It hurt in ways I didn’t want to dissect, which was probably a sign that I needed to stop trying. To stop thinking about it. There couldn’t be anything between me and Amy. Period. Done. I wasn’t going to think about it anymore.
Until I saw her dash across the street and enter the Bite and Brew. I stood up instinctively as she came toward me. Before I could greet her, she flung her arms around my neck.
“You are my hero,” she said as she hugged me and planted a kiss on my cheek.
What was this about? And whatever the hell I’d done, I wanted to do it ten more times if that was her reaction. “I like the sound of that, but what did I do?”
She released me, stepping back just a bit. “We just topped the seventy percent mark on ticket sales and,” she held a finger to keep me from interrupting, “we got offered an interview on Denver AM, the highest rated morning show in the whole damn state. It’s not definite yet, but it looks good.”
A cheer went up in the diner where everyone had stopped eating to listen to Amy. This was big news in a small town. Denver was morethan a hundred miles away, but that wasn’t a long trip in the minds of folks looking for a good rodeo.
“Good job, brother.” Jake stood up and slapped me on the back, and Brian tipped his hat.
That was the second time Jake had referred to me as brother and it gave me pause. But it was Amy’s smiling, upturned face that truly held my attention. Wild, crazy thoughts filled my head—like the question of whether I could fit in here in Poplar Springs after all. I had friends in the three men at the table. I was already planning a career change. And most importantly, there was Amy.
If I was willing to live here long term, was there anything stopping me from pursuing a real relationship with her?
I felt like I had whiplash with the way my thoughts were going back and forth. I’d barely managed to convince myself that being stuck in a small town wasn’t for me, and then a chaste kiss from this woman instantly has me rethinking it.
“I owe you a million thanks for convincing Cal to help us out.” Amy turned to Rafael, giving him a hug as well.
“Glad to have him around,” Rafael said, returning the hug.
“And I don’t know why I’m hugging you two.” She flung her arms around Brian and Jake. “But it seems like the thing to do.”
I stood back and watched her. She was joyful and beautiful, which made my decision easy. I was going to ask her out again, and it would be for real this time.
NINETEEN
AMY
“Ican’t believe you haven’t been here before,” Cal said as we followed the server to our table. “According to the sign, they’ve been here for two years.”
“Remember how I said I don’t make a lot of time for myself?” When Buckman’s first opened, they’d advertised their axe throwing burger joint as a great way to blow off some steam and it’d been an instant hit. Both Brian and Jake had great things to say about it, but I could never seem to find the time to make a visit of my own.
Cal had his hand at the small of my back as we maneuvered through the crowd. Once again, I was surprised at the amount of care he showed when we were together.
“Amy!” I looked up to see Shannon and Fiona waving at us from two tables over and I grinned at my friends.
“Caffertys,” I called out and then tapped the server on her arm. “Hey, would it be possible for us to have the table next to theirs?”
The young woman pulled a tablet from her belt and checked it over. “Sure, that’s fine. I’ll move you guys over.”
I grabbed Cal’s hand and said, “Come meet some of my friends.” We ended up at a long table next to the Cafferty sisters, and I pointed to each one in turn. “That’s Shannon and Fiona Cafferty and their partners, Declan Morris and Eli Carter. Everyone, this is Cal Pierce.”
Cal reached out to shake everyone’s hands. “Hey, it’s nice to meet some of Amy’s friends.”
“Nice to meet you, too,” Fiona said, still holding onto Cal’s hand. She was staring at him with her head tilted to the side. “I see the Thorne resemblance, but to be blunt, you’re way better looking than your brothers,” she declared, and Shannon groaned.
“Fi, what have we said about not blurting out everything in your head?” Shannon asked making everyone laugh.
Cal clasped both his hands around Fiona’s and lifted her hand to his lips to press a chaste kiss to her knuckles. “I want everyone to now know that you’re my favorite of Amy’s friends.”
Fiona laughed and held her hand to her chest, pretending to swoon. Her fiancé, Eli, reached for her, putting his arm around her waist and pulling her against his chest. “Now, why’d you have to go and do that? She already complains that I’m not romantic enough.” He shook his head in mock disappointment and Fiona elbowed him lightly in the side.
“He’s just frustrated that I beat his score,” she declared.
“And on that note, we’d best get going,” Eli said. “We’ve got an early ride tomorrow and someone needs her beauty sleep.”
