by Sloane West
Julia glanced at something off screen and let out a yelp. “Johnna Brock will be speaking in five minutes,” she said, turning back to Beth. “We have to go.”
Anusha squealed and gave a very fangirl-like wiggle. “Johnna Brock is one of my favorite authors.”
Beth gazed at them enviously. Johnna Brock was also one of her favorite authors. Beth had read every novel the woman had published. “I want a signed book,” she told her besties. “Or I’ll never speak to you again.”
The girls gathered their purses and attendee badges, looking like they were about to explode with excitement. “We will,” Anusha promised, glancing around the hotel room for something. She made an ah face, grabbed the item, and showed it to the screen. It was Beth’s tattered copy of Wild Creek, the first book in Johnna Brock’s Deveraux Brothers Series. “I’ve got yours right here.”
Julia reappeared, holding two more books—presumably her and Anusha’s copies. She wore an I’m-about-to-hyperventilate expression. “What do I say to her?”
Beth laughed. At least she wasn’t the only one worried about meeting someone tonight. “How about hello?”
Julia scowled. “Only peasants say hello.”
Still laughing, Beth said, “I have no idea what that means.”
“You won’t be saying anything if we don’t hurry,” Anusha said, leaning in to disconnect the video chat. “Good luck,” she told Beth. “And have fun on your date.”
Julia blew Beth a kiss. “Go get him, tiger.”
“It’s not a real d—” Beth began but realized she was talking to herself. She stared at the closed chat window for a moment longer and then took a deep breath. “It’s not a real date.”
She repeated the mantra as she dabbed on some perfume and touched up her lipstick. Again, when she tugged on the neckline of her dress to display the best view of her modest cleavage. And, again, when she grabbed her clutch and walked out the door to go meet Alex Buchanan.
“It’s not a real date.”
3
From the little she knew of him, Beth had expected Alex to say something mischievous or, at the very least, offer her a scandalous grin. Instead, he only looked stunned.
She’d been waiting on the library’s steps and, at his approach, she cleared her throat and managed a smile. She’d forgotten how gorgeous he was. No, that was a lie. She hadn’t forgotten. Not even a little. But seeing him again was a shock to her system.
“Hey,” he said, watching her come down.
She smiled. “Hey.”
“That’s some dress.”
She grew hot all over and wasn’t sure if it was from pleasure or embarrassment. She should have worn the blue dress. “Thanks.”
Still looking at her as if seeing her for the first time, he said, “I didn’t realize this was a formal thing.”
She glanced at his jeans and button down, trying not to linger on any particular area. “You think I’m overdressed?”
“No,” he said, his grin wolfish. “Hell no.”
Her attention trailed off as she realized he was leading her to a motorcycle. Images of wind blowing her skirt around her ears as they flew down the highway assaulted her. “Is this yours?”
His expression became sheepish. “Yeah. I figured it would make me look like a badass.”
The sight of him standing next to the gleaming black Harley made her heart stutter. With his disheveled hair and broad shoulders, he did, in fact, look like a badass, and it made her thoughts soar in unwanted directions. Not that she was about to let him know that. “What kind of coffee shop owner rides a Harley?”
He winked and offered her a helmet. “A badass one.”
Chuckling, she weighed the pros and cons of walking. In the end, the idea of hoofing it in heels was more daunting than climbing on the hog. She took the helmet. “Oh,” she said as she strapped it on. “I almost forgot.”
He waited as she opened her clutch.
“Here,” she said, handing him a crisp hundred. “Your fee.”
He accepted the payment, his eyes alight with mischief. “Why do I suddenly feel dirty?”
She laughed. “There is probably a lengthy and disturbing answer to that question.”
He considered it and arched his eyebrows as if to acknowledge the possibility. “I won’t deny it.”
Shaking her head, she closed her clutch. “What did I get myself into?”
Winking at her, he pulled on his own helmet and threw his leg over the bike. “Come on, babe. Let’s hit the road.”
“Don’t call me babe,” she said, getting on.
As it turned out, getting on the back of a bike in a dress and heels while holding a clutch was not all that easy and more than a little awkward. Not to mention straddling the seat while pressing her chest against his back forced her to consider the naughtiest of scenarios against her will. By the time she was settled, she wasn’t sure whether to run for the hills or ask him for a prenup.
“Put your arms around me,” he said, and she could hear the amusement in his voice.
She obeyed and then immediately wished she hadn’t. He felt good. Hard. Warm. So very male.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she told him and was mortified by how breathless she sounded.
Chuckling, he kickstarted the bike, and the roar of the engine drowned out her worries.
Even with the helmet, her hair was a windblown mess when they reached the school. Not that she cared. It had only been a short trip across town, but the rush of wind and bone-shaking vibration of the Harley had been exhilarating. She was still laughing when he parked and turned off the engine.
They climbed off and removed their helmets. He grinned at her. “I never pegged you for a thrill seeker.”
“I’m not,” she admitted, doing her best to finger-tame her hair. “In fact, I’m anti-thrill.”
The most thrilling thing she had ever done was go skiing in Aspen for Julia’s thirtieth birthday, and even then, Beth had mostly stuck to the bunny trail. She preferred her adventures to play out between the pages of her beloved books. At least, until now.
“First time on a bike?” He guessed, raking his fingers through his own hair. His roguishly tousled hair. It was almost romance-novel-cover worthy. And she would know. She was pretty much an authority on them.
“Yeah,” she admitted.
“Guess I popped your cherry then.”
Her eyes widened, and she was struck speechless. Not that she should have worried. Her mouth had a mind of its own and never stayed silent for long. Particularly if there was something inappropriately embarrassing to say. “My cherry was popped years ago, thank you.”
As soon as the words were out, she regretted them. Especially when his eyes flared with amusement.
“Is that so?” he asked, leaning against his bike as though settling in for a fireside story. “Do tell.”
Face burning, she finished tugging her dress into place. She was not about to swap sex stories with him. “What I meant to say was my cherry or lack thereof is none of your business.”
His eyebrow rose, his expression becoming somehow more devilish.
Realizing her correction sounded almost as stupid as her original declaration, she resisted the urge to stomp her foot. “Can we go?”
His eyes laughed as he offered her his elbow. “Shall we?”
Between the elation of the ride and her sudden frazzled state, she wasn’t at all prepared for this, but she took his elbow and nodded. “Let’s go.”
As they started up the walk, Beth gazed around with a small smile. Little had changed since she’d graduated ten years ago. The sprawling brick building still loomed over the school’s lawn, its windows decorated with various construction-paper cutouts and American flags. The parking lot was full of SUVs and minivans, and the double doors at the top of the stairs were held open by life-sized wooden Vikings on either side. A banner stretched above them that said Welcome Home Class of 2008, and maroon and white balloons completed
the display. The sound of music wafted from inside. Other alumni were also arriving. Couples and, to her dismay, more than a few singles. The sight of the solo attendees made her feel even more ridiculous for renting her own date. What had she been thinking?
You could just call it a real date, her subconscious pointed out.
“Too late for that,” she murmured as they made their way up the steps.
“What?” Alex asked, glancing down at her.
They walked beneath the banner and into the lion’s den. “I said I hope there’s spiked punch.”
He laughed. “If you get drunk, I might take advantage of you.”
“You’re a dog,” she told him, but she couldn’t hold back a smile.
“Guilty,” he admitted shamelessly, parting a curtain of maroon and white streamers that had been hung in the lobby.
Inside, everything looked almost the same as she remembered. Same scuffed floors, same gray brick walls, same giant frames containing portraits of teachers past and present. Some things were different, of course. They’d modernized the light fixtures, and a mural depicting Vikings in battle graced the wall above the secretary’s office.
“School mascot?” Alex asked, eying the mural.
“Yes,” she said. “Fight the team across the field. Show them the Vikes are here. Send the Earth reverberating with a mighty cheer. Rah, rah, rah.”
“Catchy,” he laughed.
She smiled at her fellow classmates as they wandered by with plastic cups, laughing and talking amongst one another. Beth and Alex joined the newest arrivals at the check-in table.
A short, plump woman Beth immediately recognized as Shannon Pinkstock manned the table, her cheeks rosy and eyes merry as she greeted people. When it was Beth and Alex’s turn, Shannon’s smile widened. “Beth Davis?”
Beth smiled back. She’d had algebra with Shannon, and they’d smuggled in candy like bootleggers with moonshine. Skittles had been Beth’s weakness, and Shannon’s had been Starbursts. “Hi, Shannon.”
“Holy smokes, you’re prettier now than you were back then.” She shook her head as if it was unheard of. “Look at you.”
Beth had never been one to accept compliments easily, so she just smiled and nodded at Shannon’s pink dress. “I love your dress. Pink was always your color.”
Shannon’s eyes twinkled, and she waved off the compliment. “And you were always too nice.”
Beth laughed. “Big turnout?”
“Yep.” Shannon eyed the gymnasium. “I hope you self-medicated before you came.”
Chuckling, Beth asked, “That bad?”
Shannon shook her head and used a Sharpie to scribble Beth’s name on a sticky tag. “Some things never change.”
Beth accepted the name tag, gazing around the school she’d spent four years in over a decade ago. Unlike in her own life, time here had moved at a snail’s pace. “So true.”
“Are you the husband?” Shannon asked Alex, her voice brimming with admiration.
“That’s me,” Alex said before Beth could refute it, flashing Shannon a grin while sliding his arm around Beth’s waist. “The old ball and chain.” He held his free hand out to Shannon. “Alex Buchanan.”
Stunned, Beth could only stare at him. What was he doing?
Visibly enamored, Shannon shook his hand, her cheeks pinking. She gave Beth a girl-you-did-good look as she wrote out his name tag.
Realizing that correcting him would only raise questions she didn’t feel like answering, Beth just smiled and put her arm around Alex, squeezing him too tightly.
Looking way too pleased with himself, Alex proudly stuck the name tag to his chest.
It was so absurd, Beth suddenly found it difficult to hold in her laughter. She gave Shannon a cross between a grimace and a smile. “Catch up later?”
“For sure,” Shannon said and waved before turning to the next in line.
“The old ball and chain, huh?” Beth asked Alex as they entered the gymnasium.
He winked at her. “Does this mean you have to make me sandwiches now?”
She laughed. “If you’re talking about knuckle sandwiches, then yes.”
“Did you just use the words knuckle and sandwich together in the same sentence?”
She tried to maintain a serious face. “I have no regrets.”
He laughed, and they walked into the belly of the reunion.
4
For the next two hours, Beth and her rent-a-date drank punch, nibbled on refreshments, and chatted with friends from years past. Despite her earlier worries, she found herself having a lovely time. It was fascinating to see how people had changed. Some were stay-at-home parents, and others were lawyers and business executives. Some, like her, had stayed in their hometown, and she chatted with them about local events and weather. Others had traveled in from other states and countries. It was a melting pot of congratulating and reminiscing.
Alex charmed everyone with his easy smile and jovial conversation, and by the time the evening wound down, she had started to feel like they were a real couple. And when they’d danced, there had been nothing fake about how close they’d held each other. Or the way they’d stared into each other’s eyes while the music played on. It occurred to her that her desire to remain single might be overrated. Alex’s trademark grin and sparkling hazel eyes were making it harder and harder to remember why she didn’t want to actually date him.
“You okay here?” she asked, picking up her clutch from their table.
He downed what remained of his punch and nodded, there gazes lingering for a moment longer than necessary. “Sure. I’ll get us some more punch.”
With butterflies fluttering in her stomach, she smiled and left. Her smile didn’t last long. As she went into the restroom, she practically ran into Rylie Taylor-Reed. The brunette mom-to-be and her clan of harpies were crowded in front of the mirrors, touching up their makeup. It was a scene straight out of high school. Beth inwardly groaned. She’d glimpsed Rylie and the others a few times throughout the evening, but Beth had been able to avoid them so far. Her luck had just run out.
Rylie paused with a compact poised in front of her face and glanced over. “Well, hey, Beth. We’ve been so busy mingling we haven’t had a chance to talk to you yet this evening.”
The others exchanged discreet glances, and then offered Beth a round of smiles and semi-polite greetings.
Beth smiled back. “How are you guys enjoying the reunion?”
“Oh, it’s been . . .” Rylie paused as if searching for the right word. “Enlightening.”
The other women chuckled, and Daphne checked her hair, saying to Beth, “Looks like you and Alex make the perfect couple.”
“Yeah,” Beth agreed, clearing her throat. “He’s really great.”
Rylie smirked. “And here I couldn’t even get my husband to attend tonight.” She glanced at Beth as if to say men. “He’s away on business. You know how it is.”
Nicole, a petite blonde with painstakingly sculpted eyebrows, said, “Maybe you should have tried paying him, Rye.”
The group promptly dissolved into laughter, and it took Beth a moment to comprehend what Nicole had said. What they knew.
No. Suddenly feeling like she was seventeen years old again, Beth scrambled for a response. She laughed, trying to sound carefree and failing. “The best kind of date comes with a receipt. If you don’t like it, you can just return it, right?”
The joke sounded lame even to her own ears.
“Oh, honey,” Rylie said, her voice dripping with pity as she slid her compact into her purse. “I don’t know what is more pathetic. The fact that you paid him, or that he actually went through with it.”
Beth’s face heated. “It was a joke.”
“Oh?” Rylie asked. “So, you didn’t pay Alex a hundred dollars to be your date?”
Beth hesitated, and Rylie smirked. Then the wolfpack walked out, looking nothing like the adults they now were and everything like the stuck-up mean girls they us
ed to be.
Alone in the bathroom, Beth’s heart pounded as she tried to figure out what had just happened. What had started as a playful transaction between her and Alex had now become the most embarrassing moment of her life. And, worse, Alex had obviously betrayed her trust. It was the only explanation. Her previous suspicions that Alex and Rylie had been involved reared up in her mind as if to say I told you so! Had the two of them set the whole thing up? Had they been laughing about Beth the entire time behind her back? And why did she care? It wasn’t even groundbreaking news. Yes, she’d hired a date. But had she really? Down deep, hadn’t she considered their barter flirtation? A game of cat and mouse? Maybe it had been a practical joke. That didn’t mean Beth still hadn’t had a good time. It didn’t mean she hadn’t enjoyed Alex’s company—whether or not it had been an act. And it didn’t mean she couldn’t walk away from this with her head held high and chalk it up to nothing more than a crazy misadventure. She met her own gaze in the mirror.