The Best Man to Trust - By Kerry Connor Page 0,74

rest of them there, sitting in silence.

There were only four of them, Tom thought with a pang, surveying Scott, Rachel and Alex. When the cars carrying them had come up the mountain, they’d been full of passengers eager and excited for this weekend. Now it was time for the cars to make the return trip down the mountain, and there were only four left to take the journey.

Three, he amended. Because he wasn’t going anywhere.

Alex was the first one to move, rising from his seat. “I guess we should get moving then. I, for one, will be glad to get out of here.”

Neither Rachel nor Scott disagreed with the statement. Neither of them said anything at all.

Rachel looked at Scott, her expression pained and pleading.

Scott stared straight ahead. He hadn’t looked at her once since they’d entered the room.

Tom knew Scott hadn’t spoken to her at all since yesterday. He’d jumped into the task of digging out from the storm, spending all afternoon and evening with Rick and Tom to uncover the rental cars and clear the driveway in front of the mansion so they’d be able to leave once the plow from town unblocked the road, Later he’d asked Meredith for a room of his own, then immediately headed to bed, exhausted like the rest of them. He’d claimed he was too busy to talk to Rachel. Tom suspected that as much as Scott wanted to get out of there, he’d also been making himself busy to avoid talking to her.

Something he still seemed determined to do. He finally stood, turning to face Alex. “Can you give Rachel a ride to the airport?”

Alex glanced between two of them, clearing his throat uncomfortably. “Uh, yeah, sure. I can do that.”

Rachel burst to her feet, as well, evidently having had enough. “Scott, please. Talk to me.”

He didn’t even glance at her. “I don’t think there’s anything to say.”

“I’m so sorry—”

“I know,” Scott said simply, cutting her off. “It just doesn’t change anything.”

Rachel didn’t seem to have a response to that, her face falling.

“Come on, Rach,” Alex said, starting for the door. “Let’s get our bags and head to the airport. Maybe we can get home tonight.”

With a resigned nod, she turned to follow him. When she reached the door, she stopped, placing her hand on it, and glanced back.

Scott kept his eyes steadfastly averted, his face hard as stone.

After a moment, she lowered her head and escaped into the hallway.

Almost immediately Scott seemed to relax, his shoulders sagging.

“You okay?” Tom asked him. He had a feeling he already knew the answer.

Scott gave a sharp shake of his head. “I just want to get out of here.”

“You sure you don’t want to talk to her?”

“There’s no point. She lied about so much. She was going to marry me and there were so many things she’d kept from me. It’s like I don’t even know her. I don’t know if I ever did.” He looked at Tom. “What about you? You ready to head to the airport?”

That was the million-dollar question. And he definitely knew the answer.

“I don’t think so,” he said carefully. “I think I might stick around for a little while longer.”

Scott’s mouth curved slightly in a small, fleeting smile. “I had a feeling you might have some things to take care of here.”

Tom grinned sheepishly. “Is it that obvious?”

“Pretty much. I’ve seen how you look at her, and how she looks at you.” Scott bumped his fist on Tom’s arm. “Good for you.”

“Thanks. I admit it feels a little strange to have it happen in the middle of all this....”

“Hey,” Scott said seriously. “Something good should come out of this. I’m happy for you.”

Tom looked into his old friend’s face, and beneath the weariness and sadness, he could tell Scott meant it. He wasn’t so mysterious. He was Scott, the old friend he wanted to get to know again, the one he didn’t want to lose touch with ever again.

They made their way out of the room and into the front hall. The front door was open, sunlight flooding through to fill the space. The sight was a little disconcerting. He’d never seen it so bright in here before. It looked completely different.

Then a figure came through the doorway, briefly blocking the light.

And there she was.

Meredith.

* * *

MEREDITH STOPPED JUST inside the door, her attention immediately drawn to the man standing at the base of the stairs.

Tom.

Her breath hitched at the sight of him.

You folks are free to go.

All of