Chapter Thirteen
PAULpulled into a parking spot across the street from Walker’s Barbecue Shack and got out of the rental car to take a look around Buffalo Lick, Texas. The restaurant was located on Main Street, which seemed to be the heart of the small town. The street was lined with shops and restaurants on both sides, and most of them had colorful awnings to protect pedestrians from the sun.
He walked to the crosswalk at the corner, and as he approached the Shack, he caught the scent of tangy barbecue sauce and cooking meat wafting through the screen door. Despite the tempting aromas, he couldn’t think about eating; his stomach was one massive knot of anxiety, and he had second-guessed his decision to look for Devin all the way here.
Over a week had passed since the cruise ended, and Devin hadn’t contacted him. Paul hadn’t tried to call or text since the first night, wanting to give Devin space. Even now, he wasn’t sure he was doing the right thing. Devin hadn’t been in touch, which meant Devin didn’t want to talk to him, and Paul thought maybe he’d seem creepy or pushy by forcing a conversation that Devin didn’t want to have.
On the other hand, Devin had ghosted on him without having all the facts, and Paul hoped perhaps hearing his explanation would make a difference. If nothing else, it would give them both closure, and if Devin still didn’t want anything to do with him, he’d return to Charleston on the next available flight and consider this chapter of his life officially finished no matter how much it hurt.
The screen door creaked when Paul pushed it open and hit the wood frame behind him with a loud thunk, but no one in the dining room paid it any mind. There were more customers than Paul expected for midafternoon, but it wasn’t packed. A classic country song was playing on the sound system, and Paul thought the music fit the rustic western decor perfectly. He looked around, half expecting to see a set of longhorn horns mounted on the wall, and he was a little disappointed when there weren’t.
He took a seat at the counter, and a young dark-haired woman approached him, pulling a pad and pen out of the pocket of her apron, which also displayed her name tag: Alice.
“What can I get you?”
“Iced tea, please,” Paul said. He couldn’t handle any food, but he felt bad about not ordering something. “Also, is Beau Walker available?”
Alice gave him a sharp appraising look, but he must not have looked like a suspicious character because she nodded. “He’s in the kitchen. Can I tell him what this is about?”
“It’s personal,” Paul said, picking at the edge of the rolled-up paper napkin at his place setting.
“Look, I know he’s hot, but no, he hasn’t broken up with the guy he talked about at the end of the show.” Alice gave him a long-suffering look. “In fact, him and Jake are married now. Sorry.”
“What?” Paul stared at her, wide-eyed. He remembered Devin saying something about a TV show, but Paul didn’t even know what channel it was on. “No, that’s not—I mean—I haven’t even seen the show. I want to ask about one of his cousins.”
“Oh!” Her demeanor shifted back into friendliness, and she offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, but it seems like every time the Gourmet Network airs a rerun of the cook-off show Beau was in, we get some guy in town, hoping he’s single. If it’s not him, they’re after Jake.”
“I promise, I have no designs on either Beau or Jake,” Paul said, leaning forward on the counter.
Alice gave him a thumbs-up and disappeared behind two swinging doors into the kitchen, leaving Paul to wait and channel his nervous energy into shredding his napkin. A few minutes later, the doors swung open again, and a tall, broad-shouldered man sauntered out. He was wearing chef’s whites, but he looked like he ought to be wearing skintight jeans, cowboy boots, and a straw hat.
“Alice said you wanna talk to me?” The man—obviously Beau Walker—approached the counter and studied Paul with friendly curiosity.
“My name is Paul Mercer.” Paul extended his hand across the counter, and Beau shook it with a firm grip.
The friendliness in Beau’s expression faded into wariness, and he folded his arms as he looked at Paul. “Are you the one who took up with Devin? I heard about you.”
Oh, shit.
Paul bit back a groan. Of course he’d already be persona non grata. No doubt most of the Walker clan knew about and disapproved of him by now.
“I am the one who took up with Devin,” he said with a small, rueful smile. “I’m trying to find him so I can apologize and explain. I’m pretty sure he’s blocked my number, so I have to do this face-to-face. If he’ll see me, that is. If not, I’m not going to hound him.”
“I ain’t so sure that’s a good idea,” Beau said, not seeming at all swayed by Paul’s words. “You’re damned lucky he ain’t got the full force of the Walker temper, or he might have tipped you over the side of that big ol’ boat.”
“He’s got every right to be upset with me,” Paul said, hoping he could convince Beau to help him. Otherwise, his options would be calling every Walker in the local phonebook or going from door to door. “But there are some things he doesn’t know too. That’s why I’d like to have the chance to explain.”
Another tall, well-built blond man had entered the restaurant, and he stepped behind the counter to stand next to Beau. He slid his arm around Beau’s waist, and his brilliant blue eyes were full of concern as he looked between Beau and Paul.
“Explain what?” he asked, then fixed his attention on Beau. “Relax, babe, or we need to take this somewhere else. You’re sending out signals like you’re going to run a blitz, and the audience is going to start taking bets in a minute.”
“This here’s the fella that ditched Devin,” Beau said. He leaned against the newcomer—who had to be Beau’s husband, Jake—but his steely blue gaze didn’t waver as it bored into Paul’s.
“I didn’t ditch him,” Paul said, drawing himself up straight and frowning at Beau. He’d made a mistake in not telling Devin the truth sooner, and he took full responsibility for that, but he wasn’t going to roll over and accept the blame for something he hadn’t done. “Technically,heditchedme. We were supposed to meet when he was finished on thePearl, but he never showed up. I was ready to call the hospital until I talked to his boss.”
Jake nodded, acknowledging Paul’s explanation, then turned his attention back to Beau. “Two sides to every story, remember? If he ditched Devin, why would he be here now? Seems like you ought to give him a chance to tell you why he looked up the scariest Walker in town to approach first.” He glanced back at Paul, then extended his right hand, keeping his left arm around Beau as though to make sure Beau wasn’t going to leap over the counter. “Pardon my manners. I’m Jake Parnell-Walker.”
“Paul Mercer.” Paul shook hands with Jake, relieved to find someone who might be willing to listen to him. “I came here because Devin mentioned the two of you and this restaurant several times, and I couldn’t remember anyone else’s name.”
