Chapter Fifteen
“WHAT ARE YOU doing right now?” Lindsey asked before Beth had a chance to answer her phone with a hello.
“Uh, trying to decide if I want to eat leftover lasagna or an entire tub of fudge brownie ice cream.”
And trying not to think of a certain sexy biker I’m not allowed to touch, again.
“Well, shit, that sounds dark. It’s a good thing I called. Come meet me for lunch.”
Beth shut the freezer. “At the diner?”
“Nope. Someone is serving me lunch today. Meet me at Laurel and Spoon? I’m about five minutes out.”
Beth grinned. This was precisely what she needed. Get out of the house, hang with her girlfriend, eat some yummy food, and not think about Saint. “That sounds amazing. I’m leaving now.”
“Yay! See you soon.”
Beth shoved her feet into her ballet flats, grabbed her purse, and dashed out the door. Ten minutes later, she walked into the moderately crowded restaurant.
“Hi! Welcome to Laurel and Spoon. Table for one?”
She quickly glanced into the dining room to see Lindsey waving at her. “No, thank you. I see my friend I’m meeting.”
“Perfect, go right on in,” the perky, young hostess said with a wide grin.
“Thank you.” Beth wove her way through the busy dining room toward her friend.
The ambience could only be described as southern charm with white-washed brick walls, reclaimed wood tables, and soft, natural lighting.
Drinks came in mason jars, and the cloth napkins looked like they’d been embroidered by a southern grandma.
About halfway to the table, she slowed her gait.
Someone else sat with Lindsey. Someone with dark curly hair, Beth would recognize anywhere.
Melody.
Her stomach dipped.
What had she gotten herself into?
“Hey, sweetie,” Lindsey said as she approached the four-person table. Melody and Lindsey sat across from each other, so she had no choice but to sit adjacent to each of them.
“Hi, Linds. Hi, Mel. Thanks for the invite.”
“Glad you could make it, Beth. I’m looking forward to getting to know you.
” Melody’s welcome smile seemed sincere, and Beth experienced a twinge of guilt for the negative thoughts she’d allowed at the last Handlers’ party.
The woman was gorgeous, whether dressed for a night out or, as she was today, in a simple magenta maxi dress.
She’d toned down the makeup compared to what she’d worn at the party, and while Beth preferred this version of Melody, she had to admit the woman pulled off both looks flawlessly.
“Same, Mel. I feel like I’ve run into you a ton since I’ve been home, but I don’t really know you at all. So what’s good here?”
Lindsey groaned. “Everything, but my absolute favorite is the Pimento cheese melt on sourdough.”
“Oh, that sounds amazing.”
“It is,” Melody said. “I’d eat it every day if I could get away with it.”
Beth studied the menu for a few minutes, but when their server arrived, she went with her friends’ recommendation. In fact, all three of them ordered the same meal.
“So…” Lindsey said after the waitstaff walked off with their orders. “I have to admit we had a bit of an ulterior motive in asking you to lunch today.”
“Okay…” She straightened and glanced between the two of them, immediately on high alert.
Melody shot her a sheepish grin.
“Mel has the world’s biggest crush on Saint.” Oh dear God. “And I thought we could put our heads together and figure out a way to get her a date with him.”
Lindsey’s words hit like a slap across the face. White-hot jealousy coiled in her chest, burning like a hot poker shoved beneath her skin. Her stomach lurched, and she had to grip the edge of the table to keep from visibly reacting.
If they brought her a meal now, Beth wouldn’t be able to choke down a single bite.
Could they tell? Could they see it on her face? She felt a spotlight shine on her, a neon sign flashing above her head, revealing her secret encounters with Saint.
She had to say something. They stared at her, expecting an appropriate reaction.
“Wow,” she croaked, throat dry as a dusty desert road. “Um, I kinda suck at relationships, so I don’t know what you think I can contribute.”
She unrolled her silverware from the napkin, laying it over her lap to give herself something to do besides reach over and yank Melody by her hair.
“Well, you’ve spent some time with Saint recently, so we thought you could help.” Lindsey grinned all giddy like a kid on Christmas while Melody stared at her with pleading in her gaze. Oh God, she really did like him.
“Exactly,” Melody said. “He’s so hard to read, and he barely talks to anyone. He’s like a sealed vault, and I can’t find the combination to save my life. I’m getting desperate.”
Beth frowned. She wouldn’t describe Saint in that way at all. Sure, he didn’t reveal much about himself, but he talked to her, and she knew enough about Makenna’s past to know Saint’s was traumatic as well. Who could blame him for taking a slow approach when opening up?
“Um, I don’t know how much help I’ll be.”
Lindsey waved away her concern. “You guys have hung out a lot. You know him better than both of us, that’s for sure.”
Nodding, Melody chuckled. “Seriously, if it weren’t for the fact that everyone knows your dad won’t let any of the MC guys near you, I’d be worried you wanted him for yourself.” Her tone had a strange underlying bite that felt almost like a warning.
Or maybe she was paranoid.
Keeping secrets could do that to a person.
“Oh.” Beth laughed weakly. “You have nothing to worry about there.” She grabbed her water glass and gulped. Maybe she’d get lucky, and one of the waitstaff had poisoned it. She could drop dead before she had to help another woman snag the man who’d given her an orgasm a few hours ago.
“Of course I don’t.” Melody’s smile seemed less friendly and more condescending now.
What did that mean? Did she think Beth wasn’t pretty enough or good enough for Saint?
Lindsey snorted. “Can you imagine Copper’s reaction if you guys had something going?”
At least she could respond with the truth. “I’d rather not think about it.”
She was going to throw up. Her skin prickled with discomfort. Good thing the napkins were fabric, or she’d have torn hers to shreds by now.
“Anyway, I’ve been a little aggressive with my flirting, and I’m starting to think that might be the wrong approach for a guy like him. What do you think? Do I need to be more subtle and coy? Or maybe I should be straight up, tell him I want him, and ask him on a date outright.”
“No!”
Melody jumped while Lindsey pressed a hand to her chest.
Beth grimaced. “Sorry. That was loud. I don’t think that’s the best way.”
Oh, you little liar. You’re going straight to hell.
“Really? This is good?” Mel bounced in her seat, sending a wave of guilt over Beth. “Why do you say that?”
“Yeah, I mean. It’s just… you know? I think he’s the type of guy who’d rather ask you out than have you ask him.” Beth cleared her throat.
Lindsey frowned.
Oh God, was she onto Beth’s bullcrap?
“Okay, so maybe a more subtle approach. I can do that, I think.” Mel sighed and leaned in closer.
“Look, I’m trying to play it cool since I barely know you, but I’ve been working on Saint a long time.
I’m getting to the point where I’m ready to do anything to make him mine.
I won’t let any of the bitches who hang around the club get close to him. Promise you that.”
“Whoa, intense there, Mel,” Lindsey said with a chuckle.
“Maybe.” Mel shrugged and tossed her luscious hair over her shoulder. “But I’m done playing nice. I want that man, and I’m willing to play as dirty as necessary to get him in my bed. I’ve put a lot of time and energy into the MC. I deserve to be an ol’ lady. It will happen.”
Yikes, intense was right.
Lindsey pressed her lips together.
“Here we go, ladies.” Their server delivered their meals with a flourish. The smell of melted cheese and salty French fries would have had Beth salivating on a typical day. Now she wasn’t confident she could stomach a bite.
“So here’s what I’m thinking,” Melody said after consuming a crispy French fry. “You invite Saint to hang out. Maybe meet you at the clubhouse for a drink. Tell him you need a break from living with mommy and daddy again.”
Her chuckle had Beth frowning, as did the cunning gleam in her eye. Gone was the friendly woman she’d met on arrival, and in her place was the woman who wouldn’t hesitate to shove her down a flight of stairs to get at Saint.
Beth cleared her throat. “I’m in transition.”
“Of course.” Lindsey covered Beth’s hand with hers as she shot Mel a warning look.
“Sure, whatever.” She waved a hand, clearly not concerned with Beth’s feelings. “Anyway, when he gets there, you find some reason to leave. Linds can text you with an emergency. I’ll happen to be there, and, voila, I’ll keep poor abandoned Saint company. All. Night. Long.”
Beth’s phone chimed. “Um,” she said as she checked the screen. She’d tried not to think about the meeting between her father and Saint. Would Saint even tell her what her father said?
Copper: Where are you?
“I don’t know, Mel. I’m pretty sure Saint is not a game player, and he wouldn’t appreciate those kinds of tricks.”
Beth: Lunch with Linds at Laurel and Spoon.
“Well, he won’t know it’s a trick, will he?”
Copper: On my way.
She frowned. Did her dad’s text have to do with Saint? Was he on his way to tell her he’d stripped Saint’s patch?
No. He wouldn’t.
Copper: Zach too. Don’t leave.
What the hell?
“Hello? Are you even listening? You’re not texting Saint, are you?” Mel’s voice dropped low and accusatory. She craned her neck, trying to get a peek at Beth’s phone.
Beth blinked as she flipped the screen face down on the table. “What? No. It was my dad.” She shifted her gaze to Lindsey. “He and Zach are coming here. They said not to leave.”
“Shit.” Lindsey set her sandwich down, looking at Beth with concern. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“No. It doesn’t.”
“Maybe Saint is with them.”