The Best Man in Texas Read Online Free PDF Page A

couldn’t let Jake infuriate her into equal rudeness, not if she was going to befriend him. She refused to start her marriage to Giff feeling like she didn’t belong in his inner circle. Like she didn’t fit in.
    Again. She plastered a smile as bright as the Vegas Strip across her face. What was that old proverb, something about killing people with kindness?
    Giff was already on his feet. “Brooke. I know you must have overheard—”
    “Overheard a lifelong friend expressing concern for your well-being?” she interrupted.
    “Thank you.” Jake’s tone was gruff. “I’m glad you realize that, under the circumstances, my question was perfectly normal and nothing against you personally.”
    Inwardly she rolled her eyes. Of course it was against her personally, as she was the only woman in the world engaged to Giff. With effort, she kept her voice so honey-sweet that the kitchen staff could have drizzled it over the sopaipillas. “I’m sure we’ll look back on this moment and laugh.”
    Giff nodded gratefully. “Say, on our fiftieth wedding anniversary, when we’ve shown Jake how needless his worrying was.”
    “I look forward to it.” Jake raised his glass in their direction, but there was still an assessing glint in his eyes that made Brooke feel as if she weren’t being toasted. She was being challenged.
     
    “S O, APPARENTLY G IFF’S best friend is the devil.” Brooke made this announcement from one of the chairs on the other side of Kresley’s desk.
    Since the two of them tended to show up in the small newspaper office earlier than most of their coworkers, it had become their ritual to take turns bringing in breakfast and chatting for a few minutes before officially starting their days. Kresley used to favor strong coffee and pastries she would later work off at her gym. Currently she preferred low-acid orange juice and granolabars. Brooke had felt almost guilty ordering her own cheese danish. Maybe I should consider those granola bars, too. She planned to spend Saturday trying on wedding dresses. The last thing she wanted was to go up a size.
    Kresley arched a blond brow. “Dinner last night didn’t go well? Giff’s such a teddy bear that I imagined any buddy of his was a sweetheart, too.”
    Sweetheart? Was there a less accurate word to describe the intense and skeptical Jake McBride? “I don’t think McBride approves of the engagement. But he told me not to take it personally,” Brooke added.
    “He actually had the gall to say he didn’t approve? Of you? ” Kresley’s indignation was comforting. “Who the hell does this guy think he is?”
    “Funny you should ask. You remember that calendar Meg showed us Monday night? The firemen?” When her friend nodded, Brooke said, “Giff’s best friend, Jake, is Mr. July.”
    Kresley bit her bottom lip, looking thoughtful. “Which one was he? I remember all the summer months featured shirtless hotties, but nothing more specific than that. Blame pregnancy brain. I barely remember what street I live on.”
    “Jake’s got brown hair, cut pretty short. He’s…” As she tried to think how to describe him, Brooke squirmed in her seat. She opted for glib exaggeration. “Cheekbones that could cut glass, eyes that could tempt a woman to sell her soul. You know the type,” she concluded with a nonchalant shrug.
    “One of those good-looking but cocky guys? I hate him already.”
    “I wouldn’t say that, exactly. Yes, he is good-looking. And there was definitely evidence of a little arrogance. But he’s not a completely self-absorbed egomaniac. It’s clear he feels protective of Giff.”
    “Protective?” Kresley made a dismissive sound. “Giff’s over six feet tall and a wealthy man. He can take care of himself.”
    Brooke found herself wondering if the wealth was an issue for Jake; the only time he’d been prickly with Giff was when the check had arrived and the two macho men had argued over who got to pick up the tab.
    “Hell, no, I