by Parin, Sonia
“You know he’s a fun time type of guy. Although, I do have high hopes for him.”
“I guess that’s another reason why. I’m not a fling type of girl.” She rolled her eyes.
“Few of us are.”
“I shouldn’t even be thinking it. Besides, he has a point to prove.” She brushed the worry line she knew had formed between her eyebrows. “If he knew people were placing bets—”
“He’d pull out his wallet.” Eddie laughed. “It might actually be fun if you came onto him. Raise the stakes. I wonder if he could resist you?”
“Ha!”
“Don’t laugh,” Eddie lowered her tone, “I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”
Elizabeth raised both hands. “Even if, hypothetically, my life was in order and I wanted to let him know I was interested, there’s still the matter of the bets.”
Eddie’s mouth gaped open. “Oh, this is precious. You’re rooting for him. Mitch has his own personal cheering squad…”
* * *
Mitch rested his rifle on the windowsill. He had an uninterrupted view of the back paddock. Nothing would escape his sights. “And that includes you, Mr. Bunny.” He made a clicking sound and smiled as the rabbit hopped away.
He knew better than to get his hopes up. It would probably take him several sittings and long hours of surveillance before he caught the culprit. Also, the sun would be setting soon and without spotlights he wouldn’t be able to use his rifle. But he’d at least hear whatever was pilfering his rhubarb. He had no need for the toxic weeds. In fact, the thief was doing him a favor by stealing his crop. Best of all, he had something to complain about and take his mind off Elizabeth Charles.
Thinking her name was enough to make him smile.
That first day at the café…
He sat back on his haunches and remembered how intensely focused she’d been on... not just eating that donut, but on proving something. She’d said her entire life and future were on the line. She’d needed to do it for herself. And then he’d seen it, right before she’d taken her first bite.
A barrage of emotions. All piling up, trying to rise to the surface, clawing and pulling to gain poll position.
Nothing he could have deciphered or understood. He only knew she’d been pulled every which way.
Before he could put his finger on any one of the many emotions he’d seen crisscross her face, the healing power of sugar had worked its magic, the effects lasting long enough for her to move on and away from the indecision that had appeared to be plaguing her.
When her eyes had dropped to his mouth—
If he hadn’t shot to his feet, if he’d been responsive—
“What exactly is the point?” Why dwell on something that hadn’t happened? He hadn’t allowed himself to respond. Despite the sweet temptation, he’d forced himself to do some moving on of his own. To stick to his guns. And ever since that first day, every encounter he’d had with her had tested his fortitude. He wouldn’t break. He couldn’t.
“Oh, yeah? What about earlier?” It had happened again. He’d been on the verge of drawing her against him, all under the guise of offering a comforting hug. He’d given plenty of those in his life. Friendship hugs. Innocent gestures of support. But this time, he knew he would’ve wanted more. He’d needed to hold Elizabeth in his arms. To take that first step toward physical contact.
He couldn’t even remember why he’d gone into the grocery store. He’d been walking along the main street...
And then he’d spotted Elizabeth.
Mitch closed his eyes, pressing them hard against the images parading through his mind. Something had reeled him in, a strong urge to be close to her, to engage with her in any way he could. If he didn’t take care, he’d turn into a stalker.
“Give it a rest.”
Digging inside his backpack, he pulled out a bottle of water and laughed at himself. His brothers were right. He was acting weird. But only because he hadn’t thought his plan through. Exactly how long did he think his stint as a celibate would last? Talk about jumping out of a plane without a parachute...
“And so my watch begins.”
* * *
“What time did you get in last night?” Matthew asked.
Mitch set his plate down on the table and eased into a chair. This time, he hadn’t taken any chances with his breakfast, ordering it himself. A man could only abstain from so much. It was enough he was refraining from indulging in casual sex. He saw no reason why his stomach should also suffer.
“I only just got back.”
“Did you bring a trophy back with you?”
“I didn’t catch anything... or anyone.” And his vigil would have to be temporarily postponed. It was all hands on deck for the busiest nights of the week at the pub. No excuses. Friday and Saturday nights were also a hive of activity for hookups. It would be interesting to see how he fared.
He straightened and rubbing his back, he tried to gauge the damage. After last night, he doubted he’d have any trouble keeping his hands to himself. He’d barely made it up the stairs, his back felt so stiff. His days of sleeping on a hardwood floor were definitely over.
“Is that thunder I hear or Markus grumbling?” Mitch asked.
“It’s Markus and he’s headed this way. Heads up, he’s got a scowl to match the grumble.”
“Are you trying to make her quit?” Markus asked when he reached their table.
Mitch dunked a piece of toast into his runny egg and popped it into his mouth. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Asking for a no-nonsense full breakfast. You’ve hurt Hannah’s feelings.”
“Did she say that?”
“She didn’t have to. I saw it written on her face. Now she knows you didn’t like her egg white omelet.”
“Now who’s the one who needs to get laid? Ever since Hannah started working here you’ve been—” Mitch frowned.
“What?”
“I just remembered something. I saw Hannah with Joyce yesterday. At the grocery store. They looked as thick as thieves.”
“So?”
“Doesn’t it strike you as odd that Hannah just happened to come along when she did?”
“You think Joyce and Hannah are in cahoots?”
“Guys,” Eddie called out as she approached their table. “I’m here for the news roundup.” She sat down next to Mitch and swiping a piece of toast, dunked it into his egg. “Theo’s coming back next week and he’s going to ask you guys to be his groomsmen.”
“Bull.”
“That’s what I said, right before I ticked it off the list. Fact is, I’m getting married and I don’t want any delays or unnecessary hassles. Also, Elizabeth is launching her product tonight at the Twilight Market, one week ahead of schedule. I know it’s our busy night at the pub, but you’ll take turns visiting her stall. She needs all the support we can give her. I’ve drawn up a schedule. Mitch can go first, then Matthew, and yes, you too Markus. I expect you all to buy something from her. Now, what’s this I hear about you hunting Wilbur’s ghost?”
* * *
“I think I’m going to be sick. What if I poison people? Worse. What if no one buys my jam?”
“You’re at it again,” Glenda said walking into the shed. “If it comes to that, I’ll take all the jars off your hands. As for poisoning people, you took out insurance. Not that you need it, I had some jam for breakfast and I’m still here.”
“I need to stop talking out loud. I hate having witnesses to my mini meltdowns. Sorry, it’s just me covering all possible outcomes.”
“Now that you’ve done it, why don’t you step back and survey your work. Take it all in.”
Elizabeth did as she was told. She stood back and swept her eyes from one end of the preserving shed to the other. After finishing her last batch, she’d washed and put away all the pots and utensils. She looked down at her hands. She’d given them a thorough workout, washing, cutting, stirring, carrying…
A gurg
le of laughter rose to her throat.
She nodded. “I’ve done well.”
“And after tonight, you’ll have tomorrow off but next week, you’ll have to start all over again. How do you feel now?”
She jumped on the spot. “I’m raring to go.”
“Okay, let’s load them up. We have an hour to set up the stall.”
* * *
Mitch reached the end of the main street and stopped. The town had been using the paddocks across the road for Sunday markets, fairs, dog trials, cattle shows and anything they could think of for as long as he could remember. Recently, there had been talk of putting in park benches and a playground.
Fairy lights hung from trees, and the stallholders had already set up their wares on trestle tables. There’d be plenty of people taking a stroll around and doing some shopping before going onto the pub. Mitch looked beyond to the vacant land surrounding it. Maybe Eddie was onto something. “If you build it, they will come…” He had no trouble picturing a couple of town houses, maybe a row of them… He shrugged and crossed the street. The sun was hanging low on the horizon with the day’s warm weather still lingering.
A couple strolled past him, each one cupping a jar in their hands. As he wove his way around the stalls looking for Elizabeth, he saw more and more people carrying the same jars. In fact, everywhere he looked, he saw little jars that sparkled in the light, like precious rubies.
Drawn by the light tingle of laughter, he turned. And then he saw her, handing over a ruby red jar. Mitch hurried his steps, his heart skipping all the way up to his throat, his focus locked in on her. Conversation, laughter, greetings... It all faded and fell by the wayside.
“Mitch Faydon, what do you think you’re doing?”
Miriam Stewart—the twins’ mother. Her voice acted like a whip fastening around his neck and pulling him back.
“You’re jumping the queue.”
He stopped in his tracks and then noticed the line of people, all looking at him.
“What are you all doing here?” He strode over to the end of the line and stood behind the twins, Aimee and Belle, who’d come with their parents.
“It’s a new stallholder. Her jams are selling like hot cakes. We might be too late. What are you doing here?” the twin’s mom asked.
He didn’t want to admit he’d been ordered to come. “I’m… supporting local small business.”
“That’s the spirit.”
“Look mom, they’re so pretty,” Belle said as she pointed to a woman carrying a jar.
“Don’t you hate queues, Mitch? Mom says all good things come to those who wait, but I think we might be out of luck. She’s selling quite a lot. By the time it’s our turn, there might not be any left.” Aimee complained.
With only two people ahead of him, Mitch stood close enough to see Elizabeth’s eyes sparkling, her lips stretched into a brilliant smile. Several strands of hair had come loose and played around her cheeks. The last rays of sunshine swept around her, giving her a warm glow. She was enjoying herself.
And then it was his turn.
He took a step toward her, telling himself to act normal, make a casual remark... something like...he’d just seen all these people queuing up and had to see what all the fuss was about...
No, that didn’t sound right.
“Mitch. Hi!”
“I’ll take one of those, please.”
“Oh… Um… Did Eddie send you?” Elizabeth asked.
He told himself to blink… and breath. And say something that didn’t completely give away the fact that he was an idiot. “Okay, I’ll take two.”
She frowned and leaned forward. “It’s really nice of you to come and support me, but you don’t have to buy anything.”
His gaze dropped to her lips, and he couldn’t stop thinking about how plump they looked. “I want to—” His throat swallowed up the rest of the sentence. He took one of the jars and handed over some money, he had no idea how much. “We like to support local businesses. Um, I’m holding up the queue. Okay, I’ll see you later.” He clasped his hands around the jar and strode off, his mind telling his legs to remain steady, while his legs just wanted to beat a hasty retreat. Crap. It had all happened so fast. In the blink of an eye, he’d managed to obliterate his solid reputation as a smooth talker—
Looking up he saw Helena Wright coming his way. He waved at her and called out.
“Spending the night on the town?” he asked.
“Yeah, Sophie and I are finally crawling out of our cave.”
“How’s Sophie doing?” Her fiancé had done a runner on her at the last minute. Mitch and his brothers had sworn that if they ever laid hands on him...
“It’s been slow in coming, but she’s finally pulling herself together. She’s at the pub now and I’m heading over to look at the stalls. Catch you later.”
Mitch watched her go and frowned.
He’d had no trouble talking to Helena. Sure, he’d known the Wright sisters all his life, but he’d bet anything he could approach any woman in Eden and fall into an easy conversation...
The way he had with Elizabeth when he’d first met her.
Now, every time he saw her...
Something had happened. Something kept scrambling his brain...
Even when he’d been attracted to someone, he’d never had any trouble talking. In fact, attraction seemed to bring out the best in him.
Could this be a case of head over heels infatuation?
“No.” No. No. No.
Chapter Seven
Elizabeth had been hugged and patted on the back by more people than she thought could possibly live in Eden. Helena had helped her pack up her stall, and had then swept her along to the pub to celebrate her instant success.
A one hit wonder, Elizabeth couldn’t help thinking.
She’d sold out all her rhubarb jam, but she knew she had to be practical and assume that the community spirit had a lot to do with her success. The proof would be in the actual tasting of the product. Hindsight had been galling her into admitting she should have offered samples. Next time, she thought…
Music wafted around her. She took a sip of her wine and swayed on the spot as she listened to the lyrics. The live band played a ballad about moving on, giving up on yesterdays and turning corners. It all sounded like her own personal subliminal message, reminding her to stay on course and remain true to herself. It was happening with one tiny step at a time. Eventually, she’d find herself and then...
Elizabeth frowned.
The search was over.
She was already happy. Sure, it was early days and she was still exploring possibilities, but so far... she nodded... it was looking good. Moments like today when everything fell into place could be her benchmark.
When the song ended, she joined Eddie and the others who’d managed to snatch a free table. As she settled down beside Eddie, someone else joined them. The blonde woman she’d seen talking with Joyce the other day at the grocery store. The one who was putting her money on Mitch sticking to his woman free purpose until the following week…
“Elizabeth, this is Hannah. She’s the new chef at The Gloriana,” Joyce said.
“You know the boys are going to catch on to the fact you two know each other,” Eddie said. “By the way, top marks to you for sorting out the breakfast problem.”
Joyce shrugged. “Needs must. I do well enough without having people queuing up for tables. Getting an overflow of customers was becoming an issue. I guess I struck it lucky. Hannah was between jobs.”
“Drinks are on me,” Elizabeth said as the next song was about to start. Smiling, she wove her way to the bar, leaning in to place her order, her voice straining to be heard over the noise in the pub, her gaze drifting over to the end of the bar where Mitch was working, serving drinks, chatting with customers, many of them women. He had such an easy manner about him. Yet the last couple of times they’d met, he’d seemed reluctant to speak to her.
Matthew did a bri
sk job of lining up the glasses on a tray, giving her a thumbs-up when he was done.
Taking a firm hold of the drink’s tray, she turned, and worried her bottom lip.
Elizabeth was here to celebrate, and to enjoy the company of people who’d accepted her just as she was. To revel in this new life she’d found for herself and embrace new possibilities…
She hadn’t come here tonight to think about the way her heart raced whenever she thought about Mitch.
She might have walked away from a relationship that had been defunct for way too long, and from a man who’d been playing her for a fool, but in a sense, she still wasn’t free. Not until she could stand on her own two feet.
Yes, but... there was more to life than making a living.
Her breath rushed in and out. The place was swarming with good-looking guys. Her gaze skipped from one to the other and...
Nothing.
She told herself to try harder.
Again. Nothing. No response, no quickening of her heartbeat. Then she looked over her shoulder. Her eyes met Mitch’s and they held.
That’s what I’m talking about, she thought as heat poured through her.
What was that all about?
It had to be a combination of the excitement of the day, the music, the crush of people, she reasoned. The air was thick with pheromones, add to that the glass of wine she’d had, surely it all added to crossed wires, imagined attraction, wild assumptions about being ready to meet someone new...
She pushed herself to move. Reaching the table, she set the tray down. “Here you go.” She distributed the drinks and then took a glass for herself and, taking a sip of her wine, she looked up. They were all looking at her as if she’d grown another head.
“What?”
“Eddie just told us you two went shopping for jeans.”
Elizabeth chuckled under her breath. “I doubt she’ll ever offer again.” She turned to Eddie. “You can’t still be mad at me. At least I bought something.”