When Anna arrived home from work late Friday afternoon, Poppy was already there with a smile on her face.
“It’s the weekend,” she announced.
Anna narrowed her eyes at her sister. “Yeah…and?”
“Date night.”
Anna plopped on the couch. “Shit. I forgot.”
She’d busied herself with baking and putting on a smile and anything else she could do to get through the week. It had helped. A little. Pretending she was fine was easier than dealing with the problem. Especially because she’d decided Jillian and Keller Wedding Consultants should take Catrina and Tom on as clients.
It just made sense. Her family business was the best and it was a smart decision for them to host what was sure to be one of the biggest wedding events of the year, or whenever Tom and Catrina decided on a date.
Poppy frowned. “Don’t sound so enthusiastic.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve had my mind on other things.”
“Beckett and Jake are going to meet us at Pearl’s. Pool, wine, music.” Poppy walked to the back of the couch and set her hands on Anna’s shoulders. “Just what you need.”
“A lot of wine,” Anna mumbled. “Or tequila.”
Poppy chuckled. “I’ll drive, then.”
“You know, I’m really wiped out from this week.”
“Then relax. Take it easy. Have fun tonight.”
“I’d rather stay home and watch a movie.” Or lock herself in her room and brood. But she’d done enough of that after she’d discovered Tom’s affair. At some point she had to move on, right?
“No.”
“Or take a hot bath.”
“You can do that before we go.”
“Or sleep.”
“You can do that after we come back.”
Anna opened her mouth to give another option, but Poppy walked around the couch to face her. “No way. You’re not backing out of this. You owe me, remember?” She held up a finger and smiled. “Actually, you owe yourself. It’s time to move on and you deserve to be happy.”
Anna sighed and pushed herself off of the couch. “Fine, I’ll go. But if you and Jake start getting all lovey-eyed and mushy, I’m leaving.”
Poppy chuckled. “I’ll make sure we watch the mushiness.”
Anna followed Poppy into her room and found her sister had set out two dresses on the bed.
“Nope,” Anna said. “I changed my mind.”
“It’s just one night.”
“I wear dresses all the time for work. I should get a break.”
Poppy walked to her closet and pulled out a skirt. “Option number two?”
Anna folded her arms. Poppy leaned back in the closet and grabbed a shirt and scarf to match.
“Better?” Poppy asked.
“Better.”
Anna took the clothes to her room. The skirt was light and summery, and the shirt made her eyes stand out. Not that it mattered because it was Beckett. But still. She wanted to look nice. Poppy was right; she owed it to herself.
By the time she’d taken a bath and put on the outfit, she felt more like herself. Enough that she planned on wowing Beckett, even if they were only friends. It had been a long time since she’d dressed up and gone anywhere, especially with a man. Even if they were only friends.
She had to keep reminding herself of that.
When Poppy met her at the door, her eyes went wide. “Anna, you look great.”
“So do you.”
Poppy grinned. “Maybe Jake will want another date after this, and then Mom will stop asking me when I’m going to meet someone.”
“She’s worse with Jillian, always telling her she works too hard. That she should settle down with someone already.”
Jillian was the oldest at thirty-five. Anna admired her for going for what she wanted. A career. But their mother had gotten married to their father, who’d died ten years back, when she was only twenty. Gail wanted grandkids. Anna had thought she might be the first to give her some, but now she had to be grateful things had never gotten that far with Tom.
Poppy drove them through the peaceful neighborhood, away from their apartment complex and to Main Street. Pearl’s was two blocks down from their stores and one of the most popular restaurants on the street because of its atmosphere and brick-oven pizza.
They parked in back, where there was an additional entrance. Anna fought the butterflies in her stomach, rolling her eyes at herself for making this bigger than it was.
Inside, upbeat music played on speakers overhead, people occupied all four pool tables, and the bar was completely full. She spotted Beckett and Jake at a table halfway to the front door and plastered on a smile.
Beckett looked good. No, great. Dark jeans and a T-shirt just snug enough she could see muscles. He’d shaved and his hair looked intentionally disheveled. He laughed at something Jake said and the sound hit her all the way across the room, making her stomach clench.
Poppy linked her arm through Anna’s. “Remember, tonight you’re supposed to have fun. So if Beckett asks you to play pool, you’d better.”
She choked out a nervous laugh. “He’s not going to ask me to play pool. He’s not even—”
She broke off before she said anything that would give her way. And her heart thudded when Beckett stood from the table and smiled at her. Damn. That smile. There wasn’t much she wouldn’t do if he asked her right now.
“Hey,” he said.
He slid his arm around her in a natural greeting, but this time his hand lingered on her hip. Anna pressed her cheek against the softness of his button-up shirt. He smelled woodsy and his heartbeat was strong beneath her ear.
He released her too soon and Anna was left off balance, the warmth of his grip fading away.
She seated herself on the same side as Poppy, trying to ignore the heat in her cheeks. It was going to be harder than she thought to stay away from Beckett if he was going to do that every time he saw her.
She kept her focus on the menu, but after they ordered and Jake dragged Poppy away to play pool, she couldn’t keep avoiding him.
“I’m glad you decided to come.” Beckett cleared his throat. “You know, after everything that happened this week. It’s good to get out.”
Anna smiled. “Poppy wouldn’t let me stay home.”
He glanced back at her as Jake explained something near the pool table. “Yeah. She’s tenacious.”
“Tell me about it. She had an outfit picked out for me and everything.”
“You look nice.”
Anna blinked. “Thank you. So do you. How’s the party planning going?”
“What?”
“For the Fourth of July?”
“Right.” Beckett shrugged and swirled his glass of beer on the table. “I don’t know how Jillian does it. Planning is definitely not my strong suit.”
“I’m sure she’d be happy to help out if you ask her.”
He shrugged again. “I want to do it at my place. It’ll work out.”
She opened her mouth to say she’d help. And then closed it again. Making things even more awkward between them wasn’t going to help.
“Actually…” Beckett scratched his chin. “I was kind of hoping you might help me with the dessert.”
Dessert? That’s what he wanted from her? “Sure. I can make a cake or—”
“Like I said, I want to do it. Your family is always hosting everything and inviting me like I’m part of the family. I want to do it this time.”
She searched his face, melted a little at the sincerity there. The kindness she wasn’t used to coming from a man. At least not one she was interested in. “You are a part of the family. But I’m happy to help. You could always make something like pineapple upside down cake? Because that’s perfect for summer. And an alternative for people who don’t want that. A berry cheesecake—”
“Hold on. That sounds complicated.”
“For someone who’s used to baking from the box.”
He laughed. “Exactly. So…maybe if you come over the night before, you can help me make something? Show me how it’s done.”
Anna froze in her seat. Was he asking her on a date? No, he’d asked her to his place—somewhere she’d been hundreds of times. But baking there instead of at her shop was more intimate.
“If you’re busy, I understand,” Beckett continued. “I know you’ve got a lot going on.”
“No. Actually, I don’t.” And Poppy kept telling her to live her life. “I’m in.”
He smiled, and she melted even further in her seat. It might be perfectly innocent on his end. In fact, knowing Beckett, it was sure to be. But maybe…maybe if they spent more time together, things would change. Something could shift between them.
She jumped when the waitress arrived with their pizzas. Beckett’s lips curved, and she swore he was actually enjoying her discomfort. Or flirting with her.
What the hell was going on?
Poppy and Jake returned to the table as they dished out slices and ordered more drinks.
“Who won?” Anna asked, trying to distract herself.
Poppy frowned. Jake grinned.
“I want a rematch,” Poppy said. “I was just warming up. We should play teams next.”
Anna swallowed her bite of pizza. “I need to warm up first.”
Jake gestured. “There’s a table free now if you’re quick. They fill up fast.”
“I’ll play with you.” Beckett stood and held out a hand to her. “Come on, I’ll go easy on you.”
She smirked. “I’ll go easy on you.”
She placed her hand in Beckett’s large one and stood, shooting Poppy a look as she walked from the table. To her amusement, Poppy gave her a thumbs-up and continued eating.
Beckett held her hand in his the entire way to the tables, keeping her firmly in tow and only looking back once to give her a smile.
This wasn’t the real Beckett, or she was in some alternate universe. Even more so because it felt right.
He handed her a cue stick at the table. When she reached for it, he wouldn’t let go.
“Beckett,” she said, her voice coming out in a whisper.
His hand rested just above hers on the stick and he leaned in slightly. “Do you even know how to play pool?”
“Uh…” Her throat dried at the mischief in his eyes. “Not really.”
“I’m going to teach you.”
Damn, he was flirting with her. “Bring it on.”
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Beckett knew how to play pool. But he didn’t know how to teach someone to play pool when he was distracted. Especially by Anna. Her hair, her smell, the way she’d toss a laughing smile at him every time she missed the cue ball and almost scratched the table.
He itched to have his hands on her, easing slowly into a kiss, fingers gliding up to brush her cheeks, to run through her hair. The more he was around her, the less patience he had—and that was one thing Beckett had always had plenty of. Patience.
“You’re getting better,” Beckett told her after another shot.
“You’re not a very good liar.”
He laughed. “You just need to hold the stick a little different and kind of…lean down so you can see where you’re shooting.”
She stared at the table and wrinkled her nose.
“Here.” He stepped to her, setting his hand on her hip and moving her to the end of the table. The smell of her perfume wrapped around him, tugging on him, making him want to get closer and closer. “Right.” Beckett cleared his throat. “Lean down so you can line up the cue ball with yours.”
“The red one,” she whispered, so quietly he barely heard her above the music.
“The red one,” he confirmed. He leaned in next to her and it was everything he could do to keep his senses. He exhaled, resisting the urge to turn his face to her. To run his lips along her jawline.
What the hell was wrong with him? They were in a bar with dozens of other people, and all he could see was her.
“Like this?” she asked.
He reached out, setting his hand over hers and adjusting it. “Better. Just tap it and aim for the left corner.”
“Easier said than done.” But surprisingly, she kept her focus.
She moved the stick just slightly, tapping the cue ball. It rolled slowly into her ball. He didn’t think it was going to have enough momentum to get in the pocket, but at the last minute, it fell in.
Anna straightened, and then whipped to him. “I got it.”
“See? All it takes is practice.”
“And a good teacher.” She touched his arm, fingers light against his skin. “Who would’ve known you could get such a rush from pool?”
He leaned in with a smile, mouth close to her ear to be heard above the music. “Wait until you win a game. It’s even better.”
She turned slightly, cheek brushing his, fingers tightening on his arm. When her eyes came up to meet his, they lingered, and he saw something there he’d never seen before.
Interest. A spark.
“Excuse me,” someone said.
Beckett straightened and turned. The whole restaurant came to a standstill.
He reached automatically for Anna when he saw who it was.
Tom.
{}{}{}
Anna’s feet were glued to the ground, mouth frozen shut.
Tom looked exactly the same, his dark hair gelled into place and outfit perfectly ironed. When he smiled, it reminded her of when they’d first met, three years ago.
The charm. The confidence. His focus just for her, for the one thing he knew he wanted.
“Hi, Anna,” he said.
She swallowed hard, a fresh wave of hurt and anger almost blinding her. Beckett touched her arm, his fingers strong and warm. When Tom’s gaze dipped to the place of contact, she felt a surge of empowerment.
She was on a date. Sort of. She was moving on. And it wasn’t with Tom.
“Hi, Tom.” She straightened her shoulders. “What are you doing here?”
“I was walking by and saw your sister. I took a chance you might be here and stopped in. It’s good to see you.”
She couldn’t repeat the sentiment. Seeing him again was the last thing she wanted, but it was inevitable. He visited town often and she knew Catrina lived here as well.
“We’re in the middle of a game,” Anna told him, glancing at Beckett. His jaw clenched, but he kept silent. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“I was hoping we could talk. Alone.”
“Why?”
He shifted from one foot to the next, chin dropping. What was going on with him? Tom never looked anything less than poised.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said before he could answer.
“Just for a minute?”
To her surprise, Beckett shook his head. “You heard her, she said it’s not a good idea.”
“Be reasonable,” Tom said.
“Reasonable?” Anna’s eyes widened. “Is that what you call cheating on me?”
“Please, Anna. Let’s not make a scene.”
“Anything you have to say, you can say in front of Beckett. He knows what happened.”
For the most part, anyway. She’d been too embarrassed to tell anyone but Poppy the whole story behind Tom’s cheating. It didn’t matter anyway, it all boiled down to the same thing. He was a cheater. And he’d planned on marrying her anyway.
“I don’t want things to be awkward between us,” Tom said.
“You mean because your fiancée walked into my family’s place this week?”
He winced. “I didn’t want you to find out like that. She wasn’t supposed to go until I told you.”
Anna folded her arms. “Well, now I know.”
Before Tom could say anything else, Poppy appeared, her mouth set into a firm line. She glared at Tom. “What are you doing here?”
Tom looked around at everyone, realizing he was outnumbered.
“Tom was just here to share his good news,” Anna answered for him.
She saw Beckett’s quick smirk from next to her. Tom scratched his chin, trying but failing at one of his charming smiles.
“Okay, yeah, I should go. It was nice seeing you, Anna. Maybe we can catch up later.”
Poppy started to say something, but Anna cut her off. “We don’t have anything else to say to each other. But congratulations on the wedding.”
“And you don’t need to come back to Keller Wedding Consultants,” Poppy added.
“No.” Anna gave a rueful smile. “We don’t turn away business. If your fiancée needs someone to plan her wedding, at least you’re smart enough to come to the best.”
Beckett made a noise low in his throat, but she ignored it. Poppy eyes widened as though she couldn’t believe Anna had just said that. It didn’t matter. If Tom could move on, so could she.
Tom nodded. “I’ll see you around.”
He walked past Poppy and headed for the front door. Anna blew out a quiet breath, hating that it came out shaky. Beckett set a warm hand on her back.
“You’re not really serious,” Poppy said, stepping closer to be heard above the music.
“About him having Jill plan the wedding?” Anna asked. “Yes, I am. If that’s where Tom and Catrina want to go, I’m not stopping them.”
“But…” Poppy looked lost. She glanced at Beckett, as if for help.
“Should we finish our game?” he asked.
She folded her arms across her chest to keep her hands from shaking. “No. I think…I want to go home.”
Poppy glanced at Jake, who’d joined their group just as Tom left. “Of course. I mean, if you’re sure—”
“You don’t have to leave,” Anna said, forcing a smile. “I want you to stay and have fun. I can walk.”
“No, you can’t.”
“I’ll take you,” Beckett said. “My car’s out back.”
Anna hugged Poppy and assured her she’d be fine.
“I’ll bring home some leftover pizza,” Poppy said when she pulled back. Concern still lingered in her eyes. “Maybe I should just go with you—”
“No way. You were looking forward to this all week. Enjoy it.”
With Beckett’s hand still firm on her back, they walked to the door and out into the warm air.
“You really don’t have to take me. You can stay and eat—”
“Anna.” Beckett closed his fingers around hers, glancing over in the dim light of the evening. “I want to.”
When they got inside the car, Anna squeezed her hands together in her lap, wishing they could get back that earlier moment when they were playing pool and Tom hadn’t shown up. Wishing he’d distract her with something—anything. A kiss. A sign. She didn’t want to think about Tom. She’d already taken up too much time on him.
“I’m sorry for tonight.”
“Why?” A muscle worked in Beckett’s jaw. “Because Tom showed up? He never should have come. You don’t have to go through with this, you know. He can get married somewhere else. Somewhere far, far away.”
Anna actually smiled at that, surprised to find Beckett nearly as angry as her. “No, he’s moving on with his life and I should move on with mine. This will prove to everyone, especially me, that I’m over Tom.”
Beckett’s fingers clenched on the wheel. She couldn’t read the expression there, and she was too tired to try. They rode to her house in silence.
Beckett got out before she could stop him and walked her up the stairs to her apartment. “Think about it before you make a decision,” he said. “Tom can have his wedding somewhere else.”
She opened the door but stopped on the precipice. “You think that’s what I should do?”
“I think you should do what’s best for you. You don’t need extra stress.”
There was so much compassion in his eyes, she reached up to touch his cheek. “It’s nice of you to say that.”
He set his hand over hers. “I mean it. Let me know if you need anything.”
She nodded and said goodnight. Too bad she’d ruined his evening, but she’d been so caught off guard by seeing Tom, she hadn’t known what else to do.
Anna carried her laptop into her bedroom and changed into comfortable pajamas while it booted up. When she sat down, she read through Celeste’s email again. She talked some about her job, her apartment and the culture there, ending with an offer for Anna to come stay with her for a while.
Too tired to do much more, Anna typed in a brief note. I’m thinking about it.
Then she sighed. She’d prepared a long email in her head, but now all she wanted was to relax and get her mind off of Tom. She did a search on France and scrolled through pictures and articles while she imagined what it would be like to live somewhere else. Like Beckett said, Somewhere far, far away.