Champagne and Lemon Drops: A Blueberry Springs Chick Lit Contemporary Romance (16 page)

"What?" Nash asked, a bemused smile lighting
his face, a twinkle in his eyes.

She held her breath and leaned forward. His
eyes changed and Beth couldn't tell if it was longing or
uncertainty. She lowered her gaze and reached across to open the
glove box.

Big chicken.

She bit her lower lip. She deserved to be
stuck in romance limbo. She didn't have the guts to pull up her
pants and make a real decision about Oz other than to perpetually
give him more time in hopes that he would change and ask her back.
And she didn't have the courage to kiss Nash.

"What are you looking for?" Nash asked as
she rummaged around.

A real life.

She straightened suddenly, bumping Nash's
nose on her way up. Nash made a pained sound and Beth reached for
him. "Oh, my God. I'm so sorry."

Nash clutched his nose.

"You're bleeding!" she scrambled in her
glove box for a mini pack of tissues.

He took the tissues, jamming them against
his nose. "Don't worry about it," he said in a plugged-up
voice.

She sat helplessly. "I'm such a moron."

He laughed. "Relax. It's just a nosebleed.
Why don't you drive me around town—in your non-domestic car—and
give me the full local's tour with history and insider jokes
included."

A warm smile grew, its heat working through
her in a way that told her that maybe, just maybe, things could be
different in her life. Should she choose it.

"Volvo is owned by Ford, you know." She
grinned and cranked her engine. "Hold on to your hat, Farmer Nash."
She frowned and looked him over. "Wait... where's that freebie hat
I worked so hard to get? Not just anyone can get one of those out
of Alvin's box, you know."

He ran a hand through his hair. "I
uh..."

Beth laughed. "Never mind. Let's go." If
she'd been walking she would have grabbed his hand and skipped down
the street; her heart felt so light. "Let me show you the
town."

And then you can show me the world.

***

Beth slipped into the cool air conditioning
of Benny's Big Burger just before the lunch crowd. She paused at
the counter near the door, scanning the large room to see if she
could spot Benny talking to customers.

Driving Nash around town yesterday had given
her an idea of how she could take control of her life right here in
Blueberry Springs. While running away to Derbyshire was still as
tempting as all get out, she didn't want to have to deal with
Bear's Pass during winter storms nor rely on her old car for a
twenty-minute, mountainous commute. What she needed was a roof over
her head—which made Benny the man to see.

Mandy came out of the kitchen to Beth's
right, carrying a tray of pizza that smelled divine.

"I'll be with you in a
minute," Mandy said. She barely looked at Beth as she slipped pizza
slices into the counter's revolving glass case. She adjusted the
Pizza-by-the-Slice sign and turned to Beth, eyebrow arched. "Party
of
one
?"

Some party that would be. A lovely pity
party.

"Actually, I was hoping to talk to
Benny."

Mandy smirked. "Need a job?"

"Have one thanks," Beth retorted.

"Barely."

"Just get me Benny," Beth said, turning her
back to avoid the look she knew she'd receive from Mandy.

"You know Oz is seeing other people," Mandy
said.

Despite herself, Beth found herself turning
around.

"That's right," Mandy said with an evil
glint in her eye, which was echoed in her grin. "He's back with
me."

"Yeah, right." Beth snorted and turned
away.

The liar. There was no way Oz was seeing her
again. No. Way.

She tucked her trembling hands in her
armpits. Mandy had to be lying.

"He said you were bad for him," Mandy
whispered. The hair on Beth's neck moved as though Mandy was
leaning over the counter for the full torture effect. Beth whirled,
but Mandy had already backed off. Smart female doggy.

Beth glared at Mandy. "When?" she asked,
despite herself.

"Oh. I'm sorry. He asked me not to tell
anyone that he felt pressured by his father to get back together
with you." She put a manicured hand against her lips and gave a
cutesy look. "Oops."

"Liar," Beth whispered. She shut her eyes
against the hurt and listened to the swish of Mandy's polyester
pants as she went off to find Benny. She felt like a broken water
balloon with all the water gushing out of it. Her sister was right.
Oz was being pushed by his parents, not by a genuine need to be
with her again. That's why he'd been drunk. That's why he didn't
say the words she needed to hear.

"Beth? What can I do for you?" called a soft
male voice.

She slowly uncurled her
fists, rubbing the indents her nails had left in her palms. She
plastered on a smile, and said, "Benny! Hey, I noticed Anna moving
out of the apartment above the mechanic's shop. I was wondering
what you're charging for rent?" She waited for his reply, her
breath held.
Please, please, please quote
me a low number so I can afford it
and
a bed.
And maybe a few air fresheners so me and my possessions don't
end up smelling like oil and gasoline from the shop.

"Well..." Benny rocked back on his heels and
avoided looking at her. Beth bit her lower lip and waited for him
to turn her down. "I was planning on renovating the space."

"That's okay," she said quickly. "I don't
need it renovated."

Benny looked taken aback. He gave her a long
look. "How many months do you plan on living there? My leases are
for six months. You lose a month's rent if you move out before
then."

"That's okay."

Benny frowned. "Aren't you planning on
moving back with Oz?"

Beth perked up. "What?"

"Well... I thought you two were just taking
a timeout before your I Dos."

"Um... well. Oz wants..." she said
hesitantly. She pulled out her checkbook and poised her pen. Why
was everyone having such an issue figuring out it wasn't just a
break anymore and that it was a full-fledged breakup? "What's first
month's rent?"

Benny gave out a short laugh. "You've never
seen the place, Beth."

"I don't need to."

"You know...not to be nosey, but I haven't
seen you out with that doctor fellow as much since—"

"Oh, for Christ's sake!" Beth slammed down
her fist, wincing as the impact stung her hand. "Are you going to
rent me a place or not? Katie's tired of me sleeping in her living
room and I really don't want to move into Mary Alice's spare room
nor Angelica and Barneys'." She gave Benny a sad look. "I need a
room of my own, Benny."

Benny hesitated and Beth
tried not to let her excitement show.
Come
on... low number!

"I can't," he said at last.

She blinked back tears of disappointment.
"Why not?"

Benny swallowed. "I have to renovate
it."

"Benny, I don't care what it looks like. I
need a roof over my head. Help out a desperate girl."

He avoided her eye.

"What?" she asked in a low voice. Something
was happening. She could smell it. And it wasn't just his
pizza-by-the-slice deal rotating in the case beside her. It was
something else. Something not so yummy.

Benny placed his beefy hands on the counter
and leaned forward. He looked her in the eye and said quietly, "I
promised someone I wouldn't." He reached out and patted her hand
and turned away.

"Who?" she demanded. "I'm a good tenant! Who
blacklisted me?"

He turned back and came closer, his eyes
sorrowful. "I'm sorry, Beth. I never thought I'd have to come
through on such a promise."

"Who did you promise?"

He cut his eyes to the side as if looking
for people listening in. "Angelica."

She felt a sharp pain in her chest. "But she
offered me Katie's old room. This makes no sense."

"Just keep on with Katie, Beth. It's for the
best."

"But—" Beth stood at the counter, sputtering
words that made no sense as he returned to the kitchen.

Mandy strode up to the counter. "Want a
slice or something?"

Beth blinked. "What?"

Mandy pointed to the revolving pizza.

Beth shook head and slid out the door. She
stood on the street, stunned. Why would Oz's mother ask Benny not
to rent to her? Why did Benny think it was best for her to stay at
Katie's? And for how long had Angelica been whispering for
favors?

***

Beth stormed down Main Street, aiming for
Cherry Road in order to take a shortcut to Angelica's. She blasted
past the ice-cream shop and clothing boutique which carried crap
clothes that she hated only slightly more than driving into the
city to buy something half decent and stylish. Rounding the corner
to take Cherry, she paused. She backed up a step and stared through
the boutique's large corner window.

It looked like she wouldn't risk cooling
down during the long walk to Angelica's after all. She could get it
all off her chest ASAP. She shoved the boutique's door open, the
stupid frog ornament set by the door croaking as she tripped its
motion sensor.

She strode up to Angelica, a cool wave of
air conditioning fluttering over her bare arms. She tapped the
woman sharply on the shoulder. Angelica turned, smiling until she
saw Beth's expression. She dropped the suede skirt she'd been
petting and stepped back.

Beth, fists clenched, faltered, not knowing
where to begin. Women milled about the shop, their attention piqued
by Beth's stormy entrance. They circled like hungry sharks sensing
blood in the water.

"What's wrong?" Angelica asked weakly.

"What's wrong?" Beth's
voice scratched through the air. "What's
wrong
?" Angelica grew pale under her
tan. "How about
you
tell
me
?"
Beth stepped forward and the older woman shrunk but held her
ground. "How could you interfere like that? You've trapped me at
Katie's."

Angelica smoothed her hair and looked away,
her lips a thin, bleached line. Women whispered, trying to decipher
Beth's words.

Fran, the shop owner, stepped between the
two women. "Now Beth..." she began.

"Do you know what she's done?" Beth shouted,
turning on Fran. "Do you?"

Fran gave Angelica an uncertain glance.

Beth pointed at Angelica and raised her
voice. "She had me blacklisted."

"Blacklisted?" Fran asked. "Surely not."

Beth turned to Angelica and demanded, "Where
else am I blacklisted other than with Benny? Who else have you been
talking to?"

Angelica pulled herself up to her full
height. "I am looking out for you, Beth."

"How on earth is blacklisting me and keeping
me trapped in Katie's crappy basement suite looking out for me? I
can't even sleep through the night there without sleeping pills
because of the stupid pullout bed's bar digging into my back."

"I'm looking out for you and Oz," she said
firmly.

"Last time you did that he
gave me my ring back and told me we were through." Women whispered
in agreement, their heads bobbing up and down. Beth said in a low
voice, "You have no idea what our best interests are. Blacklisting
me is not looking out for me." She turned to address the shoppers
who hurriedly tried to act like they hadn't been eavesdropping.
"You
all
need to
quit interfering and let me live my life! And let Oz live
his!"

"You are making a mistake, Beth," Angelica
said quietly.

"With what?" she spit, turning to
Angelica.

"Moving on without Oz."

"You think I'm moving on?" She let out a
harsh laugh. "God, I wish it was that easy." She stared at the
ceiling, trying to draw patience. She didn't even know where to
start turning this woman's head around. "Why does everyone think I
have a choice? That I have the power to influence Oz? You all act
like I can snap my fingers and everything will be hunky-dory
again."

"Setting up your own place means you're
moving on, Beth," Angelica explained calmly. "You and Oz are only
on a break."

"He
broke up
with me, Angelica. He's
seeing
Mandy
."
Around her, shoppers gasped. "He told me..." Beth's voice wavered
and she pulled in a deep breath to finish her sentence, "to move
on. That we were over."

Angelica's eyes flashed.
"He is
not
seeing
Mandy."

A woman across the store hesitantly offered,
"I, um, saw them kiss yesterday."

Beth's knees lost strength. She closed her
eyes, willing herself not to cry. Damn that Mandy. Damn the ugly
truth.

A small hand gripped her arm. It was
Angelica giving her a pitiful look. "I'm sorry. I—"

"For what?" Beth asked, pulling her arm
free. "For Oz getting screwed up and dumping me? For him leaving me
homeless? Or for the way Harvey is interfering and acting like Oz
is his personal marionette and a way for him to make his own life
worth living? Doesn't he see he's destroying his son?" The more she
talked the more rage surged through her, fueling her muscles with
adrenalin. "Or are you sorry for trying to force him into getting
back together with me before he was ready? For him getting drunk
and hurting Gran and putting my job in jeopardy? For him breaking
my heart?"

The room blurred as the
blows she'd received over the past four months broadsided her
again. How could the man she had loved so dearly be so cold? She
quietly swiped at the tears streaking down her cheeks and women
gathered around with
there,
there's
. Angelica stared at Beth with a
strange look.