Page 57 of Serial Love

Turning to the waitress, who had been eyeballing him since he walked in, Jack asked her the same questions.

“Well,” she said, leaning forward, “I only noticed him ‘cause he’d been standing around not ordering any drinks and when I tried to get him to order, he glared at me. Seriously? Me? Like he could scrape me off his shoe.”

“Did you see the two of them talking at all?”

“Never saw them talking, but he got what he deserved,” she groused.

Cocking his head to the side, he asked, “How so?”

“He must have said something to her because I saw her turn around and poke him right in the chest like she was trying to get him to stop doing whatever it was he was doing.”

“Do you remember which hand she was using?”

The waitress’ face scrunched up in thought before brightening. “Yeah, it was her right hand.”

That night he worked in the command center alone, knowing Bethany had her hands full with renters. She said she had been working on a new business plan but did not want to talk to him about it until she had done more research. But she swore it could bring in more money during the off season.

Shaking his head to clear his mind of Bethany, he re-focused on the files in front of him. He stared at the faces of the victims. Pale in death, their vibrancy snuffed out, bright futures taken away. Bethany was working right now on the future of Mountville.Can her work include me?He stood up quickly, cursing at his thoughts straying from the case.Jesus, I can’t concentrate for thinking about her. How is this ever going to work?

He paced the floor for just a moment, the burden of the job he needed to do warring with the desire tosimply be with Bethany crowded his mind. The gate alarm sounded and irritated at the intrusion, he went to the monitor. Then stopped. And smiled. Her face, peeking out of the old car she drove, was grinning at the camera.

Buzzing her in, he jogged up the stairs and through the house to the front door. She must have flown down the driveway because she was out of the car and hurling herself toward him by the time he made it down the front steps.

He caught her in mid-air as she jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist. Throwing her arms around his neck, she kissed him.

Finally coming up for air, she beamed at him and, seeing the questioning look on his face, said simply, “I missed you.”

Throwing his head back in laughter that she felt rumble against her chest, she tightened her grip, knowing she had done the right thing. As his eyes, still lit with pleasure, came back to hers, she said, “I know you’re busy. I…I just wanted to see you.”

“Oh, beautiful. I couldn’t concentrate for thinking about you,” he confessed.

“Can we talk for a few minutes?” she asked, shyly. “Then I promise I’ll leave and let you get back to work.”

“Abso-fuckin’-lutey,” he answered. “Can’t think of anything I’d rather do.” He paused on the top step, leered at her and quickly amended, “Well, yeah I can.”

Giggling, she said, “Not now, big boy.” Placing a kiss on the side of his neck, she whispered, “But hopefully later.”

He carried her inside and sat on the sofa with her in his lap. “So, what’s up darlin’?” Staring at her face beaming up at him, he was filled with the realization that he did not mind the interruption. Just having her here gave him a sense of peace. Of rightness.

“You know I’ve been thinking of ways to bring in more business during the off seasons and using my marketing degree at the same time.” Seeing him nod, she continued, “But I just couldn’t think of the right angle. One that fit for me. So, I was sitting the other day going through Gram’s old photo albums and came across the ones from when they were first married. And there was one where they were standing in front of the second cabin they had built and…” she paused for effect. “It had a Welcome Honeymooners sign in front. See, when they first started building, they advertised Mountville as a perfect getaway retreat for honeymooners.”

Seeing the interested look on his face, she said, “That wouldn’t work anymore because couples go to exotic places for their honeymoons nowadays, but…what if Mountville was advertised as a wedding venue?”

He caught her excitement, but hesitated. “Um, I can tell you’re excited, but I have to confess I don’t have a clue what the hell a wedding venue is.”

“It’s where an outdoor wedding can be held. You know the grove on the west side of the lake, where the mountains in the background can be seen? It would be a gorgeous place for an outdoor wedding. The cabins would be perfect for the wedding party to rent since most have to be there the day before the wedding.”

His mind wandered to the place she was referring to.Green grass in an open field, the lake to the side and the Blue Ridge Mountains rising behind the tree line.Beautiful. Hell, if we got married, that’s where I would want it to be.The idea jolted him.Married?Suddenly, the rightness of the idea settled deep inside, sending a calm throughout him that he had not had in months. He realized that no matter what happened with his business, he wanted this woman in his life. In his home. In his bed. With his name.

“So, what do you think?” she asked excitedly. “I’ve been doing research and other places that offer a similar campaign do really well.”

Jolted out of his personal musing, he smiled, saying, “Beautiful, I think it sounds amazing…just like you. Whatever you want to do with Mountville is fine with me, as long as you’rewith me.”

Her enthusiastic smile morphed into one focused directly on him. “I want that too, Jack.”

He slid one hand up her back, across her neck and into her thick hair, cupping her head as he brought her mouth to his. Taking her lips, he moved over them slowly. Feeling. Tasting. Savoring. Capturing her groan, he took the kiss deeper. For once, they did not take it further. Both just satisfied to let their lips do the exploring, they melded into each other.

Finally, pulling apart, she said, “I know you’ve got to work, and I’ve got to get back. I’ve got another group to check in this afternoon.”

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