The Goodbye Bride (23 page)

Had they? She was still in love with him, and he still had the power to hurt her with a mere look. Even now the way he was looking at her, like he really cared about her, was tugging at her heart, making her hope.

And nothing but pain lay that way.

She wrenched her eyes away. She just wouldn't look at him. Wouldn't go near him. How much longer could this Brad guy try to hang on? He lived and worked three hours away. She wasn't some grand prize that he'd pine away for her for the rest of his days.

“All right.” She stared at her pink toenails through the peep-toed heels. “I'll stay awhile longer. Thank you for your hospitality, Zac.” She turned and left before he could respond.

She'd just have to get it through Brad's head that it was over between them. The reporters would get bored with her soon enough, and then she could resume her life. Somehow the thought didn't inspire the hopeful feeling she'd expected.

Chapter 27

L
ucy's phone rang later that evening as she was rehanging the clothing she'd packed for her move. She checked the screen and saw Nick's name.

“Well, hey there, Nick.” She dredged up a tired smile.

“Hi, Lucy. How was your day?”

“Not too bad. The center's getting pretty busy. I hardly had a moment to rest, but that's the way I prefer it.”

“Summer's in full swing. We're supposed to have great weather this weekend. I was thinking we should take advantage of it. Take a hike out to Echo Lake, pack a picnic or something.”

“Why, that sounds like a wonderful idea.” She wondered if they could manage to get away without being followed. She pulled her shoes from the box and lined them up at the bottom of her closet.

The
closet.

“So, guess who has a half day off tomorrow?” he asked. “I thought I could help you move into your new apartment.”

She stopped, her nude Kate Spade sling-backs dangling from her fingers.

“I could even run you to Portland to get your stuff out of storage. You know, do the big move all in one day. How's that sound?”

“Oh, Nick, I . . .”

“I know we've only just met, but I figured you could use the help. Plus I happen to have a buddy with a trailer.”

She squeezed the phone. “Nick . . . I'm not moving. Not yet. There's just . . . a lot going on with the reporters and such. I'm sure you saw the article in the tabloid yesterday—everyone did. They're stalking me.”

“There are only a few of them now, right? They'll probably be gone within a week.”

“I know, but . . .” Boy, she hadn't wanted to get into this with him. “It's not just the reporters. It seems my ex-fiancé—um, Brad—”
How sad that you have to clarify.
“He hasn't quite given up on things. I mean, it's totally over between us, but as you know, he visited over the weekend and—”

“Yeah, I saw the picture.” His tone bordered on sarcastic.

“That wasn't what it looked like at all. He—he kinda scared me. Then today he sent flowers.”

“He sent you flowers?”

“I told him I don't want to see him anymore, but he's not taking no for an answer.”

“Lucy . . .”

“I don't want any more to do with him.”

“So you're depending on your other ex-fiancé for protection.”

There was nothing ugly about his tone, but the words put a pinch in her chest anyway. Guilt? “That's not fair,” she said softly. “It's not the way the article made it sound.”

He exhaled long and slow. “I wasn't judging, Lucy. And I know better than to believe some gossip rag.”

“I'm sorry. The article didn't show you in a good light. You must be taking a lot of heat from your friends.”

“How can you even know how you really feel about this Brad when you can't remember your relationship? You were about to marry him.”

“I left him before the wedding.”

“Look . . . Lucy.” He sighed into the pause. “I think this is just too much for me. I like you; you're a lot of fun. But you've got a lot going on right now. You can't help but be confused.”

“I'm not confused.” Why did everyone think that? She knew perfectly well what she wanted. Who she wanted.

He just didn't want her back.

“But I did tell you I wasn't ready to date—that I just wanted to be friends.”

“You did. But if I'm honest, I was hoping things might change. I like you.”

She dropped the shoes to the floor, pushing them into line beside the others. She'd been afraid of that. She should've listened to her gut.

“Bad timing,” he said.

She sighed. “I'm sorry if I misled you.”

“You didn't. But maybe we should just give things a rest for now. You've got a lot going on, and the last thing you need is another complication.”

That was the truth if ever she'd heard it. She gave a humorless laugh.

They wound up the phone call a few minutes later, and Lucy took the last of her shoes from the box. Truthfully, Nick was never going to be anything more than a friend, because her heart was already spoken for.

Chapter 28

Z
ac pushed a table to the stage area with the others, then grabbed a mike and stand from the storage closet. He was serving as the sponsor and host of the firehouse fundraiser. The volunteer squad had moved from the old, outdated fire station and needed equipment for their new building. Paige had volunteered to head up the event. It was for a good cause.

Speak of the devil . . . she returned from his office where she was stashing the ladies' picnic baskets until auction time. Since it was a blind auction, they were trying to keep the baskets' owners anonymous, but inevitably some of the couples would cheat.

Paige had already set up tables for two all over the beach, in the square, and on his deck. Once couples had their baskets, they'd retreat to their own romantic lunch.

“Looking great, Zac,” Paige said. “Sara and Lauren are stationed out front to receive the baskets.”

“Think we need more tables up here?”

“We can always add more if we have too many baskets. I hope we do. We need a good turnout to raise all that money.”

He slid the mike into the stand. “It'll be great. You know the town'll come out in support.”

Beau entered with Eden and Aunt Trudy. After they traded greetings, they helped Zac shift tables around.

“So . . . ,” Paige said a few minutes later. “Whose basket are you bidding on, Zac?”

“Oh no. I'm not bidding on anything.”

Paige shelved her fists on her hips. “You have to bid. You're the sponsor.”

“Exactly. I'm doing my part already.”

“Which means you have to set an example. Bid often, bid high.”

He narrowed his eyes at her. “The last time you said that, I ended up having lunch with Myrtle Franke.”

“Who is a perfectly nice woman,” Aunt Trudy added.

He shot her a look. “She pinched my butt. Twice.”

Beau snickered, covering his mouth when Zac glowered at him.

“I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it,” Aunt Trudy said. “She's eighty-some years old, for heaven's sake. She gets a little confused.”

“Confused, my—”

“You should bid on Miss Trudy's basket.” Eden gave his aunt a look. “She's got deviled eggs, pulled pork sandwiches—”

“La-la-la-la-la,” Paige said, putting her hands over her ears. “I don't hear a thing.”

“—and apple pie,” Eden finished. “I know you like apple pie.”

“But I—oh yes,” Aunt Trudy said. “Bid on my basket, Zac. Maybe I'll be spared yet another awkward luncheon with the sheriff.”

“Well . . . I suppose.” He hated to disappoint Sheriff Colton,
but Paige was probably right about his setting an example. “All right. I'll do it.”

Eden clapped her hands together, beaming. “It's settled then. I'm going to go see if Lucy needs help with her basket.”

Ah, yes, Lucy and her basket. Wouldn't it be fun to watch Nick and who-knew-who-else battle for lunch with his sweet Southern girl?

He squeezed his eyes closed.
Not yours anymore, Callahan.
He heaved a sigh and went back to arranging tables, trying to ignore the fist that tightened around his heart.

Lucy leaned back in her chair as Beau handed off an auctioned basket and Sara Porter handed him another. He was doing a great job as emcee. The place was standing room only, and the smell of coffee lingered in the air, mixed with a hint of male desperation.

There were only several baskets left. There'd been a lot of laughter, teasing, and poking as the men bid against each other just to rile up their friends. Beau played along, making it even more entertaining. She'd initially thought the picnic auction was too old-fashioned to fly, but it was turning out to be a hoot. So fascinating to watch the interactions and dynamics of the townspeople at work.

Dylan Moore held the top bid so far. He'd paid ninety dollars for Paige's basket. Even if Lucy hadn't recognized the insulated cooler, she would've identified its owner by the twin flags of color on Paige's face as the handsome Dylan bid with confidence.

“This next beautiful basket is sure to be a winner,” Beau said into the mike. “It features fried chicken, potato salad, and, mmm,
mmm, chocolate cream pie. My favorite. Unfortunately for you fellas, this one's all mine. I'll start—and end—the bidding with a crisp fifty-dollar bill. Thank you very much.”

Eden beamed at her fiancé as a chorus of boos sounded.

“Beau!” Paige scolded from her spot against the wall.

He gave her an exaggerated shrug as he handed off the basket.

“Moving on . . . ,” Beau said with a wily smile. “Ah, what have we here?”

Lucy's pulse kicked up at the sight of her basket. What if no one bid on it? She'd be so humiliated.

Beau read the label. “Pulled pork sandwiches, deviled eggs, and apple pie! Looks like some lucky winner's about to have a tasty meal. Let's start the bidding at ten dollars. Who'd like to start us off?”

She surreptitiously scanned the room, heat climbing her cheeks, as the silence seemed to draw on forever.

Zac raised his hand. “Ten dollars.”

Her heart flopped over. She stared at his profile. Why was he bidding on her basket? Maybe he didn't know it was hers. But he hadn't bid on any others. Her head snapped to the front, her cheeks burning.

“Twenty!” Eddie from the garage shouted.

Beau held up the basket, sniffing. “Smells awfully nice, fellas. I think you can do better than that.”

“Twenty-five,” Zac said.

“Thirty!”

Zac pressed his lips together.

“Thirty-five!” someone behind her called.

“Look at that pretty ribbon,” Beau said. “If the lady's gone to all that trouble on the outside, imagine what's in store on the inside. Not many baskets left, guys. Better open up your wallets.”

“Forty,” Zac said.

Lucy pinched her lower lip as her heart found a new gear. What was going on? Had he changed his mind about her? About them?

“Forty-five!” Eddie said.

“Fifty,” called the voice in the back.

Zac slapped his hand on the table. “One hundred!” He turned, giving Eddie and the other guy a flinty look.

The crowd applauded the generosity and the entertainment.

“Going once, going twice . . . sold to Zac Callahan for one hundred dollars!”

Zac worked his way to the front through the gathering crowd to grab Aunt Trudy's basket. She'd probably want to go to the square and sit under a shade tree. Just as well. He wanted to be far away from Nick and Lucy. Nick had only paid thirty-five dollars for the pleasure of her company. Cheapskate.

Zac reached for the basket decorated with a ruffly white ribbon. The corner of a red-and-white checkered cloth peeked artfully from the lid. He took the basket out of the throng and scanned the mob for his aunt while the crowd began to dissipate. He found her in the far corner with Beau and Paige. Sometimes being a head taller than everyone else came in handy.