by Kay Correll
“I don’t think he’d even want to go with me.”
“There’s only one way to find out.”
“Have I ever told you that you’re a tough one to have as a friend? You never let me take the easy way out.”
“Just one of the best friend services that I provide.”
Beth walked into Mac’s Place and paused, giving her eyes a moment to adjust to the dim lighting. Once again, all the customers were staring at her, the obvious outsider.
The bartender looked up as she approached. He gave her a long glance and tipped his head toward the doorway. “He’s upstairs, but I’m warning you, he’s in some kind of mood.”
Beth nodded and hurried through the doorway. She eyed the stairs, took a deep breath, and started her ascent. Her steps slowed as she got near the top, and she wavered in her decision. Maybe she should just go back downstairs and get back into her car.
No, that was being a coward.
She resolutely climbed the last steps and knocked on his door.
“Come in.” Mac’s voice didn’t sound very welcoming. Not at all.
She opened the door and stepped inside. Mac froze in place, standing by a table, paper in hand.
“Mac, I’ve come to…” She took a few steps toward him. “I’ve come to apologize.”
He looked at her in stony silence.
“I’m sorry. I am. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”
“Apology accepted. Now if you don’t mind, I’m very busy.” His tone of voice belied any sincerity that he’d actually accepted her apology.
She started to turn and leave. He obviously was in no mood to talk. Then she stopped, turned around, and walked over to stand beside him. “Mac, I am sorry. Truly, truly sorry. Of course, you would never slit my tires. I shouldn’t have asked you again. You’d already said you hadn’t done it. I should have trusted you.”
He set the paper he was holding down on the table but still didn’t look at her.
She reached out and touched his arm. “I do trust you.” She found small comfort in the fact he didn’t jerk his arm away from her touch.
He turned to look at her now.
“I really do wish you could find a way to forgive me. Maybe we could find a way to start again? I’ve…” She took a deep breath and looked directly into his eyes. “I don’t know when it happened exactly, but I’ve come to… care about you. I consider you a friend. I do. And I treated you badly. I’m so sorry.”
He slowly reached out and turned her to face him, one strong hand on each of her shoulders. “Listen closely. I do not want to be your friend.”
Chapter 16
Mac searched Beth’s face, his heart pounding and his pulse racing through his veins like a wild mustang set free in a meadow.
“Mac—”
He put one finger against her lips. Her very soft lips. “I don’t want to be just your friend. I want more.”
Her eyes widened.
“I also very badly want to kiss you right now.” He rubbed his thumb along her lips. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
“I—” She nodded slowly. “I do.”
He slowly lowered his lips to cover hers, and a bolt of electricity shot through him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer. She fit perfectly against him, like the last piece in a jigsaw puzzle. A small sigh escaped her lips, and he was pretty sure it was his undoing. He deepened the kiss, then slowly, ever so slowly pulled away from her delicious lips but kept her in his arms. “I’ve been wanting to do that since the last time.”
“The last time?”
“When we were kids.”
“You remember that?”
“Oh yes, I remember it. That kiss has haunted me all these years.” He brushed the back of his hand along the silken softness of her cheek. “I didn’t know if you’d remember it, though.”
“I do remember it.” She looked up at him. “So, does this mean you’ve forgiven me?”
“Woman, I’m fairly certain that I’d do anything you want, including accepting your apology. There might be a small price to pay, though.”
“What’s that?”
“Another kiss.” He leaned down and kissed her again.
Beth laughed as Mac pulled away from her lips the second time. “I think that’s a fair price to pay.” She reached up and touched his face, rough with a day’s growth of beard. “In fact, if you asked me to pay again, I wouldn’t argue.”
He threw back his head in a marvelous, deep chuckle. “I’ll have to see about collecting again then.”
He took her hand in his and led her over to the couch where she wasn’t embarrassed to admit they made out for a while like a couple of teenagers. Her lips were warm and her face slightly heated from the scrape of his whiskers against her cheeks.
He trailed a finger along her jawline. “If I’d known that was going to happen, I would have shaved before you came over.”
“My fault for surprising you.”
“I’ll say this has been a surprise.” He tucked her against his side.
She relaxed against him, savoring just leaning against him.
“So, how about I take you out on a real date tonight? Like for a real meal. We could go to Antonio’s. It’s still open, isn’t it?”
“I can’t.”
She felt him tense against her. “I’ve asked you out a few times now. I’m beginning to think you really don’t want to be seen with me, do you?
“It’s not that. I mean I can’t tonight. I have plans with Sophie.” She knew that Sophie would be totally fine if she canceled, but she needed some time to figure this all out. All of a sudden her life had turned upside down. And not in a bad way, just a different sort of way.
“Okay.” He didn’t sound convinced.
She didn’t want him to think that she didn’t want to be seen with him. Though, to be honest, at first she hadn’t wanted to be seen with him. How shallow was that? Not one of her finer moments. She needed to make things right with him. “How about you come to the Fall Festival with me this weekend?”
He cocked his head to the side. “Really? Are you sure? The whole town is going to be there. There’ll be talk. Beth Cassidy with Mac McKenna.”
“I am sure.”
He smiled at her then, a smile that said he was pleased, he was happy. A smile that promised that they’d see what the future had in store for them.
“I think I should pay the price again.” She squeezed his hand, then leaned over and kissed him yet again.
Chapter 17
“You guys all ready to go?” Nora walked into Beth’s kitchen on Saturday.
“Almost, Grams.” Trevor hugged her. “I can’t find my shoes.”
“You can’t ever find your shoes.” Connor rolled his eyes and let out an exaggerated sigh. “C’mon. Let’s go find them. The sooner we do, the sooner we can go to the Fall Festival.”
The boys raced out of the room and she turned to Beth. She paused and stared at her daughter for a moment. “Is everything okay?”
“Of course.” Beth’s words came out a bit too rushed.
“You looked flushed… and that outfit.” She’d expected Beth to be dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, or possibly a sweater. Beth was wearing nice corduroy slacks and a pretty top that she hadn’t seen before.
“What’s wrong with it?” Beth glanced down and frowned.
“I was just expecting something more…” Nora shook her head. “Never mind, you look very lovely.”
“Well, I am running for mayor and most of the town will be there. I wanted to look nice.”
She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something was going on with her daughter. She seemed edgy. Or maybe a bit exhilarated? Nora hadn’t seen Beth this excited about going to the Fall Festival since she’d been a young girl.
She followed Beth out of the kitchen and into the family room. Beth glanced at her reflection in the mirror hanging over a small table. She fussed with a loose wisp of hair.
Nora
frowned. Something was going on, for sure.
“Come on, boys. Let’s go.” Beth called out then turned to Nora. “Oh, and I’m meeting Mac at the festival.
Ah, so that was it. Nora smiled to herself, her faith in her mother’s intuition fully intact. Her daughter’s nonchalant tone of voice hadn’t fooled her for a moment. Well, good for Beth.
She made a mental note to take the boys off her daughter’s hands when they got to the festival. She figured offering to take them on some of the rides would work. She herded the boys out to her car, and they all headed to the festival.
She couldn’t help but smile when she saw Beth flip down the sun visor and take a quick look in the mirror on the back side of it, fussing with an imaginary fly-away wisp yet again.
Well, well, well.
Beth stood at the edge of the crowd at the Fall Festival after her mother took the boys off to have fun on the rides. She should have set up a place to meet Mac instead of just saying she’d see him here. Main Street was teeming with people milling about and ducking in and out of the shops. The park at the end of the street held a few rides. Vendors were set up along Main Street and the road had been closed to car traffic. She took out her phone and texted Mac that she’d be waiting in front of Bookish Cafe, she’d never find him if they didn’t set a meeting place.
She wandered along the street, stopping to talk to people along the way. She quit counting how many times she’d glanced at her phone to see if Mac had answered her text.
Maybe he’d decided not to come or got busy at the tavern.
She could see all the way down the sidewalk to Annie’s shop, and Mac wasn’t waiting for her there. Disappointment hovered around her.
She shoved her phone back into her pocket. She was going to enjoy herself anyway. She was.
She continued down the street and stopped at Annie’s shop. Annie stood in the doorway, welcoming people to Bookish Cafe. “Hi, Beth.”
“Hey, Annie. Looks like you have a good crowd at your shop today.”
“We’re doing a brisk business. I even put Nick to work at the checkout counter. Is your mom around?”
“She took the boys over to the rides.”
“You want to come in and grab a coffee or soda?”
“I… uh… I’m meeting someone here.”
One of Annie’s eyebrows cocked questioningly. “Oh?”
“I’m meeting Mac McKenna.”
Annie didn’t look surprised. “I haven’t seen him.”
“Yet here I am.”
Beth turned at the sound of Mac’s voice. He greeted her with a warm smile. She felt a smile spread across her face. Maybe even a goofy smile. She was just so glad to see him. She was uncertain on whether she should give him a quick hug or what. They both stood awkwardly in front of Annie.
“Well, go on you two. Go have fun. If you see your mom, tell her to stop by with the boys and I’ll get them some ice cream.” Annie shooed them down the street.
Beth fell into step beside Mac as they threaded through the crowd. They almost got separated when a large group passed by walking in the opposite direction. He grabbed her hand to keep from losing her, then kept her hand in his as they ambled along the sidewalk in a less crowded area.
She enjoyed the feeling of her hand in his strong grip. It had been years and years since she’d walked hand in hand with a man. They wandered over to the large bricked courtyard area that led to the river walk.
“Well, Miss Cassidy.” Mr. Dobbs stood in the middle of the path, blocking their way.
“Mr. Dobbs.” Beth forced a smile. She was having too good of a time with Mac to deal with Dobbs today. She started to sidestep him.
“So, you’re here with Mac McKenna?” He eyed her and shook his head with obvious disapproval.
“I am.” She moved closer to Mac and squeezed his hand.
“Hm. Well, that’s interesting.”
“Say, darlin’, you want to go walk along the river?” Mac wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close.
Dobbs’ eyes widened.
She knew that Mac was just trying to get a rise out of Dobbs with the darling remark and the easy draping of his arm around her shoulder. She didn’t blame him. Dobbs seemed to bring out the… well, she didn’t know what to call it exactly, but he sure rubbed her the wrong way with his judgmental attitude.
Dobbs shook his head again, turned away without another word, and hurried over to where James Weaver stood on the far side of the courtyard. He leaned over and said something to James and they both stared over at her and Mac.
“Come on. Let’s do go walk along the river.” She tugged on Mac’s hand and they headed to the path along Sweet River.
“Sorry, Old Man Dobbs just gets to me.” Mac sighed.
“He gets under my skin, too.”
“I’m not sure I’m doing your campaign for mayor any favors.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” But she did. Mac had a reputation and so far the town had yet to forget it.
“I wonder if this is very smart. Wandering around town with me.” He looked down at their hands then held them up. “Like this.”
“Mac, there is nowhere I’d rather be right now and no one I’d rather be with.” She squeezed his hand.
Mac liked the feel of Beth’s hand in his. He liked the feel of her walking beside him. And he liked that she hadn’t pulled away from him when Dobbs showed up. Oh, heck, he liked everything about this day so far. His life had been totally turned upside down since that day he’d stopped by the side of the road to help her. He thanked his lucky stars, the fates, and anyone else who needed thanking for that pivotal day and what he now considered her serendipitous flat tire.
He felt a foolish grin spread across his face as they headed across the courtyard.
“Mom! Mom.” Trevor called from across the courtyard and waved his arm excitedly.
Beth slipped her hand from his as Trevor raced across the bricks with Connor and Nora trailing behind. Mac glanced down at his empty hand, momentarily disconnected from Beth and his thoughts.
“Sorry, I…” she whispered to him as Trevor got closer.
He nodded. He understood. Kind of. She wasn’t ready for the boys to know he was more than just an acquaintance, a friend.
Was he more than that?
Of course, he was…
“Hey, Mr. McKenna. You’re here too. Isn’t the festival the best? Grams took us on the rides.”
“Hey, Trev. Good to see you.”
Connor and Nora walked up. Nora flashed him a welcoming smile. “Good to see you, Mac. Enjoying the festival?”
“I am. I haven’t been to it since high school days.” The last time he’d been to one, he’d sat at the edge of town and watched the people milling around. Friends laughing and joking together. Families out for a day of fun. He’d been all alone and unnoticed. He’d finally left when he couldn’t bear the weight of the ache of loneliness. Until rescuing Beth by the side of the road, he hadn’t been back to Sweet River Falls since he’d moved away from its judgmental people like Old Man Dobbs.
“Mom, Annie said you should bring the boys by Bookish Cafe and get some ice cream.”
“Can we?” Connor looked at Nora.
“Of course.” She turned to Beth. “I’ll take them to Annie’s and we’ll meet up there afterward. About thirty minutes or so? Does that sound good?”
“Sure. Thanks, Mom.”
Mac watched as Trevor ran ahead of Nora and Connor, then came racing back toward them again. They walked around a bend in the river and disappeared.
Mac wasn’t used to being around kids, but he enjoyed Beth’s boys. He’d had a good time helping them with their tree house. He just hadn’t realized the energy level of boys that age. “He’s got a lot of energy.”
“No kidding.” Beth grinned and slipped her hand back into his. “I’m sorry about the hand thing. The boys. I’m not sure I’m ready for them to know I’m…” She looked at him. “What am I? Seein
g you? Dating you?”
“I don’t know what people call this. Don’t care.” He softly tucked a wisp of her hair away from her face. “I like you, Beth Cassidy.”
A shy grin crossed her face. “I like you, Mac McKenna.”
They came up to Brooks Gallery and Beth grabbed his hand. “Come on. Let’s go in and say hi to Sophie.”
“Does she work at her parents’ gallery now?” He remembered they’d owned the artsy-craftsy gallery.
Beth stopped and looked at him, a sad look crossing her face. “Her parents died in a car accident. Sophie was teaching music at the high school, but after they died she took over the gallery.”
“That’s too bad. About her parents, I mean.”
“She loved teaching, but I think she felt… I don’t know… obligated to take over the gallery. Her parents had worked so hard to get it up and running and successful. Anyway, she makes some jewelry for the shop. She’s always been so creative. Then she buys local crafts and photography.” She tugged on his hand. “Come in and see for yourself.”
They walked through the open door, and Sophie waved at them. They wandered around the gallery while Sophie finished up with her customers and came up to them. “Hey, you two.”
“I wanted to show Mac your gallery.”
“It’s really nice. I love those black and white photos over there of the mountains. And that one of the tree fallen across the river. The lighting in it is spectacular.”
“And you, Mac McKenna, have a good eye.” Sophie smiled at him. “Those were taken by a very talented photographer, Hunt Robichaux. I’m trying to arrange a whole showing for him here at the gallery of his Rocky Mountain photography.”
“Beth said you make some of the jewelry here. Did you make the silver set with the denim turquoise?”
“I did.” Sophie beamed. “And you know your stones.”
“It’s great work.” Mac had been impressed with the symmetry and craftsmanship of the set.
“Okay, Beth, you can bring this man back here any time you want.” Sophie grinned. “Oh, gotta run. More customers. I’ll catch you later. Thanks for stopping by.”
