Page 38 of Summer Weddings

He bided his time, waiting until two days before she was said to be meeting Bill. As if it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, he’d stop by to see her after school. He’d make up some fiction about being concerned with Chrissie’s grades—which were excellent.

He waited until he could be sure there was no chance of running into Chrissie. The last thing he needed was to have his daughter catch him seeking out Bethany’s company. The kid might get the wrong idea.

Mitch had intentionally avoided Bethany since the night of Chrissie’s accident. There was only so much temptation a man could take, and that evening had stretched his endurance to the breaking point.

He found Bethany sitting at her desk. Her eyes widened as he walked into the classroom. “Mitch, hello! It’s good to see you.”

He smiled slightly. “I hope you don’t mind my dropping in like this.”

“Of course not.”

“It’s about Chrissie,” he said hurriedly, for fear Bethany would get the wrong impression. “I’ve been a little, uh, concerned about her grades.”

“But she’s excelled in all her subjects. She’s getting top marks.”

He was well aware that his excuse was weak. From the day school had started, he hadn’t had to hound Chrissie to do her homework. Not once. She would’ve gladly done assignments five hours a night if it meant pleasing Ms. Ross.

“I’ve been wondering about her grades since the accident,” he said.

“They’re fine.” Bethany flipped through her grade book and reviewed the most recent entries. “I’ve kept a close eye on her, looking for any of the symptoms Dotty mentioned, but so far everything’s been great. Is there a problem at home—I mean, has she been dizzy or anything like that?”

“No, no,” he was quick to reassure her.

“Oh, good.” She seemed relieved, and he felt even more of a fool.

Mitch stood abruptly and turned as if to leave. “By the way,” he said, trying to make it sound like an afterthought, “I don’t mean to pry, but rumor has it you’re having dinner with Bill Landgrin this Friday night.”

“Yes.” She stared at him. “How’d you know that?”

“Oh,” he said with a nonchalant shrug, “word gets around. I didn’t know you two had met.”

“Only briefly. He was on a flight with Duke and stopped in at the café the same time I was there,” she explained.

“I see,” he said thoughtfully. He started to leave, then turned back with a dramatic flourish. “What about John? Do you often date men you’ve just met?”

“What about him?”

“Why aren’t you seeing him anymore?”

Bethany hesitated. “I don’t think I like the tone of your question, Mitch. I have every right to date whomever I wish.”

“Yes, of course. I didn’t mean to imply anything else. It’s just that, well, if you must know, Bill has something of a…reputation.”

She stiffened. “Thank you for your concern, but I can take care of myself.”

He was making a mess of this. “I didn’t mean to offend you, Bethany. It’s just that I’m all this town’s got in the way of law enforcement, and I thought it was my duty to warn you.”

“I see.” She snapped the grade book shut. “And I’m a policeman’s daughter. As I told you earlier, I can take care of myself.” She made a production of looking at her watch. “Now if you’ll excuse me?”

“Yes, of course,” he said miserably, turning to go. And this time he left.

* * *

Bethany wasn’t sure why she was so angry with Mitch. Possibly because he was right. She had no business having dinner with a man she barely knew. Oh, she’d be safe enough. Not much was going to happen to her in the Hard Luck Café with half the town looking on.

It went without saying that she’d agreed to this dinner for all the wrong reasons. John Henderson had started seeing another woman recently. One of the newer recruits, a shy young woman named Sally McDonald.

After nearly six weeks here, Bethany had to conclude that Mitch didn’t want to become romantically involved.

The night of Chrissie’s accident, she’d felt certain they’d broken through whatever barrier was separating them.

She remembered the way his eyes had held hers after the love scene in the movie.

Bethany knew darn well what he was thinking, because she was thinking it, too.

Then, when things looked really promis ing, Mitch had leapt away from her.

Since that night, he’d had nothing to say—until now.

Bethany was left feeling frustrated and confused.

When Bill Landgrin had asked her out, she’d found a dozen reasons to accept.

She’d always been curious about the Alaska pipeline.

It was said to stretch more than eight hundred miles across three mountain ranges and over thirteen bridges.

Having dinner with a man who could answer her questions seemed innocent enough.

In addition, it sent a message to Mitch, one he’d apparently received loud and clear. He didn’t like the idea of her dating Bill Landgrin, and frankly she was glad. Unfortunately, Mitch had to use his daughter’s injury as an excuse to talk to her about Bill. That was what irritated Bethany most.

* * *

Mitch honestly tried to stay away from Bethany on Friday night. Chrissie was spending the night at Susan’s, and the house had never seemed so empty. By seven o’clock, the walls were closing in on him. He’d had to grab his coat and flee.

He tried to look casual and unconcerned when he walked into Ben’s café. A quick look around, and his mouth filled with the bitter taste of disappointment. Bethany was nowhere in sight.

“Looking for the new teacher, are you?” Ben asked as he dried a glass with a crisp linen cloth.

“What gives you that idea?” Mitch growled. He was in no mood for conversation. “I came here for a piece of pie.”

“I thought you decided to cut back on sweets.”

“I changed my mind,” Mitch said. If he’d known Ben was going to be such a pain in the butt, he would’ve stayed home.

Ben brought him a slice of apple pie. “In case you’re interested, she left not more than twenty minutes ago.”

“Who?” he asked, pretending he didn’t know.

“She wasn’t alone, either. Bill insisted on seeing her home.”

Agitated, Mitch slapped his fork down on the plate. “Who Bethany Ross dates is her own business.”

“Maybe,” Ben said, bracing both hands on the counter, “but I don’t trust the man, and you don’t either, otherwise you wouldn’t be here. My feeling is that maybe one of us should check up on Bethany—see that everything’s the way it should be.”

Mitch was convinced there was more to this scenario than Ben was telling him. His blood started to heat.

“Since you’re the law in this town, I think you ought to go make sure she got home all safe and sound.”

Mitch wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Ben was right. If anything happened to Bethany, Mitch would never forgive himself. In the meantime, if he did meet up with Bill, he’d impress upon the man that he was to keep away from Bethany Ross.

“So, are you going to see her?”

No use lying about it. “Yeah.”

“Then the pie’s on the house,” Ben said, grinning.

Mitch drove to Bethany’s, grateful to see that the lights were still on. He knocked loudly on the door and would have barged in if she hadn’t opened it when she did.

“Mitch?”

“May I come in?”

“Of course.” She stepped aside.

He walked in and looked around. If Bill was there, he saw no evidence of it.

She’d been combing her hair, and the brush was still in her hand. She didn’t ask Mitch why he’d come.

He suspected she knew.

“Did Landgrin try anything?” Mitch demanded.

Her eyes narrowed as if she didn’t understand the question.

“Landgrin. Did he try anything?” he repeated gruffly.

She blinked. “No. He was a perfect gentleman.”

Mitch shoved his fingers though his hair as he paced the confines of her small living room. He didn’t need anyone to tell him what a fool he was making of himself.

“Will you be seeing him again?”

“That’s my business.”

He closed his eyes and nodded. He had no argument. “Sorry,” he said. “I shouldn’t have come.” He stalked toward the door, eager to escape.

“Mitch?”

His hand was on the doorknob. He stopped but didn’t turn around.

“I won’t be seeing Bill Landgrin again.”

Relief coursed through him.

“Mitch?”

She was close, so very close. He could feel her breath against the back of his neck. All he had to do was turn and she’d be there. His arms ached to hold her. His hand tightened on the doorknob as though it were a lifeline.

“I won’t see Bill again,” she said in a voice so soft he had to strain to hear, “because I’d much rather be seeing you.”