Tyler took a long draw from his cold bottle of water as he considered his next words. “I know you’re not dating, but a guy can’t help wondering if it’s just him.” He was mostly joking, though he was curious, and gave her a humorous smile.
Beth picked at the crust of her pizza, putting a tiny piece on her tongue. She shrugged and didn’t quite meet his eyes. “My last relationship was rough. Carl, he…” She paused. “It was a bad break up, and I’m afraid it’s made me a little jaded about dating again in general.” Beth raised her gaze to his, her eyes filled with equal parts determination and insecurity.
It was the latter part that pulled at Tyler’s heartstrings. What had her ex done to cause her to lose self-confidence like this? Anger replaced his curiosity, and he pushed it down to keep it from overflowing into his actions and words. “I think I’ve proven I’m less than stellar when it comes to my past relationships, too.” That got a little smile from her. “I haven’t dated since Reece. I guess I hadn’t wanted to risk it. Until now.” That got her complete attention, and there was no missing the surprise on her face. “I’d like to get to know you better, Beth, but only if that’s something you’d like, too.” There, he’d said it.
Beth’s eyes widened. She twirled some of her hair around a finger a moment before dropping it. “I…” She swallowed. “I’d like to get to know you better, too.”
Her words lifted the virtual brick right off his chest. He grinned. “I’m glad. What if I come back and meet you for lunch again on Friday?”
Beth tried to keep back a smile but failed miserably. “You don’t waste any time, do you?”
“I see no reason why I should.” He wadded up his food wrappers and put them back in the bag. “Is that a yes?”
“I can’t.” She fixed him with a serious look before allowing a small smile to escape. “I’m supposed to trade lunches with Monique, and we have a staff meeting that day too. I have no idea when I’ll actually be eating, or if I’ll have the full hour.” She paused. “What about Monday?”
“Monday works. Besides, it’ll give me a few days to convince you to let me buy your lunch and bring it along.”
She hiked an eyebrow but didn’t argue. He decided to take that as a yes and run with it. Unfortunately, their time together ended much sooner than he would’ve liked. He had to leave forty minutes in to give him enough time to get to the car and get back to work. He said goodbye to Beth and reluctantly left her at the table.
He thought about her all the way back to his car. He realized that the only time he’d seen her hair down was at the zoo’s Halloween event. Otherwise she kept it pulled back in a ponytail or braided down her back. He made a mental note to ask her about it someday, although their first official date was probably a little too soon for that.
He grinned. He, Tyler Martin, had a date on Monday with a gorgeous woman. Who would’ve thought it?
Chapter Eight
“What are you smiling about?” Monique gave Beth a mischievous look on Monday morning. “I don’t suppose it has to do with the guy who bought a family pass last week.”
Beth shrugged but couldn’t keep the grin off her face. “Maybe.”
“Uh-huh.” A customer came in, and Monique had no choice but to drop the subject, but it was clear from the look on her face that she wasn’t going to forget.
Beth hadn’t told anyone about her lunch date with Tyler today. She went through the rest of last week and the weekend half hoping he would call or text to cancel. At least then she wouldn’t have to deal with the mix of emotions that assailed her every time she thought about him. Beth couldn’t wait to see him again, yet the thought of allowing herself to get too attached to him, not to mention Meg, was more than scary.
But Tyler didn’t cancel. In fact, he called once over the weekend just to see how she was doing and to find out what her favorite foods were. He wouldn’t tell her what he was bringing for lunch, but promised she’d like it.
She’d also heard from Lance yesterday. The birth mother chose him and Lexi to be the adoptive parents of her unborn baby. Beth wanted to shout her excitement from the rooftop, but after the last match fell apart, she more than understood their reasons for wanting to keep quiet. This baby was due the first week of January. Beth prayed fervently that her brother and sweet sister-in-law would be holding him or her in their arms for the new year.
Monique finished with her customer and took the few moments of reprieve to lean against the counter closest to Beth. “Spill.”
Beth did her best to shrug nonchalantly. “Tyler’s bringing lunch by today. We’re going to eat together. It’s no big deal.”
“No big deal?” Monique fixed her with a look that would’ve made most people take a step back. “You’re either clueless or messing with me.”
Beth chuckled but said nothing else.
Monique shook her head and focused on her work. “Fine. But I expect a report when you get back.”
A couple of hours later, Beth collected her bag and headed out of the gift shop and into the bright, but cool, November sun. She hadn’t taken a handful of steps when she heard someone jogging up behind her.
Tyler reached her side and slowed again. “I was going to meet you at the gift shop and walk you to lunch. I’ll have to remember to get here a little earlier next time.”
His friendly smile made Beth’s heart soar. “When it’s my time for lunch, I take it seriously.”
“Because you’re hungry, or because you need the escape?”
“Both.” Beth glanced around them to see if any coworkers were nearby. “I like my job because it’s exactly what I need and has specific hours. But sometimes, it can get a little claustrophobic in the gift shop when it gets busy. I’d much rather work with kids, lead tours, or spend my time behind my computer screen.” She pointed to the bag he’d brought. There were no obvious logos to hint at what might be inside. “All right, I took a big risk agreeing to let you bring lunch. Care to give a starving woman a hint?”
It looked like he might’ve considered making her wait before taking pity on her. “How about fried chicken, potato salad, cornbread, and lemonade?”
Her stomach growled immediately in response. They both laughed.
“I take it that’s a good sign?”
Beth patted her stomach. “Absolutely.”
“A woman who’s not afraid to eat. You’ve scored a point in my book.”
She wanted to ask what her overall score was but held her tongue. They walked to her usual spot, sat down to eat, and visited easily about general things that had happened to them over the course of the weekend.
She lifted a piece of chicken. “This is amazing. Where did you get it?”
“It’s actually leftover from dinner last night. My dad fried it; he makes some of the best chicken around.”
“No joke. Please tell him I said it was amazing.”
“I will.” Tyler smiled. “I bought the rest of the lunch at the store on the way here.”
Beth laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with that. Thank you for bringing it.” She wiped some grease from her hands onto a napkin. “I’m going to warn you up front that my friend, Monique, is outspoken. If you do come to the gift shop looking for me, don’t be surprised if you get pounced on. She means well, but she’s not the least bit shy.”
“Unlike you.” Tyler leaned back in his chair and studied her long enough to make Beth unsure of herself. When she reached for her ponytail, he pointed to it. “I’ve noticed you always keep your hair pulled back. Is there a reason?”
Beth shrugged. “It keeps it out of my way. I guess it’s a habit.” Why was he asking? She tried to discern whether he liked it up, preferred it down, or if it even mattered at all. See? This was why it drove her crazy to be focusing on what a guy thinks. It was much easier when she didn’t care. Some of her internal conflict must’ve shown on her face, because Tyler raised a hand as though defending himself.
“I was just asking. I’ve only seen it down once w
hen we came here to trick-or-treat. I think your hair looks beautiful no matter how you wear it. It’s a very striking color.” He seemed sincere.
She relaxed a little and even laughed at herself. It was ridiculous she was driving herself crazy like this. “Thank you. I guess I usually tie it back for work. I hadn’t really thought about it until you asked.” Maybe she should leave it down more often. She always got compliments on it when she did. Her hair was one of the things people had complimented her on ever since she was a little girl.
He nodded toward her paper plate. “Are you finished?”
“I am. It was great, thank you again.”
“You’re welcome.” He looked at his watch. “I have time if you’d like to take a short walk before I need to head back.”
“Sure, that sounds nice.” They both stood, and Beth smiled at him. They cleaned everything up and then walked together toward the side of the zoo that overlooked the nearby lake.
“Meg and I both like this area of the zoo the best. Although for vastly different reasons.”
Beth stepped over a small puddle in the middle of the sidewalk. “Oh?”
“She likes to feed and watch the fish. I like the tranquility of the water, and daydream about catching said fish.”
She chuckled as they came to the walkway that led to the small pier. Without thinking about it, they both turned and walked that direction. Several kids had fish food their parents got for them out of the dispenser and were busy tossing the pellets over the side.
Beth and Tyler stopped to peer at the fish that were trying so hard to snatch up a pellet or two that they were practically leaping out of the water. Beth wrinkled her nose at the foot-long carp and their wide mouths grazing the surface of the water. “I have to admit I’m with you on that one. I’d rather eat one of these guys than watch them. It’s the making of a horror movie.” Thinking about trying to swim with hundreds of the scaly animals grazing her body made her shiver.
Tyler must have interpreted it as a sign of being cold. Wordlessly, he took the jacket he’d been carrying and draped it over her shoulders. Cold or not, it was incredibly sweet. His clean scent enveloped her. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He gave her a smile that nearly had her heart melting into her shoes.
~
Tyler led the way to the end of the pier where they both leaned against the railing. Most of the fish and even a few turtles were down where the kids were throwing food. That left only the rogue critters swimming around. A large red-eared slider surfaced, the sun gleaming off his turtle shell. But it was the barely visible reflection of Beth’s face in the water that held his attention.
Tyler finally turned his head to look at her. “Do you like to fish? Or just eat fish in general?”
“I haven’t gone fishing in years. I used to go with my brother when we were young and always enjoyed it.” She laughed. “There used to be an old tire swing by the pond. We’d go down and fish for a while, then we’d go swimming. I was on the tire swing that went out over the water when the rope snapped and sent me plunging. I was convinced he cut it on purpose, and it was two days before I finally believed him. He never let me forget I screamed like a little girl when it fell, either.”
Tyler laughed but felt the all too familiar pang of loneliness. “It must’ve been nice to have so many siblings.”
“Most of the time. I tended to be less…how should I put it? High maintenance than my older sisters. It seemed like they were always getting in trouble. Then Lance was in the police force for a while. I made it my place in the family to keep the peace and try to smooth things over between everyone else.” She turned away from the water to face him and leaned with her elbows behind her on the railing.
“Does it work?” Tyler enjoyed the way the slight breeze was toying with the strands of hair by her cheek. His fingers itched to take her ponytail out and watch the long, blonde hair flow around her shoulders.
“I’d say about fifty percent of the time.” Her eyes twinkled. “How about you? What was it like for you growing up?”
He shrugged. “I’m an only child, and it certainly had its highlights. I had my parents’ nearly undivided attention and didn’t have to share much. But it also got lonely, especially after my mom died. It wasn’t the same for me or my dad after that.”
“I’m sorry.” Her red lips pulled down in a frown. “How old were you?”
“Twelve. She had a heart attack, and we were completely unprepared.”
“I can imagine.” Beth crossed her arms in front of her. “My dad had a stroke a couple of years ago. We had no idea, either. Thankfully, he made it, but he’s had a lot of mobility issues since. It’s been rough on him. I’m thankful every day that he’s still here, though.” She reached a hand out and gently touched Tyler’s arm before pulling back again. “I’m sorry you lost your mom at such a young age.”
“I appreciate it.” He wanted to get their conversation back to a happier topic. “I guess that’s life, right? Sometimes it’s amazing, and sometimes it’s a real kick in the teeth.”
“Isn’t that the truth?”
Beth’s little laugh drew Tyler’s attention to her mouth. He shifted his gaze to her eyes. They softened as she focused on his face. “I’m glad I let you talk me into lunch.”
“I’m glad you did, too.” Unable to stop himself any longer, he reached out and tucked a wayward strand of hair behind her ear. He wasn’t sure which was softer: the hair or her skin. “Is there any chance I could see you next weekend? Maybe we could go fishing or something fun like that. If I pay for a couple of movie tickets, I’m pretty sure Dad will be happy to keep Meg for the day.” Tyler watched her face closely, hoping she’d say yes.
Her mouth pulled to one side as she thought about it. “Wow, Thursday’s Thanksgiving, isn’t it? Is it just going to be you, Meg, and your dad?”
“Yeah. It’s usually a pretty quiet day.” He swallowed hard. Truthfully, the holidays were some of the hardest days of the year. Even though Meg now made them fun and full of laughter, they were the days Tyler remembered his mom the most.
“You should all come over for Thanksgiving.”
Beth looked about as surprised by her invitation as Tyler was. “I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“Trust me, you won’t be. It won’t be as overwhelming since not all of my family will be there. You won’t be imposing, especially if you bring a side dish and a dessert.”
The glitter of hope in her eyes sparked some inside him as well. “That’s a wonderful offer. Let me talk to Dad and see what he thinks. Can I call you tonight or tomorrow and let you know?”
“Of course.” She paused. “My family is pretty intense. They’re going to insist there’s something going on between us if I’m bringing you to the house. I’m hoping the fact that you’re coming with Meg and your dad will help our case.”
Suddenly, the thought of her family thinking they were together held more than a little appeal. He took a step closer and breathed in the scent of her hair wafting on the breeze. “If we come for Thanksgiving, does that mean a no to getting together and going fishing or something the next day?”
The corners of her mouth tugged upward. “Not necessarily.”
Everything about her, from the way she was looking at him to how her mouth begged to be kissed, drew him closer. Tyler’s lips were inches from hers when a young child ran across the pier in their direction, tripped, and landed on the wooden planks. His handful of fish food scattered at their feet.
His parents reached him in moments, but he was already crying earnestly.
Reluctantly, Tyler took a step back from Beth, their moment interrupted. “I guess I’d better escort you back to the gift shop. I should probably head out and let Dad take a lunch.”
They turned and walked back to the main part of the zoo. Tyler resisted the need to reach for her hand as they strolled together toward the front of the zoo again. Once there, they turned toward each other.
Bet
h brushed some hair out of her face and smiled. “I had fun. Thanks for bringing lunch, and don’t forget to tell your dad I said his chicken is fantastic.”
“I won’t. I had a lot of fun, too. I’ll call you tonight about Thanksgiving.” He nodded toward the building behind her. “Don’t work too hard.” He almost asked her to call him if she needed something, but she had sisters, a brother, and her parents nearby. It was highly unlikely she’d choose him to call in any kind of emergency.
“Same to you.”
They waved at each other in that almost awkward way, and Tyler turned to leave. All the way back to the shop, he thought about the different ways he could convince his dad to go to the Davenport’s place for Thanksgiving.
Chapter Nine
Beth chopped the potatoes she’d peeled and dropped the smaller pieces into a pot. They hit the water with a splunk, sending droplets onto the stovetop with a sizzle. “Surely this is enough. I’m pretty sure I’ve peeled enough potatoes to feed half of Kitner.”
Mom looked into the pot and nodded. “That’s good. People will trickle in anytime now, but I want to make sure we have everything ready for dinner.” Mom always had been punctual on eating times. If she said they were eating Thanksgiving dinner at six, you’d better be there at five forty-five or you risked missing out.
Beth cleaned up the potato mess and released her hair from its low ponytail. She’d gathered it to keep hair out of the food, but intended to leave it down. Her family would laugh if they knew how long she’d agonized over such a silly decision this morning before coming over. Was she leaving it down for Tyler? No. Well, maybe. Did it even matter?
The doorbell rang, and she heard Dad get up from watching football to answer the door.
Moments later, Lexi came in with two large bags in her arms. “Hi everyone! Happy Thanksgiving.” She set her things down on the counter and gave them both a hug.
Finding Grace Page 7
