6

      After a brief hello to Morgan, who updated him on how production was going in the plant, Kyle went straight to his office, closed the door and searched the internet for HVAC companies in the area. Lourdes seemed to be okay with staying at his place for a few more days. He could drop the matter, just wait for Owen to show up next week. But he suspected that wasn’t the best or smartest decision. Feeling that the man she loved was passing her over for another woman left Lourdes in a vulnerable position—and considering how his body had reacted when he saw her in that towel, he was in a vulnerable position, too. He didn’t want what had started out as a promising friendship to take a wrong turn. But there was always the threat. He’d gone without sex long enough that he was thinking about it too often and at inappropriate times and places. That wouldn’t help him maintain much discretion about who he got involved with.

      His search engine pulled up quite a few heating and air-conditioning companies. Most were in Stockton, Modesto, Sacramento or the Bay Area. But he called several, despite the distance. By offering a bonus to compensate for the short notice, he figured he might convince someone to handle the job right away. The storm had already passed, so it wasn’t as if they’d have particularly bad weather to contend with.

      After several tries, he reached a woman who said she’d send out a repairman. Feeling encouraged that his life would soon be back to normal, he clicked away from the list of HVAC companies and began to search various websites for information on how to legally perform a wedding in Amador County. He hadn’t even finished learning all he needed to know, however, when the receptionist for A Better HVAC Company called back to say she couldn’t arrange for a tech to drive over to Whiskey Creek, after all.

      So he’d simply leave Lourdes on her own at night, he decided as he ended the call. There was no need to get any closer to her. She’d come to Whiskey Creek to be alone and to concentrate on her work. Besides, it’d been ages since he’d gone out for a drink.

      But where would he go? Noelle worked at the only bar in town, so he couldn’t go there—not if he planned on enjoying himself. And if he went elsewhere, he wouldn’t know anyone.

      The vision of Lourdes in that towel popped into his mind again. So he grabbed the phone on his desk and called Riley, who answered on the first ring. “Hey, man, what’s going on?”

      “I’ve submitted my application to be ordained an American Marriage Minister,” Kyle announced.

      “You have to become a minister? That isn’t what I understood.”

      “It’s in name only. Says on the website that I don’t need any prior education or experience, and I can be of any belief or background. I don’t even have to register with the state. There seems to be one hard-and-fast rule—I have to be over eighteen.”

      “It’s been a while since either of us has seen eighteen, so we’re good there,” he said wryly. “How much will it cost?”

      “Nothing, and it never expires. They only charge for extra documents. There was a link that showed how to fill out a marriage license, so it can be recorded afterward. Easy.”

      “That’s a relief. You won’t be nervous?”

      “Why would I be nervous?” he said. He didn’t see any point in causing Riley to worry, but of course he’d be nervous. He’d never performed a marriage ceremony before and wouldn’t want to screw up Riley and Phoenix’s wedding, especially since it had taken them both so long to find happiness. Their son was a senior in high school, and they were only now getting together.

      His mind reverted to Lourdes and his current dilemma. “What are you doing tonight?” he asked.

      “Phoenix and I are taking her mother out to see the Christmas lights.”

      “Lizzie Fuller is leaving her trailer?” That was guaranteed to be an epic event. Phoenix’s mom was a severely obese woman who’d refused to be seen in public for years and years.

      “She’s not too happy about it, but with Phoenix cooking for her, she’s lost some weight. And we’ve hired a limo, which should be big enough to fit her. She has to get out of that damn trailer once in a while or she won’t be able to handle the wedding. And despite all her bluster, she doesn’t want to miss seeing her daughter say I do, even if it is to me.”

      Kyle chuckled. It wasn’t just Riley that Lizzie didn’t like. She didn’t like anyone, including herself. “Sounds like an important evening. Good thing the weather’s cleared.”

      “That storm was kind of a joke, anyway. And they had us all so worried—‘worst storm in twenty years’ and all that.”

      “It’s been plenty cold.”

      “True, but even if it starts to snow again, we’ll probably still try to get Lizzie out. If we’re hoping to help her feel safe in public so she’ll come to the wedding, we don’t have a lot of time left.”

      And here he’d just wanted to go out for a drink—trivial by comparison. “Will Phoenix’s brothers be at the wedding?”

      “Yes. I have to pay their travel expenses. But don’t tell Phoenix. I’m afraid it might tarnish her excitement about the fact that they agreed to come.”

      “I won’t say a word.”

      “What are your plans tonight? You could join us.”

      He’d clued in to the primary reason Kyle had called. They used to go out on weekends all the time—before Phoenix came back into Riley’s life. “That’s okay. I just wanted to let you know I’ve got my ministerial duties under control. You can check that off your list.”

      “I appreciate it. With her family being so dysfunctional, we’ve got our hands full.”

      “I’m sure.”

      “Thanks for being part of everything.”

      “Happy to do it.”

      Kyle sighed as he hung up. He supposed he could go over to his parents’ house—or Ted and Sophia’s, Cheyenne and Dylan’s or any of his other friends. But his parents wouldn’t be up to much, and most of his friends had children or were pregnant. Callie had had a liver transplant before she married Levi, so her pregnancy was high-risk. She had to be careful to take her meds and get plenty of rest.

      Bottom line, he didn’t want to spend his Friday night watching TV for a few hours and then go to bed early. That wouldn’t do much to distract him from the beautiful woman staying at his house.

      His cell phone rang. He hoped it wasn’t Noelle, calling to thank him for the water heater. That would be like her. She used any excuse to contact him, even though he didn’t need her thanks. He needed some space. From her.

      It wasn’t Noelle, thank God. But it was Brandon. Kyle wasn’t sure that was any better. Since Lourdes had arrived, the whole issue of Olivia had been pushed into the forefront of his brain—and suddenly he wasn’t dealing with it as effectively as he had