His Best Friend

“Well…” Claudia decided she was being stupid. There weren’t exactly dozens of guys lined up waiting to take her out. And after all, going out with Philip didn’t mean she had to marry him. Besides, the party did sound like fun. “All right,” she finally said. “You talked me into it.”

“Great. I’ll pick you up at seven.”

Philip grinned all the way back to his office. Yes! She’d said yes. What he would have done if she’d continued to say no, he wasn’t sure. All he knew was, where Claudia was concerned, he had no intention of giving up. Since Emily there had been no one he’d cared about, but that had all changed a month ago when Claudia had begun teaching at the college.

He’d known the moment he met her that she was special and that she was going to be important to him. He’d have felt foolish saying that to anyone, even John, but it was true. Philip had never believed in love at first sight, feeling that it took time to fall in love, that it was important to be friends first, that real love wasn’t based on physical attraction but mutual interests and ideas.

Yet with Claudia, all those long-held beliefs flew out the window. It still amazed him that he could have fallen in love so quickly…and so hard.

He couldn’t wait for John and Jen to meet her. It would be interesting to see what their reaction was. John, he knew, would see exactly what it was that had ensnared Philip so quickly, but women were different.

What if Jen didn’t like Claudia? Would that make a difference?

Philip was so caught up in his thoughts, he jumped when Sarah Frost, his assistant, spoke to him.

“Sorry, I wasn’t listening,” he said.

“I said Dean Channing has called a meeting.” Her dark eyes looked somber.

Philip frowned. “What’s wrong?” But he was afraid he knew.

Sarah lowered her voice after first looking around to make sure no one else was in earshot. “I think it’s about Professor Tate.”

Philip swore under his breath. Just what he needed today. A week ago, Jeffrey Tate had been accused of sexual harassment by one of the sophomores. He swore he was innocent. The girl’s parents were threatening to sue if Tate wasn’t fired. But Philip knew Dean Channing was afraid Tate would sue if he was.

“All right,” Philip said in resignation. “Print out all the information on Professor Tate’s salary and benefits package, will you? I’d better be ready for anything when I get there.”

All thoughts of Claudia were pushed from Philip’s mind as he headed for his office.

After Philip went back to the administrative wing, Claudia began to clear off her desk. She had given a pop quiz in the form of an essay assignment to her Composition I class—much to their dismay—and she would have to read and grade the papers tonight. And she needed to read ahead for the Principles of Marketing class, which met tomorrow. And there was nothing in her condo to eat, which meant she’d better stop at the supermarket on the way home. She sighed. She’d better get a move on if she hoped to get everything done.

Claudia taught two classes of Composition I, which was a first-year course; one class of Composition II, a second-year course; two classes of Principles of Selling; and one class of Principles of Marketing—a total of 18 classroom hours a week. What with lesson planning, grading papers and tests, special projects and other related duties, it was a heavy load, especially for a first-year professor, but Claudia didn’t mind. She loved teaching, particularly at this level. She’d found she had a natural rapport with her students, especially once they realized she had hands-on marketing experience herself.

With all her belongings packed into her tote, she slung her handbag over her shoulder and headed out to the parking lot. The late September heat blasted her when she exited the air-conditioned building. And when she unlocked the Jeep, it felt like an oven inside. After tossing her stuff into the back, she took off her brown linen jacket, exposing the white tank top she wore underneath.

With her favorite rock station blasting—and Claudia singing along in her slightly off-key voice—she edged the Jeep into Southwest Freeway traffic and headed south toward the Loop and her Galleria-area condo. Traffic was already heavy and it was only four o’clock on a Wednesday afternoon. But then, traffic always seemed to be heavy here.

Her family, most of whom lived in Morgan Creek, the small Texas town where Hathaway Baking had its main plant and offices, couldn’t understand why she wanted to work somewhere like Houston, but Claudia loved the city. Yes, there were a lot of people. And yes, it was hot and humid for five months out of the year. And yes, the traffic could be horrendous.

But there was so much energy in the city. It was exciting. There was a feeling here that anything could be accomplished if you just worked hard enough. And the shopping, the theater and arts scene, the restaurants and the museums were fabulous.

Claudia loved it all. There was nothing about Morgan Creek she missed except her siblings and her nieces. But a person couldn’t have everything. Sometimes you had to choose, and she’d chosen to cut the cord that she’d felt slowly strangling her.

She had managed to spend a few hours in Morgan Creek last Sunday, and that was nice. She’d enjoyed talking to Bryce and Lorna, telling them about her new job and hearing about everything that had happened since she’d left. It had been nice to see how happy Bryce was now, too, married to Amy—who had been nanny to his two young daughters—and father to her little girl. Bryce certainly deserved to be happy, Claudia thought, after suffering through so much pain when he lost his first wife, whom he’d loved so dearly.

Claudia had spent Saturday afternoon and evening with Sally in Austin, and that had been fun, too. All in all, it was a good weekend, even though not everything had worked out the way she’d hoped. One of the reasons she’d made the trip home so soon after moving to Houston was that she’d been unable to get the cute guy she’d met that day in August out of her mind. She’d kept thinking about him and finally she’d decided she would call him when she got to Sally’s, see if he wanted to go to a party they were invited to attend that night.

Remembering how she’d felt when she’d called the number on the card she’d gotten from him, Claudia frowned. She’d been so sure Jason Webb liked her. That he’d meant it when he’d given her his business card and asked her to call him the next time she was in Austin.

But Jason Webb didn’t remember her. In fact, he seemed to have no idea who she was, even after she’d mentioned the restaurant where they’d literally bumped into one another. He said he was sorry, but he didn’t remember meeting her. Claudia was so embarrassed, she didn’t elaborate or try to explain. She just said she was sorry to have bothered him and hung up. It wasn’t meant to be, she told herself afterward, furious with herself for being a romantic fool.

Deliberately, she had put him out of her mind, but obviously that hadn’t worked, for here she was, thinking about him again.

“Stop that,” she muttered. “You’ll never see Jason Webb again, and even if you did, you probably wouldn’t like him.”

Seeing the entrance to the supermarket, she put on her turn signal and all thoughts of Jason Webb were finally wiped from her mind as she mentally began to form her shopping list.

John made good time driving into Houston from Austin. He had mixed emotions about his company’s relocating. On the one hand, he hated leaving Austin—a city he loved. On the other, he was looking forward to living close to his family again, especially his sister and his cousin, Philip—who also happened to be his best friend. Not to mention the man who had saved his life.

John knew if he lived to be a hundred, he could never repay Philip who—three years ago, without a moment’s hesitation—had agreed to give John one of his kidneys after both John’s kidneys failed as a result of the damage caused by a severe case of nephritis when he was ten.

Which reminded John—he should call Philip, let him know he was on his way in. Whipping out his cell phone, he punched five. Speed dial kicked in and moments later, Philip answered.

“Hey, cuz,” John said. “I’m headin’ into town. Just left Prairie View.” He glanced at the clock on his dashboard. “I should get to Jen’s about two.”

“Oh, you’re going straight there?”

“Yeah, I told her I’d help her get ready for tonight. I guess she’s expecting a bunch of people.”

“About thirty, she said.”

“You still cool about me bunking with you until I find a place?”

“Sure. No problem.”

“Why don’t you come over to Jen’s early, too?”

“I would, but I’m bringing a date tonight, and I told her I’d pick her up at seven.”

There was something in Philip’s voice that made John smile. “So who’s the date? Anybody I know?”

“It’s that new prof I told you about. The one I’ve been trying to get to go out with me for weeks.”

“So you finally wore her down, huh?”

“Actually, I took her to a movie Wednesday night.”

John could almost hear the smile in his cousin’s voice. “I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Just remember. I saw her first.”

“She’s that hot?” John teased. He laughed when Philip sputtered something about her being a nice girl. “Nice girls can be hot, too.” Then he took pity on his cousin. “Tell me about her. What’s she look like?”

“I’d rather wait and just let you see for yourself.”

“Not even a hint?”

Before Philip could answer, John saw flashing lights ahead of him. “I’d better hang up. There’re cops up ahead.”

“Okay, see you tonight.”

Vehicles slowed as drivers rubbernecked the fender bender that had brought the cops out, but once past the scene, traffic quickly resumed speed. As John covered the final miles to his sister’s place, he thought about his cousin and the girl he was bringing to the party tonight. He was glad the elusive Claudia had finally said yes to Phil, who had not had good luck with women.

In fact, since Emily had broken their engagement—jeez, was it already three years since she’d taken that job in London?—Phil hadn’t been seriously interested in anyone. John had begun to think he’d never get over Emily, so when he’d started talking about how much he liked this new prof they’d hired, John had been happy for his cousin and had hoped the girl would like Phil, too.

Funny how a guy could go along for years never meeting anyone who interested him, then wham, along came the perfect girl. John grimaced. He’d met the perfect girl, too. In fact, meeting her had been the catalyst that had finally forced him to face and do something about the situation with Allison. Unfortunately, he’d made a major mistake in not finding out who the girl was and how to get in touch with her.

Instead, he’d given her one of his business cards, hoping she’d call him. And she hadn’t. He was still kicking himself for goofing up so badly, because although their meeting had been brief, John knew he wasn’t likely to meet anyone even remotely like her again.

Nope. Opportunity had knocked and he hadn’t answered. He wouldn’t get a second chance.

Claudia couldn’t decide what to wear. Why hadn’t she asked Philip if the party was casual or dressy? She wondered if she should try to call him and find out.

Finally she settled on an outfit that could go either way—a long, black jersey skirt with a slit up the back, black chunky mules and a black tank top. Around her neck she looped a long gray, fringed scarf. Digging around in her jewelry box, she found some black hoop earrings. Four black and silver bracelets came next. Claudia was from the school of thought that believed if one bracelet was good, four was better.

Looking at her unpainted nails, she wished she’d taken the time to get a manicure, but it was too late now. She would have to do in her unvarnished state.

Her doorbell rang at precisely seven. She smiled. She had known Philip would be punctual. All she’d had to do was take one look at his neat, everything-in-its-place office to know he believed in order. Most of the time, Claudia did, too, so that was fine.

She opened the door. “Hi.”

“Hi.” His gaze took her in. “Wow. You look great.”

“Thanks.” He was his usual well-dressed self in neat khakis, a dark blue knit shirt and shiny brown loafers. Claudia grabbed her sack purse from the little table next to the door. “I’m ready.”

As they walked down the path to the visitor parking lot, Philip said, “This is a nice area.”

“Yes, I think so.”

“The rent must be high, though.”

Claudia wasn’t renting. She’d bought her condo, but she knew if she said so, he’d wonder how she could afford it. She thought fast. “Actually, my grandmother left me a little money, and I figured real estate would give me a better return than the stock market.”

“That was very smart.”

“I can’t take all the credit. My brother helped me come to that decision.”

“Older brother?”

“Yes.”

“So you have a brother? Are there just the two of you?”

“Um, no. I, uh, have two older sisters.” By now they were underway, heading east on Potomac toward Westheimer.

“You’re lucky. I’m an only. But I told you that the other night, didn’t I?”

There had been times Claudia had wished she were an only child, too. But now she knew Philip was right. She was lucky. Especially since her siblings were all people she would choose as friends if they weren’t related to her. Her parents were a different story.

“I guess that’s why I’ve been so close to Jen and John,” Philip continued. “Or maybe it’s because we’re double cousins.”

“Double cousins?”

“Yeah. My mother is John’s father’s sister. And his mother is my father’s sister.”

“Really? Who married first?”

“John’s mom—my aunt Linda—and his dad Lou got married first. Then my dad met my uncle Lou’s sister Margie—my mom—and two years later they got married. John is two years older than me.”

“So I guess your two families get along really well.”

“Best friends all around.” He smiled. “I’ve never heard one cross word between them.”

“Now you’re the lucky one.”

“Oh? Your family doesn’t get along?”

Claudia shrugged. She didn’t want to get into her family’s dynamics. Couldn’t if she hoped to keep the Hathaway Baking connection a secret. “It’s just normal stuff. Dad drinks too much. Mom is controlling. That kind of thing.”

Philip obviously sensed her reluctance to say more for soon after he changed the subject. They were deep into the respective talents of Sheryl Crow versus Shania Twain when Philip pulled up in front of a small bungalow in an area he identified as the outskirts of River Oaks. “I don’t know if you know anything about River Oaks?”

“Just that it’s a really high-rent district.”

“Yeah, it is. Jen doesn’t own this place, though. She and a girlfriend—a co-worker, actually—rent the house.”

There were already a dozen or more cars parked along the street. Philip pulled into the driveway, saying, “Family has its privileges.”

“Will your parents be here tonight?”

“No. We’re doing the family thing tomorrow at Jen’s parents’ house. Tomorrow is actually her birthday.”

“So both families live here in Houston?”

“Yep. Native Houstonians all.”

As they walked up onto the small front stoop, Claudia could hear laughter and music inside. Philip rang the doorbell, then without waiting for someone to answer, opened the door and gestured her inside.

A pretty dark-haired young woman in a red sundress that showed off a golden tan walked toward them. She smiled at Philip. “Hey, cuz, you made it.”

“Happy birthday, Jen.” Philip leaned down and kissed her cheek.

“Thanks.” Her dark-eyed gaze moved curiously to Claudia. “Hi. I’m Jennifer, Philip’s cousin.” She extended her hand.

“Hi, Jennifer. I’m Claudia. Claudia Hathaway.” They shook hands.

“I’m glad you could come.” Jennifer’s smile was warm and friendly.

Claudia knew instantly she would like this woman. Suddenly she was very glad she’d accepted Philip’s invitation. “Me, too.”

Claudia and Philip followed Jennifer into the living room were several groups of young people stood talking. In rapid succession Jennifer introduced them in a blur of names Claudia knew she wouldn’t remember. Most seemed to be Jennifer’s co-workers at the TV station.

“Where’s John?” Philip asked Jennifer when she’d finished with the introductions.

“Out back, I think.”

“Come on, Claudia. Let’s go out. I want you to meet John.”

Giving Jennifer a smile, Claudia let herself be led through the house and out the back door where several young men stood drinking beer.

“There you are!” Philip said.

The men turned around.

Claudia stared in disbelief.

For walking toward them with a huge smile on his face was none other than Jason Webb.

Chapter Two

John couldn’t believe his eyes. Philip’s date was the blonde! The one John had met in Austin.

She’d recognized him, too. He could see the surprise in her eyes.

“John,” Philip was saying. “Hey, man, it’s good to see you.” John returned Philip’s hug, but all the while, his mind was spinning.

Releasing John, Philip proudly drew the blonde forward. “John, this is Claudia Hathaway, the new prof I was telling you about. Claudia, my cousin, John Renzo.”

She tilted her head, studying John. “Actually, I believe we’ve met.”

“You’ve met?” Philip looked from one to the other.

“Yeah,” John said, nodding agreement. “You’re right. We have met.”

Now Philip was frowning. “But you never said anything.”

John shrugged. “I didn’t know her name.” He couldn’t stop staring at her. God, she was even more gorgeous than he’d remembered. Tonight, in that black clingy outfit, she looked fantastic. Although she was lean, her body was sexy, with curves in the right places. And she was the wonderful Claudia that Philip had been talking about for weeks? How was that possible?

Philip gave Claudia a puzzled smile. “How did you two meet?”

“We kind of bumped into each other. At a restaurant in Austin one weekend when I went in to meet Sally. I told you about Sally—my college roommate?”

“I nearly knocked Claudia over,” John said. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

Philip smiled. “Typical.” Turning to Claudia, he added, “John’s always been accident-prone. As a kid, he kept falling out of trees or running into walls.”

John grinned. “Hey, I was adventurous. I liked to take chances.” He still couldn’t get over the fact that the girl he’d thought about so many times over the past month was actually standing there. In the flesh. In the gorgeous flesh.

“That’s true,” Philip conceded, “I’m a much more careful sort. I prefer not to take unnecessary risks.”

“Which is why you have the kind of job you do, and I have the kind of job I do,” John said.

“I’m afraid I’m more like John,” Claudia said. “When I was little, I always had a black-and-blue mark or a scab somewhere.”

“Then I balance you out perfectly,” Philip said happily, putting a possessive arm around Claudia.

John knew the hot stab of jealousy he felt was beneath him. He should be glad for Philip. Claudia was the kind of girl any man would love to claim, and if she liked Philip, then good for him. But even as he told himself this, he wished he could trade places with his cousin. He wished it more than he’d wished anything in a long time.

“Hey, you two, quit monopolizing Claudia.”

All three turned at the sound of Jennifer’s voice. “Claudia,” she said, “come with me. Some other guests have arrived that I’d like you to meet. Anyway, once these two get together, they forget anyone else is around. Let’s let them talk for a while.”

“All right.” With a little wave goodbye, Claudia followed Jennifer into the house.

Once they were gone, Philip said, “What’s the real story here?”

“What do you mean, real story?”

“You know. The real story about what happened between you and Claudia.”

“Nothing happened.”

“Yet you remembered her, and she remembered you.”

“Wouldn’t you remember her if you’d met her casually? Hell, she’s gorgeous. Besides, one of the guys I was with mentioned how she kind of resembles Meg Ryan. That really planted her in my mind.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t ask her out.”

“Maybe I did.” Seeing the look on Philip’s face, John laughed. “Don’t worry. She said no.”

Philip grinned. “Shows she’s got good sense.” He walked over to the cooler where the beer was iced down and removed a can. Popping the top, he took a long drink.

“Yeah,” John said, “she obviously realized you’re a much more upstanding citizen than me.”

For a while after that, they talked about John’s new job in Houston, but Philip seemed antsy, and John knew his cousin wanted to go back inside and find Claudia. John didn’t blame him. If she was John’s date, he wouldn’t leave her alone for a minute.

For the next hour or so, John stayed away from Philip and Claudia. He busied himself talking to the other people. But he kept watching for a chance to talk to Claudia alone. About nine-thirty, he spotted her sitting by herself on the window seat in the dining room. Philip was nowhere in sight. John quickly walked over.

“Mind if I join you?”

She smiled. “No.” She scooted over.

He sat down beside her. “It’s good to see you again.”

“You, too.”

She had a disconcerting way of looking directly into his eyes. “Small world, huh?”

“Yes, it is.”

For a brief moment, John felt awkward. But he pressed on. “So. Were you living here in Houston that day we met?”

She shook her head. “Uh-uh. I moved here the first of September…when I started my job at the college.”

Boy, he liked her voice. It was low and musical. Sexy. Oh, come on! Who do you think you’re kidding? You like everything about her! “Where’d you move from?”

“A little town south of Austin.”

“Were you a teacher there?”

“No. This is my first teaching job.”

“Do you like it?”

“So far I love it.”

“I moved to Houston to take a new job, too.”

“Philip said you’re a filmmaker.”

“Yeah.”

“What kind of films?”

“All kinds. Documentaries. Advertising films. Training films. You name it, we do it.”

“Are you a cameraman? Is that the right term?”

He grinned. “No. And no. Producing and directing is my area of expertise. And the correct terminology is camera operator or videographer. But we’re loose. We answer to just about anything.”

For a moment she fell silent, and as casually as he could manage, he said, “You know, after I met you that day? I kind of hoped I’d hear from you again.”

“Oh, really?”

Something about the way she’d responded struck him as odd. “Yeah. I was disappointed when I didn’t. In fact, I was kind of kicking myself for not finding out your name so I could call you.”

She seemed to consider that for a moment. Then, blue eyes meeting his, she said, “I did try to call you.”

“You did?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“Last weekend, actually. I was in Austin for the day and thought I’d invite you to a party some friends were giving.”

“But…did you call my cell phone number?”

She shrugged. “I called whatever number was on that card you gave me.”

“That’s my cell phone.” He couldn’t believe he’d missed her call. “I don’t remember getting a missed message signal.”

“That’s because someone answered the phone.”

“Somebody else answered my cell phone?” Now John was thoroughly confused. How was that possible? His cell phone never left his possession. “Maybe you misdialed.”

“I didn’t misdial.”

“I don’t understand.”

“There’s something I don’t understand, either. Why did you tell me your name was Jason Webb?”