head bent. “I’m fine. You just startled me.”

It had been more than that. He didn’t doubt it for a second. Her reaction had been too fierce, too defensive. “Maybe you could stand to take a breath. Everything’s been happening so fast. You haven’t really had a chance to process any of this.”

She mustered a smile without meeting his eyes. “And I don’t have time to now. I appreciate the thought though.”

She stood there, her head down, her body still tight with tension, as if it was still protecting itself. The sight drove a hard lump to his throat, and suddenly he had to know. It really wasn’t any of his business, but he couldn’t hold back the question.

“About what Jess said...” he said softly. “You didn’t lie about what happened with Brad, did you?”

She winced, her expression saying she would give anything not to answer the question. He was about to withdraw it when she finally gave her head a tight shake, still not meeting his eyes. “No. I didn’t.”

Anger surged from the pit of his stomach in a rush, for what had been done to her, toward the bastard she’d been married to whose face Tom couldn’t even remember. He struggled to keep the emotion off his expression and out of his voice. “I’m sorry,” he said gently, the words pathetically inadequate. He actually felt stupid saying them. “For Jess. For...everything.”

“Thanks,” she said flatly. “But that’s pretty much the least of my concerns now.”

“Understood. You’re sure you’re okay?”

“I think I have to be, don’t I?” She glanced up at him, realization dawning on her features. “What about you? She was your friend.”

Tom nodded, a combination of guilt and sorrow building in his chest at the reminder. He knew Haley was dead—murdered. He’d seen it with his own eyes, felt her cool skin with his own fingers. But it didn’t seem real. None of this seemed like it could actually be happening.

“I actually hadn’t spoken to her at all since college, at least not until today. I should have stayed in touch with her.” Heck, he should have done a better job of keeping in touch with all of them. Even Scott, the one he’d spoken to the most, was someone he’d only been in contact with a couple times a year, if that. If there was one thing this weekend had already proved, it was what a lousy job he’d done maintaining the friendships that had once been the cornerstone of his world.

“I only got a chance to catch up with her a little at the airport. And now she’s gone.” He could barely wrap his head around it. It was hard to believe that the same woman who’d been laughing and talking with them just a few hours ago was now