I gulp down my current bite. “So you’ve already been to the grocery store?”
She shakes her head. “No, Bess and I have been talking on the phone for a couple weeks now. She knew I was getting in late last night and offered to stock the fridge for me.”
Smirking to myself, I can’t help but notice how easy it would have been for Bess to leave this pie for Bethany herself, last night.
“She even stopped by this morning to check on me.”
Must have been while I was working.
“She didn’t tell you?” Bethany continues.
Shaking my head, I look forward to finding out exactly what Bess is up to.
After we’ve both finished, I clear the plates and set them in the sink.
“I should really be taking off now.” I take a step toward the door and she follows me.
“I’ve totally kept you. I’m so sorry. Of course you have things to do.”
I shrug. “It’s no problem, really. I’m happy I was able to help and thank you kindly for the piece of pie.”
After opening the front door, I half step out, letting the screen door lean against my back and reach out to shake her hand. “It was nice meeting you, Bethany. If there is anything you need, you just give us a shout.”
Her small hand is warm in mine. “Thank you, Beau. It’s nice to know I have great neighbors.”
When I release her hand, Bethany follows me out on to her front porch, leaning against the railing as I walk down to my truck. I give her a quick wave, which she returns before I back out her drive.
Chapter Two
“Can I have a word?” I interrupt the kitchen chatter, my eyes on Bess.
“Oh, you’re back. What did you think of Bethany?” Bess’s eyes light up as she crosses the room to me.
She’s a sweet soul, with a habit of meddling.
“I didn’t realize you had already met her when you sent me to deliver the pie.”
“I didn’t tell you?” she asks innocently.
I smirk, draping my arm around her shoulders and kissing the side of her head. “I’m on to you.”
She grins. “She’s a real pretty girl, isn’t she?”
I almost argue her use of the word girl, in my opinion Bethany is all woman; instead, I only nod my agreement.
“Well,” she pushes, “didn’t you think she was pretty?”
Smoldering hazel eyes, plump kissable lips, and auburn curls flash through my mind. “She’s pretty.”
Gorgeous, really.
“It’s so nice to have someone your age living so close to us now. Maybe you could ask her on a date.”
“Bess,” I interrupt, “she just moved here. Let the poor woman settle in before you try and get her a man.”
She glares up at me, a sight that would have had my eight-year-old self quaking in my boots, but now just makes me want to hug her. “This is the reason you’re still single. You are too relaxed about women. You need to be more forceful and get what you want.”
I grin down at her. “I haven’t had any complaints.”
It takes everything I have not to laugh when she starts muttering, “No complaints.” She pushes away from me and opens the front door. “I don’t see a line waiting to go out with you.”
Ouch.
Frowning, I walk out onto the front porch and slump into an old wooden rocker. She follows me cautiously, possibly regretting the bite in her words. I don’t say it, but I’d love to be settled down, married with children of my own. I’ve dated, but shit always came up, differences. I’ll be thirty in less than a year and I’m happy where I am, on this farm. I have no desire to live anywhere else.
I grew up here. My dad’s health started declining when it would have been time for me to go away to college. I decided to stay home, take courses at the local community college so I could help my dad. I wouldn’t go back and do things differently; it just made meeting girls hard. I was too busy with work and school to socialize.
Besides, it seems like every girl who’s ever sparked my interest has moved away. A girl I grew up with, Sawyer, came back into my life last year. Never thought I’d be interested in a woman with pink hair, but it didn’t matter anyway. She was in love with someone else. They’re already married and expecting a baby now. Story of my life.
As cute as Bethany is, there’s no guarantee she’ll even like country life. There’s a fifty-fifty chance she’ll be gone within a year. I’m a watcher, a planner and a patient man. If she’s still here this time next year, maybe I’ll ask her out.
Bess breaks the silence. “I’m sorry I was rough.”
Shaking my head, I smile up at her. “You didn’t say anything I don’t already know.”