The Bride's Best Man. Judy Christenberry

it be too hard?” Kay asked.

      “Well, it’s a challenge,” Dan said. “I have an idea. You and I can go by elevator up to the bar on the top floor of your hotel and wait for the other two while they climb up to the top. It has the same view.”

      “Wait a minute!” Pete protested. “I’ve already been to the top of Diamond Head. I’ll join you two in the bar. Shelby can tell us all about it when she finishes the climb.”

      “How gentlemanly of you!” Shelby said sarcastically.

      “Okay, okay,” Pete teased. “We’ll let you in the elevator, too.”

      “But that’s not so exciting, going up in an elevator to look out a window,” Shelby said.

      Pete leaned toward Kay. “Your niece is a hard woman to please, did you know that?”

      “I’m sure she doesn’t mean to be,” Kay said with a smile toward Shelby.

      “I’ll tell you what. After drinks in the bar, we can go on a dinner cruise for the sunset. How about that, Shelby?” Pete asked.

      “That would be exciting.”

      “Is that okay with you two?” Pete asked.

      Dan nodded to his friend. “It sounds good to me. How about you, Kay?”

      “That sounds great. And Shelby and I can try out the beach during the day while you two work.”

      “Aw, spoilsport! I was hoping to see Shelby in a swimsuit,” Pete said in a playful tone of voice, though he truly meant it. “Do you wear a bikini, Shelby?”

      He loved her flustered look. He was seeing more sides of her tonight, and they were all beautiful.

      Dan played along. “How about you, Kay?”

      Kay’s cheeks turned pink. “No, Dan. I’m afraid I have a one-piece suit.”

      “Looks like we’ll have to work tomorrow, Dan,” Pete said.

      “Hmm, maybe half a day.”

      “Why only half a day?” Kay asked.

      “I have my reasons,” Dan teased.

      To say Pete was shocked by Dan’s comment was an understatement. As long as he’d known him, Dan had put in minimum twelve-hour days. Now he was taking time off for some secret reason? Maybe Shelby was right to be suspicious.

      Pete owed Dan a lot. He’d worked closely with him for the past seven years and known him for thirteen years. He couldn’t accept that Dan would do anything to hurt Kay.

      Dinner continued, but he noted that Shelby was not as relaxed as she had been. She was back to giving one-word answers to any questions.

      When the waiter offered dessert, Pete insisted they all indulge. “I want Shelby to get sweeter,” he insisted.

      When Shelby protested, he added, “Of course, it’s really because I love chocolate. They’ve got a fudge brownie sundae to die for. But I’d look terrible if I ordered it and none of you had any, right?”

      “Yes, you would,” Shelby retorted. “But I’ll sacrifice and join you because that sounds too good to pass up.”

      He was surprised by her words but pleased as well.

      After the dessert, which they all shared, they exited the restaurant, chatting excitedly about their plans. Suddenly Shelby grabbed Pete’s arms and came close to him, her mouth mere inches away from his ear. As she spoke, her warm breath on his neck stirred his fantasies. He imagined she whispered sweet nothings to him. Instead she said, “We need to talk!”

      Chapter Three

      When the foursome reached the hotel, Pete said, “Do you mind if Shelby and I walk on the beach for a while? It’s a beautiful night.”

      “No, of course not,” Kay said, after looking at her niece.

      “We won’t be long,” Pete promised as he caught Shelby’s hand in his and headed out the open back door to the moonlit beach.

      Kay looked at Dan. “Do you suppose he’s interested in her?”

      “Why not? She’s attractive. You don’t mind, do you?”

      “As long as it’s nothing serious. I wouldn’t want to leave her behind.”

      Dan studied her carefully. “You wouldn’t consider moving to Hawaii?”

      “I don’t think I’d make a good island girl. I’m a little too old and much too serious for a carefree existence.”

      “I don’t live a carefree existence. I run a business, but I do it here in Hawaii.”

      “I don’t think the question will come up, Dan. These boy-girl things happen on vacations all the time.”

      “As I remember, when I left home, you had one of those boy-girl things going on. Whatever happened to him?”

      “Tony Rico. I dumped him.”

      “Why?”

      “Because he wanted sex, and I refused. I’d already had an example right before my eyes of a forced marriage because of a pregnancy. But that was a long time ago.”

      The elevator opened and Kay hurriedly said, “You don’t need to see me to my room. I’m fine.”

      “I know you are.” Dan got into the elevator anyway.

      They stood silently in the elevator, surrounded by strangers. When the door opened on her floor, Kay got out, calling a good-night to Dan over her shoulder. To her surprise, he followed her down the corridor.

      “Really, Dan, there’s no need—”

      “Yes, there is. Didn’t you find anyone worth dating in the past twenty years?”

      Kay backed up against her door. “I’ve dated occasionally, but I had Shelby to care for and…and I was happy.”

      “I hope so. I’d hate to think my marriage ruined four lives instead of three.”

      “I don’t think it ruined Shelby’s life. She’s well adjusted and happy, too.”

      “Because of you.” He leaned forward and dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Bless you, Kay. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then he walked back to the elevator.

      Kay stood there watching him until the doors closed, depriving her of the view. She reached up and touched her forehead, still warm from his kiss. Just what did he mean by that?

      “What did you want to talk about?” Pete asked Shelby, who had wrenched her hand from his the moment they were out of sight.

      She turned to him, her features tight. “You’re treating this like it’s a game! I’m serious. I want to protect Kay!”

      “From what, Shelby?”

      “From Dan, of course. From his plan!”

      “I don’t know what his plan is. But I don’t believe he’d do anything to hurt Kay. All he’s doing is a little flirting.” Pete smiled, sure he’d erased Shelby’s worries.

      “You don’t understand! Kay gave up her freedom to take care of me for the past ten years. I don’t think she went out on more than five dates during those ten years. She’s inexperienced. Flirting could hurt her a lot!”

      “I promised I’d try to find out what Dan’s plan is, but I can assure you he’s a good man. He wouldn’t hurt Kay,” Pete repeated.

      “But he could make Kay fall in love with him, just by flirting. That’s why I need to know what he’s doing. Or maybe you could tell him not to do that.”

      “Generally, if one