He couldn’t believe he’d let Beck talk him into this. Josh looked around the room that was starting to fill up with people. It looked like Paige Sallins and Beth had really pulled off something great here.
Beck had called into the surgery earlier with Zoe to see Dr. Beech, and while Zoe and her grandpa caught up, Beck chatted with Josh.
Somehow, he’d talked Josh into coming down to check the place out.
“Come on, man,” Beck had said. “It’s a beer with the guys. Nobody is asking you to get married.”
Beck clearly had no problem with being married.
Josh observed him steal a kiss from his new bride, watched Zoe’s blush as she smiled up at her husband.
Had he and Elaine ever looked that way at each other? Ever been that easily affectionate with each other? The truth was that no, they hadn’t. Not even as newlyweds.
Josh nodded and smiled as greetings were called from people swarming around the room. Beck had caught him at a weak moment. That Chicago number had popped up again, and he was about to answer it when Beck and Zoe had arrived, saving him from his damned need to help.
So, now here he was. At a dating event about to watch the one woman he was interested in meet and most likely fall in love, knowing Beth.
He couldn’t quite believe that the festival had the turn out it did. That so many people were just willing to put themselves out there. Just like that. No qualms. No hesitations. No fear of getting hurt or betrayed. There were a lot faces he recognised, and a lot he didn’t. Paige was chatting to the band, with Jenna Wakefield and Brooke Winters flanking her. Sheriff Callahan was conversing with the fire chief, Cal Winters. Damon and Asher Wakefield were watching the drummer of the band eye up Jenna, identical scowls of displeasure on their faces.
Josh smirked and shook his head. He wondered if he’d have been the same with a younger sister. Though he couldn’t imagine Jenna paying much attention to the twins. Same as he didn’t think Grayson, Zach, or Seth Carroway would have any influence over what Beth did.
She wasn’t here yet. Josh knew because he’d been watching the door like a stalker since he’d gotten here. He was surprised at her lateness, and for a moment, he thought maybe she wouldn’t come. That she’d decided not to try to find her soulmate at a speed date, or whatever the hell this thing was. And the relief he felt at that idea scared the crap out of him.
The thought of Beth finding and falling in love with the man of her dreams made him sick, filled him with jealous anger. It was ridiculous. Selfish, too. But he couldn’t help it any more than he could help wanting to spend time with her. Being this attracted to Beth when he couldn’t commit was a pain in the ass, frankly.
Over the past couple of weeks since that night in her bakery, he’d been tempted to just go for it. Maybe over time he’d be willing to say “I do” again.
Beth was the furthest thing from Elaine. He knew that. But even the thought of it broke him out in a cold sweat. And he liked her too much, respected her too much to pretend.
So, he was stuck here. Frustrated, celibate, and too distracted by the peppy blonde to find any other woman even remotely attractive.
Like he said. Pain in the ass.
“Dr. Larson, how’s it going?”
Josh turned to see Mason Decker approach him, holding out a beer.
Mason Decker, who’d had one date with Beth and hadn’t called since, as far as Josh knew. He couldn’t figure out if that made him like or loathe the other man. On the one hand, he was immature enough to be glad nothing had developed between Mason and Beth. On the other, he felt weirdly protective as if he wanted to demand reasons that Decker somehow, weirdly, hadn’t fallen hook, line, and sinker for her.
The woman was making him lose his damn mind.
“Call me Josh,” he said, taking the beer with a nod of thanks. “Didn’t think you were the blind-dating type,” he continued for want of something else to say.
“I’m not.” Mason shuddered. “But I need to talk to Miss Sallins, and she’s proving a little difficult to pin down.”
Josh followed Mason’s gaze to where Paige was still chatting happily with Chase Roberts.
“You working your way through the ladies of Rocky Valley?” he asked, a tinge of bitterness to his tone.
But seriously — Beth wasn’t good enough for him? Paige was next on the list? That weird protectiveness surged through him again.
Mason laughed. “Hardly,” he scoffed. “I’m not exactly on Paige Sallins’ list of favourite people.”
Was it Josh’s imagination, or did the businessman sound a little upset by that?
“It’s strictly business between the lovely Paige and I.” Mason continued speaking to Josh, but his eyes stayed fixed across the room. “And as for Beth…let’s just say we were both a little distracted by outside influences to enjoy each other’s company.”
There was something in Mason’s tone that made Josh wonder if Beth had said anything about him, but hell would freeze over before he’d ask.
Just then, a movement by the door caught his attention, and there she was, wearing a black dress similar to the one she’d had on that night in her bakery, but shorter; she looked more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. Her blond curls fell loosely around her shoulders, her eyes looked like huge pools of the clearest water, and the excited smile on her face literally took his breath away.
Moving his gaze slowly down to the tips of her killer heels, the slam of desire he felt just looking at her nearly floored him.
“Close your mouth, Josh,” Mason’s sarcastic drawl wasn’t enough to tear Josh’s eyes from Beth. He didn’t think anything could. “Or at least get over there before someone else does.”
“The whole reason she’s here is to meet someone else,” Josh argued. “I’m not that someone.”
“No,” Mason said quietly. “But you are that outside influence.”
Josh felt rather than saw the other man walk away. His eyes were still on Beth.
Chapter Eleven
“So, where’s Prince Charming then? Do you have to take off a shoe and throw it at him or something?”
Beth rolled her eyes at Josh’s sarcastic question. She’d known he was standing behind her before he even spoke. Just as she’d known he was here the second she walked in.
Call it fate. Call it destiny. Call it the tragedy that it was.
Whatever it was, the pull toward him was as strong as ever, and that was exactly why she had to forget him, ignore him, and find Number 107. The perfect man. The man who’d make her forget all about Josh Larson and his stupid, distracting gorgeousness.
“What do you want, Josh?” she asked, making sure to sound bored and uninterested.
Fake it till you make it, Beth.
“Just saying a friendly hello. Can I get you a drink?”
Beth sighed and turned to face him. She wanted to be all cool and slightly unfriendly like Brooke had been with Damon the night of the wedding. But he looked so good…
That was the problem.
Damon Wakefield was handsome as all get out, but he didn’t set her blood on fire the way Josh did.
He was wearing dark jeans and a light-blue shirt almost the same colour as his piercing eyes. His blond hair was slightly mussed and made her think of running her fingers through it. She was pathetic when it came to this man. She knew it, and she was afraid that he did, too. Which was exactly why she needed to get rid of him.
“I can get my own drink,” she answered sharply. “And if you don’t mind, I don’t want 107 to come in here and think I’m with you.”
“107?” He frowned.
“My date,” she explained, even though she shouldn’t, because he’d just make fun of her. “Our profiles matched, so we both got the same number.” She waved the label she’d been given at the door at him before sticking it firmly on her chest.
“So… you just stand here like an auction piece and wait for him to come and claim you?”
Beth scowled up at him, hating how ridi
culous he made it sound. “It’s romantic,” she insisted.
“It’s ridiculous,” he countered firmly. “You answer a few generic questions and what? Your perfect match appears with a number tag?”
Beth really tried not to let his mocking get to her, but the truth was that it stung. She wanted to yell at him that if he just wanted her the way she wanted him, she wouldn’t be standing here looking for a number tag. Thankfully, she had more sense than that. Not much more, granted. But some more.
“You know, I feel sorry for you, Josh Larson,” she said instead.
His smile was so smug that she wanted to reach up and smack it off his face. She wouldn’t, of course, but boy, was it tempting.
“You feel sorry for me? I’m not the one wearing a number, Beth.”
Humiliation swept through her, and she could feel her cheeks heating. Why did he have to ruin this for her? Why wouldn’t he just leave her the hell alone?
“Yeah, you,” she spat, a lump in her throat making her voice tremble. “You’re so damned cynical. What is it? You don’t believe in love? So, you think nobody should even try to find it?”
He went stiff as a board, and his eyes darkened with something she couldn’t identify. But she was too upset to care.
“You don’t want me. You have made that painfully obvious more than once. So, what? You just like torturing me? What did I do to deserve that? Or maybe you just want everyone to be alone and miserable like you.”
He stepped forward unexpectedly, his body only inches from hers. She couldn’t have moved away if she’d tried.
The air seemed to crackle between them suddenly. It was as if he’d been wearing a mask and just let it slip. There was a world of pain in his expression. So much so that she reached out a hand to him before common sense made her drop it.
“I wouldn’t wish misery like mine on anyone, Beth,” he said softly, fiercely. “Especially not on you. I don’t want you miserable. That’s why I won’t—“ He cut off with a curse and ran his hands agitatedly through his hair.
Beth wanted to scream with frustration. Demand that he finish whatever it was he was going to say.
“You don’t deserve anything but happiness,” he said dully, the fire gone from his eyes. “You deserve someone who wants you as much as I do. Someone free to give you what you want.”
Well, what the heck did that mean?
“Josh—“
Before she could continue, his eyes lifted over her shoulder, and the tortured look was replaced by a grin that he didn’t even try to hide.
She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
“I think Mr. 107 is here,” he whispered, looking far too amused for her peace of mind.
She threw him a scathing look, determined to put him and his cryptic remarks and dimpled smiles from her mind.
This was it.
This was the moment that she’d meet the man of her dreams.
The man who’d save her from thoughts of Josh Larson and memories of his kiss.
The man who’d be every fictional character she’d ever lost her heart to come to life.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Beth squared her shoulders and turned.
Then looked down.
“Oh no,” she whispered before she could help herself.
The snort of laughter behind her did not help her mood.
Gerald Linney. The nineteen-year-old kid she used to babysit was standing in front of her looking like he was being strangled by the bowtie he wore with his chequered shirt.
“Beth Carroway?” He gulped, beaming from ear to ear. He stuck out a handful of wilting daisies. “I can’t believe you’re my match.”
“Neither can I, Gerald.” She smiled weakly as she took the flowers. “Neither can I.”
“Maybe you should have taken off the glass slippers after all, Cinderella.” The sound of Josh’s voice in her ear made her want to throw something. “Would have helped with the height difference.”
She closed her eyes, wishing the ground would just open up and swallow her.
The sound of Josh’s laughter rang in her ears as he walked away.
“Paige. A word?” Beth’s jaw was sore from having her teeth clenched so tightly forever. She’d managed to shake Gerald off by telling him she needed to visit the bathroom.
All around her people seemed happy pairing off and dancing, laughing, smiling. Why? Why did it seem to be happening for everyone but her?
Gerald Linney? Really?!
She’d spent the last hour listening to him talk about his PlayStation over a Coke because he wasn’t old enough to drink alcohol. And that was only after he’d spent twenty minutes trying to convince her to buy him beer.
It didn’t help that Josh stayed in her line of sight and spent the whole time grinning over at her like this disaster was the funniest thing he’d ever seen.
Even now she could feel his eyes boring into her.
Paige looked up from her drink, a look of guilt stamped on her face. “Beth, I’m so sorry,” she whispered before Beth could speak. “I don’t know what happened. The algorithm worked for everyone else!”
Beth’s anger cooled a bit in the face of Paige’s distress. It wasn’t the other woman’s fault. The fates just had a sick sense of humour.
“It’s ok,” she mumbled. But it wasn’t. She was bored and embarrassed, and she could just imagine the ribbing she’d get from her brothers at home. They were all here. The whole town was here! Grayson and his pack of rabid dogs seemed to be treating it like a free-for-all. Not that the women receiving their attention seemed to mind.
No, the only one who looked as if she’d swallowed something nasty was Beth. Everyone else, including Josh Larson, looked happy as pigs in poop.
“It’s not ok. I know it’s not,” Paige said sympathetically. “I was so careful with interests, hobbies, ages, sexual preferences. I just— What?”
She’d obviously noticed Beth’s wince.
“I didn’t fill in the age part,” Beth admitted, feeling like a misbehaving child. “See?” She smiled weakly. “It’s my fault. Not yours.”
“Oh, Beth,” Paige sounded so despairing, and Beth didn’t blame her. “Why?”
“Be-because…” Beth felt like an idiot, and she knew her reasons were going to make her sound even more idiotic. But she couldn’t have Paige thinking she’d messed up, not after how hard she’d worked. “…I had just finished reading Emma again right before I filled out the form,” she mumbled self-consciously. “Did you know that Mr. Knightley was sixteen years older than Emma?”
Paige nodded but didn’t say anything.
“And so, I figured if — well, if my soulmate happened to be outside the age group I picked, I’d miss out. I just — I didn’t think of it going the other way.”
To Beth’s shock, Paige let out a giggle before clamping a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry,” she gasped. “I’m not laughing. I just… Oh, Beth,” she said again.
Instead of being angry or upset though, Beth found herself laughing too. It was so unbelievably ridiculous that if she didn’t laugh, she’d probably sob her heart out on Paige’s shoulder.
“Hey Bethy, I didn’t know you were back in the babysitting game,” Seth called as he walked by, his arm draped around a brunette that Beth didn’t recognise.
Brothers were the absolute worst.
“Why do I do these things to myself?” Beth sighed as she climbed into the barstool beside Paige. “Maybe I just need to get real about the world of romance. That whole falling in love so hard you can’t live without the other person? Maybe it belongs on the pages of a book and not in real life.”
Paige seemed to think it over for a minute. “I think it happens for real,” she said quietly but confidently. “Not always, and probably not as often as we’d like to think. But it has to happen sometimes. Every song, every poem, every book and movie — they come from something real. They have to. And if anyone deserves that, it’s you.”
To her horror, Beth felt
her eyes fill with tears at Paige’s kind words. And when she started crying in the middle of a dating event, it was probably time to go. “I think I’m just going to write this one off.” She smiled weakly. “I’ll say goodbye to Gerald and head out.”
“I’m sorry, Beth. I know you were looking forward to it.”
“No, no. Please don’t apologise. You’ve put together an amazing event, and tomorrow is speed dating, loads of opportunities still to meet Mr. Right!”
Walking back to where Gerald was waiting, Beth couldn’t stop herself from looking for Josh.
He was gone.
And she couldn’t figure out if she was happy about that or not.
Chapter Twelve
“Morning, sunshine.”
Beth jumped at the voice behind her, and she turned to glare up at Josh Larson. A waste of time since he couldn’t see the daggers she was shooting him behind her very dark, very much needed sunglasses.
She’d barely gotten a wink of sleep last night, and it had taken a monumental effort and about six gallons of caffeine to get her here this morning.
“Don’t you have patients to see? Lives to save?” she asked by way of greeting. “For a doctor, you sure do seem to have a lot of spare time to annoy me. And,” she continued, in her stride now, “to pop up and scare the crap out of me.”
His dimpled grin made her heart flip, which only made her mood darken.
All night, she’d alternated between giving herself pep talks, convincing herself that the speed dating event would turn up some fabulous boyfriend, and wondering how she’d ever be able to fall for someone else when she couldn’t stop thinking about the Adonis smirking down at her now.
“I come in peace,” he said, holding out a coffee cup from her bakery. “Triple shot skinny latte with sweetener.”
“Jenna told you my coffee order?” she asked as she took the cup. “I hope she charged you full price.”
His laugh did funny things to her insides, so she tried to ignore it.
“I didn’t need her to tell me, and yes, I paid full price. Even left money in the tip jar.”
Despite herself, she smiled at how pleased with himself he sounded.
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