The Reluctant Bachelorette (13 page)

Luke let out a breath and turned to head back, pausing when he
caught sight of a painted wooden sign. It was simple. No fancy graphics. No
scrolls or decals. Just letters painted in a bold burgundy on a whitewashed
background.

The Bloom Boutique.

He stared at it for a moment. Then stared at the store itself,
with the handwritten “Be back by 1:00” note taped to the front door. Luke felt
the sudden urge to hang out on the inviting front porch steps until Taycee
returned, just to see her smile and hear what she’d have to say. She’d make the
day look brighter.

A strange “here’s your answer” feeling washed over him, but Luke
shook it off. It was only a coincidence. That’s all.

Over a week of early mornings and late nights had finally
brought Taycee past the halfway point of the first two weeks. Her dates with
Kent, Miles, and Gavin were now in the past, and Jason—well, almost. Only a
doorstep scene to go.

Jason pulled to a stop in front of her apartment. “Stay right
there. I’ll get your door.”

As much as Taycee appreciated a guy who’d open the door, Jason
was over-the-top. He’d practically pushed the waiter aside to pull out her
chair during dinner, and every time the air conditioning kicked on, he’d ask,
“Are you too cold? I can ask the waiter to turn that down if you want.”

“Thanks, but no. I’m good.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Are you hot then?”

“No. Really, I’m good. Promise.”

It was a good thing they hadn’t come across any puddles,
because Jason probably would have stripped off his yellow polo shirt and thrown
it down. Either that or scooped her up and carried her across. He was like a
gentleman on a mission. And Taycee, well, she was a girl who liked to jump a puddle
every once in a while, maybe even splash in one.

Jason helped her out of the car and kept her hand in his as
they sauntered up the walk. On the doorstep, he caught her off guard by pulling
her into his arms and trying to kiss her.

Palms on his chest, Taycee pushed him back. “Down boy.”

A teasing glint sparked in his eyes. “Playing hard to get?”

“No. I just don’t kiss on the first date. Never have, never
will. Thanks for a fun night.” With that, she left him standing on the doorstep
without even a hug goodbye. The door closed between them, and she immediately
twisted the deadbolt as if it would somehow keep her from ever having to see
him again.

Taycee took a long, relaxing hot bath, and then wrapped herself
in a soft terry cloth robe, crawled into bed, and opened her laptop. It had
been two days since she’d talked with Missy and still no scandalous stories had
surfaced on the
Behind-the-Scenes of Shelter’s Bachelorette Blog
. Started
by an anonymous citizen a few weeks before the show began, the blog was always
an entertaining read, especially now that it focused mostly on the new
bachelors in town. The writer was skilled in taking a tiny morsel of truth and
turning into something outrageous.

Like today.

Taycee’s jaw dropped when she read the title of the post: “Can
Poly-dating Go Both Ways?” Below the words was a picture of Missy sidled up
next to Luke in line at the diner. Taycee clamped a hand over her mouth as a
giggle escaped. Holy cow, Missy had done it—she’d actually done it. And with
photographic proof, no less. Taycee scrolled down. Missy and Luke all cozy in a
secluded booth. Missy and Luke talking. Missy and Luke—
kissing?
What?

Her laptop slammed shut with a snap.

Luke had let Missy kiss him? Kiss him! Why would he do that?
He’d never fall for someone like Missy, would he? Taycee shoved her laptop
aside, hating that she cared enough to regret ever calling Missy Green. Why
couldn’t Taycee just let it go? Let him go? Why couldn’t she move on?

She slid down in her bed and yanked up the covers to her chin.
She needed to get her mind on something else. Anything. Work. Yes, that would
do it. A lily arrangement needed to be done first thing in the morning. Five
white Calla lilies and whatever else Taycee wanted to add. Maybe she would mix
in some dark pink roses. Or better yet, keep it all white with added roses,
snapdragons and salal. Yes.

White. Classic. Romantic. Perfect for a young couple in love.

An image of Luke’s face popped into Taycee’s mind. She grabbed
a pillow, mashed it over her face and screamed, long and hard. Then she threw
it across the room as the strains of Jessa’s ringtone filled the silence.

She grabbed her phone.

“Wow, Luke’s sure got those discussion boards zinging,” Jessa
said. “In one day flat, he’s gone from one of the favorites to the bottom of
the barrel. Pretty impressive.”

This was exactly what Taycee had wanted. It was, it was, it
was! But the picture of Missy’s lips planted on Luke’s wouldn’t leave her mind.
She felt like screaming again. “I’m sure he and Missy will be very happy
together.”

“Oh please, like Luke would ever go for someone like her,”
said Jessa. “I guarantee this was all Missy’s doing. Her and her giant need for
attention.”

“He
let
her kiss him.”

Jessa laughed. “Is that jealousy I hear in your voice?”

Ugh. Surely there was a better word for what she was feeling.
Frustration? Annoyance? Confusion? Anything that sounded less pathetic than
jealousy. “More like relief. Hopefully he’ll get voted off now.”

“You keep telling yourself that’s what you really want if it
makes you feel better.”

“Believe whatever you want. You always do.”

“Sheesh, someone’s a little testy tonight,” Jessa said. “I
wonder why.”

“I’m tired, okay? You try getting up early every morning,
being on your feet all day long, and then going out with a different guy every
night while two cameras follow you around.”

“Hey, don’t blame me. I told you to take some time off from
work.” Jessa sounded completely unrepentant. She was probably more concerned about
what color of nail polish she should choose to paint her toes.

Taycee sighed. “You know I can’t afford to do that. Besides, I
like work. It’s all the dating I could do without. After this show, I’m taking
a long hiatus from all men. Did you know that Jason actually tried to kiss me
tonight?”

“Did you punch him?”

“Just about.”

Jessa laughed. “I would have.”

“I have a little more self-control than you do.”

“It’s not called self-control,” said Jessa. “It’s called bottling
your emotions. You’re like a shaken can of soda ready to erupt. I honestly pity
the guy that finally opens you up. Boy is he going to get it.”

Taycee rolled her eyes. “Look at you, waxing all metaphoric. Maybe
you should write that down before you forget it.”

“Maybe I should.”

“Great, I’ll leave you to it then. Night.”

“Night.”

Taycee resisted the urge to throw her phone as she flopped
back on her bed. Her lamp lit up her room in a dim glow, forming abstract
shadows all over the walls. When the silence became too much, she turned up the
volume on her clock radio, letting a despondent melody crackle through the
speakers as she stared at the ceiling. Was Jessa right? Had she been bottling
up her emotions, especially where Luke was concerned?

Or had she been burying them? Deep underneath, to a place that
could never be breached by anyone. A place they might eventually fade away.

D
ates #7 and #8 with Miles and Greg
went better than all the other dates combined. Miles took her to a demolition
derby and entertained her with hilarious stories from his youth, and Greg took
her miniature golfing, making her laugh with the way he sized up every hole and
got frustrated when he didn’t make par.

Now Friday loomed before Taycee like her own personal D-day,
especially when Jake had an unexpected business emergency and asked to change
their date from Thursday night to early Friday afternoon, which meant two dates
in one day.

Nothing like finishing up round one with a bang.

It had been a bad day from the get-go. Not only had Taycee
mixed up an order and needed to make an extra run to Colorado Springs, but she
pricked her fingers at least a dozen times and even missed lunch. By the time Jake
picked her up at The Bloom Boutique, her head pounded and the skies threatened
rain—a perfect match to her current mood.

Please, please say that Jake had something low-key planned.
Like popcorn and a movie or a scenic drive through the surrounding mountains.

“I thought it would be fun to go hiking,” he said, killing her
hopes. “I hear there’s a great waterfall at the end of a trailhead nearby.”

Taycee’s feet immediately complained, as did her stomach.
“Sounds fun. Mind if we stop off at my place so I can change and get some
hiking shoes?”

“Sure.”

Back at her place, Jake, Burt, and Megan waited in the car as
Taycee slipped on some khaki shorts and a T-shirt. She wolfed down two granola
bars as she tied her shoes. When she finally resurfaced, Jake leaned casually
against the passenger door of his black Audi, patiently waiting. He smiled and
pulled the door open for her.

She hesitated on her doorstep before forcing her feet forward.
Honestly, what was wrong with her? She should be giddy at the prospect of a
date with Jake Sanford. A normal girl would have left work early. Pampered
herself. Dressed carefully. Applied her makeup with care, and then waited
impatiently for him to arrive with his adorably mussed hair and light eyes.

“Wow, you deserve an award for the fastest change time ever,” Jake
said.

“Keeping nice guys waiting isn’t my style.”

“I seriously doubt anyone would mind waiting for you.”

Taycee smiled as she sat down on a tan leather seat. “Nice
car.”

“Thanks. It comes with the job.”

The door shut and Jake walked around to the other side. Taycee
did a quick inspection of the car, but it didn’t really tell her anything about
Jake—other than he was a neat freak. Or maybe he’d just had the car detailed
for the date. There wasn’t a speck of dust anywhere, no gum wrappers, pens, or
even coins in the cup holders. Everything was pristine. Perfect. Like Jake.
Maybe a bit too perfect.

Was that the problem?

Jake slid in beside her, started the car, and headed out of
town.

“What kind of job gives you a car?” Taycee said.

“The family business kind.” He chuckled. “Still impressed?”

“Ah. So you’re one of
those
kids.”

“Guilty yet grateful,” he said. “What sort of kid are you?”

“Average,” she said.

Jake shot her a doubtful look, but didn’t argue. “What about
your parents? Do they live around here?”

“No. They retired to Florida several years ago. They wanted
sun and more sun, with no threat of snow ever. That’s what they got.” She
smiled, but it wasn’t exactly sincere. In her mind, they’d chosen nice weather
over her. It still stung when she thought about it like that.

The car started the climb up the narrow mountain road, next to
a grove of Aspen trees that seemed to wave at them. Clustered together like one
large family unit with their root system all interconnected, they were a rude
reminder of what Taycee no longer had. It had been four years since her parents
had left, even longer since her brother had gone, and yet she’d never really
reconciled herself to the change. It was like her roots were just hanging out
there, floundering around and searching for something new to hold onto.

“What do they think of this bachelorette show?” Jake asked.

Taycee blinked, suddenly remembering why she was with Jake in the
first place. Burt and Megan sat quietly behind them while a camera filmed her
every move and word. She let out a breath. What had Jake asked? Oh yeah, her
parents. The show. “I haven’t told them yet. They’d probably freak out and
lecture me about how dating more than one guy at the same time is asking for
trouble.”