Only Her Best Friend - Cami Checketts Page 0,17

above the bedrooms. “What’s in the loft?” he asked.

“Right now, just an office. When we fixed it up, I was hoping for a play area … you know, for my future kids.”

Future kids? Kids with who? Him? Cruz felt a fire rush through him. He shook his head to clear it and felt he had to ask, “We?”

“We what?” She brushed her long, dark hair over her shoulder and walked to the kitchen.

He followed like a dog on a leash. “Who helped you redo your house?” Had Meredith been in a relationship with someone and been hoping to have kids with that man? Please say no. A worse thought rushed through his mind. Was she in a relationship now?

“Oh.” She opened the oven and started pulling out trays. His mouth watered as the smells of meat, veggies, and rolls all filtered through his nose. “Your dad helped me.”

Cruz relaxed. He’d had visions of some handyman that she liked or was dating or something awful like that. “Good guy that dad of mine.”

“He is.”

Cruz had been impressed with how well his dad seemed to be doing lately. He’d been afraid his dad would regress when he heard his mom had reappeared, threatened Cat, and then been injured and arrested. Cruz was pretty hardened where his mom was concerned. He couldn’t say that he’d forgiven her, but he tried not to think about her or let the way she’d always demeaned him bother him much—tried being the key word. It appeared his dad finally realized his ex-wife was a grumpy, irrational cheater who no one could make happy, least of all her family. Cruz had tried to make her smile for years, and it had only made her hate him worse. His dad showed all indications of moving on. It was an answer to prayers for sure.

“It’s all ready if you’d like to sit down,” Meredith said, gesturing to the barstools. “Sorry I don’t have a table. I don’t have guests over much.”

Cruz liked that, and he found himself easing in close to her. He was staring down into her perfect face and smelling an intriguing mix of peaches and cream. He didn’t think the scent had anything to do with food, but it had his mouth watering all the same.

“I’m your first male dinner guest?” he asked, hoping.

Meredith’s eyes flashed dangerously at him. “Don’t gloat about it, Cruz Chadwick. Men ask me out, but there aren’t a lot of serious dating options in Mystical Lake.”

Cruz’s lips twitched. “Is this a date?” he asked, unable to resist brushing that dark hair away from her neck so he could feel exactly how smooth that rich brown skin was.

Meredith pulled in a quick breath. She was so beautiful and appealing. He was a moment away from bending down and kissing that smooth neck and then those perfect, full lips of hers.

“No,” she said. “Friends, remember?”

Friends. Hmm. He’d see. It was high time he dredged up some of that confidence he always pretended to have and his sister’s vote that he was worthy of Meredith. It was time to see what could happen between them. If he prayed hard, would Meredith never notice that he was a fraud who despised his own mother?

“Sit,” she all but demanded.

Cruz complied, pulling out a high-backed barstool for her first, waiting while she sat, and then sitting himself. He reached out a hand and loved that she didn’t have a choice but to put hers in it. He believed in prayer and was really grateful for it right now.

“My turn?” he asked, as if they prayed together regularly.

She nodded. “Yes, please.”

Cruz bowed his head and felt warmth pulsing through him from her hand in his. “Thank you, Lord, for this delicious food and the perfect, soft, beautiful hands that made it.” He squeezed her hand and smiled as she let out a disgruntled breath. “Please help us to remember thee and thy son, to be humble and grateful. And please bless Meredith to find it in her heart to see that dating me would be a superb idea. Amen.”

He’d done it. He’d put himself out there, and she would have to respond to his heartfelt prayer.

Meredith didn’t echo the amen. She pulled her hand free and pushed platters of grilled chicken topped with bacon and cheese, sautéed veggies, salad, and homemade rolls. “Guests first,” she said.

“Ladies first,” he insisted, disappointment rolling through him that she hadn’t even acknowledged his prayer.

“Oh, my.” She rolled her eyes. “Do you realize I