Chapter One

The neighborhood looked just as it had in conceptual drawings that hung on the wall in the construction trailer nearly two years earlier. Tiffany would always be grateful for the job Spencer Benson had given her. Sometimes it paid, and paid well, to have successful friends.

She had sold most of the houses in the development. It had netted her a nice condo and a hefty shoe collection. Driving back through the neighborhood always felt as if she were coming home.

Tiffany admired the holiday decorations that were unique to each home. Twinkling lights of multi-colors, or bright white strands of lights illuminated the entire street. The trees that lined the neighborhood were decorated too. Christmas was in full swing.

She couldn’t help but wonder if each family she’d sold a house to, during development, still lived in each of the houses. The babies that were due after closing were now walking, she thought. The toddlers would be starting Kindergarten. New families had moved in and original ones had moved out. That was how a neighborhood was supposed to be.

But she wasn’t there to visit one of the cookie cutter builds her dearest friend Spencer had designed and built. She was driving through this neighborhood to get to his custom-built home, which sat just behind the Hart Estates, which he’d named after his great-grandfather.

She passed the well thought out park near the entrance of the community and drove past the paths, which in the summer were green and lush to walk on. The barn behind Spencer’s house came into view and a moment later so did the grand house Spencer had built for his wife, Julie.

Tiffany sat at the stop sign for a moment and took in the sight of it. The barn was laced with white twinkling lights, which matched the house with its wrap around porch. It was magically mesmerizing.

From a block away she could see the enormous twelve-foot tree in the arched window. Tiffany liked glamor and this house had it all. To think she’d once thought she’d be in line for that. That had been long ago, distant thought, by a young girl, that she’d be Spencer’s wife.

She let out a breath and turned her car toward the house.

Who was she kidding to say she thought she’d have been Mrs. Spencer Benson? They’d been friends far too long. They had loved equally as long. No, she’d lost him the moment he saw Julie walk into the boardroom during a business merger. From that moment on, Tiffany was only the best friend and that was all she’d ever truly wished to be.

She loved Spencer’s wife Julie—loved her like a sister. They had grown extremely close the past two years. Julie and Spencer belonged together. There was no question about it.

Tiffany pulled her car up behind a long line of others and turned off the engine. She was her casual late—which she preferred. She liked to make an entrance.

Pulling down the visor, she opened the mirror. Her red hair shimmered with a touch of glitter she’d added. It was festive, she thought as she pressed her lips together to freshen the shine on them.

Picking up the pearl pink bag in the seat next to her, she looked it over. Tiffany’s Treasures was scrolled in gold foil on the bag.

Things weren’t so bad, she grinned. She may not have gotten the wealthy and sexy man she’d vied for so many years, but she was living her own dream. Once people had seen the wedding ring she’d designed for Spencer to give to Julie, orders for Tiffany’s custom jewelry began to pour in. It wasn’t but a few months before she was able to open her own jewelry boutique.

Inside the bag were special Christmas gifts she had designed for the Bensons. Each gift was as unique as the friends she was giving them to.

Tiffany opened the door and stepped her high-heeled foot into the thin layer of snow that had fallen. Someone was bound to comment about her footwear, but she couldn’t help herself. She was addicted to shoes.

Besides, this was a party and she was there to enjoy herself. There was a room with her name on it on the second story of the house. If she celebrated too much, she’d stay.

Slowly and carefully she walked across the street and up the steps to the house.

Tiffany pushed open the front door of the house Spencer had designed. Laughter and conversation filled her ears. Spencer’s cousin Clara was the first to see her.

With a toddler on her hip, and a growing pregnant belly, she hurried toward her and enveloped her in her arms, the toddler pressed between them.

“Merry Christmas.”

Tiffany felt the warmth of the holiday in the sentiment. “Merry Christmas.”

“You look beautiful,” Clara said as she looked at her. “You’re always stunning.”

“So are you,” Tiffany said, resting her hand on Clara’s stomach. “I didn’t know about this one.”

“This is what living on your husband’s tour bus will get you,” she giggled like a girl telling a secret.

“How is Warner?” she asked of Clara’s famous musician husband.

“He’s so busy. He’s been on tour for six months straight. Luckily he’s in Nashville for two weeks until after Christmas. He’s playing the Opry tomorrow.”

“That’s fabulous.”

“Then it’s back out on the road for a few more months, but I’ll be staying here until the baby is born.”

Tiffany couldn’t even imagine Clara not having her husband around, but then again Clara was part of the Keller/Benson clan. No one was ever alone.

Clara took her hand and pulled her further into the house. “I have tickets for tomorrow. You should come. An Opry show is always the best.”

“I’d love that.”

“Warner has a new bass player too. I’m not going to tell you how sexy he is. That would be wrong for a married woman with a baby and a pregnant belly to say such things. But he’s here, so you can mention to me later what you think.”

Tiffany laughed as she walked toward the living room.

Just as she had imagined, all of Spencer’s cousins and their spouses, and their kids, filled the room. Spencer’s brother Tyler stood with his wife Courtney and their two children in the corner. The children were watching the lights twinkle on the Christmas tree and she could hear Tyler explain the site to his wife, who was blind.

“Tiffany, you look beautiful.”

She turned to see Spencer’s mother Regan walking toward her. She pulled her to her and squeezed her tightly. “I stopped into your store the other day,” she said. “You weren’t there, but the designs you’ve created are amazing. I bought a pair of earrings that I just had to have. A Christmas present just for me.” She pushed back her hair to show off the pearl drop earring.

“You deserve that. And thank you for the compliment. I love what I do.”

“It shows.”

“You’re all crowding her,” Spencer’s voice rang over the others. “Let me at her.”

Years ago he’d have gathered her in his arms, lifted her in the air, and planted a loud kiss on her lips. But that was old news. Now he hugged her, with one arm, and kissed her on the cheek.

“Merry Christmas, Red.” He called her a name he hadn’t used since childhood, referring to her hair color.

“Merry Christmas.”

“Thanks for being here.”

“I’d never miss it.”

Julie pushed her husband out of the way and wrapped her arms around Tiffany. “You’re here!”

“I wouldn’t have missed it!”

“Come here! I have something for you!” She yelled over the noise and pulled Tiffany by the hand through the kitchen and out the back door.

“Where are we going?” Tiffany laughed as she balanced on her shoes, which were not made for running.

“Just out the back.” Julie pulled her out to the porch and shut the door behind them. She huffed out a breath that carried on the cold air.

Tiffany looked around. “What am I looking at?”

“Me! I’m pregnant!”

Tiffany felt her body fill with the warmth of pure joy for her friends. “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you” She hugged Julie. “Why are we out here?”

“Spencer wanted you to know first, but I wanted to be the one to tell you. We’re going to tell the family tonight.”

If the tears that threatened actually fell, Tiffany was sure they would freeze.

“I’m so happy for you both. I really am.”

“I knew you would be. Okay, now I’m freezing,” Julie laughed as she pulled Tiffany back inside the house the house where Spencer stood with a glass of wine.

“For you,” he said handing it to her.

Tiffany leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” he said smiling. “Okay, now that you know we have to announce it. You were first.”

She rested her hand on her chest. “You don’t know what that means to me.”

Spencer took Julie by the hand and they walked toward the living room. Tiffany kept back and sipped her wine in the kitchen.

“Have you ever seen this many people in one house?” A man she didn’t know walked into the kitchen. He was tall and his muscular build threatened the integrity of the fabric of his T-shirt. His hair was long and pulled back in a ponytail low at the base of his neck. At least four tattoos were clearly visible on his arms and he wore a leather bracelet on his left wrist.

“They have a very tight knit family. I’ve been around them all my life,” she said, drawing her attention back to the crowd in the other room.

He nodded as he drank from his red plastic cup. “I got drug here, but they’re all nice enough.”

“Who drug you here?”

“Warner. I’m playing bass for him and my family is in Canada. He said I needed a dose of family.”

“You’ll get it here.”

So this was the bass player. She’d certainly have to confirm to Clara that the bass player was in fact very sexy. It would always amaze her that the members of Warner’s band had a bad boy look to them. This one was no different. Strong and sexy. A little mystery behind those eyes. A ponytail she wanted to give a tug.

The thought humored her.

“I’m Tiffany,” she said holding her hand out to shake his.

“Blake.”

“Nice to meet you, Blake,” she said as they both leaned against the counter and watched as the family gathered around Julie and Spencer for their announcement.

“What are they doing?”

She figured it wouldn’t hurt anything to tell him. “They’re announcing their pregnancy.”

“Oh, that’s deep.” He glanced at her. “How do you know that?”

“I’m Spencer’s best friend.”

“You? Men and women can’t be best friends.”

“Sure they can. I’m proof. I’m very close to Julie too.”

He let out a hum. “No disrespect, but I couldn’t just be your friend,” he said, sending a look over her. “I’d always be thinking about you in other ways.”

Sexy, but typical, she thought. “Spencer and I used to be involved. But he loves Julie. I want him to be happy.”

“Are you happy?”

She looked at Blake, who had amazing blue eyes. But no significant words surfaced as she stared at him. “I’m happy,” she finally said.

“Are you sure?”

Who was he to ask her such questions? “Of course I’m happy. I have a great life. I’m doing what I love and I’m making a living at it.”

The corner of his mouth turned up into a sexy grin. “Me too.”

Okay, so they had that in common.

She knew the moment the announcement had been made. Spencer’s mother burst into joyful tears and his cousins flocked the couple.

Tiffany took a long sip from her wine and let it soothe her.

There was nothing she wanted more than Spencer’s and Julie’s happiness. But this idiot next to her made her wonder if she was truly happy.

She was. Everything she’d ever wanted in life, she had. Her business was wildly successful. The second bedroom of her condo was a full walk-in closet with no less than two hundred pairs of designer shoes. The car out front was a Mercedes and paid for.

But as she watched Spencer’s brother Tyler lean in and kiss his wife, each of them with a baby on their hip, she felt the sinking feeling that eventually won over. She didn’t have a family of her own.