Seducing My Best Friend (The Wrights Book 2) Read online

  Luckily, we hadn’t departed from the dock. I gathered my things and dashed off the yacht before his words got much meaner. I didn’t need to be beaten down because things hadn’t gone according to his plans.

  We’d been sleeping together for two months. I rarely saw him more than once a week. Why did he think we were compatible for marriage? He would move on to another port and realize he’d dodged a bullet.

  Treading down to the sand toward my bungalow, the ocean waves soothed over my troubled mind. My anger and frustration kept me from freezing my ass off.

  I’d like to say this was my first proposal. It wasn’t even my second. Why men thought they fell in love with me and wanted to marry me so quickly, I’d never understand. After witnessing my parents’ marriage completely implode, I had little interest in tying myself to another person like that unless it was really to the betterment of both parties. Marriage certainly hadn’t been a saving grace for either of my parents, not together or with other people.

  My mother would be appalled to know I’d turned down a fortune and a life of ease and luxury…again. She’d certainly never turned down such offers. She was on her sixth marriage. The only thing that ever suffered in the divorces were her bank accounts when she made another trip to the plastic surgeon to make sure she stayed at the top of her game. Of course, now she was married to a plastic surgeon ten years younger than her. So maybe it was true love forever because instead of trading her in, he could just keep remodeling her. It would be more cost-effective than spending the money on divorce and alimony.

  I hadn’t completely ruled out the idea of getting married; but I was damn sure no one had ever inspired such feelings.

  The closest I’d ever gotten to wanting to walk down the aisle was when I was sixteen. Matthew Wright made my heart vibrate like a motorboat. And what sixteen-year-old didn’t think she wanted to get married? I was sure they were out there, but I hadn’t been one of them.

  Matt’s departure from Los Angeles had put a damper on any feelings I’d had.

  And then I grew up. Matt and I were friends. He was the best friend I’d ever had.

  I didn’t get to see him enough, but he was the only constant in my life. After I ran away from home to become my own person, I fell out of contact with my parents aside from Christmas cards and birthday wishes over the phone. I hadn’t even seen either of them in ten years. It was better for everyone. Mostly me. They had to stop leeching off my hard-earned money and I needed to live my life by my own rules.

  I was a constant disappointment and they were a constant irritant. Now we could be pleasant and distant, and everyone was happier.

  My mother went through waves of trying to push her way into my life. But she was hypercritical and overbearingly cruel. She didn’t have my address anymore so she couldn’t show up when she wanted to. If she wanted to see me, she had to call or email a request for me to come see her.

  By the time I’d managed to get back home, I was exhausted. The emotions of turning down yet another man and sending him packing were enough to keep me in bed for a week. But the tourist season was here, and I needed the dough if I was going to get some traveling done next year.

  Plus Bryssa, the co-owner of my diving company, would be at the shop bright and early. She was always there by dawn, or even earlier.

  I worked hard, but she made me look like a slacker.

  Before drifting off to sleep, I lay in bed with my phone, checking baseball scores. Keeping up with Matt’s clients was the best way for me to feel connected to him when there was so much space and time between us.

  I shot up when I saw the headline: “Angels Win the World Series.” But it was the headline right below that made my heart stop. “Derrick Moyer Dies.” The Angels had won the World Series, but Matt had lost his friend. He would be crushed. I quickly checked my email to see if he’d said anything. I was not surprised there wasn’t an email from him but a little sad. I hoped he’d reach out if he needed to talk to someone. But his family was huge and, unlike mine, super supportive. I typed out a quick message to let him know I was thinking about him. I hoped he was okay, though I knew he couldn’t be.

  I cried that night until sleep took its hold.

  3

  Matt

  I’d spent two days in bed aside from helping Derrick’s mom, Tracy, with funeral arrangements and comforting Holly and Summer. On the morning of the third day, I stared at the ceiling watching the fan spin.

  I didn’t know how to begin to process Derrick’s death. Every time I thought I should be crying or moping, there was something I had to deal with. But today, I didn’t have any obligations and I had no intention of moving. I didn’t have an appetite or a desire to eat or drink. I hoped I would eventually fall back to sleep.

  I wasn’t sure I would’ve gotten out of bed if my doorbell hadn’t rung.

  At first, I considered not answering. But the second ring had me feeling guilty. I kicked the covers off, tangling myself and struggling until I finally freed myself from them, cursing the entire time. I grabbed my robe and stomped toward the front door. Whoever it was wasn’t getting polite-and-dressed me. They were getting grumpy and naked-under-my-robe me.

  I yanked open the door and promptly froze.

  The sight of her knocked the air out of my lungs.

  Hayley Martin stood on the other side of my door with a garment bag and suitcase. She chewed on her bottom lip the way she did when she was nervous. I gaped at the sight of her. A warmth poured off her and suddenly the ache inside me eased a little. I didn’t feel lonely or alone as I took in the sight of her. It had been too long since I’d seen her. Her hair was longer but for the amount of time that’d passed, it could be shorter. Finally, I let out a breath and met her big brown eyes. “Hayles? What on earth are you doing here?” I said when my brain finally kicked back into gear.

  She shot her arms toward the sky. “Surprise.”

  “It is.” She looked gorgeous with her tanned olive skin, her brown hair loose in waves that reminded me of water. A jean skirt showed off her long legs and a tank top clung to her torso and amplified her breasts. Too much. I swallowed and forced my eyes back up to her face. “But what are you doing here?”

  “I’m here to see you, goofball. Are you going to invite me in, or do you want me to stay out in the hall?”

  “Oh.” I stepped back and gestured for her to come in. I took her garment bag out of her hand, trying to remember to be a good host. “Isn’t this your busy season?”

  “The sharks can wait. Plus, Bryssa and I have a backup diver when we need it. I do get sick every now and again. Or need a break.”

  “I call bullshit. You’re not human,” I teased, my eyes on her ass as I followed her inside.

  I needed to get a grip. Her assets were not for my ogling. I’d never had this much trouble not staring at her. My brain was clearly overwrought. I needed to behave. Hayley was my best friend, especially now that I didn’t have—

  She stuck her tongue out at me over her shoulder, which elicited a whole new problem. Her tongue had me thinking about her licking—

  Stop. Where did this line of thinking come from?

  “Where do you want me?”

  My mouth went dry. Suddenly, I had so many inappropriate ideas for exactly where I wanted her. “Guest room is good.” My voice was unusually husky.

  Hayley’s brow furrowed a little. “You all right there, bucko?”

  “I’m fine.” I’d gone completely insane, but I was fine. This was Derrick’s fault for one of the last things he said to me, telling me to lose myself with Hayley. That was the only reason I was tripping over my tongue and sliding across my wood floors in drool.

  “It is okay I came here, right? I just figured with everything, you needed someone to lean on while you dealt with all the horribleness. I know you. You’re taking care of everyone but yourself. I bet you don’t even remember the last time you ate.” She turned in the doorway of the guest room and lifted a brow.

&n
bsp; My gaze immediately dropped to her perfect mouth. “You’re right, I have no idea when I last ate some…thing.”

  She reached up and cupped my face. “See. You need me, my friend.”

  I smiled. “I’m really glad you’re here.” It was a relief having her in the same space with me. I didn’t feel so alone. There was nothing that would make losing Derrick easier, but I felt like I could breathe again.

  “Yeah?” She grinned again and it felt like the whole world lit up.

  “Yeah.”

  She set her stuff down on the bed. “I’m surprised you don’t have half or more of the Wright clan bustling around here.”

  “Trust me, they’ve tried. Mom calls at least four to five times a day and asks if she can come over and help with things. I’m helping Tracy and Holly. I don’t need help.”

  “Your mom worries about you. They all do.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her. “My mom didn’t send you, did she?”

  “No, but when I called her to ask her how you were doing, she sounded worried and relieved I was going to force myself on you.”

  I chuckled. “You’re such a hardship.”

  I leaned in the doorway as I watched her unpack, making sure she had what she needed for the day. Had she always swayed her hips like that? Did her mouth always look so delectable, like a chocolate-covered strawberry, ready to be devoured?

  “You know, Matthew, you don’t have to watch me.” She turned to face me and put her hands on her hips. “You could go shower and I don’t know, put some clothes on, you sloth.”

  I pushed out of the doorway. “I didn’t get a hug yet.” I wanted to touch her. I wanted to hold her.

  I could’ve sworn her eyes ran the length of my body twice before she approached me. She wrapped her arms around my middle and laid her head on my chest. My arms folded around her and held her against me. She always fit against me like the perfect puzzle piece. She smelled like Japanese cherry blossoms and her skin was silky smooth under my hands. I could’ve stayed there all day, right there in that moment. For the first time in days, I felt I was standing on solid ground again.

  “Matthew, I’m here if you need to talk about anything.”

  I kissed the top of her head. “Thanks, Hayles.” I pulled away, the moment fading, as all moments do. “I’ll go make myself pretty and we can head out and get some breakfast.”

  “Oh, thank God. I’m starving.”

  Hayley and I spent more time apart, not talking, than we did together or talking. Whenever we did come together, it was like no time had passed and that day was no exception. We went to one of my favorite joints a few blocks away. The beach was in view and the breakfast was off the charts.

  We slid into a booth ocean side and ordered food and drinks before we started talking again.

  “How’s life in Mexico?”

  “The same as always, beautiful and paradise-like. Living the dream. When are you going to come visit me?”

  I wanted to say, “let’s run away today and not come back.” But that wasn’t the right answer. I couldn’t leave Derrick’s mom and Holly in a lurch. They needed support to get through the next few days. Not to mention little Summer. Every time I saw her, my heart broke a little more. She would never know how much her dad loved her.

  Now that November was already half over, the holidays would be in full swing and would hopefully distract everyone. I’d already talked to Mom about inviting Holly, Summer, and Tracy to Aspen, covering their flights if needed. She was excited at the idea of hosting them. I wondered if I should invite Hayley too. Mom would love it and I knew Hayley didn’t spend time with her family.

  “You seeing anyone?” I didn’t know what possessed me to ask the question. I’d never asked it before. Hayley and I didn’t talk about dating or the opposite sex. I’d never given it any thought until this moment. We were best friends, weren’t significant others part of the deal when it came to secrets?

  Hayley raised a brow. “Not seriously. I’ve been on and off dating guys, like I always do.” Her eyes roamed around her plate as if there was something else she wanted to say.

  “How are you not married and—”

  She put her hand up. “Please don’t do that. Don’t ask me the cliché questions. Marriage isn’t the only thing life is about. And if I never get married, there will still be nothing wrong with me.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”

  She sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. My mother is constantly riding me about marriage, kids, and happiness. Twice a year, I talk to that woman, and it’s all we have to talk about. Like somehow, I’m miserable and suicidal because I don’t have those things. National Geographic did a photoshoot with me this summer. My business is lucrative. I have a lot of friends in Mexico…and other parts of the world. I do date but I like my single life the way it is. And I don’t want to be my mother, who has gotten divorced five times. And married six. She’s always trying to find happiness in men and not being alone. She would be so much better off if she got a hobby and found happiness in herself and didn’t worry that I’ve been proposed to five times and never said ‘yes.’” She leaned forward and crossed her arms in front of her. “How about you? Are you happy in your life?”

  Everything inside me halted. “You’ve been proposed to five times?”

  “Yeah. You knew that.”

  I blinked at her. “No, no I did not. I didn’t know about once, let alone five.” My skin prickled with irritation.

  She waved me off. “It’s not a big deal.”

  “That’s a huge deal. You were seriously dating five guys and I didn’t know about any of them.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I wasn’t seriously dating anyone. They thought they were seriously dating me, but they weren’t. I made it very clear I was just having fun. I’m not even sure I want to get married. Trust me, if it were noteworthy, you would know about it.”

  “I never realized you were anti-marriage.” Why did I suddenly feel I didn’t know Hayley at all?

  “I’m not,” she said, her voice almost small. “I don’t want to be my mother. If I do something as serious as marriage, I want it to be because my life is better with that person in it. And because I fight with them as much as I’ll fuck them.”

  “You should not marry anyone for anything less than that,” I agreed.

  “What about you? Someone steal your heart?”

  I shook my head. “I’m married to the job. Much to my mother’s chagrin.”

  “Your mother wants you to be happy. And you’re her first baby.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Don’t be gross.”

  “And you’re not married to your job. I know you’ve thought about family. I would’ve assumed you had a happy knocked-up wife somewhere in the mix of everything else.”

  Images of Hayley pregnant and in my arms filled my mind. I felt a stab of anger at Derrick. He’d pushed thoughts of Hayley like this on me before. She was my friend, there didn’t need to be anything else. In fact, the last time I’d seen Hayley, Derrick had kissed her just to push my buttons. It worked but only because I knew he was using her. He wasn’t the best with women. And he was with Holly at the time.

  Then he brought it up again just before he died. What was his obsession with Hayley?

  “Hey…” she waved her hand in front of my face, “you with me?”

  I shook myself mentally and nodded. “I’m here. Went down a rabbit hole for a minute. Thinking about Derrick and his crazy ideas.”

  Hayley’s expression turned a little dark. “Yeah, he always had such crazy thoughts.”

  “What did he say to you?”

  Hayley pulled on her bottom lip with her teeth. “Nothing,” she said, finally.

  “You’re lying. And from the look on your face, it was probably a bit of a come on.”

  “He never came onto me.”

  “Hayley, he kissed you.”

  She sighed and sat back. “It’s not what you think. I didn’t e
ven know you saw that.”

  “Oh, do tell.”

  Hayley shoved a heaping bite of hash browns in her mouth. “This is delicious,” she said around a mouthful.

  “Nice try. Spill it.”

  She shook her head. “I feel that since I don’t have Derrick’s permission to tell the story, I should let him take it to the grave.” Her eyes flickered with worry. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be so flippant.”

  “I have a sense of humor, Hayley. It didn’t die with Derrick. I don’t think.”

  We ate in silence for a while. It was comfortable. Our gazes met on and off, but we just enjoyed the view. I considered pushing Hayley to say more. It bothered me the juicy details were so good she wouldn’t give them up.

  Once we’d finished breakfast, she grabbed my hand and hauled me to the beach. We walked along the waterline. She kept hold of my hand and threaded our fingers together. It was a common gesture we used to comfort each other. But having her lean on me while she talked about how beautiful the Pacific Ocean was, the cord between us thrummed right to my chest.

  “I should probably get back to the condo. I told Tracy and Holly I would be around if they needed any help with the funeral arrangements, though it sounded like Derrick handled most of them.”

  “Where is the funeral?” she asked.

  “We’re having a wake at the coach’s house tomorrow night and then the funeral the day after that. And the stadium is having a celebration of life as well. The Wright family will be coming out for that.” This whole conversation felt surreal to me.

  “I don’t want to be presumptuous or put you in an awkward—”

  “Hayles, if you don’t come with me, I’m not sure I’m going to make it. If you’re here, I want you with me wherever I have to go. How long do I have you?”

  She grabbed my arm and wound around it. “You have me as long as you need me.”

  I wished the word “forever” hadn’t echoed through my head right after she said that, like it was even a possibility.