Page 35 of Summer Weddings

She’d learned about him only a year ago.

Despite the initial shock, this new knowledge didn’t change her feelings toward either her mother or Peter Ross.

She just wanted to discover for herself what kind of man Ben Hamilton was.

She certainly didn’t intend to interfere in his life.

Nor did she intend to embarrass him with the truth.

The year might well come to a close without his ever finding out who she was.

In all honesty, Bethany couldn’t think of a way to casually announce that she was his daughter. For a giddy moment, she was tempted to throw open her arms and call him Daddy. But no—he’d never been that.

Ben lingered at the table. “If you want the truth, I was surprised you were coming here with John.”

“Really.” Bethany picked up her water glass.

“I kinda thought you were sweet on Mitch.”

The glass hit the table with an unexpected thunk, garnering the attention of the restaurant’s two other occupants.

Ben rubbed the side of his face. “What I’ve seen, Mitch is taken with you, as well.”

Bethany stared down at the table and swallowed nervously. “I’m sure that isn’t true.”

Low laughter rumbled in Ben’s chest. “I’ve seen the way you two send looks at each other. I’m not blind, you know. Yes, sir, I see plenty—lots more than people think.” He tapped his finger against his temple to emphasize the point. “I might be a crusty old bachelor, but I—”

“You never got married?” she interrupted him.

“No.”

“Why not?” She turned the conversation away from herself, at the same time attempting to learn what she could about his life.

“I guess you could say I never found the right woman.”

His answer irritated Bethany. Her mother was one of the finest women she’d ever known. The desire to defend her mother, tell this character about the heartache he’d caused, burned in the pit of her stomach.

“How…how long have you been in Alaska?” she asked instead.

Ben seemed to need time to calculate his answer. “It must be twenty years now. The O’Halloran boys were still wet behind the ears when I made my way here.”

“Why Hard Luck?” she asked.

“Why not? It was as good a place as any. Besides,” he said, flashing her a grin, “there’s something to be said for having the only restaurant within a four-hundred-mile radius.”

Bethany laughed.

The door opened and John Henderson rushed in, a little breathless and a whole lot flustered. He hurried over to the table, and his eyes lit up at the sight of her. He seemed speechless.

“Hello again,” Bethany said.

John remained standing there, his mouth open.

Ben slapped him on the back. “Aren’t you going to thank me for keeping her company?”

John jerked his head around as if suddenly noticing Ben. “Uh, thanks, Ben.”

“No problem.” He turned to walk back to the kitchen, but before he did, Bethany’s eye caught his and they shared a secret smile. For the first time Bethany felt she’d truly communicated with the man she’d come three thousand miles to meet.

* * *

Dinner turned out to be more of an ordeal than Bethany had expected.

By the time he’d paid for their meal, Bethany actually felt sorry for John.

During the course of their dinner, he’d dripped gravy down the front of his shirt, knocked over the sugar canister and spilled his coffee, most of which landed on her skirt. The man was clearly a nervous wreck.

“I’ll walk you home,” John said.

She waited until they were outside before she thanked him. Although they were only halfway through September, there was a decided coolness, and the hint of snow hung in the air. Bethany was glad she’d worn her coat.

“Thank you, John, for a lovely evening.”

The pilot buried his hands in his jacket pockets. “I’m sorry about the coffee.”

“You didn’t do it on purpose.”

“What about your skirt?”

“Don’t worry—I’m sure it’ll wash out.”

“You didn’t get burned?”

She’d assured him she hadn’t at least a dozen times. “I’m fine, John, really.”

“I want you to know I’m not normally this clumsy.”

“I’m sure that’s true.”

“It’s just that it isn’t often a woman as beautiful as you agrees to have dinner with me.”

There was something touching about this pilot, something endearing. “What a sweet thing to say. Thank you.”

“Women like to hear that kind of stuff, don’t they?” John asked. “About being pretty and all.”

Bethany hesitated, wondering where the conversation was heading. “I think it’s safe to say we do.”

It was difficult to keep from smiling. With someone else, she might have been irritated or worse.

But not with John. Besides, the evening was so beautiful.

The sky danced with a brilliant display of stars, and the northern lights seemed to sizzle just over the horizon.

Bethany couldn’t stop gazing up at the heavens.

“Is it always this beautiful here?”

“Yup,” John said without hesitation. “But then they say that beauty’s in the eye of the beholder.”

“That’s true.” Bethany shrugged, a little puzzled.

“It won’t be long now before the rivers freeze,” he explained soberly.

“So soon?”

“Yup. We’re likely to have snow anytime.”

Bethany could hardly believe it. “Really?”

“This is the Arctic, Bethany.”

“But it seems as if I just got here. It’s still summer at home.”

“Maybe in California, but not here.” He looked worried. “You aren’t going to leave, are you?”

“No. I signed a contract for this school year. Don’t worry, I’m not going to break my commitment because of a little snow and ice.”

They strolled past the school, and she glanced at the building with a sense of pride. She already loved her job and her students.

Soon her house was in sight. Bethany was deciding how to handle the awkwardness that might develop when they reached her front door. She didn’t plan to invite John in.

“Thank you,” Bethany said again when at last they stood on the stoop.

“The evening would’ve been better if I hadn’t…you know.”

“Stop worrying about a little coffee.”

“Don’t forget the sugar.” He grinned as if he’d begun to find the entire episode amusing.

“Despite a few, uh, mishaps, I really did enjoy dinner,” she told him.

John kicked at the dirt with the toe of his shoe. “I don’t suppose you’d go out with me again.”

Bethany wasn’t sure how to respond. She liked John, but just as a friend, and she didn’t want to mislead him into thinking something more could develop between them. She’d made that mistake once before.

“You don’t need to feel guilty if you don’t want to,” he said, his eyes avoiding hers. He cleared his throat. “I can understand why someone hand-delivered by the angels wouldn’t want to be seen with someone like me.” He glanced shyly at her.

Tempted to roll her eyes at that remark, Bethany managed a smile. “How about if we have dinner again next Friday night?” she asked.

John’s head shot up. “You mean it?”

Bethany nodded. “This time it’ll be my treat.”

His smile faded and he folded his arms across his chest. “You want to buy me dinner?”

“Yes. Friends do that, you know.” A car could be heard in the distance, driving slowly down the street.

“Friends?” The car was coming closer.

“Yes.” She leaned forward and very gently pressed her lips to his cheek. As she backed away, she saw that the car had stopped.

Silhouetted against the moonlight sat Mitch Harris. He’d just witnessed her kissing John Henderson.