Page 35 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection

The reflection staring back at her told the tale. A tale, Mary decided, she didn’t want to hear. Right now, she was in avoidance mode, and that suited her fine.

Keep sticking your head in the sand, Mary. That’s right. Avoid the obvious and eventually you’ll get smacked right upside the head with reality whether you want it, or not.

Truth was she knew the reality of the situation. The reflection in the mirror wasn’t going to convince her of anything different.

She’d made love with Nash Rhodes. Not once. Not just twice even. And she wasn’t going to tell a soul. Not Suzie. Of course, Suzie likely suspected. Not her mother. Definitely not Barry. But she’d have this memory on her heart and in her soul for the rest of her days.

Because she knew today was all she’d ever have of Nash. This day. This memory.

And tonight, all dressed up for the party, she was going to step into the large dining area of the lodge and listen to Nash’s music like everyone else in Harbor Falls, smile and clap and hoot and holler. If she wanted to think about what Nash looked like under that soft denim shirt and Wranglers, she would. Because she would know. And it was her secret.

Forever.

Today she’d had Nash Rhodes. Her every fantasy was fulfilled. Tonight, after the concert, life would go on, and no one would be the wiser.

“Are you going to stay in here and primp all evening? C’mon, girl. We have a concert to go to and those front row tickets are burning the palm of my hand.”

Turning, Mary said.

“Suzie! I didn’t hear you come in.”

“You look beautiful. The denim dress looks great, but I think you need the red boots again. Don’t you? And that V neckline is oh-so-your style, Mary. You have to wear things like this more often.”

Suzie. Somehow, she had become her mentor. She didn’t know why, but she welcomed it and was grateful. She would keep this growing girlfriend relationship, she knew. Becoming close friends with Suzie was a godsend, and one really good thing to come out of this weekend.

“Thanks, Suzie. I wasn’t sure about the boots. You think so?”

She nodded.

“I do. Definitely.”

“Okay. Thanks for letting me stay and get dressed here at the inn. And for borrowing your clothes and things. I feel like I’m living the life of luxury or something.”

She smiled at her friend and tamped down the butterflies growing in her tummy.

Her tummy. Where Nash had smoothed his hands over her skin and kissed her naval and caressed her lovingly, like she was really his. Like he actually loved her, cherished her. If only she could believe that were the case. Right now, Nash didn’t seem to know what he wanted. Nor did she.

That thought in mind, she glanced to her diamond ring still sitting in the tray on Suzie’s dresser. With a sigh, she picked it up and brought it closer to her face. Suzie stood watching her, she knew. Without further thought, she slipped the ring back on her finger and faced her.

“Time to go,” she said.

Suzie eyed her.

“You’re sure?”

Nodding, Mary said.

“Yes. I’m sure.”

She ignored the frown on Suzie’s face as she passed her heading toward the hallway.

****

The opening act was not that great, but the crowd didn’t seem to mind. The anticipation of Nash being on stage soon was enough to keep them in their seats. Mary wove through the swarm with Suzie and found their reserved seats up front. The dining and great rooms of the lodge were opened up and filled with chairs. It was a small venue but cozy. Perfect for Harbor Falls. Mary noticed how close the front row of seats was to the small stage where Nash and his band would soon be located.

Brad was off dealing with this and that, so she and Suzie were on their own. After a brief intermission, Nash’s band came on stage to warm up and do a final sound check. Mary’s heart beat wildly in her chest just waiting.

What would it feel like seeing Nash up there, thinking about the intimate afternoon they had spent together? How would he react when he saw her? Would he acknowledge her or ignore her? And how should she act?

Her stomach ached with worry and anticipation. She had sent him away—had she made a mistake?

The lights dimmed for a couple of moments while the crowd filtered back into the room. Before she realized it, Nash swept on stage, picked up his guitar, and the night was in full swing. Damn if he didn’t stand smack dab in front of her.

She never, not once, took her eyes off him.

He didn’t look her way until the last song of the evening.

That song, a new one he told the crowd, hit her deep in her gut. Nash pulled a chair over close to the mic and sat. The lights dimmed in the background with the spotlight only on him and his guitar.

“I’m going to do this one unplugged,”

he told the crowd, then chuckled.

“The band hasn’t even heard it yet.”

He adjusted the mic, settled his guitar onto his lap, and hooked one boot heel in the chair rung. The toe of his other boot tapped time on the hard wood floor.

Then he looked down at Mary. Straight into her eyes. And sang.

Never look away

Keep your eyes on me

I might need more than a day, girl

But keep your faith in me.

Never look away

Keep your eyes on me

I’m a hard man to love, girl

But keep your faith in me.

The song ended and Mary didn’t pretend hold back her tears. She watched as Nash carefully set his guitar aside and swaggered across the stage. He stood before her and she looked up into his eyes—spellbound and captured by his gaze.

He whispered.

“Keep your eyes on me, Mary.”

Nash held out his hand and she took it. Rising, her heart pounding, she moved into him. Nash tugged her hand, led her across the stage, and through the French doors in the back of the room that led to the deck overlooking the lake. Behind her, Mary could hear the crowd twittering, a few gasps, and some applause. There, in the cool moonlight, he cradled her face in his hands as he had done earlier that day. Searching her eyes, he said.

“I wrote that song for you. Never forget that. And every time you hear it on the radio, know I am thinking about you.”

Mary’s heart raced and at the same time, a sinking sensation landed in the pit of her stomach. Nash took her into his arms in a bone-crushing embrace and kissed her. Their lips and tongues mated, and Mary’s heart swelled in confusion until she thought it might burst.

The kiss ended but his mouth lingered on hers. She whispered.

“Oh, Nash. I don’t what’s happening here…”

He broke away, his hushed voice echoing hers, and smoothed his hands over her face.

“Mary, I need time.”

“What does that mean, Nash?”

“Give me time,”

he pleaded.

“Don’t get married. Please.”

She didn’t know what to say.

“Nash, I told you to do what you need to do.”

“But wait for me. Please?”

Mary was stunned.

“I… Nash, I need to think.”

“Then think. Just don’t get married. Wait until I come back and then—”

At the sound of another man’s voice and a slap on Nash’s shoulder, Mary jerked back.

“Time to go, cowboy. The car is waiting to take you to the airport.”

The man behind Nash glared.

Forcefully putting her at arm’s length, Nash backed up.

“Never forget,”

he whispered.

“Keep your faith in me. Wait for me, Mary. Please.”

Then he was gone.

It all happened so fast. Too fast. And she was having difficulty processing it all. While she stared in awe, looking at the place where Nash had just stood, she realized she’d been oblivious to everything—and anyone else—around her. Her heart throbbed in her aching throat. Her brain reeled from the sensation of Nash’s kiss, and the words he had spoken. What did it all mean?

Behind her, another man cleared his throat. She angled back and looked. Suzie, Brad, and two more people stood behind her—Barry and his mother.

“What was that all about?”

Mary rotated fully toward Barry. His demeanor was stoic, his arms crossed at his chest and a deep scowl etched into his forehead. Slightly behind him, his mother glared.

Mary glanced to Suzie’s expectant face, then back to her fiance. “Nothing,”

she whispered.

“Nothing at all.”

Then Barry reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone.

“Nothing? This sure as hell doesn’t look like nothing, Mary Lou.”

He pushed the phone at her.

“You’ve been lying to me.”

Puzzled, she took his phone. There on the screen was a picture of her and Nash, kissing. She looked up to meet Barry’s gaze.

“I’m sorry. It just…happened. I can explain.”

“You’ve made me the damn fool of this town, Mary Lou. I hope you know the wedding is off. Mother is livid.”

Of course, she is. Mary exhaled—one big deep breath that pushed out her cheeks and eased a little bit of the tension in her chest. Perhaps that sigh signaled the beginning of letting go. She hoped so. She handed Barry back the phone and then slipped the diamond ring off the third finger of her left hand.

“You’re right, Barry. This never should have happened in the first place. I had planned to talk with you tonight. I guess the world beat me to it.”

“So, are you going off with him? That singer?”

He said it like it was a disgustful thing. That singer. Of course, he was hurt, and she felt bad about that.

Shaking her head, she quickly replied.

“No. I’m not going anywhere, Barry. Nash Rhodes is not in my plans, now or in the future.”

She handed him the ring.

“I hope you find someone who can be the partner you want, Barry. I’m not that woman.”

She backed off slowly, then turned and raced around the deck wrapping around the back of the lodge. Suzie called out her name, but Mary ignored her, needing to be alone. Suddenly cold, she hugged herself to keep from shivering. Perhaps from crying.

****

Nash stared out the car window and into the black night. He was alone. Blessedly alone, except for the driver. He’d ordered a business limo to pick him up and take him to a hotel near airport in Asheville directly after the show. One of his crew had packed up his crap in the bus and transferred his luggage to the car.

He startled as the trunk slammed shut behind him and the driver gave him a nod, saying.

“We’re off.”

“Good,”

he replied.

“Let’s get going.”

He’d fly out of Asheville to Atlanta very early in the morning, then on to Shreveport after a layover there. His brother, Kaulin, would be waiting in Shreveport to take him to his mama’s, in Natchitoches. The whole thing would take about nine or ten hours, including the drive down from the airport. He intended to count down every one of those hours until he was home and could finally unwind.

If this day had taught him anything, it was to follow his heart. Maybe his gut. Even if he had acted at the last minute. He’d done what he needed to do. Said what he needed to say. It was all in her hands now. The ball was in Mary’s court.

Not that he didn’t want to try like hell the next two weeks to convince her otherwise. She couldn’t get married. He couldn’t let that happen.

The car made a wide circle in the driveway and then pointed down the mountain. Nash glanced up at the lodge at the last minute and saw a woman rushing around the corner of the old building. She stumbled toward the railing and leaned into a post, staring out into the night. Her arms wrapped around her upper body, she looked to be shivering. Maybe crying.

“Mary,”

he whispered.

He twisted in his seat as they drove by. She didn’t see him, didn’t pay attention to the vehicle. She stared off into the night, lit by a huge full moon. He watched until they rounded a bend and the lodge, and Mary was out of sight.

Should he stop the car? Run back to make sure she was all right?

He pondered that for a couple of seconds.

No. He wanted her to take the first step. He wanted her to be sure. Tonight, perhaps, she just needed to be alone. Like him.