Nora Roberts Land(16)

“Well, that’s nice to know, Jill. Do you prefer the police get-up or dress whites?”

“In your dreams, McConnell,” Jill ground out, causing the dog to growl.

“Hi Brian,” Meredith said, the wind cooling her hot cheeks. She’d have to remember she couldn’t have spicy conversations on the street here like she did in New York. There was no anonymity.

“Hey, Mermaid.” He kissed her cheek. “Heard you were home. Good to see you.” He tugged the dog’s leash when it lurched at an approaching poodle. “No, Mutt.”

“You named your dog, Mutt?” Jill asked. “I’m surprised you can handle the responsibility of having a dog.”

Meredith fiddled with her coat. Where had that come from? Jill and Brian had been best friends growing up. He’d left town eight years ago, but Meredith had figured they must have stayed in touch. Now that she thought about it, though, Jill hadn’t said much when she’d asked about him, just saying he was off in New York. Clearly, there’d been some sort of a falling out.

He shrugged a shoulder that was a hell of a lot more muscular than when Meredith had seen him last. Brian McConnell looked good, from his worn jeans to his white T-shirt. And his thick brown hair still had enough of a curl to make it both casual and sexy.

“So what are you doing now?” Meredith asked, her eyes on Jill, whose body resembled a block of ice.

“He’s a meat slave at The Chop House,” Jill sneered, tugging on her scarf.

“I’m the sous chef. I actually just got back from New York, too. I’m sorry we never met up while we were both there, but my schedule was insane.” Brian thrust the leash into Meredith’s hand suddenly. He grabbed her sister’s chiffon scarf, untangling it from her neck. “Makes me think of the dance of the seven veils.”

“You’re a total pig.” Jill kicked at his shins.

He danced out of the way, but didn’t let go of her scarf, tugging at it playfully. “Then she opens her mouth and makes me think about nooses. Aren’t you ever going to be nice to me again?”

She dug her fist into his stomach. “No.”

He dropped the scarf like it was a hot plate. “Fine!”

Meredith handed him the dog leash when he turned back, unsure what to say or do. It was like being caught in someone else’s couple’s counseling session.

“Good to see you, Mere. I need to run before Frisky over there decides to punch me in the nuts. See you ‘round.” He set off with his lumbering bulldog.

“Carnivore,” Jill called.

Brian turned his head and grinned. “Hippie.”

When he disappeared around the corner, Meredith grabbed Jill’s shoulders. “What the hell was that all about?”

Jill shrugged free. Her hands pressed against her tummy as she took in a few deep breaths. Meredith watched in fascination.

“I am calm. I am at peace. He cannot affect me,” she chanted.

“Jill, what’s going on?”

“We had a big falling out after high school graduation.” Her eyes popped open, revealing despair. “After being friends forever, he finally asked me out. I thought he was getting serious. We were both going to school in Denver. I asked him to be my first. He turned me down, and then hooked up with Kelly Kimple. If that’s not bad enough, he’d hidden the fact that he’d been accepted into The Culinary Institute of America and planned to attend. He broke my heart. Now he’s going to pay.”

Jill took off like a missile, and Meredith had to run to catch up to her. “You never told me all this.”

“You were off somewhere when it happened,” her sister said, flicking a hand in the air as if dismissing the memory. “And I was embarrassed. I leaned on Jemma. She’s forgiven Brian. I haven’t. It doesn’t matter now.”

“But you’re still pissed. And acting really out of character.”

Jill loved everybody, and everybody loved Jill. It was practically a rule of the universe.

“Don’t worry. I don’t run into him too often. He’s only been back for a month.”

Meredith pulled her to a halt. “I’m sorry he hurt you.”

Jill kicked at the sidewalk, refusing to meet her eyes. “I tried to get over him. I even went as far as getting it on with Freddie Pilpipper, a hot-looking skier who was really pathetic in the sack. I never knew a man could have such great equipment without knowing what to do with it.”

What to say? Even though they talked frequently, she was out of practice with the big stuff. “Guys suck.”

Jill sputtered out a laugh. “Yes, they do.”

“Kinda odd, leaving New York’s restaurant scene and coming back to Dare to work at The Chop House.”