Just great. Even if she didn’t want to involve Courtney, why hadn’t she said something to Janessa when she’d had a chance? Then she wouldn’t be left standing here with her heart laid bare for Ben to skewer once again.
Watching her two friends disappear into the café, she took a contemplative swig of her latte. As she lowered her cup, her purse slipped off her shoulder, catching in the crook of her elbow and jolting her entire body sideways. She squeezed her cup so hard that the lid popped off and a tidal wave of hot sticky latte sloshed out over her hand and onto the sleeve of Ben’s Fresno State sweatshirt.
She yelped, jumping back and causing even more coffee to spill. What a klutz. “I’m so sorry.” Without thinking, she reached into her purse and dug around for the packet of tissues she always kept handy.
From the corner of her eye, she could see Ben look down, and her heart took off in double time. The slightly tattered blue cover of The Great Gatsby was poking out for all the world, in general, and Ben Jacobs in particular, to see.
He pointed to the book. “Oh, hey—”
“Ben!”
In a display of fortuitous timing, Hank charged up to them with a look of urgency that seemed highly uncharacteristic. He nodded a greeting to Sheila as he continued speaking to Ben. “You got a minute?”
“Oh...uh...” Ben glanced at Sheila, as if hoping she had more to offer him than the flimsy little tissue she held in her hand, but took it anyway. “I guess so....”
He dabbed at his sleeve, probably more to please her than because he thought it would help. Hank gave her a polite but obvious “do you mind?” look, which she took as her cue to go join Courtney.
She turned to go, in spite of that crazy pull of wanting to stay. Why was her heart so confused?
As she scooted through the door and moved through the warren of people and tables, she gave herself a mental reprimand. What a dweeb she was. Spilling her coffee on him and barely even managing an apology. Obviously, Ben had seen that she was toting The Great Gatsby around in her bag. What was he going to make of that and why, if he didn’t matter to her, did she even care?
Chapter 6
Ben wanted to sing. It seemed like such a small thing, but when he’d gone back out to the sitting area last night and had seen that the book had disappeared, he’d been hopeful. Now he knew that not only had she taken it, but she was obviously reading it. Was she thinking about the times they’d shared, reading and discussing it? Maybe not, but at least it gave him a tiny ray of hope.
Recharged, he turned his full attention to Hank, who was saying something about an urgent call from his real estate agent.
“Another guy wants to take a look at that ranch. If I want it, I have to make an offer today. What am I going to do?”
Ben leaned in so he wouldn’t have to raise his voice to be heard over the noise of the crowd. “I guess you’ll have to ask Andra to go out there with you today. Maybe on her lunch break.”
“She owns a café.” His voice took on an air of defeat. “She doesn’t really take a lunch break.”
“Oh, right.”
“Plus they’re expecting a lot of business today and tomorrow, so they have extra baking to do.” Hank removed his cowboy hat and ran a hand through his hair. “She already told me they have to shoot her bio part of the show after the café closes and that’s setting her back. She’ll be working till real late tonight.”
“Look, all you have to do is get her alone for a few minutes....” Ben let the thought trail off. Who was he to give advice about something he couldn’t manage to do himself?
“I can’t rush it.” The lines in Hank’s forehead deepened. “If I’m going to propose to Andra, it has to be just—”
A sharp intake of air drew their attention to Janessa, who stood next to them holding Ben’s latte and staring up at Hank.
“Did you just say you’re going to propose to Andra?” Speaking with barely concealed elation, she shoved the cup at Ben.
“Janessa, keep it down.” Hank raised a hand and scanned the crowd for anyone who might be paying attention. “I don’t want the world to know just yet.”
“So I did hear right.” She looked as though she wanted to let out a squeal. “How long do I have to keep it a secret?”
Hank gave her the quick version of his dilemma with the ranch. “So I really need to act fast.”
“That place sounds perfect.” Janessa clasped her hands together under her chin. “But you’re right about Andra wanting to be in on the decision.” Her gaze grew momentarily distant, then she snapped her fingers. “I have the best idea.” She turned on her heel, calling over her shoulder as she moved toward the door, “Wait here.”
Hank shared an uncertain glance with Ben. They watched through the window as Janessa wove around the tables and had a quick animated conversation with Blair, who smiled broadly and nodded at whatever Janessa had said to her.
While that conversation played out, Ben’s gaze drifted over to Sheila, who seemed to be engaged in a heartfelt dialogue with Courtney. As she talked, her fingers absentmindedly toyed with the cross she sometimes wore around her neck. Knowing that she shared his faith made the idea of not being able to be with her all the more painful. She was perfect in every way.
Except for the part about not loving him back.
The earlier elation he’d felt about the book cowered under the weight of that thought as the line moved them to just outside the door. A woman handed them each a set of rules and something to sign as Janessa made a beeline back to them.
“Okay, I got it all worked out.”
“All what worked out?” After glancing at the form, Hank scribbled his name and handed it back.
Janessa held up both hands as if she were under arrest. “Trust me on this.” She leaned in, causing both men to do the same. “I arranged with Blair Newman for you to take Andra to the ranch this afternoon to shoot her bio segment.”
Hank tipped his head in consideration, then nodded in approval.
Janessa forged ahead. “It will be perfect. You can show her around the cute little ranch, and they’ll capture it all on camera. Andra will love it, because she’s dying for something interesting to happen in her bio. This will make it look like her personal life isn’t a snore-fest.”
Hank frowned. “Hey, her life’s not that dull.”
Janessa twisted her mouth. “She works here six days a week and usually caters on the seventh. Not exactly epic.”
Hank rolled his eyes upward. “All right, so I get to show her the ranch today. But that only solves half my problem. I still need some time alone with her.”
“You haven’t heard the best part.” She grinned. “While you’re at the ranch and the camera is on you...you find just the right moment to ask her to marry you.”
Snapping up straight, Hank turned a little white. “I do what?”
“It’s perfect.” Janessa went on, apparently taking his question to be rhetorical. “Blair thinks it’s a radical idea. It will make everyone pull for the Golden Pear to win, and do you know why? Because America loves romance.”
Hank looked skeptical. “I don’t know if that’s quite what I had in mind.” He looked to Ben for support. “What do you think?”
Honestly, Ben didn’t know what to think. It sounded risky, but if another woman, who also happened to be Andra’s best friend, thought it was a good idea, how bad could it be? He gave a confident nod. “I think you should go for it.”
“All right.” Hank seemed to take his advice to heart, causing Ben to instantly wish he’d pleaded the fifth. “Tell Ms. Newman I’ll do it.”
Janessa gave him a quick hug and bounded off to seal the deal.
When Ben looked at Hank again, he saw a glimmer of something resembling fear in his eyes. He spoke softly. “You sure you’re okay with this?�
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Working his jaw, Hank looked as if his mind was racing. “It’s just that...” He let his voice trail off as his gaze lit on something inside the café.
Ben looked, seeing Andra, her hair pulled back in her signature head scarf, putting some pastries into the case next to the counter.
“I never really thought about it,” Hank went on in a soft voice, “but what if she says no?”
Ben returned his eyes to Hank. For the first time since he’d known him, he could see the vulnerability under that strong cowboy demeanor. Maybe Hank had been right. Maybe Ben’s insecurities about women were more universal than he’d realized.
“You have nothing to worry about.” He placed a reassuring hand on Hank’s arm. “You know she’ll say yes.”
Hank blinked and looked at Ben, then nodded slowly while the words took root. A cautious smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “All I can say is, you’re going with me today so I don’t lose my nerve.” He stuck out his hand.
As they shook, Ben glanced again at Sheila, who was watching him but quickly looked away.
His heart took a strange little leap in his chest. Something seemed to be telling him not to give up hope. Not yet, anyway.
* * *
In spite of her desire to keep a safe distance between her heart and Ben, Sheila had dutifully driven Courtney out to the ranch that Hank wanted to show to Andra, knowing full well Ben would be there, too.
Leaning against the car, Sheila kept a close eye on Courtney as they watched the cameraman trailing Hank and Sheila around the outside of the paint-chipped but still adorable old ranch house. Ben followed a few steps behind, looking as if he wanted to jump out of his own skin.
Shoving her hands in her jacket pockets to stave off the cold spring breeze that kept kicking up, Sheila flicked a concerned glance at her friend. “Don’t you think you should be home resting?” It had been a while since lunch, and she knew Courtney had the appetite of an elephant these days. “You could go into labor at any second, you know.”
“I’m fine.” Courtney directed a cat-eyed glower on Blair and Mr. Bloom, who hung back from the filming, holding up their hands as if they were discussing camera angles. “If I left this job up to you and Ben, you two would wind up under that tree over there reading, and next thing you know, my boss would be front-page tabloid news with the wrong woman.”
A rising tide of guilt weighed in against Sheila’s already frazzled emotions. She should just tell Courtney what was going on—or what wasn’t going on—between her and Ben and get it over with. After all, it would be comforting to be able to rally some support from her best friend.
Gathering up her nerve, she pulled in a strengthening breath.
“Oh, great.” Courtney spoke before Sheila had a chance to. She tipped her head in the direction of the barn, where everyone seemed to be headed. “We’re on the move.” A guttural sound erupted from her throat as she pushed herself away from the car and started to follow the group. “I think they want to film in the field back there. It looks pretty overgrown but, boy, what a view.”
Sheila released the air through her teeth, letting the moment go. If she was going to confide in Courtney, best to do it in a moment when she wasn’t quite so distracted.
Walking toward the red barn that could have come straight from a Grandma Moses painting, Sheila hoisted her purse onto her shoulder and took in the peaceful scenery. Surely there was a fence out there somewhere marking the border of this sweet little ranch, but from here the expanse of lush golden-green fields seemed to stretch all the way to the distant emerald mountains.
“Boy—” she grabbed Courtney’s arm to help her navigate the less-than-flat pathway that wended around behind the barn “—am I ever glad I wore flats today.”
Courtney’s attention flipped as she watched the group stop near a small grove of trees. “Hey, do you hear that?”
Sheila paused as a faint swooshing sound became more prominent. “Is that the creek? The same one that runs through the Bar-G?”
“It sure is. It’s high right now, thanks to the spring thaw.” Courtney looked around as if to gain her bearings. “I think we’re just up from Aspen Creek Falls. We should go there sometime.”
They walked a few more feet, and the snaking waterway came into full view.
Expecting the same serenity of the part of the creek that moved through the Bar-G, Sheila jarred a bit at the movement of it. Here sparkling sequins of rushing white water flowed like shoppers charging purposefully into a sale at Macy’s. Frothing and crashing against jutting rocks and downed trees, the water seemed alive with purpose as it hurried by.
But not even that amazing evidence of God’s hand could keep Sheila’s eyes from gravitating back to Ben. She watched him bend down and pick something up that turned out to be a rope. While Blair set up the next shot, Ben appeared to be tying the rope into a lasso. He reminded Sheila of a little kid, turning anything into a toy to keep himself from getting bored while the grown-ups worked. That image made her smile.
He glanced over at her with a molten look in his eye that made her think she might just melt into a big puddle of disillusionment.
“So what do you think?” Courtney’s voice pulled Sheila out of her thoughts.
“About...?”
Courtney puffed out a long-suffering breath. “I was asking why you think they’re filming here.”
“It’s pretty obvious.” Looking over at Andra and Hank as they talked and pointed things out to each other, a rush of warmth filled her chest. She could just see the two of them living out their days here. “They’re perfect together, don’t you think, Miss Matchmaker?”
“Hey, that’s Mrs. Matchmaker, if you don’t mind.” Looking at Sheila, Courtney’s face turned serious. “Is something wrong? You’ve seemed kind of preoccupied today.”
Sheila bit her lip, wanting to tell her but feeling awkward now that she’d put it off for so long. “You know, it’s just...” She looked over at Andra, who stumbled on her way down to the creek. Without missing a beat, Hank scooped her up in his arms, and the cameraman was right there to capture the moment. A swoon swept through Sheila’s heart. She wanted someone to do things like that for her.
Glancing at Ben, she sighed. “I’m a little confused about a guy, that’s all.”
Courtney’s eyebrows shot up as though they might just fly away. “A guy?” She twisted her head, probably to make sure Blair and Mr. Bloom were in no danger of spontaneously running off to elope or something, then pulled Sheila around to face her. “What guy? Who?”
Sheila stole another look at Ben, who had managed to tie the rope into a loop and was twirling it at knee level. He looked like the hero in an old Western, standing there with the tall grass blowing around his ankles and the fluffy clouds peeking over the majestic mountains behind him. Her breath caught in her throat.
Face it, Sheila. Without the Stephanie factor, there was no way she could make a convincing case against falling head over heels in love with him. Admitting her feelings to Courtney would be like putting out a contract on her heart.
Backpedaling, she blurted out, “His name’s Kevin.”
“Kevin?” Courtney’s face froze in a complex jumble of elation and utter disappointment. “I don’t think you’ve mentioned him.”
Sheila’s heart sank at Courtney’s less-than-enthusiastic response. She had somehow expected her to be a little more supportive. Now she regretted her decision to bring it up.
“It’s no big deal.” She shrugged, trying to sound blasé. “I met him at a business function. You know, one of those corporate parties where you latch on to whoever can make decent conversation. Kevin sells advertising, and he likes to tell funny stories about the people he meets.”
“Oh....” From the sound of Courtney’s voice, she clearly was neither amused nor sold. “And y
ou’ve been dating him?”
Sheila shrugged again. “Only for a few weeks.”
Why was she downplaying this? It had to be because of her track record with men. More than once, she’d gotten her hopes up, only to be disappointed when the guy turned from Mr. Right into Mr. Super Critical or Mr. No Commitment.
Another look at Ben made her stomach burn. Or Mr. Totally Unavailable.
“Sheila.” Courtney reclaimed her attention. “Why didn’t you tell me? This is big news. And I’m your best friend.”
“I was waiting for the right time to bring it up. Besides, we just started dating a few weeks ago. I’m still in the wait-and-see phase.”
“Oh.” A calm acceptance settled over Courtney’s face. “Well, if Kevin is the guy for you, I guess you’ll know.”
“Cut!” Blair’s muffled voice sliced across the distance. “Hank, it’s too loud here. The mic can’t pick up what you’re saying. Let’s move back up by the house.”
Blair stumbled and reached out to Mr. Bloom, who took her by the arm and led her back up the bank.
Courtney let out an actual growl that made Sheila think she might pounce like a tigress if Blair got too close. She took a step back toward the way they’d come.
Feeling a little unsettled, Sheila hesitated. “I think I’d like to stay out here for a minute. Do you mind?”
Courtney gave her a questioning smile, then nodded.
Watching as Courtney caught up to Ben, who had tossed his makeshift lariat back in the tall grass, Sheila sighed. Somehow that conversation with Courtney hadn’t gone the way she’d hoped. Oh, well. At least now Courtney knew about Kevin, so even if she did start to entertain any ideas about her and Ben, Sheila would have a line of defense. I already have a fella, remember?
She turned to face the creek. Hoping to cleanse her mind of all her cares, she meandered a little farther from the buildings, swerving toward the sloshing water.
Peering downstream, she wondered how far it was to that waterfall Courtney had mentioned. Hard to tell, since the creek disappeared into a stand of trees up ahead, but judging from the speed of the rapids, it was probably pretty close.
Rocky Mountain Romance Page 10
