by Terri Osburn
“We are,” Caleb answered.
The foursome took their seats along the side. The room was set up with long tables arranged in a U-shape, with a podium, shorter table, and projection screen at the front. Orders were taken with pleasant efficiency, and before long the rest of the attendees filed in. Caleb recognized the woman Snow had bid against for the doilies, the owner of the hardware store, and an older couple who ran a B&B on the outskirts of town. Mike Lowry, who owned the construction business Cooper had mentioned, entered minutes before the meeting started and took a seat next to Spencer.
As Caleb ate the best catfish dinner he’d had in a while, Lorelei whispered bits of information on most of the attendees, reserving her least favorable comments for the town mayor. Based solely on the looks Jebediah Winkle was shooting her way, the civic leader didn’t like Lorelei any more than she liked him.
Observing the meeting as an unbiased outsider, Caleb noticed three things—there was a power struggle within the group, Spencer Boyd was the de facto leader, regardless of who held the title, and this project was bigger than Caleb had expected.
Based on what he’d learned, the Ruby Theater deserved to be saved, if for no other reason than the fact it was built in 1937 and was still standing as a single-screen movie theater. It was as if the Ruby was the theater that time forgot. A full restoration would be a major boon for the town.
Leaning close to Lorelei’s ear, he whispered, “Can I see this theater sometime?”
She leaned back and tugged on Spencer’s sleeve. “Caleb wants to see the theater.”
Spencer caught Caleb’s eye and nodded. “That can be arranged.”
Snow asked, “What’s going on?”
“I asked to see the theater.” Caleb kept his voice low as they’d begun to draw attention. “I have some ideas.”
She blinked in surprise. “Really? Has your family helped restore a theater before?”
Caleb shook his head. “No theaters, but several churches and countless historic buildings in New Orleans, especially after Katrina.”
“Oh,” she said, awe in her voice.
“Don’t be too impressed. My parents simply wrote a check. It’s not as if they got their hands dirty.”
“Are you willing to get your hands dirty?”
He smiled her way. “Maybe. We’ll start with a tour first.”
Snow’s reaction to his answer lacked enthusiasm as she nodded and returned her attention to the speaker at the front of the room.
Snow was seriously questioning her plan. Caleb was never supposed to become part of this town. He definitely wasn’t supposed to make friends. Less than a week in Ardent Springs and he already had a job and was taking a major interest in the Ruby restoration project. Or at least he might be, once he saw the place. Whatever ideas he might have, Snow hoped they would help the cause, but she didn’t want him sticking around to see them through.
The only reason Snow had never joined the committee herself was because she didn’t feel she had much to bring to the table. She didn’t know the first thing about restoring a theater, and when the group extended the call for fundraising assistance, she’d stepped up as a willing merchant. Until Caleb came to town, she’d assumed that would be the extent of her involvement. Now she wasn’t so sure.
If he made commitments before heading back to Baton Rouge, Snow would be obligated to step up in his place. She’d created this cluster of a situation, and she was quickly losing control. She couldn’t exactly tell Caleb to stop talking to people because his time in Ardent Springs was temporary no matter what. Then the arguments and head-butting would start all over again.
While Caleb paid the check at the checkout counter near the restaurant entrance, Lorelei pulled Snow aside. “So?” she asked. “How’s it going?”
Snow watched the young cashier blush while taking Caleb’s money. “Not good,” she said. “Can’t you tell Spencer to ignore him or something?”
“According to Spencer, Caleb deserves a chance,” Lorelei said.
“You two have talked about this?”
Her friend shook her head. “I didn’t tell him that you’re only pretending to give the relationship a go. I love Spence, but the man code runs deep with him. He’d tell Caleb in a heartbeat.”
“He can’t do that.”
“I know,” Lorelei said, her voice carrying a heavy dose of frustration. “But do you see how he looks at you, Snow? That isn’t the look of a man planning to walk away.”
“I don’t need this right now,” Snow said. She didn’t need Lorelei voicing the doubts dancing through her mind. “We are not staying married.”
“Good Lord, woman. Why not?” Lorelei’s voice shot well past whisper level.
Though the question of their compatibility grew dimmer by the day, Vivien’s threat wasn’t going anywhere. And Snow harbored no illusion that Caleb would be content to remain in Ardent Springs indefinitely. At some point, he’d insist they go back to Baton Rouge, and Snow could not handle a rerun of that miserable episode.
“Keep it down.” Sparing another glance at her husband/date, she whispered, “Whatever you do, do not tell Spencer anything.”
Lorelei huffed as Caleb joined them and asked, “What’s going on over here?”
“Nothing,” they chirped in unison.
“Don’t ask,” Spencer said as he stuffed his wallet into the back pocket of his Wranglers. “We ready to do some two-steppin’?”
“To do what?” Snow asked, cutting her eyes to Caleb. “What is he talking about?”
“I told you there would be dancing tonight.”
“I don’t dance,” she replied, shaking her head double time.
Lorelei took her by the arm. “Relax. It’s like riding a bike. In time to the beat and with a spin here and there.”
“Oh no,” Snow argued, putting on the brakes as Lorelei pulled her toward the door with an evil gleam in her eye.
Caleb joined the effort and pushed from behind. “Don’t worry, darling. I’m a great lead.”
Before she knew it, Snow found herself being dragged through the entrance to Brubaker’s Bar. She’d never been inside the dance hall before. Had avoided it in some ways because it reminded her of her singing days in the clubs in Nashville.
As much as Music City looked like the friendlier side of the business, the view from inside was as cutthroat and seedy as anything that supposedly went on in New York or LA. And the coating of Southern charm didn’t make it any more palatable.
But she did miss being on stage. At least a little. After showing ID and paying their cover, the group stepped into the bar and wended their way through the crowded room. Brubaker’s was apparently the place to go on a Friday night. Caleb held her hand, cutting a path for her, while Spencer led the charge in front of Lorelei. The music was so loud Snow could feel it in her chest.
Spencer found Cooper at a cocktail table on the left side of the dance floor, which took up most of the room. Couples twirled by while a small group in the center of the floor performed a line dance.
Snow had been out of the scene too long to know the name of the dance. It had always been a good thing that she was on the stage, because she was born without a lick of rhythm. During their two months of dating in Nashville, Caleb had taken her to a couple of similar establishments, but she’d gotten out of having to dance thanks to his large group of friends who exchanged partners like the local church ladies exchanged recipes.
A curvy waitress appeared out of nowhere as the men finished their inaudible greetings. “What are we having?” she asked, slapping four small napkins onto the table.
“I’ll get this round,” Spencer said. “Two beers here. You guys?” he asked Caleb and Snow.
“Bud for me,” her husband said, then looked to her for an answer. She’d expected him to remember that she didn’t like beer, and this didn’t
look like a wine sort of joint. “Water or soda?” he asked.
So he did remember. Snow said, “Water, thanks.”
The waitress melted into the crowd as Cooper yelled, “Come on, Lorelei. They’re playing our song.”
Spencer threw his hands in the air as his best friend tugged his woman onto the dance floor. Lorelei blew him a kiss seconds before Cooper spun her into the mass of rotating couples.
“You gonna let him take your girl like that?” Caleb asked Spencer, who didn’t look the least bit put out.
“She knows who’s taking her home.” He gestured toward the floor. “Don’t feel obligated to keep me company. Get on out there.”
Snow used to like Spencer.
“We’re good right here,” she said, straining to be heard over the music.
“Don’t be silly.” Caleb took her hands and, with a single tug, spun Snow until she was tucked against his side. “We’re here to dance, woman. Let’s do it.”
Against her will, and protesting all the way, Snow was pulled to the floor and maneuvered into the churning throng of dancers. She stumbled twice, but Caleb remained patient. “I told you,” she yelled. “I don’t know how to do this.”
He pulled her closer and said, “Follow my lead, darling. Just follow my lead.”
Her eyes locked with his, Snow stepped off with her right, and did her best to echo his movements. After a full turn around the dance floor without a single stumble, she smiled at her partner. “I’m doing it. I’m dancing.”
Caleb’s eyes turned dark. “Yes, you are.”
With their bodies so close together, Snow enjoyed the feel of Caleb’s thighs pressed to hers. And the flex of his biceps beneath her palm. As they made a second pass around, going much slower than the other dancers, she realized the flexing of another part of her husband’s anatomy.
“Sorry,” he whispered in her ear. “But you’re driving me crazy.”
“I’m not doing it on purpose,” she said, attempting to pull back. “I think it’s time to get off the floor.”
Her husband held tight, keeping his cheek against hers. “The song isn’t over yet.”
She nodded. “Right.” No wonder dancing this way had been frowned upon in high school. This was practically foreplay.
Pulling her in again, Caleb asked, “When can we leave?”
A voice in her head said, Not soon enough, but Snow ignored it. “We just got here,” she answered.
“Okay,” he said, his voice vibrating along her skin. “Fifteen more minutes.”
Chapter 15
After two more turns around the floor, Caleb escorted Snow back to their group to find a new person had joined the gathering. And from the looks of it, she was ready to give birth at any second. The mother-to-be stood between Spencer and Lorelei with her head bent to hear something the latter was saying. Their conversation ended with a nod before Lorelei turned to Snow.
“What happened to ‘I can’t dance’?” she asked.
His wife shrugged as he tucked in behind her and wrapped his arms around her middle. There was no reason for the others to witness the effect Snow had on him.
“Caleb is a good lead,” she said, reaching for her water glass on the table. “How are you doing, Carrie?” she asked the pregnant woman. “I didn’t know you were going to be here.”
Carrie hefted herself onto a stool with Spencer’s help. “Lorelei convinced me to come. I think she expects me to hit the dance floor and jar this little girl into making an appearance.”
Lorelei dropped an arm across Carrie’s shoulders. “The munchkin needs to get out here already,” she said. “I’m dying to meet her.”
As if remembering herself, Snow said, “Oh, Carrie, this is Caleb.” He extended his hand in greeting, leaning close so the woman could stay upright on her stool. “Caleb is my fiancé,” she added, which was the first time she’d introduced him as such. The words sounded nice to his ears, making him think maybe they had skipped something important with the impromptu nuptials. “Caleb, this is Carrie Farmer.”
“Nice to meet you,” he said. “Congrats on the little one. Your husband must be thrilled.” The group hushed, and he knew he’d said something wrong, but wasn’t sure what.
“My husband passed away a few months ago,” Carrie answered, making Caleb feel like a complete jerk.
“I’m sorry—” he started.
“No,” Carrie said, flashing a half smile. “It’s okay. You didn’t know.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Spencer said. “This little girl is going to have more folks looking out for her than any child would want.” Addressing Caleb, he said, “How are you liking things at the paper?”
Thankful for the change of subject, Caleb replied, “I like it a lot. How did I do in that sales call this week? Gerald didn’t warn me I’d be the one doing the talking when we met up with you.”
Spencer nodded. “Sounded like a man who knows his stuff to me. Nichols is definitely the guy to teach you the ropes. I think he’s been selling since snake oil was a thing.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it.”
The waitress returned to the table to get Carrie’s drink order. Spencer spoke for her and seemed protective of the expectant mother. Lorelei didn’t appear to mind. Caleb wondered exactly how close these friends were.
After taking a long draw off his beer, Cooper said, “Who am I dancing with next?”
Carrie threw her hands in the air. “Don’t look at me. Unless by dance you mean walk slowly around the edge of the floor taking a pee break once a minute.”
“This one is mine,” Spencer said, sweeping Lorelei toward the hardwoods.
Cooper looked at Snow with raised brows. “Guess that leaves you and me.” Glancing Caleb’s way, he said, “You mind, bro?”
The look of sheer terror on Snow’s face made his answer clear. “Go for it, man. But bring her back with all toes intact.”
“What?” Snow exclaimed.
He dropped a hard kiss on her cheek and said, “If his hands get too low, knee him in the groin.” Before she could argue, Cooper gave a “Yeehaw!” and hurried her to the floor. Caleb knew he shouldn’t piss off the woman he planned to seduce in less than an hour, especially when he’d waited so long to have her. But then again, she looked so hot when she was pissed.
“That was nice of you,” Carrie said, reminding him that he wasn’t alone.
He gave her a crooked smile. “She’ll hate me for it, but she’s a better dancer than she thinks.”
Shaking her head, the future mom said, “No, I meant for Cooper.”
“How did I do a favor for Cooper?” he asked, the smile fading as he searched the floor for the man in question. Caleb hadn’t considered the possibility that the gearhead had more than a passing interest in his wife. Several ideas for how to handle the situation came to mind, most of which involved ripping the mechanic’s head off.
“Relax,” she said. “I don’t mean like that. He loves to dance and is always the third wheel with Lorelei and Spencer.”
“Oh,” he answered, continuing to monitor the space between Cooper and Snow as they passed by. “Why doesn’t he bring his own date?”
“Cooper has eyes for only one girl, and she doesn’t come here.” Carrie kicked her feet forward and back where they hovered a foot off the floor. “She never comes to Brubaker’s.”
Their conversation the day of the auction came to mind, and the mechanic’s answer that he hadn’t won the right girl. Yet.
“Why doesn’t he ask her to come?”
Light blue eyes met his with a look of gentle pity. “That’s what the rest of us keep asking, but he won’t do it.”
Watching Cooper hoot as he twirled Snow into the back of another couple, he said, “The guy doesn’t strike me as the shy type.”
Carrie chuckled. “Me neither, but he has his reaso
ns, I guess. I’ve been tempted to say something to her, but I’d hate if someone did the same to me.”
“You know her?”
“She’s my OB,” the woman answered. “Needless to say, I see her regularly these days.”
A mechanic with tattoos and an OB doc did sound like an odd combination. But then Snow claimed the two of them were opposites and Caleb didn’t see it.
The up-tempo song faded into a slower tune, bringing Cooper and Snow back to the table. Spencer and Lorelei remained on the floor. “Here you go,” Cooper said, presenting Snow like a prize. “All body parts present and accounted for.”
Snow used a small napkin to dab beads of sweat from her forehead, but the grin and flush on her cheeks said she’d enjoyed the dance more than she was probably willing to admit.
“Anytime,” he replied, tucking his wife against his side and whispering for her only, “How about we make this date a little more private?”
Fanning herself with the napkin, she muttered, “Are you sure you don’t want me to leave with Cooper instead?”
Ignoring his wife’s sarcastic comment, Caleb tossed a twenty on the table and said, “Tell Spencer and Lorelei we’ll see them later. The next round is on me.”
“You’re leaving?” Carrie asked.
“Been a long week,” he answered, extending a hand to Cooper. “If the offer is still open, I’d love to see that old Thunderbird sometime soon.”
Cooper nodded as they shook. “The shop is open all weekend. Come on by when you can.”
Snow blew a damp curl out of her eyes as she shot him a less than friendly look. She may have been pissed about being handed off for a dance, but he’d put a smile on her face as soon as they got home.
“Will do,” he said, navigating Snow off the raised platform and toward the door.
On the outside, Snow was fuming. On the inside, she was a mass of nerves and second-guessing mixed with sexual need and the stirrings of mind-numbing panic.
“You okay over there?” Caleb asked once they’d driven several miles in silence.