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      Elise looked from her to him and back. “Are you and Nathaniel friends?”

      Rebecca smiled. She didn’t bother to answer the question, instead turning toward the man who still looked like he’d been caught with his hands in someone’s cookie jar. “Why don’t I go check out the inside while you deal with your business,” she said, her voice dropping an octave. She held out her hand for the keys.

      Nathaniel nodded. “Thanks,” he said as he watched her move down the side of the building and disappear around the corner. He turned back toward Elise.

      “You didn’t tell me you were dating someone,” Elise sniped.

      “Because I’m not dating anyone.”

      “Well, you and that woman looked quite cozy with each other.”

      “Elise, you and I are not in a relationship. I really don’t owe you any explanations about anything.”

      Elise took a swift inhale of air and held it for a split second before she responded. “I apologize, Nathaniel. You know I care about you and I was hoping you and I might be able to move our friendship toward something more. But I don’t chase after men who don’t want me. If you’re not interested, all you had to do was say so.”

      “I told you the truth, Elise. Right now I’m focused on this restaurant. That’s my priority. Everything else will have to take a back seat for a minute. Especially dating and starting a new relationship. I had hoped you would understand that.”

      “I wasn’t trying to make things difficult. I just...well...” She giggled nervously. “I guess I was a little jealous,” she said.

      He forced himself to smile. Before he could respond, a large man with a lumberjack haircut and full beard called his name, moving swiftly toward them. “Stallion! My man!”

      “Carl, hey! It’s good to see you,” Nathaniel said, moving to shake the other man’s hand. “I appreciate you coming.”

      “I’m excited. This place is spectacular!” Carl said as he looked around, taking in the view. He tilted his head toward Elise. “Hello there. I’m Carl.”

      “Elise Montgomery, this is Carl Parker. Carl, Elise is my real estate agent,” Nathaniel said, making the formal introductions.

      “It’s very nice to meet you, Carl. I’m surprised we’ve not met before. Is your business here in Carmel?”

      Carl shook his head. “No. My firm is based in Los Angeles. Nathaniel and I are old friends. We met in college when we were pledging the same fraternity. We’ve been brothers ever since. I actually built his house in LA and when he told me about his plans for this place I jumped at the opportunity to do the renovations he wants.”

      Nathaniel nodded. “I’ve got first-rate friends like that,” he said.

      There was suddenly a knock on the glass windows. The trio turned to look as Rebecca stood inside waving excitedly.

      “You didn’t tell me our girl was going to be here,” Carl exclaimed as he waved back.

      Nathaniel grinned. “Who else could do my marketing and promotion?”

      “It was nice to meet you, Elise,” Carl said. He pointed toward the building. “I’m going to go say hello to Rebecca. Just let me know when you’re ready to talk business,” he said.

      Nathaniel nodded. “I’ll be right in.”

      Elise was still staring at him eagerly, wearing an air of desperation like a beloved perfume. Nathaniel forced a smile onto his face. “Thank you for the plant,” he said as he gestured with the potted fern in his hand.

      “You’re going to call me, right?”

      He nodded. “I will. I promise.”

      Nathaniel watched as Elise threw him one last look over her shoulder. He sighed, a gust of air billowing into the ocean breeze.

      Despite his good intentions he instinctively knew Elise would never be in his life the way she hoped to be. Whether it was ever said or not, he would always compare holding a woman in his arms to what it felt like to hold Rebecca. Because just before they’d been interrupted, his holding tight to Rebecca had felt like he’d won the best prize at the state fair.

       Chapter 2

      When Nathaniel finally made it inside the space that would soon be his new restaurant, Rebecca and Carl were laughing heartily. It had been a good long minute since the two had last seen each other and they were enjoying their moment to catch up.

      As he stood watching the two of them it felt like old times. College had brought them into each other’s lives. They’d all become fast friends and the bond had continued well after graduation despite the distance and time that had separated them over the years.

      Watching Rebecca as she bantered back and forth with Carl made him smile. She’d always been quick with the one-liners. Her sense of humor had often kept them all laughing and she had one of the most infectious smiles. There was something about her that always made him feel that no matter the challenge things would be okay. She had a way of putting him at ease and he trusted her implicitly.

      She laughed again, tossing her head back against her shoulders. She was truly stunning, he thought as light danced across her face and joy shimmered in her dark eyes. And she was wearing the hell out of a vibrant green, form-fitting, off-the-shoulder spandex dress that stopped midknee and flattered her chocolate-brown complexion. She wore four-inch heels that accentuated her thick calves and lengthened her long legs even more. She was the epitome of what he and the boys called thick. Her breasts were the size of small watermelons, multiple handfuls with spillage and then some. Her childbearing hips and rotund behind were wide and full, like beach balls smooshed tightly together. He thought about the fullness that had pressed comfortably against his groin, the lush cushion that had necessitated some restraint on his part. She’d been abundantly blessed and he had always admired how comfortable she was in her skin.

      In college, skinnier women who were starving themselves for what they deemed perfect bodies had found her confidence intimidating. Jealousy had reared its head many times and she’d been the brunt of mean-spirited comments and jokes about her weight. Rebecca hadn’t been fazed by any of it. The former high school prom queen, cotillion debutante, choir soloist and Miss California runner-up had clapped back at her critics with a bright smile as she enjoyed every aspect of her existence, living her life to the fullest, unconcerned with what anyone else thought about her. Rebecca was his best friend and he felt immensely blessed that she still gave him the time of day.

      Rebecca calling his name pulled him from the reflections he’d fallen into. He looked up to find her staring at him, her hands clutching her waistline, her hips pushed to one side. Her thick, jet-black hair hung to her midback, lush waves with the slightest hint of curl. He smiled as she tossed a few stray strands over her shoulder.

      “I want it known, for the record, that Carl doesn’t like your new girlfriend.”

      Carl laughed and choked at the same time. He held up an open hand. “I did not say that!”

      Nathaniel shook his head. “Elise is not my girlfriend.”

      “I couldn’t tell with the way she started interrogating me,” Rebecca said, her brow raised slightly.

      Nathaniel’s grin was wide, a deep crevice in the center of his face highlighting his perfect white teeth and the dimples in his cheeks. “She asked you one question, Bec. You’re being a little dramatic.”

      “Me? Dramatic?” Rebecca crossed her arms over her chest. “I am never dramatic!”

      “I know that’s a lie,” Nathaniel quipped. He moved toward the bar and took a seat.

      “Carl also said she looks like a poodle that’s

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