Free Forever His Bride by LISA CHILDS Page A

door. “Good morning, Nick.”
    Dr. Jameson had obviously stayed in town, maybe even in his car, judging from how bedraggled he looked in his rumpled dress shirt and trousers. If he’d come over to convince Josh to go back to Grand Rapids, maybe she should let him do it. For Nick’s peace of mind and hers.
    “Hi…” His green eyes skimmed her face as if he were searching for a name.
    “Brenna,” she reminded him. “My name is Brenna.”
    “Brenna Kelly. Yeah, I know.”
    She arched an eyebrow, skeptical of his claim. But she didn’t care if he remembered her name. She just wanted him to take care of his friend so she wouldn’t try to, as she usually tried to take care of everyone else. Another Kelly habit. One she intended to break now, along with her promise to get rid of Nick, as she offered, “I’ll get Josh for you.”
    “No!”
    The urgency in Nick Jameson’s voice stopped her, and she turned back.
    “I’d like to talk to you.” He swallowed hard. “Brenna.”
    She pushed open the screen door by its purple-painted frame and stepped out to join him on the porch. Cold, despite the warm morning air, Brenna crossed her arms over her chest and waited for him to say more. Despite walking down the aisle together yesterday, they’d barely spoken to each other. She didn’t know Nick Jameson at all. She didn’t know why Josh had chosen him as his best man, especially since he hadn’t even wanted to face the man this morning.
    His voice gruff with impatience, Nick said, “You need to tell your friend to come home.”
    “What?”
    “You know where the runaway bride is,” he accused her.
    Brenna didn’t know for certain, but if she were a betting woman, she’d bet on Eric South’s cabin. She had no intention of sharing that information with Nick Jameson, however. She’d already betrayed Molly. Brenna reminded him of the note the bride had left. “She asked for some time alone.”
    “Don’t you think that’s pretty damned selfish of her?” Nick asked, his eyes ablaze with indignation.
    “You obviously don’t know Molly,” she observed. If he were really Josh’s best friend, how could he not know Molly? “She is probably the least selfish person I know.”
    “I don’t know her,” he admitted. “She was supposed to marry my best friend, and I barely know her name.”
    “Well, you’re bad with names.”
    He laughed. “Josh has been talking to you.”
    She nodded.
    “That’s good,” he said, exhaling loudly with obvious relief.
    She studied him through narrowed eyes. “You’re worried about him.”
    “Yes, I am,” he admitted. “He’s determined to talk to her and work things out.”
    Her stomach clenched as it had when the boys—jumping on her bed—had inadvertently stepped on it, digging their bare toes into her belly. No, this hurt worse, knowing how Josh felt. She didn’t doubt that Nick knew. Even though she didn’t understand why, the two men were close.
    The blond doctor persisted, “So you need to tell your friend to come home.”
    “Molly. Her name is Molly.” The woman Josh loved. He hadn’t meant to kiss her, and Brenna knew that. He’d been distraught over being jilted.
    “I know her name,” Nick insisted. “I wish Josh would forget it. I wish he’d forget all about her.”
    Brenna was startled by his declaration. “Then I don’t understand why you want her to come home.”
    “He can’t forget her until he talks to her.”
    Despite the ache that was still gnawing at her, Brenna smiled. “You really don’t know Molly. Men don’t forget Molly.” Every male from grade school through grad school, had fallen for Molly’s big, dark eyes and gentle spirit. “Seeing her again isn’t going to get him to change his mind about moving here or about opening the office that I know you were against opening here. Bringing Molly back won’t get you what you want.”
    Nor Brenna. Because, God help her, she wanted Josh.
    “This isn’t about what I want.” Nick