Debt of Honor Read online

  "Renee's right. If Mom sees me, she'll start asking all kinds of questions, because that's what Mom does. She wants everything to be perfect, so she fusses over every detail." She lifted the skirt of her robe as she walked along the wooden deck.

  Evan took her hand as she approached the stairway, which she appreciated as she negotiated the six steps while lifting the long robe so she wouldn't trip. The robe was actually Renee's, so it was a little big on her. Finally she reached the bottom, then stepped onto the granite patio. Her dad had built the patio himself, with the help of her and her brother Tim. Not that they'd been that much help, at only seven and ten, but they'd tried, and Dad seemed to love having them underfoot.

  As they walked across the lawn toward the water, she realized Evan hadn't let go of her hand yet. And it felt nice enveloped in his.

  Too nice.

  She tried to draw it away, then stumbled on the robe. He tightened his hold as he steadied her. He was leading her to her favorite place. Nestled in the trees, overlooking the water, it was a perfect place to find solitude and think things over. She'd shown it to Brent and Evan this week while taking them around her childhood haunts.

  But going there now with Evan . . . alone . . .

  Her stomach fluttered again. Nerves for sure, but something more bothered her. Because her insides hinted that she'd love to do more than talk to Evan right now.

  As they stepped through the opening between the trees, the thought shocked her.

  She loved Brent. Why did her body always react this way to Evan? And why would her thoughts turn to how exciting it would be to feel his full lips on hers? To be held in his arms?

  At first, she'd been sure it was just because she feared the same thing happening that had happened when she'd first met Brent. It had been in college when she'd been engaged to someone from back home. She'd felt guilty about the attraction she'd felt for Brent, even though she'd never acted on it. Right after graduation, she and Gary got married, but the marriage didn't last very long. She came to realize that her feelings for Gary had been more a desire to keep a connection with home than they were for the man. And Gary must have felt the same, because he'd been more than happy to throw in the towel on their marriage. She'd moved to San Diego to start a new life. Crystal had looked Brent up right after the divorce finalized and discovered that what she'd always felt for Brent had been real desire. And that had turned to real love.

  So when she'd met Evan, Brent's best friend, and felt the same racing heart and heated attraction, she'd ignored it, assuming a part of her was trying to sabotage her relationship with Brent because she was afraid she'd fail again.

  She knew she loved Brent, so there was no reason for her to fall for another guy.

  Especially his best friend.

  They reached the small gazebo near the edge of the water that her father had built when he'd realized how much she liked this place. Evan helped her up the single step. The water rippled along the shore, and a loon's lonely cry echoed across the water.

  Then Evan took both her hands and gazed into her eyes. The heat in those forest green eyes sent her stomach into somersaults.

  He cleared his throat. "Crystal, I have something I need to tell you."