“What problems?” Cheyenne asked. “We’re going into the Christmas season, which we both love. And you’re dating one of the most eligible bachelors in Whiskey Creek.”

“Was dating,” she clarified.

The phone went silent. Then Chey said, “You just told me you went to his mother’s for Thanksgiving.”

“That’s true. But afterward, we had a talk and decided that...that it’s not working,” she said, coming out with it.

“What part of it isn’t working? What went wrong?”

“You can’t guess?”

Cheyenne sighed. “I doubt you really want me to. It’ll sound too much like ‘I told you so.’”

“I think he’s still in love with Sophia.”

“I’m sorry, Eve. I really am. Maybe I wasn’t all that excited when I first heard about you and Ted, but I wanted it to work out. I mean, what could be better than having two of my best friends get married and start a life together?”

“Ted and I should’ve listened to you and everyone else. If it was meant to be, it would’ve happened long before now.”

“Not necessarily. I could see why you gave it a chance.”

Now Chey was downplaying her initial concern so Sophia wouldn’t feel like an idiot. That was nice, but a bit too obvious to be effective. “So...you said Aaron’s showing signs of maturing. Maybe you could set me up with him.”

“There’s no way I want you dating my brother-in-law—my nephew’s father!” Cheyenne cried. “That situation is complicated enough.”

“It was a joke!” she said, and this time it was true. “I just don’t seem to be having any luck picking ‘good guys.’ Maybe I should try the odd ‘bad boy’ for a change.”

“You’ll find the right person to love.”

“Maybe I should settle for Martin Ferris.”

“Martin Ferris! Where did that come from?”

“You know him, don’t you?”

“Of course I know him. He’s our bread vendor—and he hits on you whenever he makes a delivery.”

“That’s my point. He likes me—not you or Sophia or anyone else.”

“He also has the IQ of a rock.”

“Beggars can’t be choosers. With luck, my genes will prevail if we have a child.”

Cheyenne laughed. “I’m glad you haven’t lost your sense of humor.”

“Deep down I think I knew that Ted wasn’t over Sophia. I was just...hoping we were all wrong.”

“Ted’s a great person. It was worth a try. But tell me that you’re not mad at him.”

“I want to be mad at him. We could’ve had a good thing.”

“And Sophia will probably break his heart. I doubt she’s in any position to get into another relationship—not after what she’s been through.”

“I’ve considered that. But...he deserves the chance to go after what he’s always wanted.”

“Wow, you’re taking this well. I’m proud of you. Does that mean you’re coming to coffee tomorrow?”

“No. I’m not taking it that well!” she said. “I’m not ready to see him again so soon. And I definitely don’t want to tell the others.”

“Fine, we’ll let them have coffee without us.”

“If he shows up he’ll need to tell them. There’s no avoiding that.”

“No, but at least we won’t be there to hear everyone’s reaction.”

We. That was the earmark of a true friend. Although it was her stupid mistake, one Chey had warned her against, Chey was in her corner.

“That’s tempting.” She cringed as she remembered some of her more intimate moments with Ted, moments when she thought their relationship might last. She’d slept with him last night, for crying out loud—and now he was suddenly nothing more than her friend?

Yes, she should skip coffee tomorrow. The switch was too sudden. She needed some time. “I was really starting to fall for him, Chey.”

“I was getting that feeling—and I was so hopeful for you. It’s not like Ted to be wishy-washy. What did he say?”

“He didn’t break it off. I realized he wasn’t necessarily interested in me, he was just running from her. So I threw him back into her arms.”

“It’s better to face the truth, but...I’m sorry you had to do it.”

“I’ll survive. I survived Joe picking you two years ago, didn’t I?” she teased.

“You took that well, too.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m getting good at being rejected.”

“It only takes one Prince Charming and, like I said, you’ll find him. Meanwhile, I’ll come over first thing in the morning and we’ll start decorating.”

“No, I don’t want everyone to think I’m dividing the group. You and Dylan should go to Black Gold, like always.”

“You sure?”

“Positive.” It was a long shot, but maybe Ted would miss her. Maybe if he got together with Sophia, he’d realize he wasn’t missing anything after all.

Thinking that way was sort of mean. But Eve hadn’t been lying when she told Cheyenne that she’d fallen for him.

27

Ted decided he wasn’t going to pursue Sophia right away. He’d been with Eve too recently, felt he owed her some discretion as a gesture of respect if nothing else. So he’d take it slow, and he wouldn’t get physical until he was absolutely certain that they had a chance of being successful this time around. Sophia had a child, a child who’d recently been through hell. Alexa was flailing around, searching for some stability; he didn’t want her to latch on to him, thinking he might become her new daddy, if Sophia couldn’t convince him that she was capable of the kind of love he wanted—and could remain sober.

So he stayed in his own bed. He didn’t even go back downstairs where he’d left Sophia sleeping on the couch. But it wasn’t as if he could drift off like she had. He’d fantasized about her for so many years, his body felt as though it had waited too long already. It didn’t help that Alexa was at her grandparents’, which meant he and Sophia were alone in the house.

He thought about last night’s conversation with Eve. Would they have made it if not for Sophia?

No. He’d honestly tried to sway his heart; it just hadn’t worked. He felt too much relief that it was over to believe they were as compatible as he’d first hoped.

His mother would be disappointed. She’d fawned over Eve for hours at dinner yesterday, no doubt planning the day when Eve would become her daughter-in-law. But all he’d been able to think about was the woman who’d made him the pumpkin dessert he’d scarfed down in the car.

* * *

Sophia woke up with a hangover—and she knew she deserved every ache and pain. What she’d done last night had been such a huge mistake. Giving into her addiction undermined her confidence and sense of well-being when she could least afford it.

“Stupid...” she muttered as she threw off the blanket and looked around Ted’s living room. Fortunately, he wasn’t there. Although he’d taken care of her last night—she could see that he’d put new bandages on her fingers to protect her cuticles and set out two pain tablets and a glass of water—he’d left her to recover on her own. Thank God. Maybe she could slink off and try to forget that last night ever happened.

Sometimes people needed a second chance.

Sometimes they needed more than that.

How many chances had she burned through?

Too many. But this was her first screw-up since Skip had disappeared from her life. Without him, she was actually happier and more in control, despite her other problems. So why would she succumb and wreck her perfect ninety-four-day record? For this?

She pressed her fingers to her throbbing head and told herself she had to remember what drinking was like once the euphoria had worn off.

A creak from above brought her head up despite the pounding inside it. Was Ted getting out of bed? He usually went to coffee on Fridays. She guessed he was walking to the shower.

Staggering to her feet, she used the walls to steady herself as she made her way to the deck, down the stairs and across the yard to the guesthouse.

Only once she was safely home with the door locked behind her could she breathe easier. She didn’t have to work today. Because of the holiday, she had Friday and the weekend off. Hopefully during the next three days they’d both be able to forget that she’d raided the wine cellar.

* * *

Chief Stacy was in the grocery store. Sophia saw him from behind and quickly steered her cart one aisle over. She didn’t want him to see her; nor did she want to talk to him. Her headache had subsided and she felt much improved since she’d doctored her hangover. But she was in a hurry to purchase the things she needed so she could get out of there. Once she’d worked up the nerve to see Ted again, she’d offered to make dinner despite having the day off if he’d allow her to use his car, and he’d pulled away from his computer to get the keys out of his pocket. He’d tossed them over as if it was no big deal, but she couldn’t imagine Eve would be too thrilled to see her driving around town in his Lexus.

She thought she’d escaped Stacy’s notice. She’d already gone through the checkout line, loaded her groceries in the backseat and started the car when he came out of the store pushing his cart. But just as she was backing out, he thumped the side of the vehicle to let her know he was coming up alongside and motioned for her to roll down her window.

Sophia considered ignoring him. She hadn’t done anything wrong. As far as she was concerned, he had no right to detain her. But he was the chief of police. The power he held frightened her enough that she didn’t dare defy him.

“Is there something I can do for you?” she asked.