When Snow Falls (Whiskey Creek #2)(57)
Author: Brenda Novak

“We would never, ever pick.”

“Yet they both couldn’t join us at the coffee shop, or anywhere else, for that matter. They wouldn’t feel comfortable.”

Eve reclaimed the towel she’d thrown. “I can’t believe it. You’re…you’re stereotyping, that’s all.”

Callie blanched at the accusation. “Am I?”

“Yes! Baxter is suave and well-dressed and has better taste than the rest of us. He might also be a little more…emotional. That doesn’t make him g*y.”

“Okay.”

The fact that she backed off merely made the seed she’d planted sprout more quickly.

“I mean—” Eve smoothed out a smear of sunblock on her left thigh “—he and Noah grew up next door to each other. They’re best friends—almost siblings—like Chey and me—”

“No.” Callie broke in. “Not like you and Chey. The older they get, the more friction there is between them.”

Eve supposed Callie would know before she would. She captured expressions and nuances through the lens of her camera that others missed. She’d been taking pictures of the trip since they flew out of Sacramento.

Keeping up one hand to block the sun, she took a closer look at what was going on in the pool. While Ted swam laps, Kyle floated on his back near the far corner, talking to Noah, who was sitting on the edge, dangling his feet.

She had to admit that Noah was attractive. Broad-shouldered and long-limbed, he had smooth, bronze skin that rippled over all that biking muscle. But Eve wasn’t convinced there was even a possibility of Baxter’s being in love with Noah—until her eyes cut to the table where Baxter was reading a book. Although far from conclusive, the way he was looking at Noah made her uncomfortable. “You really think…”

“I don’t know,” Callie responded. “I’m afraid for Bax, that’s all.”

“And Noah. He’d be hurt, too. Maybe he doesn’t want to sleep with Baxter, but he loves him.”

“They’d both lose.”

“Baxter’s dated his share of girls,” Eve pointed out, hoping to disprove their suspicions.

“That doesn’t mean anything. A lot of g*y guys date or sleep with women, or have at some stage in their lives.”

Eve felt her discomfort grow. “I hope you’re wrong. Baxter doesn’t have a chance with Noah. Noah’s as straight as a guy can be.”

Callie leaned over to drink her smoothie. “You see what’s at stake.”

“God…” She let out her breath slowly. “I guess that would explain why Bax hasn’t ever had a serious girlfriend.”

“Or left Whiskey Creek, even though his business is in San Francisco.”

“Maybe Noah’s the reason he’s been such a bear on this cruise, too.”

“Noah’s been on a roll, hooking up with one woman after another.”

“While Baxter has to sit there and watch.” Eve doubted they would’ve noticed this if they hadn’t spent a week together in such close quarters. At home, they were too wrapped up in their own lives to be aware of something that well hidden, but on a cruise ship, there were only so many places to get a break from one another.

“I have the impression that Noah senses things aren’t quite as they should be,” Callie mused. “The way he’s been acting with women…it’s not like him to be so indiscriminate. In fact, he’s always been too picky.”

“Maybe they do love each other and are fighting it.” Eve was determined to consider all options. “If Bax is g*y, Noah could be, too. Maybe he’s not as straight as we think. How would anyone know?”

“We wouldn’t. Not until they were ready to tell us. We just have to pray that whatever happens doesn’t rip our friendship apart.”

“No kidding.” And she’d thought watching Joe date her best friend would be hard. “We’re all jinxed when it comes to love,” she grumbled.

“Except Gail,” Callie reminded her.

“How many people can expect to get that lucky?”

Callie shrugged. “Maybe lightning will strike twice.”

* * *

It just wasn’t the same. Cheyenne knelt in Joe’s living room, sorting through the ornaments he’d hauled out of the attic. She wanted to see what Christmas decorations he had that might match the new ones they’d bought at the hardware store on the way over. The process was going well; she thought he’d have a nice-looking tree when they were done, despite the challenges she’d created in picking the one she had. But she could definitely tell that the excitement she’d felt in his presence only a week ago—the night they’d played cards together—was gone.

Her fears had been confirmed. Sleeping with Dylan had changed her. Maybe it had even ruined her.

“You going totally with gold and white?”

“What?” She turned to look up at him. He was as attractive as ever, standing there in his well-worn jeans and crew-neck sweater. She could still admire his physical attributes. They just didn’t do the same thing to her they’d done before—which was crazy. He had a perfect, all-American athlete kind of face. No scars. No long hair. No chip on his shoulder except, perhaps, whatever resentments remained from his failed marriage. He didn’t walk around with the “I could do some serious damage” air Dylan exuded. Not only did he have all of that going for him, but Cheyenne had wanted a relationship with Joe for half her life.

How could it be that he’d finally, finally asked her out and she’d…lost interest?

It couldn’t be, she decided. She wouldn’t let it. She knew he was a dependable, good-hearted guy. She was going to trust her head and not her heart—or whatever other part of her body might be making its wishes known.

“Are you sticking with gold and white?” he repeated. “Or would this work?” He held out a red-and-white-striped ornament that clashed terribly with everything else she’d selected.

“I’d like to be polite and say it would be fine, but…” She shook her head. “Sorry.”

He chuckled at her honesty. “Now you know why I needed you.”

“Your girls could’ve helped you do this. Maybe they would even have preferred it.”

“I’m trying to impress them. They called me Scrooge last time they were here. Said if I’m going to have any Christmas spirit at all, they’d have to get the decorations out and put them up for me.”