"Oh, shut up," she said, but her words were teasing.
I laughed. "Make me."
Beth rolled her eyes and went back to unpacking supplies. I watched her for a moment, seeing the tension in her shoulders. She was putting on a good front, but it was obvious Wade had rattled her.
"Hey," I said softly. "It's okay to be attracted to someone again. What happened with Roger?—"
"Don't," Beth said. She took a deep breath and softened her tone. "I know you mean well. But I'm not ready to go down that road again."
I nodded. Beth had trusted Roger, given him her heart, and he'd stomped all over it. She'd built walls around herself since then, determined to stay single and safe. I couldn't blame her for that.
"All right," I said. "I'll drop it. For now."
Beth gave me a wry look. "You're relentless."
"It's why you love me," I said cheerfully.
"Honestly, I don't know why you're so determined to see something that isn't there."
"Because it's as plain as the nose on your face." I leaned back against the counter, crossing my arms. "That man has you all twisted up in knots and you've only spoken to him twice."
"I am not twisted up in knots." Beth straightened the candles and herbs she'd brought back into a neat row, refusing to meet my eyes. "He's arrogant and I want nothing to do with him. Let's just drop it, okay?"
"If you say so." I hid another smile, biting back the urge to tease her further. She'd come around in her own time.
We lapsed into silence, the only sounds the rustle of packaging and the scrape of various items across the tabletop. I watched Beth out of the corner of my eye, noticing the way she kept glancing toward the front window.
Wade had gotten under her skin, whether she wanted to admit it or not. And I had a feeling this was only the beginning.
The slam of a car door jerked us both out of our reveries. We exchanged a glance and then hurried to the window, peering out like a pair of nosy old ladies.
A familiar figure ambled down the sidewalk, hands in his pockets, whistling tunelessly. Every few steps, he paused to glance around, searching for the cat in the overgrown bushes and hedges lining the street.
Beth made a disgusted sound. "Unbelievable. I suppose he's out looking for that stray cat again. Doesn't he know it'll come to him if he leaves food out?"
Stray cat? Yeah, right.
"Oh, I don't know." I shrugged, unable to contain my grin. "I'd say he has his priorities in order."
Beth shot me a withering look and turned away from the window. "You're impossible."
"Just calling it like I see it," I said.
Beth pursed her lips, clearly debating how much to reveal. We didn't have many secrets between us, but this was new territory. Finally, she sighed and turned to face me.
"The truth is, I find him attractive. Infuriatingly so." She threw up her hands. "I don't know why. He's cocky and annoying, but… There's something about him."
There it was!
It had been a long time since Beth had shown interest in any man, and I'd worried she might remain forever gun-shy after her divorce. Now here she was, admitting to an attraction she couldn't quite explain. Perhaps fate had brought Wade into our lives for a reason.
I chose my next words carefully. "Finding love again can be scary. Don't you think it's worth the risk?"
It was for me. I couldn’t imagine my life without Daniel now. He was like the puzzle piece I never even knew I was missing.
Beth was quiet for a long moment. "I don't know if I'm ready to take that risk," she said at last. "Not yet. Maybe someday."
A spark of hope flickered inside me as I reached out to squeeze her hand. She had a long way to go, but this was a start.
