“Bekka, will you ever be able to forgive me? We used to be close friends, too. I know I’ve blown the chance of ever having anything else with you.”
She spun to face him, suppressing her surprised gasp. Was he suggesting that he even wanted something more with her? No, she must have heard wrong. So wrong.
“But,” he closed the distance between them, “can’t we be friends again? You mean so much to me.”
“I….” What should she say? Friends? Could she even handle that? She wanted more. Always had, but he’d been playing such a fool with his wild ways. She knew he was reeling from his broken family, but wasn’t it time for him to forgive, too? Time to take charge of his life?
He grasped her hands. “Please, Rebekka. You’re here. At least until the video is completed. Give me a chance to prove I can be worthy. Of your friendship. I certainly want to try.”
She nodded, not trusting her voice to remain steady. Her mind spun. Could he hear her pounding heart? It sounded like a thunderstorm from the inside.
Friends. She’d do that. Haley wasn’t holding any grudges. Bekka had heard her future sister-in-law praying for Stephen today at church. Ethan didn’t hold any grudges. Tempering down the storm raging inside, she forced her outside to also remain calm and collected. “Want to drive me over to the house, friend?” She managed a smile with a tilt of her head. She could do this.
“My pleasure.” A sigh hung in his voice.
She’d try anyway. Mainly she’d pray for help in letting the past go. This was a new day, right? God gave second chances, she needed to do the same. Friends. She’d do that. At least she’d try her hardest until it was time to leave, or figure out what she’d do with her life.
He rummaged along the stacks of notes piled on the desk until he found the keys to his Mustang.
When the climbed in his car, he left the top down. During the short trip over to the house, Bekka gazed up at the stars, one of the things she loved most about small town life. Her best chance at working in her field was to move to a city, but she couldn’t imagine being surrounded by skyscrapers instead of trees and a smoggy sky instead of a clear blue one.
She loved filming and photography, but she’d simply failed to plan out a solid life goal for herself. Something Mom reminded her every time they talked. “Find your purpose, Rebekka Marie. God has a plan, you just need to tap into it. Stop holding back and fly. You’re such a timid little bird.”
Mom was right. If she didn’t step out of her comfort zone, she’d never meet someone and settle down. Stephen wanted friendship. Maybe it was time to shake off the dust of their past and get over her aversion to allowing men, and people in general, inside her little world.
“Beautiful night, isn’t it?” Stephen pulled into the drive and turned off the engine. “I can’t wait for summer to get here.”
“Me too.” She reached for the handle, but he told her to stay put while he got out and hurried around the car to open the door for her. “I can still be a gentleman if you’ll let me.”
“You do know how to be a gentleman when you want to be.” She rushed past him, hoping he’d just go on home, but wasn’t surprised to hear his heavy footsteps behind her. The kitchen was dark and quiet. Aside from Leon the cook, who was a semi-permanent resident, there were no other guests staying tonight.
Just where was her brother? No, it wasn’t any of her business. Nor Stephen’s.
“Sounds like everyone is already asleep.” Stephen flipped on the lights that illuminated the kitchen counters. He fished his phone out and tapped on a number. “Shall we see if E-man answers? I bet he doesn’t.” He turned on the speaker.
Bekka set her bag down quietly on the oval table and spun to glare at him. But Ethan’s voice came through the line and she shot him an “ah-ha” smirk.
“Now what do you want?” Ethan asked.
“What’cha doing buddy? We’ve been working on your video, and you disappeared on us.”
“I don’t work on Sundays if I can manage it. The video can wait until tomorrow.”
Stephen leaned against the wall beside the bay window. “So where are you, anyway?”
“Watching a movie with Haley in the study. Where are you?”
Bekka smirked right back at him. A simple explanation for his absence. She silently chastised herself for almost sinking to Stephen’s level. She headed for the study, needing to talk to her brother about getting more clips. Stephen followed on her heels.
When they reached the little study, the movie was just ending. Ethan sat on one end of the leather sofa with his feet propped on the coffee table. Haley, wrapped in a fuzzy pink blanket, had her head resting on his lap. Wally, her dog, lay curled beside her.
“I just brought your sister home so she didn’t have to walk in the dark.” Stephen sat on the arm of one of the leather chairs and tossed her a wink. “I think she’s afraid of the big bad wolf.”
“Then what is she doing with you? Bekka, haven’t I warned you?” Ethan shook his finger at her with a playful grin.
“I kept a newspaper handy in case I needed to smack him across the snout.” Bekka stuck her tongue out at him, causing Stephen’s brows to raise.
Ethan laughed even more. “Smart girl. Well since you’re here, buddy, I’ll catch a ride to the barn with you. I was going to get Wally to walk me back, but he doesn’t want to leave his girl.” He twirled a strand of Haley’s pale blond hair around his finger. “Not that I blame him.”
“Walls knows where his bread is buttered.” She ruffled the dog’s shaggy head. “Don’t you baby?”
Wally’s tail banged against the sofa.
Bekka couldn’t get over the change in her brother. He seemed lost in a whole new world, and the Texas gal was his sun. Ah, her scrambled feelings were a result of too much thinking. Wishing. She might be twenty-eight, but she still had many years ahead of her. The right guy would come along in due time.
If only her gaze wouldn’t constantly drift over toward that scoundrel Stephen every time she had that thought.
“Haley?” Bekka asked, hoping a distraction would snap her out of this mood. “Would you be available to do some shopping tomorrow? I’d like to have a look around the town.”
“Sure thing. Would love that.” She smiled up at Ethan who returned her happy expression with a wink.
After Ethan collected his phone and other belongings, he kissed Haley goodnight, then followed Bekka and Stephen out into the main room. “How is the video coming? Sorry, I didn’t come over to help. We try to take Sundays off to relax and spend time with friends.”
“You both deserve the break. Good for you.” Bekka gripped the straps of her bag as she stared down at her feet. “I’m going to need a few more shots of you in costume. At least, Stephen feels I don’t have enough footage of you playing your violin. So, before the weather turns bad again, can we do that?”
“Tomorrow might be our last sunny day for the next few days.” Ethan groaned and rolled his eyes. “Knew I should have burned that awful jacket while I had the chance. And forget painting any more of that glittery stuff in my hair. It took me three days to wash it out, Rebekka!”
She waved his gripes away with a flick of her hand. “Big baby. Same place and time?”
Stephen’s grin nearly reached his ears. “Yep. Works for me. Think you can be up and ready at that time, pal?”
Ethan narrowed his eyes at his friend, then turned back to her. “See you there in the morning with my ears on.” He kissed her cheek then followed Stephen out.
Fine, she’d film a few extra clips, then go check out Madison Creek afterward. Maybe the little town would capture her like it had her brother. Something had to give soon. She needed to start taking her own advice and make something of her life.
Chapter Seven
Stephen’s steps dragged along the cracked sidewalk when he realized Ethan headed for the diner at the end of the block. Mallory’s diner. He’d still not returned her calls. Seemed easier to pretend she did
n’t exist. If he entered Mal’s restaurant, there’d be no pretending. They were supposed to meet Haley and Bekka for lunch. He didn’t want to risk there being a scene if Mallory was angry with him for dissing her.
“Isn’t there somewhere else we can eat?” he asked. Main Street was relatively quiet, even for a Monday afternoon. They passed the bakery, and he slowed his steps. “What about here?”
“I’m hungry for some chili that doesn’t burn down to my gut. Not a loaf of bread or a dozen sweet buns. Besides, Mal knows of someone selling a piano.” Ethan continued at a steady pace, his hands shoved into the pockets of his dress pants.
Stephen had accompanied Ethan to a short meeting with a man named, Lubo Herchinger, who wanted to help his friend with a start-up loan for his recording studio. From what Stephen understood, Herchinger was the driving force behind the town’s revitalization plan and had even helped Haley get her bed and breakfast going.
Stephen glanced around at the surrounding shops along the main road. Bekka and Haley were somewhere nearby doing girly shopping stuff. He’d only agreed to run errands with Ethan because he didn’t want to be left at the barn alone.
“Say,” Stephen tried another route, “I’m out of aspirins. I’m going to stop at the pharmacy across the street and—”
Ethan spun on his gray loafers to face him. “What did you do now? I know you. What, or should I ask, who are you avoiding?”
“What? Nobody. I mean, nothing.” Stephen gave a dismissive wave. “I’m not… hungry.” He was, but not for Mallory’s food. What if she was still put out over how he abruptly left her apartment after accepting her invitation to come in for a drink? Sometime between the first glass of wine and her excusing herself to put on something more comfortable, he’d come to his senses and remembered his self-imposed pact: No more one-night stands.
“Stephen, are you avoiding Mallory?”
“Huh? That’s… dumb. She’s a nice girl and all.”
Ethan took a step closer and lowered his voice. “She is a very sweet girl. And a good friend. When I introduced you to her, I specifically warned you to watch yourself and be respectful. Please tell me you’ve been respectful with her.” His brows furrowed over his darkening gray eyes.
“You talk like I’m some sort of cad.” He patted his chest, hoping to make light of the situation. “That hurts, you know.”
“That’s not the word choice I would use.” Ethan grabbed Stephen’s sweater and pulled him along. “You’re coming. Whatever trouble you’ve caused you’ll just have to face the music. So to speak.”
Thing was, Stephen had avoided Mallory for the specific purpose of avoiding trouble. But who would believe that?
Chimes jingled when they entered the establishment. Ethan released the hold on his sweater, eyes wide as he looked around. “Wow, she’s really come along with her renovations.”
The bright interior was a mixture of pine and white brick. Newly built shelves displaying assorted desserts and pies lined the wall closest to the front entrance.
“She’s taken out the plastic booths,” Ethan mused as he turned in a full circle, staring up at the open ceiling showing pipes and air ducts.
“What do you think?” Mallory exited the double doors from the kitchen carrying a couple of steamy plates. “We got rid of the outdated and nasty bar and seats. I’m going to have the floors done next now that the walls and ceiling are completed.”
Ethan faced the curly-haired woman who wore the brightest pink lipstick Stephen had ever seen. He tried to stay back in the shadows, hoping she’d not notice him right away. He was sure she wouldn’t have such a bright smile for him.
“You’re going to leave the ceiling open, huh?” Ethan pointed upward. “I actually like the airy atmosphere.”
“And cheerful—” she started, then stopped when her gaze fell on Stephen. As he predicted, her grin faded. She turned her back on him and addressed his friend. “Your girl and sister are over in the back by the window. You joining them? I can pull another table over against theirs.”
“I’ll do it. Don’t trouble yourself.” Ethan volunteered.
She nodded and headed away to deliver her plates to an older couple.
Stephen followed him toward the back where the ladies sat surrounded by shopping bags. A rather muscular guy sat right beside his Bekka! Stephen’s steps faltered causing him to nearly stumble over his own feet.
Ethan extended his hand. “Hey, Bob Beaty, just the man I was hoping to see today.”
Bob stood and greeted his friend in a quick back pounding hug before Ethan introduced him. Stephen made sure to grip Beaty’s hand extra firm.
Beaty nodded. “Any friend of Ethan’s is a friend of mine.”
Don’t count on it. Stephen’s smile was tight at best, but at least he’d held in the furious scowl seething below the surface.
Ethan pushed an extra table closer to theirs, then took the chair beside Haley. That left Stephen with a choice of sitting next to body-builder Bob or at the end of the table. He chose the end.
Mallory appeared with her pad. “Know what you boys want?” She wouldn’t even look at him while she addressed the others. Great. Another angry female. Was she the vengeful type? He’d had enough dealings with that sort to know better than to risk taking a chance.
“Just a pop for me, thanks.” He pushed the menu away while Ethan placed his order.
Mallory glared down at him, hand perched on her hip. “I won’t do anything to your food, so pick something.” She held up her hand, palm out. “Swear it.”
Everyone at the table stared at him. Last thing he wanted was Bekka assuming the worst about him and Mallory. There was nothing going on.
Trying to avoid any drama, he mumbled, “I’ll take the same as Ethan, then. Thanks.”
Later, he’d need to find a chance to talk to her and clear the air. Maybe instead of avoiding her calls, he should have just told her he wasn’t interested in getting into a serious relationship. But she’d not offered anything serious, just some fun.
He needed to avoid that, too, if he was going to stop being like his mother. If he didn’t go out with Mal, then he didn’t have to deal with the temptation to not say goodbye at the end of the evening. He never dreamed that cleaning up his act would be so difficult.
“Fine.” She made a note and bustled off, her heels sounding like gunshots across the concrete floor.
Ethan leaned closer to him.
Before Ethan could ask a question he didn’t want to answer, Stephen growled, “Mind your own.”
Snapping his lips shut, Ethan gave a quick nod and turned to the other man. “Bobby, how’d your boat do when you put her out on the lake?”
Beaty’s arms rested on the backs of the chairs on both sides of him. One of them being Bekka’s.
“Perfect. I think we patched all the leaks. No water got in at all. Sure appreciate your help, man.”
Stephen tapped a beat on his place mat, needing to keep his hands occupied before they found a way to yank the dude away from his… away from Bekka. She used to hate when people got in her space. Though from the way she currently smiled over at the man, she didn’t seem to mind in the least. Stephen drummed his fingers faster until they ached.
While Bob and Ethan talked, Stephen took note of how friendly Beks was with the intruder, even to the point of touching his shoulder when she spoke to him. Didn’t Mr. Beaty own the automotive shop? Surely she wouldn’t go for this grease monkey, would she?
The problem was, Bob Beaty seemed to clean up rather well.
Stephen glanced around the restaurant, still unsure if he should trust Mallory to not make some smart remark, or worse. He’d feel better if he could simply speak to her, try to explain why he’d been dissing her. Everyone else seemed too absorbed in their conversation about boating to notice if he slipped away.
A moment later he spotted Mal at the register. This was his chance. He bolted up and was across the room like a flash of lightning.
“Your meal isn’t even cooked yet, you can’t possibly be ready to pay.” She smirked with a tilt of her head that brushed her dark curls against her shoulder. “Unless you’re wanting to foot the bill?” She pressed her hand to her chest. Her long nails, or rather claws, matched the neon pink smeared over her lips. “Oh, that’s so generous of you. I knew you had a big heart that first moment I met you.” She muttered something else about being fooled, but he didn’t catch the whole thing.
“No, I…” Well, he could, actually. He wasn’t hurting financially, especially since receiving his trust fund. “Well, fine.” He pulled his card from his wallet and slid it across the counter.
Mallory’s eyes widened as her mouth formed an O looking like a pink frosted donut. Snatching up the card, she rang up the check.
“Listen, hon—” he tried.
“Don’t hon me.” She jabbed the buttons harder than he thought was probably necessary.
“I’m sorry, Mallory. Will you give me a chance to explain?”
“Nothing to explain. If you’re not interested, then you’re not interested. It’s fine. That’ll be $97.28.”
“What?” He jerked around toward their table, wondering what in the heck they’d all ordered.
“Bob always orders steak. Don’t get me started on Haley.” She ran the card through the scanner and passed him the receipt to sign. “Oh, and I always add a fifteen percent gratuity for parties larger than four. Twenty if the one paying is a brainless… well, never mind.” She smiled sweetly at him and batted her extraordinarily long lashes that had to be as fake as her grin.
He was growing less and less repentant about not calling her. Scribbling his name on the slip, he tried one more time. “I’m sorry, okay? I should have called and let you know what was going on. I doubt I’ll be staying so I don’t see any sense in—”
“Again, I don’t need your excuses. It’s fine.” She shoved the paper into the till, spun on her pink heels and returned to the kitchen.
Raining Fools (Madison Creek Bed & Breakfast Book 2) Page 7