Treasure on Lilac Lane: A Jewell Cove Novel Read Free Page A

feeling she wasn’t going to like the answer.
    “No, not Bryce. Rick.”
    Something strange swirled in Jess’s stomach, a weird flutter of nerves that she credited to her recent aversion to Rick Sullivan. “Really? But what about Bryce? They’re brothers and…”
    “He offered it to Bryce first, but you know Bryce. For such a burly, alpha male, he really hates being anywhere near the center of attention. It was all Tom could do to convince him to be emcee at the reception. I wonder how he even made it through his own wedding.”
    Jess forced a chuckle. “I think Tom had to drug him.”
    The two women shared a smile. “Jess, tell me honestly, will Rick being the best man be a problem? I know you don’t get along, but he’s Tom’s closest friend.”
    Jess frowned. To say how she truly felt would sound awful and small-minded. And she of anyone should know that people deserved second chances; that challenges and trials could take a lot out of a person, and Rick had had his share of both. Still. Rick was unpredictable with a substance abuse problem. And he’d be paired up with her for the entirety of the wedding day.
    “I don’t know, Abby. I mean it’s your day. It’s just…” Jess sighed. She remembered the boy he’d been before joining the Marines. Always good for a joke and laughing, getting into his share of trouble with the boys, but nothing serious. Once, when he was fourteen and she was twelve, he’d kissed her in the equipment room at school while they were putting the basketballs away after lunchtime intramurals. It had been her first kiss, and she’d looked at him with stars in her eyes until he’d pulled some prank with Josh and Tom that had her steaming at the ears.
    But the truth of the matter was, their relationship had always been fraught with ups and downs that went beyond childish pranks. When she was eighteen, they’d almost started something at her graduation party. Instead he’d cooled his jets without any explanation, leaving her behind a dune wondering what on earth she’d done wrong. These days all he thought about was feeling sorry for himself.
    With another sigh and a shrug, Jess conceded defeat.
    “Rick and I can manage to be civil for a day, I’m sure,” she assured Abby. She would not cause wedding trouble. It was Abby and Tom’s day and they should have it the way they wanted without bridesmaid drama. She just hoped Rick would stay sober throughout the day and not make an ass of himself.
    Abby reached over and took Jess’s hand. “I know you have worries. Rick’s a bit of a loose cannon. But he’s been so much better since his mom took sick. And now she’s gone. Tom and I thought it would give him something positive, you know? He needs that.”
    Jess couldn’t argue. And at least Rick had finally gotten a job. Granted, he’d been working for one of the whale boat charters, and like her own business, that was slowing down for the season. What would Rick do with all the extra time on his hands?
    Hand, she reminded herself, and immediately felt guilty for her negativity. He had lost his hand in combat, after all.
    “He does need that. I haven’t been a very good friend. It’s just that…”
    She hesitated. She never talked about her past. Never talked about Mike, or the year and a half they’d spent together. It was something she’d rather forget and knew she never would. Some scars ran too deep.
    “Just that what?” Abby asked, her face wreathed in concern. “Jess, are you okay?”
    No, she wasn’t okay. Rick’s drinking had shaken her more than she liked to admit, bringing up painful memories of a history she’d worked hard to move beyond.
    “I’m fine,” she said, putting on a smile and reaching for a second muffin. “It’ll be great, Abby. Your wedding is going to be perfect.”
    *   *   *
    Rick put the key in the lock and let the door swing open with a long, lonely squeak. He stood on the threshold, not entering the cozy white-and-green Cape