The Best Man (Blue Heron #1)(107)

She sat back in her seat, her big brown eyes growing hot. “The point, idiot, is that just because our timing was off doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. Or Sarah.”

“Gee. Thanks.”

She shook her head. “Man. You are totally furious, aren’t you?”

He declined to answer. Looked at her instead. It always made Faith irritable when he stared at her; hopefully it would work on Nina, too.

It didn’t. She took a sip of her beer, smiling a little, her eyes still on his.

She was the type of woman who could seduce in seconds. A regular...what was that Greek chick’s name? The one who caused the slaughter of an entire city? That one.

Levi took a careful breath. “So why the visit?”

“Never could fool you, could I?” she said.

“Actually, I’d say you fooled me pretty good,” he answered calmly.

“Okay. Fine. Let’s put it on the table.” She leaned forward, boobs practically tumbling out of her skimpy shirt onto the nachos. “This last tour was it for me. I was thinking about you. Thought maybe we could give it another shot.”

He waited until Nina huffed and rolled her eyes.

“Look, moron,” she said, and he felt an unwilling tug of affection for her total lack of sentimentality. “We were good together. It was the timing that sucked. I wasn’t ready to settle down two years ago. I am now. Simple as that.”

“Seems like you’re leaving a lot out of that equation.”

“So why don’t you fill me in?” she said with another sex goddess smile.

I loved you. You left me. You left me when I wanted to have a family with you, when I thought we were happy, and you walked away like I was nothing.

But the feelings behind those words were old and tired, and not worth putting into words.

“Hi.”

It was Faith. She looked at both of them, then stuck out her hand. “Faith Holland.”

“Hi.” Nina took her hand. “Wait a sec, Faith Holland? Holy shit! Jeremy’s ex, right?”

“That’s right.” She looked at Levi, her cheeks flushing. Otherwise, her expression was calm.

“Faith,” Levi said, “This is my ex-wife, Nina. Nina, Faith is my...” He looked at Faith, hoping she’d supply the appropriate word.

“Neighbor,” Faith said.

Women. You never knew what they were up to.

“Holy crap!” came another voice. “Nina?”

“Jeremy!” Nina jumped up and hugged him hard, like they were old pals. “It’s so great so see you!”

Jeremy, Levi was pleased to note, did not hug her back, just gave Levi a look as Nina babbled and grinned.

There’d been one night after Nina had re-upped when Jeremy had invited him up to the house, broke out the twenty-four-year-old single malt scotch and had very thoughtfully gotten drunk with Levi, and Levi had been able to be a normal person, to act not like a cop or a soldier or a big brother or the man of the house, but like a poor slob whose wife had left him.

Levi caught Faith’s hand and tugged her into the seat next to him. “Stay,” he ordered.

“I’m not your dog,” she said.

“Please stay.”

There. She squeezed his hand. “Whatever you want, neighbor.”

He narrowed his eyes. Now was not the time for sass. She blushed, and for some reason, it made his chest ache.

“Watch it, Chief,” she said. “I think I see a smile.”

Before he realized what he was doing, he leaned in and gave her a quick kiss on her soft, pink lips.

Which did make Nina stop talking.

“Oh!” she said. “You two are...together. I didn’t...wow.” She sat down, as did Jeremy, as if they were on a double date. “So, let me get this straight. Levi, you’re dating Faith, who was once engaged to your g*y best friend.”

“Yes.”

She nodded appreciatively. “Am I the only one who thinks that’s weird?”

“Seems kind of perfect to me,” Jeremy said.

Nina grinned, her perfect smile not quite masking her sharklike intentions. “Well, this is awkward, Faith, because I’m here to try to get my husband back.”

Faith nodded sympathetically. “Wow, that is awkward. But you mean ex-husband, right?”

Score one for Faith. She smiled sweetly, then looked at him, then back at Nina. “That being said, we’ll let you guys talk. Jeremy and I were about to grab dinner.”

“Oh, my gosh, you two are still BFFs? That’s so cute!” Yep. A great white.

Faith smiled calmly. “Yes, we’re adorable. Very nice to have met you.”

“Same,” Nina answered.

Faith slid out of the booth and looked at him. “See you around.”

“Okay,” he answered, wishing she’d stay.

With that, the cavalry left, Jeremy giving his shoulder a sympathetic squeeze as he left.

“So where were we?” Nina asked.

“We were nowhere,” he answered. “You were telling me we should get back together, and I’m about to tell you that won’t happen.”

“Well, you know what, hotshot?” Nina said, nibbling a nacho with ridiculous sex appeal and a studied casualness. “Your little birdie is right. We have a lot to talk about. Give me a couple hours of your precious time. I’m here for the weekend, at least. Staying at the Black Swan.” She raised her eyebrows and smiled at him from around the chip.