Only Her Best Friend - Cami Checketts Page 0,14
videos of him, but she’d always inadvertently see shots of women draped all over him while he grinned broadly for the camera. Last night she’d googled “dating Cruz Chadwick,” and the pictures and claims from women dating him had made her stomach churn.
“I didn’t walk around your house last night, Mer. I only pulled in the driveway and watched to make sure Josh didn’t come.”
Meredith’s eyes widened, and her stomach tightened. The worries of Cruz dating other women were pushed to the side as she admitted, “There have been other nights when I’ve heard footsteps and cars in and out.”
Cruz’s jaw tightened. “What has Sheriff Greenwood said?”
“He hasn’t seen anything.”
“Did you call him last night?”
“No,” she admitted.
“It only happens late at night?”
She nodded. “I’m not home much during the day though. I’m busy with the shop.”
He glanced around her yard, and then those beautiful blue eyes settled on her again. “Well, that settles it.”
She backed up and leaned against the door for support. “Settles what?”
“I finish filming this afternoon, and my crew is leaving. I’ll sleep here.”
“Excuse me?” She hated all the worries Josh had planted in her head. If Cruz had really turned into the playboy, he could be trying to worm his way into her house and into her bed. If Cruz was half the jerk Josh had made him out to be, he wouldn’t care that she’d loved him forever. He’d take advantage of that fact, use her, and leave her.
“I’ll sleep out in your yard and catch whoever is creeping around.”
“Sleep in my yard?” she asked faintly, putting a hand to her heart. It was actually very thoughtful of him to want to rough it and watch out for her. “I … can’t let you do that.”
“Why not?” His eyebrows arched, and he gave her a dangerous look that should’ve been illegal. It was obvious he’d be happy to stay here, but why?
“Cat and your dad want you around.”
“They’ll understand.” He stepped in closer and rested a hand on the doorframe above her head. “We’ve always been close friends, right, Mer?”
She sucked in a breath. “Yes,” she admitted.
“I want to be around you, Mer, make sure you know that whatever rumors Josh fed you are a lie, and make sure whoever this jerk is that’s stalking you is caught.” His gaze traveled over her all smoky hot and making her pant for air. “Right now, I’ll explore the trails close by your house while you get ready and head into work. Tonight, text me when you leave work, and I’ll come hang out with you and then sleep outside.”
Meredith could not catch a full breath now. “For how long?”
“Until I catch him.”
“You have a career to get back to.”
“I have two weeks off to spend here with my family.”
“It might take longer than two weeks,” she said stubbornly.
He smiled and leaned a little closer. “Fine by me. I’ll rearrange my schedule to stay as long as you need me.”
Meredith needed to get away from him right now. She sadly loved the thought of spending the evening with him, cooking him dinner, and talking. Maybe he could convince her that Josh’s words were lies, maybe he could convince her that he wasn’t the ultimate playboy and loved her, and maybe he’d kiss her like he had in the woods so long ago.
No! She spun away from him and fumbled to input the code to unlock the deadbolt. Finally, she heard the click, pressed down on the doorknob, and the door swung open. Cruz straightened. She backed into her house.
He tilted his chin up to her. “I’ll see you tonight, Mer.”
Meredith didn’t have a clue how to respond. She should tell him no but she’d long dreamt of time alone with Cruz.
“Do you want me to pick up dinner from the resort, or would you rather cook together?”
Meredith’s hand was back on her heart. Cook … together? As if they were some couple? What was Cruz doing to her?
“I’ll cook,” she managed.
“Thanks. I love homecooked food. Do you need me to pick up anything?”
She shook her head, dumbfounded by how he’d wrangled her into this. “Cruz … you’re not really sleeping outside my house tonight.”
“Yes, I am.” An alluring grin crossed his face. “Unless you’d prefer I sleep in the house.”
Meredith had no choice. She shut the door in his face. Leaning against it for support she heard his deep chuckle outside. He’d been teasing. He wouldn’t try to sleep in the house with her. Sadly she didn’t