Can’t Hurry Love

by Nadine Millard

  Usually, Jenna Wakefield helped her out in the mornings, carrying things and setting up for the day, then staying for the lunchtime rush before taking afternoons off. She worked weekends too, and when tourist season kicked in, she’d be almost fulltime. It suited her since she ran riding lessons on her family ranch and could be pretty flexible. Beth got the impression that working at the bakery gave Jenna a sense of escape from the ranch and her brothers, and Beth could understand that feeling more than most. With Zoe away though, Jenna had taken over running The Book Nook, so Beth had been alone last week and would be until next Saturday. She’d been lugging boxes every morning by herself too and hadn’t been caught before.

  “I couldn’t sleep,” Josh answered as he placed the box carefully on the counter. “So, what’s in here anyway?”

  Beth got the feeling he was avoiding the subject of his insomnia, but she couldn’t let herself care or be curious, so she ignored it and moved to switch on the coffee machine.

  “Brownies,” she answered as casually as she could. “And blondies. I bake some stuff at home.” The kitchen at the ranch was bigger than the modest one here.

  “There’s more in the truck?” he asked.

  “Yeah. But I can manage it,” she said swiftly.

  He looked at her, really looked for a moment or two, and Beth found herself wondering what he was searching for.

  But then, the grin was back.

  “Tell you what, I’ll bring the rest in for you. But it’ll cost you a brownie. And maybe a coffee?”

  She didn’t want to respond to his playfulness, but she couldn’t help it. She just felt happy around him — when he wasn’t rejecting her, obviously.

  “I already said I’d do it myself,” she responded with a raised brow.

  “Yes, but I got out of my warm, cozy bed practically in the middle of the night to help you. I’m a good citizen. I deserve a reward.”

  To her horror, Beth felt her cheeks heating at the mention of his bed. And she found herself picturing him lying there, the sheets draped just over his hips like in the movies. She wondered if he slept naked. And before she could stop herself, she began imagining that too for good measure.

  “Beth?”

  Somehow, her thoughts must have shown on her face because his voice dropped, his eyes darkened, and he took a step closer.

  If this was one of her romantic movies, this would definitely be a kiss scene.

  But because she knew the sting of rejection that came after that, Beth was able to step away. “Fine.” Her smile felt as brittle as her voice sounded. “It’s a deal. You do the heavy lifting, and I’ll make the coffee.”

  He watched her again for what felt like hours before he nodded, whether in agreement or because he knew she was deliberately putting distance between them, Beth didn’t know.

  And it was only when the bell over the door rang out, signalling his exit that she allowed herself to breathe again.

  “Stop it right now,” she whispered, hoping that if she heard the words out loud, they might actually work. “He’s not interested. Where the heck is your self-respect, girl?”

  By the time he came back in, showing off by carrying three of the large boxes stacked on top of each other, she had the coffee brewing and her body and heart back under control. Or something close enough to control, which would have to do for now.

  “The coffee won’t be long,” she called over her shoulder, afraid to look at him. “If you just put the boxes with the others, that’d be great.”

  He didn’t respond, so she assumed he’d done as he’d been told.

  Beth fired up the ovens and began pulling ingredients from the huge larder.

  “You’re making more?” he asked, and she had to turn around and acknowledge him because, well, she’d look completely nutty if she didn’t.

  He’d taken up residence on one of the barstools at the counter, and she couldn’t believe how good he looked in grey sweats and a Harvard hooded sweatshirt.

  Seriously, who looked that good at this time of the morning anyway?

  She laughed softly at his question. “Yeah, a lot more,” she answered. “I only bake the stuff that will keep well until the morning when I’m at home. Everything else is done here.”

  “So, what are you making now?” he asked, seeming genuinely interested.

  Her tummy felt all warm and gooey at his interest. Aside from Zoe, nobody really took much of an interest in her bakery.

  Grayson, Zach, and Seth had been great helping her set up. And she knew that they wanted her to do well, wanted her to be happy. But she always got the feeling they saw it as a hobby. A side-hustle. When her real life was just being a nothing on the ranch.

  It was nice to have someone treat it, and her, as if they were worth knowing about.

  The coffee machine had warmed up and was ready to go, and Beth chattered about the day ahead and the bakery in general as she set about making his an extra-hot, double-shot latte with no foam. She made herself a cappuccino and set them both on the counter before removing two brownies from the box and setting them in front of Josh.

  She didn’t really have time for a coffee break and a chat. But — well, she was an idiot because she took one anyway.

  When she took a seat and looked up at him, he was watching her closely again in that way that unnerved her.

  “You know my coffee order?” He sounded surprised, and Beth was mortified, feeling as if she’d given something away.

  Josh probably thought she hadn’t noticed how much he’d come in here, because she’d usually tried to make herself scarce when he had.

  But she knew.

  Every time.

  Like a stalker.

  After jumping to her feet, she took a scalding sip of her cappuccino, wincing slightly as it burnt her tongue.

  “Yeah. Good memory, I guess,” she said weakly. “Anyway, I’d better get started on these pastries. I’m already behind.”

  She started pouring ingredients into her mixers, praying that they were accurate since her brain was too busy being lobotomised by Josh’s presence to be any use to her.

  “I’ll let you get to it then,” he said as he stood, coffee cup in hand, extra brownie wrapped in the other.

  She also knew the brownies were his favourite.

  That was how pathetic she was.

  “Oh, sure,” she said brightly in a voice about five octaves higher than usual. “Thanks for your help.”

  “Thanks for the coffee and brownies,” he countered. “This should be enough caffeine and sugar to make sure I don’t fall asleep at my desk.”

  There was an awkward silence while Beth threw eggs haphazardly into the mixture and prayed he’d leave.

  “Hey — I know Saturdays are usually boys’ poker night but—“

  Beth froze. He wasn’t going to ask her out, was he? Before she’d even finished the thought, she was scoffing at herself.

  Really Beth? Two rejections aren’t enough for you? You really wanna go for that hat-trick, huh?

  He was probably going to ask her to bake stuff for it or something.

  Why the heck wouldn’t she get his disinterest through her thick skull?

  Suddenly, she couldn’t stand the idea of him thinking of her sitting at home on a Saturday night with nothing to do other than feed the men in Grayson’s poker group.

  It was too humiliating. A girl had to have some pride.

  “They sure are,” she interrupted. “I used to get so upset that it was boys only…” If her laugh was more maniacal than casual, he didn’t seem to notice. “…but I don’t mind so much, now that I have a date.”

  His eyes snapped to attention at her words, an odd look flashing across his face. “You have a date?” he asked — demanded, really. “Who with?”

  “Oh, I — he — you wouldn’t know him. He — he’s from Ouray.”

  “And he’s coming here for a date?”

  His questions annoyed her. For one thing, it was none of his business, and f
or another, she was having to think up lie after lie because of them.

  She raised a brow, trying to channel Brooke’s cool sophistication when she’d dealt with Damon at the wedding last week. “You don’t think I’m worth travelling from Ouray for?” she bit out.

  He scowled, but she wasn’t sure if he was annoyed with her question or with her.

  “Of course that’s not what I meant. You should know how I feel about you, Beth.”

  The gentle admonishment, the sadness in his voice — they just confused her and made her sad.

  The shrill sound of a phone ringing interrupted their uncomfortable stand-off.

  Swearing under his breath, Josh put his brownie on top of his coffee cup and reached into his pocket. He looked at the screen of his phone, his face paling.

  And Beth found herself worrying, despite herself. “Is everything ok?” she asked softly.

  Josh didn’t even look back up at her. “Yeah. I-I have to go.”

  He turned and hurried from the shop, leaving Beth standing there alone, more confused than ever, and wondering how the heck she was going to find a man to take her out on Saturday night.

  Chapter Six

  “So now you need a date?”

  “Yes.”

  “For this Saturday?”

  “Yes.”

  “With an absolute stranger?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you’ve tried online?”

  Beth sighed in frustration. “Yes!” she practically shouted.

  In the absence of Zoe, Beth was confiding in Jenna, Brooke, who’d called in for coffee, and Paige Sallins, who worked in the library and ran adult learning instruction and children’s story time, art classes, and about fifty other community projects out of it and had been roped into the crisis talks after she’d come to collect her order of cookies for the seniors’ chess club.

  “But why did you say it?”

  Paige was gorgeous inside and out. She had one of the kindest, purest souls of anyone Beth had ever known. Beth could well imagine that this level of dishonesty would baffle her. If ever a real-life human could be a Disney princess, it was Paige. The big, soft green eyes and deep golden hair only added to the effect.

  “Because — because—“

  “Because she wanted to make Josh Larson jealous,” Brooke answered in that no-nonsense fashion of hers.

  “No, I didn’t,” Beth denied. Then, under Brooke’s sceptical glare, she sighed and admitted defeat. “Ok, maybe I did. But it’s pointless. I know that. I just — I don’t want him thinking I’m completely undateable.”

  “Nobody could ever think that of you, Beth.” Jenna laughed. “In high school you were royalty! Everyone wanted you or wanted to be you. We all looked up to you.”

  Beth smiled at the younger woman. Jenna had been a couple of years below her at Rocky Valley High.

  “That’s really nice of you, Jenna, but high school was a long time ago. I don’t think my pom-poms are gonna cut it this time.”

  “That depends on which pom-poms you’re referring to,” Brooke said dryly, earning herself a reluctant laugh from Beth and a more enthusiastic one from Jenna and Paige.

  “I’ll use anything in my arsenal,” Beth conceded. “I just need to find a man to use them on.”

  “What happened between you and the good doctor, anyway?” Brooke asked now. “I knew there was something going on at that wedding. The sparks flying could have set the room on fire.”

  Beth felt her cheeks flame. She felt embarrassed that Josh Larson had such a profound effect on her. And it wasn’t something she particularly wanted to gab about.

  “Oh, nothing much.” She feigned nonchalance, but she wasn’t sure the girls believed her. Brooke definitely wouldn’t. “You know me — always the hopeless romantic.”

  “Mm-hm.” Brooke nodded, her shiny, chestnut bob swinging with the action before landing perfectly with not a hair out of place. Beth could well imagine that a hair wouldn’t dare to be out of place on Brooke’s head.

  “You’re too into that fairy-tale crap for your own good,” Brooke continued. “But the Josh-thing—“

  Beth couldn’t let the speculation continue. It was too painful.

  “Even if there was a Josh-thing, which there isn’t, it wouldn’t be long-term. And I want long-term. I want forever.”

  They looked at her with varying degrees of sympathy, and Beth hated that she was the source of pity.

  “Well, let’s not worry about getting you forever just yet. Let’s worry about getting you a Saturday night!” Jenna said.

  “I wish I could help.” Beth knew that Paige sincerely meant it. “I’m great at throwing events, but finding men? Not so much.”

  Beth had been leaning on the counter with her chin in her hand, but as Paige’s words penetrated the fog of self-pity she straightened up.

  “Wait. What did you say?”

  Paige blinked at her.

  “Me? Um… just that I wish I could help.”

  “No, no. About an event.”

  Paige and Jenna shared a look of confusion, but Brooke suddenly grinned widely, slapping the countertop.

  “Yes!” she exclaimed. “It’s perfect.”

  “What is?” Paige asked.

  “We’re going to do exactly what you said. Have a dating event. Speed dating! It’s all the rage, isn’t it?” Beth said excitedly. Already she was running through plans in her head.

  How many books and movies had she read and seen where characters fell in love at dating events. Loads. That was how many. And especially if she was planning one! She could see the whole thing play out right now…

  Some gorgeous millionaire businessman would breeze into town all moody and cynical about love.

  And Beth would hate that he was so moody and cynical but secretly fall in love with him.

  And then, when she’d given up, he’d arrive at the high school gym — maybe, she hadn’t worked out the details yet — and declare his love.

  And somehow, magically, she would have forgotten all about Josh Larson in the meantime, so she’d be free to love him back and have her happy ending.

  “Er — no. Not really.”

  Her runaway thoughts came to a crashing halt as Jenna brought her back to earth with a bang.

  “Nobody does speed dating anymore, Beth. Everyone is online.”

  She was right, Beth knew.

  But the idea had taken root, and she couldn’t shake it.

  The truth was that Josh Larson had been the only man she’d been interested in — really, truly, happily-ever-after interested in — in years. Maybe ever, truth be told.

  And if a dating event helped her forget him, then why not do it?

  “Well, then, maybe it’s time for it to make a comeback,” she said confidently. “Come on, girls. Every one of us is single. Every one of us knows every single man in this town. Don’t you think we should get some fresh blood in?”

  “And if people don’t come?”

  Beth thought about her fantasy of a tall, dark, successful man sweeping her off her feet and making her forget all about Josh Larson and his enigmatic silences and heart-stopping kisses.

  “They will. They have to!”

  “So, you want me to organise a speed dating event?” Paige sounded dubious. “By Saturday? That’s not enough time, Beth.”

  Beth sighed in defeat.

  No, it wasn’t enough time. Of course it wasn’t! It was still a good idea though.

  It didn’t solve Saturday’s problem, but it could potentially solve the problem of having a distinct lack of romance in her life in general.

  “I know it’s not.”

  “Why can’t you just keep going with online dating?” Jenna asked.

  Beth sighed, her frustration giving a bite to her tone. “Because it’s useless,” she whined. She hadn’t meant to whine but whine she did. “My phone practically has track marks from all the swiping. Nothing sticks. Nobody is worth it. I don’t think it works. Not for me, any
way. I need to meet someone the old-fashioned way.”

  “And speed dating is old-fashioned?” Paige asked sceptically.

  “Well, old-fashioned, but quick,” Beth clarified.

  “I don’t get it. What’s the rush? I mean, how likely are you to find your soulmate during one speed-dating session? It doesn’t seem likely.”

  What was the rush? Beth didn’t even know. Maybe it was because she’d been single practically since college. Maybe it was having watched her best friend get married and knowing how far from it she was. She knew that she was supposed to find happiness herself and not look for it in someone else. Every single self-help book she’d read had told her that.

  That to find love outside of herself, she must first learn to love herself.

  Or something like that.

  But she couldn’t help how she felt.

  Mostly, she had an awful suspicion that it was the arrival of Josh Larson that had kicked her search into overdrive. He was the first man she’d ever felt honest-to-goodness butterflies with.

  And now that she knew they existed — and that he wasn’t a willing supplier of them — she desperately wanted to get them elsewhere.

  “I don’t know,” she mumbled dejectedly. “It would just be nice to have someone, you know? Sooner rather than later.”

  “So you can forget Josh?” Brooke asked gently.

  Beth couldn’t bring herself to answer.

  Brooke’s words had ceased all chatter as the four women stood and sat in contemplative silence.

  “My cousin is just back from a trip to Ireland,” Jenna suddenly spoke up, her grey eyes lighting. “She said while she was there, they had a matchmaking festival.”

  “A what?” Beth asked.

  “A matchmaking festival! She said it was awesome. A whole month of events — parties and meet-ups. They even had a resident matchmaker. I mean, she didn’t find her soulmate or anything, but she did get a lot of dates with strapping Irishmen! It’s a pity we don’t have something like that.”

  “Hang on. An actual matchmaker? In the twenty-first century? You’re kidding,” Brooke was laughing, and Paige was smiling a little wistfully, but Beth was enthralled.

  That could work. Seriously work.