by Jean Oram
"Thanks, Alvin." Beth gave him a grin and set the hats back in the rack. "Sounds like you're set, City Boy."
Nash tried to smile and moved up to the counter to make their purchases. "The elevator?" he asked in an undertone.
"Grain elevator," she whispered back.
"What the hell? There's farming out here too?"
"Not much. It's turned to ranching. The elevator is more of a feed mill now." She made a face, hoping he wouldn't bring it up any louder. The way ranching had taken over was still a sore spot with some.
"So... this is your new man. I've been hearing about him all over town." Alvin eyed up Nash.
"Nash and I work together, Alvin." She turned to introduce them. "This is Dr. Leham."
Alvin leaned back, sizing up Nash who was paying for their drinks. "Thought you and Oz were getting married." His eyes lingered on her bare finger. "That's what my old lady was telling me when you were running that playground bake sale all those months ago."
"Oz is taking some time, that's all." She turned her shoulder, trying to politely end the conversation.
"I s'pose he's got some business to attend to with his old man leaving him the business." He shook his head to and fro. "Sad to see Barney retire so young, but heart attacks can be real life changers." He looked up, meeting Beth's eye. "Oz needs a good woman by his side while he works on filling some mighty big shoes."
"I know." Beth bit the insides of her cheeks and calmed her breathing, hoping to quell the humiliation and rage brewing within her, ready to spew forth like lava.
"I heard he's been losing clients."
"He's contracted some to Ed," she managed in a tight voice. "He has a big workload."
Nash gently took Beth's elbow. "Shall we?" he asked.
Beth nodded and Alvin stepped up to the counter, his gaze still on Beth and Nash. "Send Oz my regards," he said as they made their way to the door. Beth stiffened but kept walking.
On the street Nash let out a breath and said, "Wow. That was hardcore." He dropped her elbow and turned to face her. "You okay?"
She pushed past him, her thoughts streaming through her head like an old VCR stuck on fast forward. How could Oz put her in this humiliating position? Why couldn't he just get back together with her or dump her outright? Limbo was like hell and all its subsidiaries all rolled into one.
Nash snatched her elbow when he caught up. "Whoa. Slow down."
Beth stopped on the street corner and forced herself to calm down and slow her breathing. "Why can't he just figure out what he wants and either marry me or dump me?" Her eyes filled with tears and she sagged against Nash when he put an arm around her for support. He brought her close against his chest in a one-armed hug.
"Sorry." He released her. "I hope hanging out with me isn't making things tougher." He gave her a sympathetic look. "Do you want me to head out?"
"No." She swiped at her tears and straightened her spine. "Fuck them and the horse they rode in on."
Nash let out a laugh. "Whoa! What do you have against horses?"
She laughed and tried to shake off her mood.
He opened a bottle of Coke and handed it to her before opening the second bottle. They took a swig and watched each other. Feeling self-conscious, Beth began walking, allowing Nash to fall into step beside her. His shoulder bumped against hers as they walked and before long she found herself nudged up against the buildings to her left. He was a nice guy, but city folks must be used to having less personal space. Every time she looked over at him he was right up against her like he was trying to avoid being separated from her in the nonexistent crowds.
Nash rested a hand on her lower back as they stepped off the curb to cross the street. Beth forced herself to relax and enjoy having a man looking out for her. Holding doors. Buying her a drink. Standing close.
Nash stopped to point out a fancy coffee maker in the hardware store's window. "That's nice."
Beth dropped her empty bottle in a recycle bin. "That looks a bit over the top," Beth said, coming over to look. "Seriously. That thing looks like it could send monkeys to the moon."
Nash let out a bark of laughter and slung an easy arm over her shoulder. "I've been looking for an espresso maker like this. It makes everything you could ever want."
"Does it make black coffee?"
Nash chuckled. "You'll never want black coffee again."
Beth gave him a skeptical frown and slipped out of his embrace and continued walking. "Want to check out the museum?" she asked, walking backward as he caught up. "It has some interesting old farming and ranching stuff. Some of the meadows used to be farmland. There's also some old expedition equipment and mining stuff. This mountain town has been a bit of everything."
Nash's eyebrows perked in interest. "I like museums." He guided her through a line of people piling into a hay wagon to take them to the exhibition grounds for the tractor pull.
"Or we could go to the tractor pull," Beth said as they passed the wagon. Tucking a tendril behind her ear, she tightened her ponytail. She hooked her arm through his and pulled him through the crowd, trying not to care who saw them and what they thought. "There's also going to be a logging competition."
"Actually," Nash said when they reached the other side of the crowd, "how about we grab a bite to eat?"
"Okay."
"Shall we clean up and meet somewhere for dinner?"
Beth glanced at her outfit, then at Nash's. "What's wrong with what we're wearing?"
Nash gave her a blank stare before blinking a few times. "I was thinking it might be nice to go out for a real dinner."
Beth stopped short, panic racing through her. "Like... a date?" A formal date was not safe. It was not innocent. It was not above board. She had been certain he knew they were only friends.
Nash met her eyes with his calm, blue seas. "Sure. If you'd like."
"Well..." She looked down the street.
"Nothing official," he said. "I know you and Oz are on a break and you're not single. I'm thinking, sort of like friends on a date. I don't want to get involved with anyone. And you're waiting for Oz. We're both lonely and bored. We could use a treat, and it sucks treating yourself alone. What do you say?"
"Yes," she blurted. She grew dizzy with visions of Oz morphing into a primal alpha male who would charge in and carry her off to his den when he saw the competition closing in. Happily ever after, here we come.
***
Beth entered the restaurant, still dressed as she was for Sports Day. Glancing around the bustling place she said to Nash, "It's a good thing we came early. It's going to be packed by six."
Nash nodded, his face lighting up in recognition and delight. "Mandy! You work here, as well?" He gave a laugh. "I never pegged you as a workaholic."
He gave her the kind of smile that made Beth want to blurt out that she took work home, too. Even though she never had until she met Nash and began working on an outreach program. In fact, it had never even occurred to her before then.
Mandy grinned at Nash, her Lusciously Pink lipstick making her already full lips tantalizing kissable. She clutched the plastic menus to her chest in a way that made her breasts lift higher, exposing more cleavage. Beth had to admit, if she was a guy looking for a hot number, Mandy would be the first girl she'd hit upon. But she wasn't and the urge to slap Mandy was unreal.
"Just started my shift," Mandy said as she waggled closer to Nash, eyes never leaving him. "Can't miss the busiest night of the year." She let her shoulder bump into his. "I like to satiate men whether it's with ice cream or something else."
Nash smiled back and said, "Table for two, please."
"You two are together?" Mandy asked, raising an eyebrow at Beth as though she couldn't possibly imagine someone like Nash with someone like Beth.
Beth smiled and linked an arm through Nash's. "Yep. We're moving up from cafeteria food. We intend to write a book on the best...," she raised an eyebrow at Mandy, "and worst dining establishments in the area."
Nash let out a chuckle and patted Beth's hand. "Will you rate the restrooms? I hear that's often missing from eating guides."
Mandy's mouth tightened and she said crisply, "Follow me," and strode away.
"Next time we'll have to go to Dakota," Nash said, ushering Beth with a hand resting lightly on her back. "McKenzie's has amazing crème brûlée. Although, that might be out of our book's range. Maybe we'll have to go just for fun."
Beth laughed, wondering why she felt so jittery and nervous. Like this was a real date and impressions were being made as to whether they'd be suitable mates. A blush seeped over her cheeks at the thought of Nash as more than a friend and wearing less than his shorts and t-shirt.
"What do you think?" he asked quietly, leaning in to speak in her ear.
She gave herself a shake, removing the thoughts from her mind. They were strictly friends dining together with a possible added benefit of showing her fiancé that she was something he missed. "I've heard good things about the place."
She pulled a breath in as Nash's warm hand lingered on her waist and she struggled to ignore the looks being shot at Nash by other diners.
Mandy stopped them at the window table with a smug smile. "Here you go," she said slapping down the menus.
Beth froze and Nash stumbled into her from behind. "Mandy, this table? Could we—"
"Best table in the place, Beth," she chirped and spun on her heel, leaving them to seat themselves.
Yeah, best table in the place for starting rumors. She and Oz used to sit at this exact table every Wednesday night and watch the town mosey by. And every Sunday for the past three months they'd met at this table to check in on how life was going. To sit here with someone else felt wrong, wrong, wrong. It was one thing to hang out with another man, but this was making a statement about territory and intentions.
Nash pulled out her chair, the familiar wood armrests and the worn padded seat waiting for her. How many times had she sat in that chair and laughed and dined with Oz, not a care in the world?
"Maybe we should go somewhere else?" she said quietly.
"What's wrong?"
She glanced at the pre-dinner crowd. As she met eyes, they quickly looked away. Anger burned inside her. She straightened her back and raised her chin. She was not going to run away or act guilty. She wasn't going to let the town run them off. She was going to sit down, eat her dinner and show them that she could have male friends. She plunked herself down in the offered chair and opened her menu, giving the nearest gawking table a little wave. Their heads bent down immediately, attention absorbed in their meals.
"So?" Beth asked Nash. "What shall we have? The pizza is good, but Benny is known for his burgers. And chocolate maven pie."
Nash sat across from her, his eyes wary as he glanced around the room. He opened his menu. "Burgers you say?"
"It's called Benny's Big Burger for a reason. But they branched out a few years ago when the so-called date restaurant closed down."
Nash raised his eyebrows in question.
"Fire. Benny seized the moment and expanded." She pointed to the spot where the carpet changed from mauve to beige a few tables past Nash. "You can see the new addition." She laughed at his unimpressed expression. "I've had everything on the menu, so if you have questions, I'm your gal."
Nash raised an eyebrow. "Everything?"
Beth scanned the menu to double check. "Yep."
"Really?" Nash leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Intriguing."
Beth let out a snort, back at ease with their companionship. "Not really. The town has two real restaurants and two fast food joints. This place is the best."
Mandy sidled up to the table. "Can I get you something to drink?" She kept her expertly made-up eyes on Nash, her shoulders doing the weird flirty thing that she usually reserved for Oz.
Oh, game on, Mandy, game on. It was country bumpkin vs. country bumpkin. There was no way Mandy was getting the man first this time. Even if it was just as friends.
Beth carefully tucked a tendril behind an ear and pasted her most relaxed smile on her face. Game. On.
"I'll have a glass of your house wine." Nash said, flipping his menu to the back page.
Mandy looked temporarily confused.
"They don't serve wine," Beth said.
"Yeah," said Mandy. "Nobody orders it so Benny nixed it. We have beer."
"Their cocktails are generally good, too," Beth added.
"I'll have a gin and tonic, then," Nash said.
"Right-o," Mandy said, turning to leave.
Nash rested a hand on Mandy's arm to stop her. Mandy leaned over, her cleavage at eye level. "Yes, doctor?" Nash blinked rapidly and quickly looked away, appearing startled that boobs had been thrust in his line of vision.
Nash asked Beth, "What would you like to drink?"
"I'll have the same, thanks."
Mandy glanced at Beth. "Really? Since when?"
"What?" Beth asked, daring her.
"You usually have a beer or a Coke," Mandy said, a challenging saunter entering her voice.
Beth smiled and ran a hand down Nash's arm, her eyes resting on his. "I feel like doing something... different."
"Not this time, honey," Mandy said, narrowing her eyes.
Beth ignored Mandy as the waitress spun on her heel and marched off. Nash leaned back in his chair and sized up Beth. "A G&T makes you different, huh?"
She laughed. "Around here it does." She toyed with the salt shaker.
Mandy returned, slamming the drinks on the table without a word, Beth's drink sloshing over the rim. Beth raised her eyebrows at Nash and gave a light cough of amusement.
"Wow. History and subtext," he said when she'd left.
Beth adjusted her ponytail and mulled over the wisdom of messing with Mandy. The girl had already sidled up to Oz. If she wasn't careful she'd challenge the woman right into his arms.
Beth took a sip of her drink. Not bad.
"Did you enjoy getting to know Blueberry Springs?" she asked. The number of people walking outside on the street had slowed as most of the day's events came to an end.
"Yeah. And thanks to you, I'm lined up for a free hat." He patted her hand and gave her a grin. "I had some fun getting to know this beautiful bumpkin as well."
His hand lingered on hers and she resisted the urge to snatch it away. People who were 'just friends' around here weren't physically affectionate and it made her uncomfortable.
"You flatter me," she said, embarrassed that she was blushing. "Tell me something interesting."
Nash gripped her hand and flipping it over, lightly traced her palm's lines sending tingles racing through her like NASCAR contenders. "Did you know that you can't tan your palms?" He continued to stroke her palm, his fingers running down from palm to fingertips. "As well, there are no muscles in the fingers. The muscles that move your fingers are located in your palm."
She tried to tug her hand back, his insistent strokes teasing her. He gave her a wicked grin and kept a strong grip. He slowly traced her palm's lifeline. "There are tendons—"
A deafening bang shook the window beside her. Beth jumped back, the feet of her chair jamming in the carpet. She stumbled as she tried to stand, Nash lunging to steady her. Outside, Oz reeled backward, his head shaking back and forth, his face wrinkled in pain.
Beth froze, staring at him.
She shook off Nash, her eyes locked on Oz's. There was no possessiveness. No alpha male ready to stride inside and carry her away like she'd dreamed. Just pain and disbelief.
Guilt crept upon Beth, weighting her as she struggled to get free of the table. She broke eye contact with Oz in order to toss her chair to the side. When she looked back he was gone. She turned to the doors, ready for him to carry her away. But the restaurant's doors remained closed.
She'd blown it. Big time.
"Do you want to go after him?" Nash asked quietly.
Beth kept staring out the window. Waiting to see Oz. Waiting to know what to do next. She c
rashed down into her seat. He wasn't following his dreams. He wasn't taking her back. It was like he wanted her out of his life but didn't have the courage to let her go, to let her out of his heart. Why the jealousy if he wouldn't ask her back? If she was the right woman for him, wouldn't he allow her by his side?
She looked up and heads quickly turned back to their meals, the restaurant's sounds slowly resuming. "There's nothing I can do, Nash. Nothing but move on and see what happens."
***
"I don't care." Beth turned away from Cynthia and snatched a bag of Doritos off the corner store's shelf. She strode to the cooler and grabbed a bottle of Pepsi. She would wash away her woes in a river of sugar and altered cheese.
"How can you not care what everyone is saying?" Cynthia asked, grabbing a bottle of raspberry flavored sparkling water. "You care about everything."
"Do not."
"Do too."
Beth turned to face her sister, her free hand on her hip. How could she explain that she couldn't care what the town was saying about her and Nash's so-called hand-holding incident because she was completely freaked out by the look on Oz's face when he'd fled? She'd heard nothing but bad rumors about how he was doing and she couldn't get him to answer the door when she stopped by. He hadn't shown up for their Sunday coffee or replied to her messages. How could she express to her sister that a mixed bag of emotions was still haunting her two days after the event?
She'd destroyed her one chance at getting back together with Oz by being impatient and insensitive. And the only person she felt she could turn to over the past two emotionally grueling days was Nash: the one person she should be avoiding.
She grabbed a bottle of Gaviscon off a nearby shelf, hoping it could relieve the pressure she had in her chest, the burning in her stomach, and the raw, gnawing feeling that was working its way through her system.
Cynthia blocked Beth's path and lowered her voice, "Dan wants to ask Oz if he'll be his best man."
Beth's ears rang and her heart did a gross swoop.
"I wanted to ask you first. Since... you know."
"It's fine," Beth said quickly. There was no way she could rain on Cynthia's wedding parade with her problems. "Of course it's fine."