Something Blue, page 10
Sawyer looked at Beth for a vote.
Was one more inclined to business than the other? She defaulted to what she always wanted if the heat allowed.
“Outside. If that’s okay?”
“Outside sounds good,” Sawyer agreed.
“Right this way.” She led them to a table at the edge of the back deck.
No candles on out here yet, as the sun hadn’t set just yet. Which meant they’d be here for sunset.
She couldn’t win for trying tonight.
Beth sat before she could catch on that Sawyer had pulled out her chair for her.
This was not a date, she told herself. Don’t get sidetracked. She was here to set him straight and they weren’t leaving until he was on board with the wedding, and Shelby, and the whole shebang.
“You look nice,” Sawyer said after he sat down, mentioning it so casually that she almost didn’t catch it.
For over an hour she’d deliberated between jeans or a dress. It was BBQ. Jeans, obviously. But it was higher-end BBQ and business, and sometimes Frank’s had someone playing music later and she’d be with Sawyer.
In the end she’d opted for a casual dress. Nothing fancy. Not trying too hard. Just a sheath dress in deep green. Aurora may have once mentioned that emerald green was her best color.
“Thank you. You…you do too,” she finally managed to reply.
At any other time, her conversational skills were unparalleled. A huge part of her career included talking to people.
But around Sawyer, tonight, particularly when he wore a white dress shirt, folded up at the sleeves, his sun-kissed forearms just out there, for anyone to see? Her cool confidence faltered.
“I appreciate you agreeing to meet with me, and I hope we can come to some kind of a compromise and understanding, as far as Garrett’s wedding goes.”
There. That sounded like her usual self.
Sawyer opened his mouth to reply, and the waiter showed up to take their drink orders.
They both opted for a beer.
“That’s my hope as well,” Sawyer said, once the waiter disappeared. “I was thinking about it yesterday, about how we could include Silva Ranch and contribute without giving the Meyers family free rein over spending. If you know what I mean.”
“Of course.”
“I’d like to keep my financial contribution to the wedding itself. That’s the most important part anyway.”
“It is.” And, typically, less expensive than getting into reception costs.
Sawyer wasn’t completely clueless about weddings. He knew he was minimizing his exposure to Evelyn and the over-the-top expectations he’d overheard the other day, but Beth couldn’t blame him.
“I’ll talk to Garrett about what we could do in the ceremony that’d be special to the Silva family. That way he can run it by Shelby for approval, and everyone is happy.”
He wanted Shelby’s approval. Such progress.
“Wonderful,” Beth said.
This all sounded surprisingly reasonable compared to their talk in the sitting room.
Should she be suspicious and ask why the sudden change of heart?
The waiter showed back up with their beers and Sawyer raised his glass to hers. “This way we’ve officially set the parameters and we’ll avoid any confusion going forward.”
“Sounds good to me.” She tapped her glass to his and took a sip.
Frank’s brewed their own beers, two IPAs, a lager, a stout, and a Hefeweizen style. She was a sucker for a Hefe.
“Man, that’s a good beer.” Sawyer all but smacked his lips.
The fruit-forward scent filled her senses as the flavor danced on her tongue. Hint of clove, cold and crisp. Perfection. “One of the best.”
Sawyer smiled again and she looked away.
Why did he insist on being so agreeable tonight? So likable in general, even if he was a bit of a hardhead?
“Would you look at that sky?”
Gladly.
Beth focused on the sky so she wouldn’t have to think about the man sitting across from her.
“I love sunsets. My sister Cece is a sunrise person, but not me.”
“Me either. Sunsets are better. Especially out here. You ever hike out here in the country?”
Of course he loved sunsets and hiking. Because everything was conspiring against her will to keep this purely business. “Not in a while, but I used to go with my sister pretty often.”
“I hiked a lot this winter. Needed to get out of the house, stretch my legs doing something besides riding.”
“How often do you ride?” she asked.
“Every day, unless work is crazy.”
“Really?”
“I have to. It’s the business. But I also want to. No better feeling in the world.”
Beth nodded.
“Well…” He stopped there and took a sip of his beer.
Beth did the same to keep from blushing. There was something better than riding horses, but she did not need to think about that in conjunction with Sawyer.
Or how it would be if it involved Sawyer.
“So,” she said a little too loudly. “How old were you when you learned to ride?”
“I don’t even know. A baby, it seems like. Uncle Joe says I was about three years old when I first sat on a horse, and around six or seven when I really learned to ride on my own. On this little pony named Gulliver.”
“I think it’s nice that you and your uncle are really close.”
“Yeah. For having no kids of his own, he was great at raising us. And he’s still my mentor.”
Beth envied him that.
“Listen. About your friend Shelby.”
Beth opened her mouth to defend her immediately, but Sawyer put up a hand for her to wait. “I was wrong to go off about her the way I did the other day. I was all fired up, and, yeah, I was raised better than that. I was way out of line to say all that.”
She appreciated his ability to admit as much, especially face-to-face.
“And I’m sorry I raised my voice at you like that. I’m not…that’s not okay where I come from.”
“Thank you. Apology accepted.” She took a sip of her beer. “And I’m sorry I made matters worse. I normally defuse situations and high emotions. Comes with the territory. I did not handle our meeting well, though. I just…I can get riled up when it comes to my friends and family.”
Sawyer laughed as he nodded. “I’m the same. No harm, no foul. That’s why I flew off the handle about Shelby and her mom. It involves my younger brother. I worry about him, and I only want the best for him. I know, in my mind, he’s a grown man and can take care of himself. But in my heart, I forget all the time and I jump in, trying to take over. I don’t know that it will ever change either. If that makes any sense.”
Beth envisioned Aurora having to work at Orchard Inn after reaching the pinnacle of success in LA. It physically pained her to see her sister taking a step backward when she’d gotten so far. Or Cece and how hard she worked to compensate, just to be like everyone else. When, in reality, Cece was extraordinary and better than pretty much every person Beth knew.
“Makes perfect sense to me.”
Sawyer lifted his gaze to hers with silent understanding.
That kept happening. No matter how inconvenient, she couldn’t deny they were kindred personalities.
The waiter showed up to take their order, bless the interruption, and Beth drank more of her beer.
They both ordered the house specials and ate dinner as the sun set. They talked about growing up in Fredericksburg and about the wedding. Finally, they got to the subject of Shelby.
“I know you want them to be engaged for a year or whatever,” Beth said. “But that’s not what they want. They’re great together, and so in love. I’ve known Shelby since we were eighteen. She’s good people, but it’s clear you have doubts about her. Why?”
Sawyer pushed some food around his plate and then started turning his pint glass on its coaster. But he didn’t answer.
She wasn’t letting him off that easy. Beth sat in silence and waited.
“I think it’s just doubts in general,” he said. “I’m sure she’s not a bad person, but he’s my only brother and…look, I’ll deal with my doubts. I’m not going to go running off at the mouth again, I promise. There’s just some stuff I need to deal with, but that’s on me.”
Beth studied him, the strong lines of his face, the way he quirked his lips in deep thought, the depth of his dark eyes.
“Fair enough,” she said. “But I can vouch for my friend. You’ll see. She’s going to make Garrett a wonderful wife.”
Sawyer nodded solemnly but wouldn’t meet her gaze.
They finished their meal and the beers, talking about other places they loved to go in town. The conversation was enjoyable, but something kept niggling at the back of Beth’s brain.
She brushed it off as they walked to their cars. Sawyer stopped with her when she reached her driver’s-side door.
“Thank you for agreeing to meet with me tonight,” she said. “I’m happy with the progress. Your brother’s wedding is going to be amazing. I promise.”
Sawyer stared at the sky before swallowing hard. “Look, I know I can be a pain in the ass to deal with. Pardon my French.”
Beth fought back a smile.
“I’ve known this about myself for a long time now. But…” This time he met her gaze, and the power of his sincerity made the ground tilt. “I don’t want you to think this has anything to do with you. My reactions and, you know, overreaction, has nothing to do with you or your skill and dedication to what you do. Or my thoughts on who you are as a person.”
Beth blinked up at him.
“I just wanted to say no matter what happens, I appreciate all you’ve done for Garrett, and the wedding. And me.”
Her pride swelled a bit while her stomach knotted.
No matter what happens?
What was going to happen?
“I’m glad we met,” he said.
A moment passed before she could respond. “Me too.”
The space between them held so much weight, some of which she wondered if she even fully grasped.
There was obviously something there, with them. Some potential, some spark, some something.
She might even be a little fond of him, but she also kind of wanted to punch him in the arm.
That wasn’t a normal, healthy reaction.
Was it?
“I hope that…” He studied the sky again. “Maybe someday, when this is all over, we can hang out. I’ll understand if you don’t want to—”
“Why wouldn’t I want to hang out?” Beth scrunched her nose and studied him.
“I don’t know.” His voice drifted. “But we’ll see. This wedding stuff first, though.”
She stared, trying to piece the puzzle of Sawyer Silva together.
“Sound good?” he asked.
Beth shook off her confusion. “Yeah, sounds good.”
“Good night, then.”
He leaned forward and her heart stopped.
He was going to kiss her.
And she was going to die.
As confusing and frustrating and wonderful as he was, could she handle a kiss? A kiss wasn’t in her plans, and men like Sawyer had a way of derailing plans, even if that wasn’t their intention.
A kiss from him would cause the train to explode altogether.
Sawyer reached around her and opened her car door.
She saw spots from holding her breath.
“Okay, good night!” The words rushed out as she jumped into her car as if she were leaving the scene of a crime.
Beth buckled up and backed out, quickly putting Sawyer out of sight.
Yep, the man was a walking two-train pileup.
Chapter 10
I think an autumn wedding would be more romantic, don’t you?”
Deanna Nikolas, oldest child of the Nikolas family, of Nikolas Olive Oil, was one of three appointments Beth had booked as a result of Shelby’s bridal shower.
Nothing moved a business forward, or backward, like word of mouth. And, in this case, the mixture of positive word of mouth and the close connections in a town like Fredericksburg meant Orchard Inn’s business was looking up.
“I agree. Autumn is probably my favorite time of year,” Beth agreed. “Shall I go ahead and meet with my sister Aurora on the special menu items you mentioned?”
Say yes to the inn, she repeated silently. Yes to the inn.
“Yes, absolutely.” Deanna flashed a bright white smile, her mother beaming with pride beside her.
“Are you sure your sister can manage? We will have family coming over from Greece. They will expect authentic Greek food.”
“It will be no problem. Aurora loves to step outside of the usual Texas wedding fare.”
“And you’re certain your other sister—Cece, is it? She can create the look we want for the reception area? If we can’t have the wedding in Crete, it had better look like a wedding in Crete.”
“I’m certain. She’ll check with you every step of the way with her design ideas and progress, and I’ll make sure she knows how important the proper feel is for the happy couple and their families.”
“This is going to be so perfect.” Deanna clasped her mother’s hands.
Their big day would be perfect, Beth thought, because she treated every wedding like it was her own.
She’d come to realize that pleasing people and making them happy with the result of their ideas was ninety-five percent of her job. She dealt in dreams and making them come true.
And, if she could pull together Shelby’s wedding, Deanna’s, and the other two prospective nuptials in her appointment book, then her dream would come true too.
Orchard Inn would be the top pick of Texan brides, maybe even brides from all over. She’d solidify her family’s security and future, and finally find some peace with the path they’d chosen.
She walked Deanna and her mother out of the inn on floating feet.
“Your land and the views here are just stunning,” Deanna said as they reached the porch. “That’s what made me tell Mom about this place, even though she’d heard differently and crossed it off her list for their anniversary party.”
Beth’s feet hit the ground, hard.
“What do you mean, she heard differently?”
Color rushed to Deanna’s cheeks. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—it was just some gossip from town. I don’t pay any attention to that stuff.”
“But what was the gossip from town?”
Deanna glanced down at her feet before speaking. “Something about Sawyer Silva pooh-poohing a wedding here. One of my mom’s friends overheard him. I told her either she was mistaken or he didn’t know what he was talking about.”
A knot twisted in Beth’s stomach. She tried not to clench her teeth as she asked, “What exactly did Sawyer Silva say?”
The idea that he would say anything even remotely negative about Orchard Inn, after all they’d talked about, their mutual understanding, made her temples ache.
“I didn’t hear him say it,” Deanna explained, unnecessarily. “But Mom’s friend Nancy overheard him outside of Wellford Advisors yesterday or the day before. He was telling his brother not to get married here.”
“What?”
Deanna flinched.
Beth reeled in her temper. “Sorry. I’m just surprised to hear he’d say something like that.”
“I didn’t pay any attention,” Deanna tried to reassure her. “Nancy said between that wedding in the winter and Sawyer Silva warning his brother against it, she was out. But she’s all about town gossip, and what would Sawyer know about weddings and anniversaries anyway?”
He knew enough to know better than to go bad-mouthing her inn and business in a town like Fredericksburg.
“Are you okay, dear?” Mrs. Nikolas asked.
“I’m fine.”
She had a clear head, for once.
There she’d been, thinking Sawyer was a kindred spirit, someone who knew what it meant to run a family business with the people you loved most.
She thought they understood one another.
She’d thought he was going to kiss her. And she would’ve let him.
Beth ground her back teeth together. Good thing he didn’t try a move like that, after trash-talking her inn.
Of all the overconfident low-moral nerve!
She’d go over to his ranch and give him a piece of her mind.
“I’m fine,” she repeated. “I can’t wait to work with you both on the special day.”
“Good.” Mrs. Nikolas patted her hand as much as shook it. “Then we’ll be in touch, dear. Thank you again!”
She watched them leave, but her mind was on Sawyer.
Whatever his problem was with her and Orchard Inn, she would find out.
Right now.
She made it to the Silva Ranch in record time.
Knocking on Sawyer’s front door, she planned what she would say. She wanted to know what possessed him to speak negatively about the inn, especially knowing they’d reached a treaty.
More than anything, she wanted to know why he’d lied.
Lied wasn’t the right word.
He’d feigned support of her business, and her. He’d acted like he believed in her, even when he didn’t believe in his brother getting married. He’d said he liked her and wanted to spend time with her when this was over.
His claims of liking her made his actions a thousand times worse, and he had to answer for that.
Beth knocked again.
No answer.
His truck was there, lights were on inside. He was clearly home and simply not answering the door.
She moved to knock again, but their housekeeper appeared at the door, smoothing back her hair.
They’d met briefly, before the bridal shower. Beth wasn’t sure the woman would even remember who she was.
“Beth? Is everything all right?”
But then, maybe she would.
Taking in Lina’s flushed cheeks and hurried breathing, she almost asked her the same thing.
“Everything is fine. I’m looking for Sawyer.”
Uncle Joe appeared in the foyer behind Lina, color in his cheeks to match hers.
