The Better Man Read Free

You’re going to have a hell of a hangover tomorrow morning
as it is. Don’t make it worse.”
    “You’re a party
pooper, Will.” She didn’t protest further, just glared up at him.
    Finally, he had
to smile a little. The pout on her lips gave her a sexy yet innocent expression.
She had no idea what that petulant expression did to his well-being. She could
get his heart pounding with the simplest gestures.
    “Fine, but I’m
a concerned party pooper. Connie says you have a room here and I’m going to
escort you to it right now.”
    “But the band—”
    “Is packing
up.”
    “Rats.”
    “Let’s say goodnight
to your friends and get you up to your room.”
    The goodbyes
lasted two minutes before Will steered Lori up to her room at the top floor of
the inn. She fumbled for the key in her purse, found it, and managed to get the
door open after three attempts.
    “Welcome to the
honeymoon suite!” She swept her arms out grandly to present the elegantly
appointed room. Everything a bride could want—a sitting area with a fireplace,
soft lighting, a kitchenette for early morning coffee and a huge four-poster
bed. Beyond the French doors lay a wide terrace, perfect for gazing at the
stars.
    “At least
everything is here. Brian took care of that this morning. Nice of him, huh? Of
course, only my bag here. Real nice of him.” Her chuckle was icy. She lifted
the suitcase, put it on the trunk at the end of the bed, and flipped the
latches.
    “Look at this.”
She pulled out a long, flimsy, lacy thing that could’ve been a nightgown, but Will
didn’t think it would cover much. “For my wedding night.” She bunched it up and
tossed it toward the little trashcan next to the dresser. “He wouldn’t have appreciated
it anyway,” she muttered.
    “You have any
aspirin?” Will forced himself to ignore the image of her wearing that delicate
negligee. Heat had already crept through his body, and he felt more than a
little guilty at the sensation. It wasn’t right, lusting after his friend’s…his
friend’s what? Well, whatever title she had now didn’t matter.
    He’d lusted
after her for a long time. More than lusted. Loved her from afar. If only he
had met her before Brian.
    “I wonder if
they have this little bar thing stocked.” Lori fumbled with the latch on the
wooden mini bar.
    “How about
coffee instead? Or water and a couple of aspirin?”
    She couldn’t
release the catch so she turned to him with a grimace. “Coffee, I guess. I’ll
have water when I go to bed.”
    Will fixed the
coffee while Lori stalked around the room, restless and silent. He tried not to
pay attention to her and concentrated on the slow drip of the coffee as it
drizzled into the pot, but he was all too aware of her every move.
    As soon as the
coffee had finished brewing, he turned to her. “Okay, coffee is ready. I guess
I should head out and leave you alone.”
    Lori whipped
around, her eyes wide. “No, please, don’t leave me. I don’t think I could stand
being here by myself. Just stay for a little while anyway.”
    The desperation
in her voice startled him. She bit her lower lip and her gaze pleaded with him
to stay.
    “Are you sure?
It’s late and I’m sure you’re tired.”
    Lori shook her
head. “I don’t think I could sleep. Not for a long time. Being alone is the
last thing I want.”
    With a nod,
Will poured two cups of coffee into the plain, white ceramic mugs. Leaving the
coffee black, he brought the mugs to the sitting area and set them down on the
table in front of the couch.
    “I think it’s a
gas fireplace. I’d like a fire.”
    Concerned for
her distracted state, Will gently directed her to the sofa and started the fire
himself. When he turned back to Lori, she’d tucked her legs under her and had
her fingers wrapped around the mug. He sat at the other end of the couch and
stared at the dancing yellow flames.
    “What’s wrong
with me, Will?” She sounded tired, but when Will glanced at her face,