Always the Best Man by Michelle Major Page B

pointed to the bowl of dark greens. “Your salad is so healthy I feel guilty picking up a fry from my plate. You don’t even have dressing.”
    The willowy redhead stared at her a long moment and Emily did a mental eye roll. She had the uncanny ability to offend without meaning to by tossing off comments before she thought about them. Her family was used to it and she’d managed to tame the impulse during her marriage but now...
    April burst out laughing. “You remind me of Sara. She gives me grief about how I eat, too. I’ve always been healthy but became more diligent about what I put in my body when I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago.”
    Emily thumped her palm against her forehead. “Now I feel like an even bigger jerk.”
    â€œDon’t,” April said, still smiling. “I’ve been cancer-free for over five years.”
    â€œMy dad died when I was in high school. Pancreatic cancer.” She took a bite of sandwich, swallowing around the emotions that always bubbled to the surface when she thought about her father. “I still miss him.”
    â€œIt’s difficult for you being back in Crimson.”
    â€œI thought I’d made a life beyond this little town. Returning to Colorado has been an adjustment.”
    April snagged a fry and popped it in her mouth. “So is divorce.”
    â€œAre you...”
    â€œMy ex-husband left me during my cancer treatments,” April answered. She shrugged. “He couldn’t handle me being sick.”
    â€œJerk,” Emily muttered.
    â€œAnd yours?”
    â€œAnother jerk.” Emily pushed her plate closer to the center of the table, a silent invitation for April to take another fry. When she did, Emily figured this friendship might stand a chance. “I was the one who did the leaving, but it was because my ex couldn’t handle that our son wasn’t the child he expected or wanted. Henry needed everything to appear perfect, and I bought into the lie.”
    â€œAnd lost yourself in the process?” April’s voice was gentle, as if she’d had experience in that area.
    Emily bit down on her lip, then nodded.
    â€œI don’t have the same history with this town as you, but I can tell you it’s a good place to rediscover who you are.” April nabbed another fry. “Also to reinvent yourself.”
    â€œIs that what you’ve done?”
    â€œI’m working on it. In addition to Crimson Ranch, I also teach yoga at a studio on the south side of town. You should come in for a class.” April leaned closer. “I like you, but I’m not sure I can be friends with someone whose shoulders are so stiff they look like they could crack in half.”
    Emily laughed, feeling lighter than she had in months. “I may,” she told April. “If only to support a friend.”
    April held up her water glass. “Here’s to new friends and new beginnings.”

Chapter Five
    J ase walked toward the front door of his office at 8:05 the following morning. His tie was slung over his shoulder, his hair still damp from the quick shower he’d taken, but he’d made it almost on time.
    Downtown was quiet this early in the morning, one shopkeeper sweeping the sidewalk in front of his store as another arranged a rack of sale clothes. Life Is Sweet bakery would be crowded, so Jase hadn’t bothered to stop for his daily dose of caffeine.
    He’d been second-, third-and fourth-guessing his decision to offer Emily a job since the words had left his mouth yesterday. He wasn’t sure how he was going to handle being so close to her every day, especially when she’d told him their kiss had been a mistake. But he’d also woken up with a sense of anticipation he hadn’t felt in years. Not much else could ensure that he was almost on time.
    He opened the door, then stopped short, checking his watch to make sure he hadn’t lost a