by Cynthia Gail
She kissed him back in short, playful strokes until a smile emerged and she felt his hand loosen its hold on her back, moving to her waist. She slid her fingers to the center of his chest.
“Thank you for dinner.” She felt an awkward shyness she hadn’t expected. She didn’t want him to let go, to move away. Everywhere they touched tingled in a beautiful medley of delight.
“You’re very welcome.” He grinned as if he knew what she was thinking. Or maybe he felt the same way.
Clearing his throat, his hands moved to cover hers on his chest where he paused, then stepped back. He let their hands fall, keeping hold of only one as he turned and led her back to the front door.
“I’ll call you about Wednesday,” he said.
Before he opened the door to leave, he lowered his head, giving her one more sweet taste, then said goodbye.
As soon as the front door closed, Beth turned around and leaned back against the hard surface, taking in a long breath, then letting the air out slowly. She closed her eyes and smiled, reliving the way his body felt against hers. How they fit together so perfectly. How he tasted.
She finally reeled her mind back to the present, knowing she had to get ready for bed. This would be another long week at the shop. It was a good thing, business being so strong. Though the hours took a toll and she needed a good night’s sleep on Sunday to prepare.
Making her way to the master bath, she couldn’t help the bubbly giddiness that rose in her chest. This had been the most incredible evening. She would be seeing Nick again in just three days. Hopefully he would call her sometime in between. And—
Beth stopped herself as she reached for a washcloth to clean the makeup from her face. She knew her two biggest faults in relationships were jumping in too fast emotionally and closing her eyes to red flags. Although Nick seemed different than any other guy she’d gone out with, she needed to be careful.
Her track record with men was dismal, to say the least. She’d only had three serious relationships in the past ten years and each one of them had left her more insecure and distrustful than the one before.
She slid between the sheets of her bed and remembered Tom. She’d been attracted to him from the moment they met in freshman chemistry and he offered to be her lab partner. He’d seemed timid and a little quiet, finally asking her out the second week of class. For three months, they saw each other nonstop.
She had been in love, and he’d said she was his first. But a week before finals she overheard him talking to his roommates about the great deal he had going with his chemistry partner.
Not only was she doing ninety percent of the lab work and helping him with his final paper, he’d even talked her into sleeping with him. He’d laughed about her being a virgin and how he planned to break up with her right before Christmas so he didn’t have to buy her a present.
She hadn’t dated for over a year after that debacle. She’d been hurt more than heartbroken. However, trust became a guarded commodity she rarely rationed to anyone other than her two best friends, Jenny and Sara. Focusing on a part-time job and her studies, she eventually dated from time to time, but had reached the age of twenty-five before allowing her emotions to get swept away again.
She had met Terry after returning to Nashville from college. As the marketing director at Wilsher and Price investments, she’d been part of the orientation team when he came on board as a rookie wealth manager.
Terry probably had had true feelings for her in the beginning. They dated for four months and she thought he was the one from date number two. A hard worker, a gentleman, he treated her like a queen. Then she’d introduced him to her father.
Beth could see the wheels in his mind turning faster and his eyes gleam brighter as dinner progressed. She could still hear his words as they drove back to her place later that evening. “Oh, my God. I never put two and two together. Why didn’t you tell me who your father was?”
Because she didn’t realize it mattered. She’d wiped the tear from her cheek before he could see it and started counting the days.
Five.
Only five days passed before Terry started pressuring her. “If you believe in me, you’ll at least talk to him. Ask him to recommend me in the firm.” Believing the Sergeant name would be the golden nugget on his resume, the obsession escalated and within two weeks became an ultimatum. Although she’d prepared herself the night of that first introduction, her heart still ripped to shreds.
Beth tried to push the past out of her mind. She needed to keep self-doubt from creeping back into her thoughts.
She couldn’t think of a single ulterior motive Nick could have. His business was a success and growing. He didn’t need money or family influence. He didn’t seem interested in a trophy girlfriend or he would have stayed with Lauren. He seemed to care about what she had to say, and their conversation had been easy through dinner.
Slowly, as she ticked off each concern, the question in her mind changed. Could she be enough for him? Growing up in private schools, while living a middle-class lifestyle, she’d never felt like she belonged in either crowd. She still didn’t know where she truly fit in.
For all of the success, money, and influence Nick and his family had, could she measure up in the end? What would his friends say? Would they think he was crazy for leaving Lauren, who fit in without hesitation? Could she handle the intense scrutiny that would come if she stood by his side?
Somehow, Beth pushed away all of her doubts, burying them in the back of her mind. She went to sleep thinking about Nick and dancing and their incredible kiss. She woke up on Monday morning with renewed energy and got ready for work, grabbing a cup of coffee on the way.
By the time Gina arrived at the salon, Beth had the front register set up for the day and all of the weekend’s business updated in her ledgers. She had just stepped back into the front office to get a fresh cup of caffeine when the door opened and the cheery blonde sauntered in.
“Good morning, Gina.”
“Hi, Beth. You’re awfully bright-eyed this morning. Can I ask about your date now, or do I have to wait until I’ve made simple chitchat for a respectable amount of time?” Gina laughed as she hung up her coat and tucked her purse into the front desk drawer.
“Don’t waste your time being subtle. You know how I hate it when people don’t speak their mind.” Beth took advantage of Gina’s momentary distraction, opening their reservation program, to think about what she wanted to share.
Trusting Gina wasn’t the issue. But she’d decided this morning that her heart would remain disengaged in the relationship. At least until she knew him better. Understood his priorities. Knew if she would be enough.
She found it difficult to maintain a distance from her feelings, but she was determined to learn from past mistakes. Letting herself date Nick was already a big step. And talking to Gina would make it much harder to maintain even footing with the bubbly emotions that kept rising in her chest.
“I’ll ease your curiosity,” she finally said. “We had a great time. He took me to Carlino’s and the food was amazing. We danced and watched the snow fall on the riverbank. Then he took me home.”
“And?”
“And nothing. We cut the evening short because of the weather. I might see him again Wednesday. He’s traveling and plans are kind of up in the air.”
“You’re not very good at this, are you? The spilling it the next morning, I mean.”
Beth stirred the creamer in her coffee longer than necessary before turning her attention back to the question. She sighed, realizing how mild Gina was compared to what Jenny would put her through.
“I guess not. I promise to tell more when there’s something to share. It was just a first date.”
“All right. I don’t believe you, but I’ll let you off the hook this morning. I’m going to ask again on Thursday, though, so don’t be surprised. And I’ll expect more details.”
“Fair enough.”
“Now go back to your offic
e and get to work. I’ll let you know when the flowers arrive.”
She halted. “The flowers?” Had she missed something?
“You forget I’ve met Nick. He’s the kind of man who sends flowers after the first date. I mean, he sent flowers before the date. Today’s bouquet will be double in size, trust me.”
Gina gave her that I know what I’m talking about smirk, then turned to her computer and began printing each employee’s appointment outline for the day. Beth gladly went back to her office where she hoped the day’s hectic schedule would make the hours fly by quickly.
By noon, Jenny called and as she’d expected, wasn’t as generous as Gina in her detail forgiveness.
“You can tell me the truth over the phone or I’ll come down and sit in your office until you do.”
“There’s nothing else to tell. The date was nice.”
“So, he sent you another bouquet of flowers just because the date was nice? You danced together and watched the snow fall under the moonlight and the best you can say is, it was nice?”
“Okay, more than nice.” Beth sat back in her chair and tried to come up with right words. “I don’t want to get my hopes up after just one date, Jenny. I might see him again Wednesday night if he gets in from his trip early enough.”
“I don’t understand. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just trying to take things slow, that’s all.”
A moment of silence passed before either of them spoke again. Beth hoped Jenny would just drop it. What had started out as a great morning, full of anticipation and then excitement over the beautiful lilies that had arrived, had slowly turned into apprehension as her insecurities stormed back into her thoughts and made her stomach turn.
“This doesn’t have anything to do with Troy, does it?” Jenny spoke with firm reproof in her voice.
Beth didn’t answer.
Troy had been her last serious relationship and the worst of them all. They’d been dating for over a year when she starting drawing up plans for the salon. He didn’t approve, yet he’d kept his objections low key at first. She had assumed he just didn’t like the idea of her working. He’d grown up in a wealthy family where his father provided the income and his mother raised the children.
Then one evening they were at a dinner party with several of his elite colleagues. He never shared the details of what happened, but from that night on, he was firmly against the plans. He believed owning this type of business would be beneath them both. What would their friends say? People from his class would be the target customer and he couldn’t imagine how it would appear to be serving them.
After several nights of arguing, Troy finally came out and said what she knew he’d been thinking all along. If she went through with the salon, they were through. It didn’t matter that they’d just announced their engagement and spent the weekend picking out wedding rings. Having his wife work in a service-related industry, even if she was the owner, would embarrass him.
“Beth?”
“No!” she said a little too strongly as her mind jolted back in line. “It has nothing to do with Troy. I just think it would be wise to take the relationship slow. You know. He just broke up with Lauren. My track record isn’t exactly glowing. And I’m really busy with work right now.”
“And you think he’s out of your league.” It was a statement, not a question.
Beth sighed. Sometimes, having a best friend that could read your mind was really uncomfortable.
“I don’t even know what league I’m in most of the time, Jenny. To be honest, last night was incredible. Perfect, actually. So perfect I’m worried I might fall too fast.” She paused. “And this one’s gonna hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt before.”
“Then you shouldn’t go out with him again.”
“What?” Her breath caught.
“Why put yourself through it? Why get hurt? If you don’t go out with him again, you can enjoy the memory of one great night and leave it at that.”
Beth felt her chest tighten at the mere thought of not seeing Nick again. “I don’t know for sure he’s going to hurt me. I’m just saying. I need to be careful, keep my emotions out of harm’s way until I know how he feels.”
“How he feels?” Jenny laughed so hard Beth could barely understand her words. “He sent you flowers on Saturday, took you on the perfect date on Sunday, sent you more flowers on Monday, and asked you out for Wednesday. I think it’s safe to say he likes you, Beth.”
“Okay. So, he likes me. And I didn’t scare him off after one date. Still, don’t you think I need to keep a level head?”
“I wouldn’t declare your undying love on Wednesday night, but if you hold back and completely hide your emotions, you’re going to send mixed signals. Or worse.”
“I get your point.” Beth closed her eyes and massaged her temples. The weight of the day had turned into a needling headache right between her eyes.
“Good. Now tell me.” Jenny’s voice had softened from her mother-hen vibrato back into her sisterly friend. “Have you filled up a piece of paper with his name yet?”
Beth took the piece of paper she’d been doodling on all morning, wadded it up, and threw it into the trashcan. “I haven’t done that since high school,” she said. “Or college.”
“I believe you. I really do.”
“Enough about Nick. I need to get back to work. Are we still going to Margaret’s for dinner tonight?” Beth asked.
“Call me when you leave the office and I’ll meet you there.”
When Beth left work, it was late and bitter cold. She had tried to keep Nick out of her mind—wasted energy. Between Jenny’s phone call that had her second-guessing her morning resolutions, Gina’s all-knowing smirk that only grew wider after the florist made their visit, and the lilies sitting on the corner of her desk, everything she did made her think of him. Heck, she might as well have a coffee mug with his name on it.
But, he hadn’t called. He’d said he would call about Wednesday night, which meant he would probably call on Wednesday when he knew about his return flight. Did that mean he wouldn’t call before then? Or that she shouldn’t call him? As she started the car and turned the heat on high, she shook her head. Only she could make something like this so complicated.
Retrieving her phone, she hit the speed dial and pressed ‘speaker’ before giving herself a chance to re-think the situation six more times.
“Hi. How are you?”
Her breath slowed as she heard his voice and for a second she forgot the question.
“I’m good. Made it through a Monday.” She paused, hearing a rustling in the background and wondered where he was. Suddenly, she didn’t know if calling had been the right decision. “I know you’re probably busy. I just wanted to thank you for the flowers. They’re beautiful.”
“I’m glad you like them. I was just getting ready to call you.”
“You were?” Her heart fluttered. Whether he was telling the truth or just filling silent air, she warmed to the idea he’d been thinking about her.
“We’ve been in meetings all afternoon. I just got to my room and have a few minutes before I meet Brandon for dinner.”
“I’m on my way to dinner, too. Margaret’s Café. I didn’t have time to eat lunch and I’m starving.”
“Ah, Margaret’s. That sounds good. Are you going by yourself?”
Beth wondered what he would think if she said she was meeting someone, a male someone, even if just a friend. Would he be jealous? She would be if he were having dinner with a woman. Of course, he wasn’t insecure the way she was. He’d probably never come up short in a relationship or wondered where he belonged in the social food chain.
“I’m meeting Jenny. We’ve got a lot of planning to do before Friday.”
“Is there anything you still need for the party?”
“I think all we have left to do is order the food. We’re doing something simple like finger sandwiches and chips. The kids are going to go straigh
t for the candy and cookies anyway.”
He laughed and her mind filled with the image of him sitting on the hotel room couch, leaning back against the cushions in his sexy, casual manner as he talked to her.
“Will you let me take care of the food for you?”
“You don’t have to do that. I just need to make a few calls in the morning.”
“I know I don’t have to. Would you let me? I have a special cook who would love to bake for the kids and their families.”
“Okay, that would be great.” She hesitated. “Only if it’s not too much trouble. I wouldn’t want to cut in on your weekly leftover packages.”
“Don’t worry about me. Cook will make way too much and I’ll probably end up with a second set of leftovers in the deal.”
She smiled as the sound of his light-hearted voice filled the warming interior of her car. “Ah, a secret motive. I feel better now.”
“What time does the food need to be there?” he asked.
“Eleven o’clock on Friday morning. I can pick it up if you need me to.”
“No, I’ll deliver. It will give me an excuse to leave the office for awhile.”
Could she hope it was an excuse to see her again? “Thanks, Nick. I appreciate the help. I’ll let you go. Brandon’s probably waiting for you by now.”
“I’m glad you called. Talk to you Wednesday?”
Beth said goodbye and pressed ‘end’, just as she turned into Margaret’s.
CHAPTER 6
“I don’t understand, Mr. Wilkens. These are serious allegations to be anonymous. I’ve made double payments every month since my business opened and the construction withdrawal process we followed was very thorough. How can you be questioning my integrity now?”
Beth stood in front of the loan officer’s desk, battle ready. She’d received his urgent phone call on her way home from work Tuesday evening. Having no idea what information he could possibly need verified from her original loan agreement, she’d agreed to meet as soon as his office opened this morning.