Page 3 of Beckett the Bad Boy (Suitor’s Crossing: The Caldwells #4)

BETH

Cream pages flip in a mesmerizing display—a shot of calming serotonin straight to my brain. Words blur, and the whisper of a breeze brushes the back of my hand as I absentmindedly start the process over again. Too in my head to focus on the conversation around me.

Another book club meeting.

Another night pretending not to envy my friends.

I don't begrudge their happiness, but is it too much to ask for some of it to come my way?

They've found love in Suitor's Crossing.

All I've gained after moving here a year ago is ten pounds.

And an embarrassing memory that confirms I might be single forever.

God, why did I have to freak out on Beckett? Why couldn’t I be cool or witty or literally a thousand other things besides neurotic?

I flip the book in my hands over again and watch three hundred pages of a couple falling in love condense into hazy smudges.

“Are you okay?” Faith leans over to check on me.

“Yeah, I'm good,” I lie. What other choice do I have? I can't admit to a mini pity party during one of the best nights of the week for me.

Hanging out at the Reaper’s Wolves MC compound with Caroline, Faith, Kat, Amelie, and Lindy is always fun, and we just started a new hockey romance series. I should be excited to chat about the hot goalie and his taboo relationship with the coach’s daughter, yet here I am.

Wallowing in my lack of romantic prospects.

For a town known for bringing soulmates, or heart sparks , together, Suitor’s Crossing has really let me down so far.

Maybe I should walk across that infamous bridge—the town’s version of Cupid—for the hundredth time.

Maybe Walk #100 will be my lucky number.

“Are you sure? It’s been an eventful week for you since that water main burst.”

Overhearing us, Caroline glances over. “How are you dealing with that? City Hall is shut down for who knows how long, and don’t you have fall events to plan?”

“Losing the office hasn’t been an issue.

I don’t mind working from home. The problem is the Chili Cook-Off fundraiser on Saturday.

We had everything ready to go, and now we’re scrambling to figure something else out, since it was supposed to take place in front of City Hall.

The pipes and road won’t be fixed in the next two days because they’re dealing with the utility lines, too. It’s just a mess.”

I rub my forehead as another headache threatens to form.

The stress of having months of planning literally washed down the drain and needing to start from scratch to cram all that work into mere days is wreaking havoc with my brain. And appetite. And sleep.

Basically, this week has sucked.

The only bright spot was being held those few moments in Beckett’s strong arms, and even that memory is tainted by my humiliating word vomit.

“I’m sure you could move the event to another section of Main Street,” Lindy offers, “but aren’t you friends with Kennedy Caldwell?

Didn’t the two of you work together on an event in the past?

Maybe Hearthstone Lodge has an open space where you can hold the Cook-Off.

They are used to hosting all sorts of things, so it might be easy to transition locations. ”

“That’s a good idea,” I say, my fingers drifting to massage my temple. “Maybe I’ll text Kennedy and see what she thinks. In the meantime, which player do you think the next book will be about?”

The girls accept the subject change and argue over their favorite side character, while I rest my head on the back of the couch, grateful to not be the center of attention anymore.

I should have skipped tonight’s book club.

Vegging out in my bed wrapped in a cocoon of blankets sounds heavenly right about now.

Maybe I can bow out early.

Commotion at the compound entrance draws my eye when Fox and Ranger enter the communal living space.

Our book club doesn’t always meet in the main MC hang out, but sometimes it’s nice to spread out on the huge couches rather than staying cozy in the cabin Caroline shares with Snow, the MC President.

A breath of relief slowly slides from my lips as I notice Ranger and Fox are alone and not accompanied by Ranger’s roommate, Beckett. The man probably already thinks I’m a stalker. He doesn’t need to see me lounging in the MC living room like I’m waiting for him to show up.

Even if I have a perfectly logical excuse to be here.

Even though I've seen him several times in the past during book club, when he appeared with Ranger and a couple other MC guys.

Ugh! Closing my eyes, I will myself to stop obsessing over Beckett.

It doesn’t work; it never does.

But a girl can try.