Page 78 of The Best of Friends

She pulled her hand free and slapped his arm. “You’re lucky I’m not hitting you with my cast,” she told him. “I was not overwhelmed by your amazingness.”

“You’re embarrassed about it. Don’t be. I’m used to the problem. I should have warned you so you were prepared.” His humor faded. “That night meant something to me.”

“I know. I’m sorry about that, too. Saying what I did, I was wrong.”

They looked into each other’s eyes. It was one of the most intimate things she’d ever done—almost like staring into his soul. She felt heat between them, but it wasn’t all sexual. Her chest felt funny, too. Kind of tight and achy.

“Is this as bad as it gets?” he asked.

“What?”

“You. How you acted. The fight. Was that you at your worst?”

“I don’t know. I can get mad, just like everyone else. I try to fight fair. I would say stealing the necklace was the worst thing I’ve ever done. I’m not that person. I don’t take what doesn’t belong to me.”

“It was a long time ago.”

“That doesn’t mean it wasn’t something that changed me. I always try to figure out why things go wrong, then learn from the experience.” She smiled. “Why are you asking? Are you filing a report with the character police?”

“I tried, but their Web site is down.” He reached for her hand again, this time linking their fingers together. “Come on. Let’s go spend twelve million dollars.”

She nearly stumbled as she went with him to the gate and waited while he pressed the button. “T-twelve million? Are you sure?”

“Something like that. But the house is right on a private beach.”

“For twelve million you should get an island and be worshipped as a deity.”

“That’s what I say,” David told her.

They walked into a private courtyard, then up the stairs to the front door. Before he knocked, he leaned in and lightly kissed her.

“I don’t want to fight anymore,” he said.

As always, his kiss was magic. “Me, either.”

The house was smaller than the others. Only about thirty-two hundred square feet, with four bedrooms and a couple of baths. But none of that mattered when compared to the view.

As David had promised, they were right on the beach. Both levels had floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out directly on the ocean. Stairs led down to the sand. The agent pointed out the remodeled kitchen, the slate flooring, the electronic blinds, but all Jayne could do was stare out at the tumbling sea.

“This one,” she breathed. “It’s perfect.”

“You like it?” he asked. “I’m surprised.”

The agent disappeared upstairs.

“Why?” Jayne asked, crossing to the windows and staring out. “It’s amazing. People will come to your parties just to say they’d been invited. Any woman would be thrilled to come home to this. Even the housekeeper will love the bragging rights.”

“So it’s what you’d like?”

She laughed. “After I win the lottery? Make that two lotteries. Thanks, but no. Not my style. But you look good here. You might have a problem with Rebecca. Once she sees it, she’ll never want to leave.”

“But if you had the money, you wouldn’t buy it?”

He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned against him. Maybe it was just short term, but it was a great way to spend an afternoon, she thought, resting her hands on top of his.

“It’s the best location by far,” she said. “You’ll have celebrities all over and nice restaurants close by.”

“Stop trying to sell me on it. Why doesn’t it work for you?”