Big Sky Baby. Judy Duarte

a small hand in helping her buy her own place. “Now all you need is the porch swing and that little picket fence you’ve always talked about.”

      “Thanks.” She put the squirmy dust mop on the floor, then offered him that chipped-tooth smile he found so endearing. It was, after all, her badge of courage.

      On Jeff’s first day at Rumor Elementary, Cain Kincaid had taunted him for being the new kid in their first-grade class. Things might not have escalated, had the school bully, along with a third-grade crony, joined in, cornering Jeff behind the handball court.

      Only six years old, and clearly outnumbered, Jeff had doubled up his fists, ready to defend himself to the death. But from out of the blue, a scrawny, brown-haired girl came to his rescue, butting the bully from the side and sending them all flying toward the concrete backboard. Thank goodness a teacher intervened, but not before Jilly earned her battle scar—a chipped front tooth. From then on, each time she smiled, Jeff was reminded of her bravery.

      They became friends that day, and their friendship had endured through the years.

      “It’s good to have you back,” she said.

      “Yeah, well, under the circumstances, I’m not really back. Once that fire is contained, I’ll be gone.”

      “You’re here now.” She flashed him a smile. “Let’s enjoy our time together.”

      He intended to, even though things had grown a bit weird between them.

      Since they’d been apart and since she’d revealed a few details about her relationship with Cain, Jeff had started to feel something, although he wasn’t sure what.

      At times it seemed a lot like jealousy. He shrugged it off, though, determined not to consider the possibility of romance—temporary or otherwise. Jilly needed someone who would make a home with her in Rumor, someone who wasn’t a freedom-loving pilot married to his job.

      Besides, Jeff lived in Colorado, close to his MAFFS outfit. He thrived on being on call, on taking off at a moment’s notice. And he loved the excitement, the danger.

      There couldn’t possibly be a fate worse than being grounded in Rumor for good, pushing a lawn mower and living vicariously by television on Saturday nights.

      Jeff was a free spirit. And he had no intention of having his wings clipped—by anyone.

      An hour later Jilly and Jeff sat at the scarred oak dining room table she’d picked up at the thrift store in Whitehorn. A vase of yesterday’s tulips and white tapered candles in brass candlesticks graced the worn but clean linen tablecloth.

      She would have offered him a glass of wine, but knew he was a real stickler for flight regulations and safety. So she didn’t bother to ask and gave him iced tea instead.

      They dined on roast beef, red potatoes and baby carrots. All the while, Posey sat near the table, waiting patiently for someone to have pity and toss her a treat. Strange as it may sound, Jilly understood how the little mutt felt.

      As a kid, she’d often waited for a scrap of affection, a kind word, a warm smile.

      Of course, things had changed once her mother died and Jilly moved out of the run-down house she’d grown up in.

      “Aren’t you going to put that dog outside?” Jeff asked.

      “Nope.” She tossed her two-legged friend a crooked smile. “Posey lives indoors.”

      Jeff merely shook his head and went back to eating. When he wasn’t looking, she slipped her furry pal a chunk of meat.

      Both her friends seemed pleased with the taste of her culinary efforts and chomped away. She wished she could take more credit for the meal, but she’d merely dumped everything in a Crock-Pot this morning and let the handy-dandy appliance do the rest.

      Jilly picked at her food. Although hungry, she was struggling with a diet that wasn’t working. She’d gained weight lately.

      As Jeff buttered a piece of bread, she discreetly unsnapped her jeans to give her waistline some relief. It seemed that most of her weight had settled in the stomach, bloating her tummy. Her energy level had dipped, big-time, causing her to want a midday nap.

      And a few other things had been bothering her, too, like a nervous stomach that seemed to be much worse than ever before. Of course, she blamed that on her recent breakup with Cain, but just to be on the safe side, she’d scheduled an appointment at the Rumor Family Clinic on Monday afternoon.

      Chances were her weird complaints were nothing but residual stress caused by that lousy relationship she’d finally ended.

      When would she learn how to sort through men and choose one worth keeping?

      Jeff looked up from his meal. “This is really good, Jilly. You’ve become a great cook.”

      “Thanks.”

      When she glanced up and caught him looking at her with those big-sky eyes, something passed between them, and the air grew heavy, laden with unspoken words and thoughts.

      Jilly didn’t know what was tumbling around in Jeff’s mind, but she suspected it was some of the same confusion that plagued her. The friendship she’d come to depend upon had changed.

      She and Jeff had shared a lot of meals in the past—pizza, a burger and fries. But boy, oh, boy, things were different this time. Much different.

      Maybe they were both a little uneasy with their new…their new what?

      Awareness?

      Attraction?

      Darned if she knew what was happening, but this whole surreal evening reminded her of the movie, When Harry Met Sally.

      Was this what Harry meant when he said men and women couldn’t be friends because sex got in the way?

      Well, she wasn’t about to let awkwardness rain on their reunion. Friendships like the one they shared came along once in a lifetime, and she wasn’t going to risk losing the one-and-only stable element in her life.

      Jeff pushed his chair from the table and slowly stood, breaking the tension that hovered around them. “I’d better go. I’ve got an early day tomorrow.”

      Jilly nodded. “I understand.”

      “But I’ll help you with the dishes.”

      “Don’t bother,” Jilly said, fighting a grin. “Posey will help me clean up.”

      Jeff furrowed his brow and studied her as though he suspected she planned to let the dog lick the plates clean.

      The naughty side of her wanted to let him believe she was serious, but her conscience wouldn’t let her tease him tonight. Not when he had to fly out tomorrow morning and fight that fire. The danger of his job was never far from her mind.

      “I’m joking, flyboy. Posey just keeps me company.”

      He grabbed her by the hand and drew her to his side. “I can take a joke as well as the next guy, but I never know what you’ll come up with next.”

      She laughed. “Well, if you’re leaving, you’d better give me a hug.”

      “I’ve always got a hug for my best friend.” He pulled her close, sending her pulse racing and her imagination soaring. And when he brushed a goodbye kiss across her cheek, her breath caught and her heart spun like a little toy top with nowhere to move.

      The men in her life had always let her down, but not Jeff Forsythe, the best friend she’d ever had.

      Yet, in spite of herself, she had begun to look at Jeff in a new and sensual light.

      And it left her terribly uneasy.

      Especially when she knew her best friend had no intention of putting down roots in Rumor.

      Chapter Two

      Jilly