Only Her Best Friend - Cami Checketts Page 0,27
front of her.
She took a long sip, savoring the strawberry lemonade’s tart and sweet combo. Opening the container’s lid, she said, “Thank you. I forget to eat lunch usually.”
He leaned forward on the picnic table, resting his elbows on it and displaying those lovely biceps of his. “You need to take better care of yourself, Mer. You’re too thin.”
She rolled her eyes at that and picked up a taco, taking a bite. It was a delicious combo of homemade tortillas, spicy chicken, melted cheese, cream sauce, and pico. “I’ve never been too thin.” Her aunt used to tell her she was “well-built.” It was true. She was strong and lean, but she’d never be considered thin.
“I didn’t mean to offend you,” Cruz said quickly. “I think you look incredible, but I don’t want you starving yourself.”
She swallowed her bite and said, “Thank you. I don’t starve myself though.”
“Good.”
She ate a few more bites, not sure what to say to him, as she listened to the chatter of children at the park and the ducks quacking from the lake. A single motorboat skimmed by on the lake. Cruz looked out at the boat, a wistful expression on your face.
“You’re wishing you were out there,” Meredith said.
Cruz glanced back at her. “No. I get plenty of boat time, and if I’m wanting more, I can take my dad’s boat out.”
“The boats you and your camera crew were on aren’t yours?” she asked, very interested in his career and happy they could talk easily after this morning’s debacle.
“No.” He shook his head. “MasterCraft has offered to give me a boat, but it’s easier to fly to my destinations with just my Ronix boards and other gear. The local dealers are under obligation to provide us with boats.”
“Really?” She took another bite and a drink. Then she asked, “So, do they ever give you grief?”
“Grief?” His brow wrinkled.
She smiled. “What am I saying? Who could give you grief?”
“Only you.” His smile was still there, but his blue eyes seemed to fill with pain, as if she’d rejected him multiple times and broken his heart. That couldn’t be true for a dedicated player like Cruz, right?
She shook her head. “So, the boat dealers are okay to lend you their pretty boats?”
He nodded. “So far they’ve all been more than happy to either send us with their top of the line boats or come along on the shoot. I make sure my media people give each dealership a nice shout-out. I think MasterCraft must give them a kickback when I use them also. As easy as they are to work with, they must be getting compensated somehow.”
“I’m sure having you around is plenty of compensation.”
His eyebrows rose. “You like having me around?”
The moment went slow between them. Meredith was in so much trouble with this man around. If she revealed to him how long and deeply she loved him, how would he respond? She was pretty certain he’d kiss her and make her feel amazing, which she would love, but she was split on whether he could ever return her feelings. Even if he wasn’t truly the player the media portrayed, how could they make a relationship work? As far as she knew, he only came home a few times a year. That wasn’t nearly enough for her. She shook her head. She was getting really far ahead of herself.
“What are you shaking your head for?” He leaned closer. “You don’t like having me around?”
“Everybody likes having you around.” She shoved a large bite of the tacos in and chewed and swallowed as he watched her steadily until she finished her meal.
Meredith stood, closed the taco box, and grabbed her drink. “That was delicious. Thank you so much.”
“Break’s over?” he asked, standing also.
“I’d better relieve Cat and let Danielle get a break when we have a slow moment.”
“Do you often let Cat work for you?” he asked as she dumped the taco box in the garbage, and they walked together back to her shop.
“Sometimes. It’s nice because with the resort she has her food handler’s permit, and she’s such a wonderful friend to me. She often comes by with food and makes me take a break.”
“She’s a hilarious and sassy angel, that sister of mine.”
They reached her shop much too quickly and paused outside. “That she is. I love seeing her and Stetson together.”
He smiled. “It’s great to see them both so happy, especially after what his jerk of a father and my harpy of a