"You're a great friend, Beth. You've just been too busy to make too many connections out here. That's part of what this is all about, right? I'm sure everything's fine." It was the kind of blanket assurance, offered without evidence, that Colin found himself offering liberally to his fiance. Most of the time all she needed was a little boost to her confidence, and he certainly didn't begrudge her that. From time to time, though, he wished she had more of a support structure. Her family was useless, and she really hadn't made any friends at all out here since the move, except for this Ardy. It could be he was putting too much hope into this, offering to open his home up to a woman he'd never even met. If it was good for Bee, though, it would be good for both of them.<br/><br/>"Hey, don't worry. Everything's fine," he repeated. "Most guys would give their left arm to be neglected like you neglect me. Or do I have to remind you about last night?" He reached down and squeezed her ass. With one hand still holding a spoonful of hot soup and the other groping his beloved, he looked up in surprise as their prospective housemate entered the room."<br/><br/><em>Holy cow.</em>Beth had not mentioned, to the best of his recollection, that her new best friend was drop dead gorgeous. No, he was pretty sure that hadn't come up.