Only Her Best Friend - Cami Checketts Page 0,56

kiddos climb on your shoulders for shots,” Taylee told him as they walked toward the boat ramp.

“That’s always fun,” he said, forcing a bright smile on his face. At least the act came easily after so many years, and the kids would make it fun.

“Yep, they love it.”

The boat was waiting for him and a group of eight- to eighteen-year-olds. They all cheered as he approached. Cruz bumped fists and chatted and grinned, but inside he ached for Meredith. Where was she? She’d returned none of his calls and texts. Silence. Agonizing, horrible silence. Why had the good Lord helped him feel such relief and forgiveness with his mom and then taken Meredith away?

He forced it all away as he strapped on a lifejacket and did a gainer off the dock. The crowd cheered even louder as he surfaced.

“You ready, chief?” Scott called to him from the boat.

“You know it.”

Cruz looked up at the group of children and teenagers waiting on the dock and beach for their turn. “So, who’s going first?”

Crazily enough, none of them put their hands in the air. As if on cue, the crowd parted and the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen walked across the dock in a pale pink swimsuit with a fitted lifejacket on. Her long, dark hair trailed over her firm shoulders, and those lips he dreamt about smiled at him. Her dark eyes were bright and red-rimmed. Had she been crying?

“Mer?”

“I’m first,” Meredith said. She grinned at all the kids and then leapt off the dock, doing a cannonball and splashing him.

Everyone laughed. Cruz thought it was adorable, but he couldn’t laugh. He’d been too concerned and stressed last night and this morning to laugh yet.

She surfaced next to him, and he grabbed her lifejacket to tug her close. “Mer? You didn’t believe …”

She cut him off with a warm, sweet kiss. “Believe that stupid article?” she asked. She tossed her hair and gave him a saucy look that he knew wasn’t really her, but he appreciated that she was being brave. “I’m the only woman you’d ever want. You’ve never lied to me before. How could I believe that garbage?”

“Ah, Mer …” He wrapped her up tight and kissed her passionately. Their lifejackets kept them afloat but also kept them from getting as close as he wanted.

Hoots and hollers finally got them to stop kissing, but he kept her close and whispered in her ear. “We’re talking about this later.”

“I like the way we talk,” she said back. “So, I get to surf on your shoulders?” she asked.

He laughed. “Do you want to?”

“For sure. But … I’ve never surfed.”

“You surfed on my back in Mystical Lake.” He gave her a squeeze. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”

She grinned. “I know you do.”

Taylee slid his surf board into the water and said, “Are you two lovebirds ready?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Cruz winked at Taylee. “Did you and Cat set this up?”

“Yes, sir. Cat tracked her down late last night and convinced her to drive here. I got her the hotel and figured out her dramatic entrance.” She winked at Meredith who gave her a thumbs up.

“You’re getting another raise,” Cruz told her.

She gave him a grin and turned to the boat with the camera crew. The new guy was catching on quick. Scott and a teenage spotter from the camp were in Cruz’s boat. The teenager tossed them a rope.

Cruz pulled Meredith around in front of him and slid his arm underneath her jacket, savoring the feel of her firm abdomen. “Okay,” he whispered in her ear. “I’ll tell you what to do. You trust me, right?”

She glanced back at him. “Yes, I do.”

Cruz’s mouth went dry. He had a sudden vision of her saying those words in front of her dad and all of their loved ones back in Mystical Lake.

“You okay?” she asked.

“You ready?” Scott called to him.

“I’m okay,” Cruz said. “More than okay.” Somehow, he was rearranging his schedule to be in Mystical Lake more and talking her into hiring a manager for her shop so she could travel with him as often as possible. The next item on his list was buying a ring and hearing her say, Yes, I do, again.

He laid back in the water and held on to the rope with his right hand and her with his left, laying his heels on the board. “Okay, Mer, bend your knees up into your chest and put your feet between mine.” She complied perfectly. “Now hold on to