Free Checking It Twice by Jodi Redford

suffered through two heartbreaks. He couldn’t fault Nick for bowing out of the relationship after he left. Nick had never been anything but honest about his feelings for Heather. Hell, he’d reiterated during their fight five years ago that he didn’t have it in him to return Heather’s love, but Kevin had been too haunted by his own demons at the time to accept that truth.
    Nick glanced over his shoulder toward the shop. “You’re doing it all over again, aren’t you? Running from someone who’s getting too close.”
    “What the hell are you talking about?”
    “Drop the bullshit act. I fucking know you better than you know yourself.” Lines of frustration bracketed Nick’s mouth. “Jana’s in love with you. You know that, right?”
    The queasiness in his stomach intensified.
    Nick blew out a heavy breath. “Of course you do. Which explains why you’re pushing her away.”
    “I’m not discussing this with you.”
    Nick continued to wear his bulldog expression. “You’ve fallen for her, and it scares the shit out of you.”
    “Goddamn it, I told you I’m not doing this.” He reached for the Navigator’s door handle.
    “She’s not Heather. Or Madison.”
    The mention of that last name delivered a more biting slap than the subzero windchill. He kept his focus pinned to the cold metal handle within his grip and willed the taunting whispers of his inner demons into submission. The bitter residue of his tainted past was a rancid taste in the back of his throat. “I know that.”
    “Do you? For shit’s sake, man. When are you going to stop letting that bitch destroy your happiness?”
    Without saying a word, he yanked open the door and climbed inside his vehicle. Nick grabbed the edge of the door before Kevin could slam it shut. “I didn’t come here to fight with you. Or talk about Madison.”
    Clenching his keys in his fist, Kevin tore his attention from the windshield and glared at Nick. “Good. Because I don’t want to hear her name pass your lips again. Ever.” He’d never been sorrier about revealing his painful secret to Nick in a moment of drunken weakness back when they were in college. He knew Nick didn’t judge him for what had happened with Madison. If anything, Nick saw Kevin as the victim. But Nick also insisted that Kevin needed to exorcise the ugly demons of his past in order to heal. Kevin just wanted to forget.
    Stubbornness furrowed Nick’s brow, but he didn’t argue. “I’m staying at the Townsend. I’d like it if we could get together before I head back to Chicago.”
    Kevin frowned. “When did you move there?”
    “Two years ago. There was nothing left for me in California, so I saw no point in staying.”
    He glanced away from the accusation in Nick’s eyes. “I have tomorrow night off. We can meet then.”
    A fraction of the mulishness eased from Nick’s features. He pulled his wallet from his coat pocket and removed a glossy business card. “My cell is the top number. Give me a call, and I’ll come pick you up from work.” After handing over the card, Nick released the doorframe, but not before delivering a final parting shot. “You’re crazy if you walk away from Jana.”
    Setting his jaw, Kevin swung the door shut and keyed the ignition. Against his better judgment, his gaze sought out Jana. She still stood by the racks of lingerie, but she’d given up all pretenses of working and was instead staring at him with a mix of wistfulness and forlorn dejection.
    A knife twisting in his chest, he backed out of the parking spot and beelined for the exit.

Chapter Five
    Jana quickly returned to straightening the babydoll nightie hanging in front of her as Nick swung around and headed toward the entrance of the shop. Willing her fingers to stop trembling, she studiously pretended to be absorbed in her fake task. Somehow she managed to keep her eyes off the door when Woody’s laugh pealed free. Inside, she was a mass of frazzled nerves and nauseous anxiety.