Page 22 of The Magical Tea Shop

“Sure, come on. They love it.” He grabbed her hand, and they wound their way up the aisle with the crowd to the front steps. Half the audience milled about chatting. When the actors emerged, still in costume and full makeup, the crowd applauded.

Joel led Ivy through a receiving line so she could greet each cast member. When she got to Tessa, the Roadies’s outfielder and a casual friend, she gave her a big hug and took a moment to admire her period dress up close. Tessa did a quick twirl, and Ivy couldn’t help gushing. “I loved this show. I had no idea.”

“Is this your first one? I’m a regular cast member now. You should come to the next one. We do four a year.”

“Can’t wait.” Ivy gave Tessa another hug.

When Joel slid his arm around Ivy, Tessa gave her a questioning frown before the next audience member drew her attention.

Ivy lingered as long as she could, chatting with the cast while Joel rubbed her back.

The massage would have felt better if she wasn’t so anxious. She liked Joel. She did. But despite the lack of chemistry, he apparently had expectations.

As the actors moved indoors and she was out of excuses to linger at the theater, Joel drew her into his side and said, “How about a nightcap at Toby and Mac’s?”

“I should probably call it a night.”

At Joel’s nod, Ivy was relieved he didn’t push, that is until he led her onto the town green away from the streetlights.

She stopped short. A walk through the dark, swaying trees in the park-like grounds made her hesitate. “Let’s take a shortcut to our cars,” he said, and launched into a story about his six siblings and how as kids they used to perform their own plays for his parents. When he nudged her along with him, she hated to be rude. It had really been a fabulous evening.

*

After Jaxon finishedchecking on the set with the stage manager and tightening up some screws that had worked loose, he exited the theater to see Ivy strolling onto the green with Joel. As they vanished into the trees by the statue of Captain Edwin Hazard, Jaxon had to face the fact that Ivy was—what?

First on a date with Roman, now on a date with Joel. What was she seeking?

He had one bright, hopeful moment, then shook his head. Ivy might be ready for a guy in her life, but not a guy leaving town. He needed to face facts. The wiry, energetic Joel had that spring in his step, as he clearly was talking Ivy’s ear off. Joel could keep anyone entertained and distracted. Ivy honestly acted like she was having a great time with Joel tonight, except when he got handsy and tried to jerk her away from their conversation.

Should he follow? What if Joel didn’t respect the boundaries Ivy set?

But what if nothing was wrong, and he charged after them like a lunatic? He wasn’t that guy. Ivy could do what she wanted, could take care of herself. Joel wasn’t some creeper. He was a local and entrenched in this town, a successful mechanic with his own repair shop, well-respected, even if he could be impetuous and pushy.

Jaxon shoved his hands in his pockets. Joel was a teammate. Ivy was her own person.

Face it, Ivy Wayland wasn’t his to protect. He sucked at that anyway. He’d failed the one woman who had been his responsibility to safeguard. He hadn’t saved Candace. How could he expect to do any better with someone else?

Great, he was his own nutcase with a misplaced hero complex brought on by guilt. Jaxon headed to his truck. It, too, was parked on the other side of the green, but he made himself follow the sidewalk and take the long way around.

*

As Ivy cameabreast of the statue of Hazard’s founder, Joel spun her around to face him and surprised her with a quick buss on the lips. She was so startled at the abruptness of the move, she froze and stepped back. She felt her back press up against the base of the statue.

Joel took that as an invitation. He moved in. Ivy recognized the trajectory of his hands heading for second base. In a move she’d perfected as a teen, she stepped sideways and caught her elbow in Joel’s side.

Joel stumbled a little, and Ivy took the opportunity to start walking again.

Flustered and breathing hard, she was all the way back to the sidewalk when Joel caught up.

They walked the rest of the way to their cars in silence. Joel was obviously peeved, and Ivy was mentally kicking herself for not recognizing Joel’s lack of restraint earlier. She was so out of dating practice. Joel continued to walk her to her crystal-blue car. She beeped the driver door open and turned, determined to be polite. “I really enjoyed the play, thank you.”

Joel scowled, but not at her. She followed his gaze. Was that Jaxon? She gave him a wave, and Joel swiveled to glower at her. “Uh, good night,” she said, hopping into her Mazda, and starting the engine.

When Joel hopped in his convertible and peeled out of his parking space, tires screeching and leaving skid marks on the pavement, she leaned her head on the steering wheel. How had she managed to mess up such an ideal date?

But she knew.

She was out with the wrong man.

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