“I’ll move my truck out of your way. What else do you need?” His obvious sincerity made her heart ache. Whatever their problems were, he was still there for her.
“What’s wrong?” Patrick asked as he joined them with the front door left open. He must’ve been keeping an eye on them from the kitchen window.
“Seth and Jayne are at the emergency room. He injured his hand. They need me to come pick up Toby. I think…” She hated to say it.
“They need you this evening?” Patrick asked, his voice laced with empathy.
“They do. I’m sorry.”
Patrick clasped his arms around her. “It’s one of those things. When family needs you, you go. Is there anything we can do?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll let you know when I get there.” She looked up at him and smiled as he leaned down to kiss her gently on the lips. Concern warred with need as she kissed him back, regretting that it was probably the end of the evening for them instead of the beginning.
She turned to Beck and slid her arms around his waist and snuggled close, wishing she’d had time to talk with him before the call had come in but time just didn’t permit.
He put the bag on the hood of his truck and gently squeezed her back. His muscular arms felt so good around her shoulders. She took comfort from his familiar, spicy scent and his body heat.
For a second he looked as if he had something to say but he wound up simply taking his keys from his pocket. They’d have to have their talk another time.
“I’ll call you when I know what’s happening next.”
Both men nodded and she went to her car and slung her overnight bag back onto the passenger seat. So much for turning the corner in their relationship.
* * * *
The next morning, Beck considered Patrick’s suggestion from the evening before as he put the small box on the front seat of his truck and then rubbed at his stiff, painful neck and shoulders. Disappointment at not being able to talk to Lucy like he’d intended had added a new layer to his discontent.
The air was brisk, blowing through his truck as he drove through Divine with the windows down to the shopping center where Clay Cook Jewelers was located. A bittersweet feeling swept through him as he pulled into a shady spot next to the building.
He recalled going into the store, when he’d still been relatively new in Divine, and still in the start-up phase of his beekeeping business. He’d been looking for handyman work to fill his time and provide income while his beehives had gone through their first successful season. It’d felt right when he walked in and met Clay Cook, and he’d bartered with him for an engagement ring for Chloe. Clay had bartered with him to repair an older, slightly damaged car, which the woman who would eventually become his wife had crashed into Clay’s storefront a couple of years before.
He looked down at his key ring and saw the engagement ring. Because of the wear and tear from his keys, the ring was in need of cleaning and polishing. That was what he got for putting it on his keychain but he’d wanted to be ready if she ever came back.
Shaking his head at his stupidity, he pulled the keys from the ignition. He removed the engagement ring from the key ring, rifled around in the glove box for the little box it had come in. He slid it back into its little slot and tucked the box back in the bottom of the glove box and climbed from the truck. He’d decide what to do with the ring later.
Inside the quaint Hill Country jewelry store, Beck grinned as Lily bustled out of the back, pulling her work apron over her head.
“Hi, Beck! You didn’t have to come today. I know you’ve been down with the flu.”
He smiled as he placed her order on the glass-topped counter in front of her. “I’m better now. I’ve been cooped up at the house working. To be honest, I welcomed the chance to get out of there for a while. I hurt so bad I couldn’t move for two weeks and I just got…”
Lily gave him a knowing smile. “Sick of being sick? Clay was the same way when he came down with it last month. Thank you,” she said, her voice filled with appreciation, as she opened the box and removed the pint-sized jar of honey. “Your bees make the best honey. Are you making any extra products this summer? I’m out of my jasmine-scented body balm.”
He nodded. “I’m planning to add some new scents, too. I’ll let you know when I have them ready. Thanks for suggesting Duke and Gage. They’ve done a great job with the website.”
“You’re welcome. So you’re feeling better? You look like you’ve lost weight and you’re awfully pale.” The concern in her eyes made him uncomfortable. She’d never said anything to him regarding the ring he’d bartered for although she knew Chloe had rejected him. Instead of the hurt that usually chased that memory, he only felt fatigued and ready to not feel that way anymore. “You look like you could use some homemade chicken noodle soup. I could bring you some.” Her tone implied that she meant it.