Working My Way Back to You

by Doreen Alsen

  Maybe she would. She certainly should. Except that she was a total coward.

  Hate was a mild description of the emotion she felt about herself. Never mind. Move forward. Always look forward and never look back.

  Never, ever, ever again.

  That Beth didn’t exist anymore.

  After a short ride to the harbor, Beth pointed her car into a space in the Cliffside’s graveled parking lot. A soft wind blew, teasing her hair, which she wore long, not in the usual ponytail. If she’d used a curling iron, no one else needed to know.

  The scent of salt rode on the air along with something charged that demanded her attention. She looked up.

  Jeff stood under the dark green awning over the entrance of the restaurant. He wore a light gray suit, with a darker charcoal shirt underneath it. He’d even put on a tie. He looked way more sophisticated than the boy she remembered.

  His smile and the light in his hazel flecked eyes nearly brought her to her knees. Her heart skipped a beat. She could barely breathe. So handsome. As always.

  She was really glad she’d taken Jenna’s advice and put together a new dress and a pair of sexy heels. Mascara incident notwithstanding, she thought she looked pretty good.

  It always helped when you went on a date to not poke your eye out with the mascara wand.

  He walked toward her. “Beth.” He took her hands. “I can’t believe you’re here with me.” Leaning in, he kissed her cheek. “You are so beautiful.”

  The way he looked at her made her feel way beyond beautiful. “Thank you.” She licked her lips. “You’re pretty cute yourself.”

  He chuckled. “I don’t clean up too bad. But you.” His eyes lit with fire. “You’re made of magic.” He caressed her cheek. “Let’s go in.”

  If he kept dazzling her tonight, she’d be a puddle at his feet before the end of the first course.

  Speaking of dazzled, she’d never been in the Cliffside Restaurant and she’d never seen its like. Crisp white linen cloths covered tables standing on rich polished hardwood floors. The sound of actual sterling silver clinking against fine china plates competed with the sound of muted classical music. “Oh, Jeff. This is amazing.”

  “Yeah, I know, right? Ever been any place like this before?” He lightly touched the small of her back as the maître d’ led them to their table. Jeff held out a chair for her then took the seat across from her.

  A waiter, dressed in black pants and an immaculate white shirt, with a white towel draped over his arm, came up to their table. “Good evening, I’m Pierre and I’ll be your waiter this evening. May I start you off with a cocktail?”

  Beth had never gone out and had a cocktail. “I don’t know what to order.” Lord, how embarrassing.

  “Do you like fruity drinks?” Jeff asked.

  “I guess.”

  “Please bring the lady a Bellini and I’ll have a Dewars on the rocks.”

  “Right away, sir.” Pierre left and Beth was alone with Jeff.

  She looked out the window. “The view is breathtaking.” The sun had just started to set, spreading the sky with peach, magenta, tangerine and true fuchsia streaks.

  “It is.” Jeff was looking at Beth, however, not out the window.

  “I don’t know what to say when you tell me things like that.”

  “You better get used to it because I’m going to say things like that a lot.” Jeff presented his hand palm-up across the table.

  In spite of herself, Beth laid her hand palm-down on his and he closed his fingers around it. She just couldn’t resist.

  “I’m serious about dating you, Beth. We didn’t get our chance ten years ago and we owe it to ourselves to see where this goes.”

  She swallowed. “Jeff there are things you don’t know about me, things I’m not very proud of. And I’ve got Texas-sized issues to talk to you about.”

  “Same thing goes for me.” He rubbed his thumb along her knuckles. “Let’s put that aside and enjoy the evening.”

  Beth sighed, feeling a little lightheaded. “I can do that.”

  ****

  Jeff had never seen Beth dressed up for a date; back in high school they had to hide from her father. Tonight though, she wore a deep blue silky dress, not overtly sexy, but it hugged her in all the right places and made those big blue eyes glow. And those high heels. He’d just about swallowed his tongue when he watched her walk across the parking lot.

  “I want to know everything about you. Did you finish school?”

  “No.”

  “Never? Not even to get your diploma?”

  “My father wouldn’t let me. He homeschooled me and I got my diploma that way.” She took a sip of her drink. “Thanks for the Bellini. It’s delicious.”

  “I’m glad you like it. What about college and your music? Remember those plans we made, me going to Boston College on a football scholarship and you going to New England Conservatory to train to be a concert pianist?”

  Her smile seemed sad and her eyes misted over. She looked away. “I do remember. But there was no college for me. My mother got sick and my father needed me to stay home and take care of her.”

  She’d lost so much, Jeff realized as he rubbed his hand over his heart. No high school graduation, no college where she could pursue her musical gift. And she’d had to give away their child. He’d make it up to her or die trying. “Do you still play the piano?”

  “Oh, yes.” Her eyes lit up. “Every day, but not for myself. I’ve got a full studio of piano students. I like teaching.”

  “So do I! I love working with kids, not just the high school kids. I’ve got this youth team made up of these ten- and eleven-year-olds.”

  She cleared her throat. “Really.”

  “They’re great. I got this one kid named Danny. The kid is a natural. Throws like a champ, runs like the wind.”

  Beth coughed and grabbed her water glass. “Sorry. Something got caught in my throat.”

  She looked a little pale. “You okay?”

  She nodded.

  “Anyway, this kid is the real deal. I’d like to talk to his mom, but another parent brings him along with her own son. She even signed him up. I’ve never met the mother, which is something I need to do. That kind of talent is rare.”

  “It’s great to have a student like that.”

  “Yeah. Mrs. Coach’s brothers are coming to do a clinic next summer and I want them to meet him, just to see if my opinion is right. Do you have any students like that? Kids who just love the piano and have the gift?”

  Beth stared down at her hands, then looked up. “I do. One. So much potential. He could go a long way if he doesn’t get distracted.”

  He lifted his glass. “Here’s to talented kids!”

  She clinked hers against his. “To talented kids.” Beth smiled but it lacked the warmth he’d seen earlier.

  He wondered why.

  ****

  “Let’s take a walk around the harbor.” Jeff wanted to make sure this evening lasted longer. “I think I need to walk off some of those calories.”

  “Surely, you don’t need to worry about what you eat.”

  “Well, I do.”

  “Tonight was lovely, Jeff. You have no idea how special it was.”

  “I like the sound of that.” He grabbed hold of her elbow. “Come on. Take a walk with me.”

  She looked at her watch. “A short one.”

  They walked along in silence. Jeff’s skin prickled with the urge to kiss her.

  “I can’t believe you spent that much money on a bottle of wine.” Beth shook her head.

  “It was good, wasn’t it?” The sommelier talked them into a bottle of a 2012 Mosel Riesling Kabinett from the Reichsgraf von Kesselstadt estate in Germany.

  Not that he knew much about wine. Craft beer, yes. German wine, not so much.

  “Let’s walk over to the cliff. Warmer than usual in September, a light salt-laden breeze wound itself around them. Halyards pinged against the masts of the sailboats
, the bell buoys clanged out warnings about shallow waters. Lights from the houses all around flicked on, one by one, dotting the landscape and the stars sparkled in the darkening late evening sky.

  “It was delicious. Everything was.” Beth put her hand on his arm. “You have no idea how special this is to me. A night full of firsts.”

  He gathered her into his arms. “It doesn’t have to stop here. Like I said, I really want to explore what we could have.”

  She turned those big blue eyes to his face. “I’m not the person you think I am.”

  “I’m looking forward to learning about the person you are. All I ask is that you give us a chance, Beth. We owe ourselves that much.”

  “I want that, I really do, but there are things you should know.”

  Jeff came to a quick decision, even though it might de-rail things with Beth. “In the interest of full disclosure, Katie found out you’re here and she’s not happy.”

  “Katie?”

  “She says she won’t let Cookie visit me here if you’re in the picture.”

  “What?”

  “It won’t last. She’ll get over it. She just really likes to…well, never mind what Katie likes.”

  “What?” Beth shook her head and pulled herself out of his embrace. “That’s crazy!”

  “She gets that way sometimes. But I’m not letting her tell me who I can and can’t be with. I really want to be with you. I just wanted to be honest with you up front.”

  “She actually thinks I’m a danger to your daughter?”

  “She’s a little self-involved. She’s always sensed I never got over you.”

  Beth shook her head. Her body stiffened, her eyes furious. “She thinks I’m a danger to your daughter. That’s ridiculous!”

  “Not you. Your father.”

  “My father’s dead!” Beth sputtered as the wind danced around them a little faster.

  “I know. She’ll see how ridiculous she’s being. That’s why I brought it up. That and I don’t want any secrets between us.”

  A shadow flitted across her face. He couldn’t read it. “I don’t want to be the reason you can’t see your little girl. I won’t be the reason.”

  “You won’t. It’s all on Katie.”

  “I have to think about it.”

  “There’s nothing to think about.” He pulled her back in close and kissed the top of her head. “Don’t let what I’ve just told you get in the way of what we might have. I just needed to tell you the truth before this went any further.” He felt her tremble. “Shhhh, Beth, baby, give us a chance.”

  “I don’t know if I can. I’ve got a huge problem with you marrying Katie.”

  “It was a stupid thing to do, I know. I don’t know what I was thinking. Please don’t let it stand between us.”

  She shrugged. “I can try.”

  “Thank you. Now, I’ve been waiting for this all night.”

  He kissed her. Her lips were soft and supple and she responded, opening her mouth and welcoming him in. She blossomed for him as he deepened the kiss to taste her, to see if she still tasted as sweet as he remembered.

  She did.

  She whimpered then wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body against his. His body celebrated when he pulled her in tight. The last time he’d held her close she was a girl, but he wasn’t holding a girl in his arms. He wasn’t kissing a girl. Beth was all woman, warm and soft and oh so sexy.

  His woman.

  They came up for air and Jeff was about to dive right back in, but Beth looked at him, her eyes big and bewildered.

  “What’s wrong?” She ducked her head but he took a finger and lifted her chin. “Talk to me, Beth.”

  She shuddered. “I haven’t kissed another man in ten years. It’s a little overwhelming.”

  Say what? His ears buzzed. “Beth, what are you saying?”

  “You’re the only man I’ve ever kissed,” she whispered. “The only man I’ve ever wanted to kiss.”

  That couldn’t be true. She was too good and too beautiful for it to be true. “How can that be?”

  “It just is.”

  He kissed her again with all he was worth. Not as the boy he’d been, but as a man, one who knew what he wanted and how to get it. She pressed so closely to him, she had to feel how much she affected him.

  She clung for a moment then pulled away, her breathing ragged. “Jeff.”

  His own breathing was none too smooth. “Beth.”

  “There are things we need to work out.”

  “Not from where I’m standing.”

  “I need to think about this.” Shadows cloaked her eyes.

  “Don’t think too long. I’ll start sending things to Happy Thoughts again. I ran into Bran and he told me Jenna was running out of space to keep ’em all. Um…why didn’t you take them home?”

  She stilled. It looked like she wrestled with a million demons. “I don’t know. Afraid of bringing up all those feelings from the past, I guess.” She glanced quickly to the left.

  For the first time, he felt uneasy. He decided to ignore it. Beth just didn’t lie and keep secrets. She was just a very shy, private person.

  Maybe.

  It didn’t compute. Something was off.

  He didn’t care. He had Beth back in his arms and for the moment, nothing else mattered.

  She said she had things to tell him, but knowing Beth, they could wait. She was such a good person. How bad could her secrets be?

  Chapter Ten

  Jenna pounced on Beth the minute she entered the store. “So, how was the date?”

  “It was wonderful,” Beth sighed. “The Cliffside was so elegant and Jeff was, well, so handsome and sweet.” And I fell in love with him in one fell swoop. “Thanks for talking me into making a new dress.”

  “I live to serve. Are you seeing him again?”

  “He asked me out. I want to see him.” She ached with wanting to see him.

  “Did you tell him about Danny?”

  “I wanted to. I was going to but he told me his ex-wife won’t let his daughter visit him here if he’s dating me.”

  “That’s crazy. How can she keep him from his child?”

  “I don’t know.” Beth shook her head. “I never thought Katie would turn out so bitter. Who am I fooling? She called the cops on us.”

  “She has some serious control issues there.”

  “For real.” Beth came around the back of the counter to stow her purse under it. “I want to keep seeing him, I really do. I never, ever got over him. Everything is so complicated.” Beth shook her head. “Like this. We were talking about his job and he starts telling me about this super-talented kid on the Junior Sharks. Three guesses and the first two don’t count as to who he was talking about.”

  “Oh no. Danny?”

  She touched her finger to her nose. “Got it in one. Here he is gushing over Danny and I couldn’t say word one. It was wicked awkward.”

  “Why didn’t you just come out and tell him? Get it out in the open now.”

  “Like I told you, I was going to and then he started telling me about Katie and I chickened out.”

  Jenna pursed her lips. “You’ve got to tell him soon. Lobster Cove is so small, you can run but you can’t hide.”

  “Both Jeff and Danny deserve the truth. I’ll call him and set something up. Then we can both tell Danny together.” And maybe neither of them will hate me for too long.”

  “No time like the present.”

  “He’s probably teaching.”

  “Text him. And then get going on re-shelving the fabric bolts.”

  Beth nodded. “I’ll text him after I finish with the fabric.”

  Jenna shook her head. “What am I going to do with you? Text first, girlfriend.”

  Beth pulled her phone out of the pocket of her denim skirt. “Yes boss.”

  ****

  Jeff stood on the sidelines of the high school football field and watched his guys running drills. Not bad, but…
“Lavery, pick up your feet! Move it!”

  Lavery did as he was told.

  Jeff loved when that happened.

  He also loved the text he got from Beth. He’d call her back before the peewee practice and get that date set up.

  He couldn’t wait to see her again. Hell, he couldn’t wait to hear her voice again.

  He’d believed she was lost to him forever and now here she was back. No way he would let her go again.

  “Hey, Coach?”

  He turned to see the captain of the Sharks. “Uh, yeah, Chris?”

  “Want us to start running the new plays you gave us?”

  Jeff nodded. “Sounds good. How about you guys take ten and then start up with the new stuff.”

  “Right away!”

  Jeff blew his whistle. “Sharks! Take ten!” He looked at Chris. “You, too.”

  “Thanks, Coach!” He jogged down the field to catch up with the others around the team bench.

  Jeff knew he was in trouble when he couldn’t keep his mind on practice.

  ****

  “That’s great, Tina! Can you try it again and get your wrist a little flatter?” Beth sat in a chair a little behind her piano student. “Like this.” She demonstrated what she wanted from Tina.

  “I’ll try.” Tina placed her fingers on the keys and played the scale Beth wanted.

  C-sharp major. The scale with six sharps and so many black keys. Everyone struggled with that one.

  “Good, keep going,” Beth said as she played the exercise along with Tina. It helped both training her hands along with her ear.

  The opening notes of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony rang out of her cellphone. She pulled it off the top of the piano. “Keep going with the scale while I take this call.”

  “‘Kay.” Tina stared at her fingers and the notes she worked on.

  Jeff’s name popped onto the caller I.D. She smiled even though her stomach seized.. “Hello.”

  “Hello, Beth! I haven’t been able to stop thinking of you after the other night.” He chuckled. “Have you been thinking about me?”

  An understatement if she’d ever heard one. “You know I have.”

  “Hmmmmm. So, you want to take me on a date?”

  “Yes.” She pressed her free hand against her heart. “What are you doing this weekend?”