Chapter 10
Chapter Ten
What was she thinking?
He wasn’t romantically interested in her. Not in the least.
Brad sat next to Abby in the cozy booth.
Their shoulders touched. A frown pulled at his lips.
The food had been delivered to the table by the time he realized she was left-handed.
With him being right-handed, they had dueling elbows.
This whole thing was awkward at best. Still, he didn’t say anything.
Brad had just taken a bite of food when Reed said, “It’s so great that you two are dating.” With a big smile on his face, he looked over at Sadie. “Isn’t it great?”
Sadie’s eyes widened, and her face contorted as though she’d swallowed the wrong way. After a bit of coughing, she nodded as she patted her chest. “Uh… Yes. Yes, it is.” Then she leaned toward Reed and lowered her voice. “But it’s really none of our business.”
“But they’re our best friends. And I’m happy for them.” Reed practically beamed with happiness.
The more Reed smiled, the more uncomfortable Brad became with this fake relationship. By this time the next day, the truth would be out there. He just had to hope that Reed was so happy with the surprise party that he overlooked the fact that him dating Abby was nothing more than a white lie.
“Hey, I have an idea.” Reed had that look in his eyes that always worried Brad. “After dinner, we should head over to Sonny’s Jukebox for some music and dance.”
Brad was shaking his head before Reed finished speaking.
“Oh, come on.” Reed smiled as his gaze moved between him and Abby. “It’ll be good practice for the wedding.”
Brad was ready to come clean. After all, this charade was getting ridiculous. And if he didn’t know better, he’d bet that Reed was onto them. His friend was really pushing this dating thing when it had to be obvious to everyone else at the table that he and Abby would not make a good couple.
“This is great,” Reed said. “Just think that soon you guys can be as happy as Sadie and I are.”
Abby choked on her soda. She handled it better than he would have because if he had a mouthful of soda when Reed spoke, he probably would have sprayed cola across the table.
That was it. He was calling an end to this charade. “Listen, Reed, it’s not like you’re thinking.”
Reed’s eyes lit up with amusement. “Relax. I’m just giving you a hard time. I know you two are just getting to know each other. But I owed you for skipping out early on my engagement weekend.”
Brad and the two ladies took a collective sigh. Even as Reed assured Sadie that he’d let up on them, Brad still had to wonder if Reed was onto them. Or maybe he was just overanalyzing things. It was a casualty of his profession.
Maybe if he’d stayed in the office instead of flying to Vermont for the holidays, he could have stopped the attack before any damage had been done. Maybe they wouldn’t have spent many weeks repairing their system and putting in place new safeguards.
Speaking of which, he reached for his phone. It was set up to send him hourly updates about the system’s security. People wouldn’t believe how often the bots attempted to breach their system.
“Relax,” Reed said. “The company will survive while you’re out of the office. And I promise to stop giving you a hard time so you can quit frowning.”
Brad returned the phone to his pocket. He sent his friend a slight smile.
Just then the server stopped by their table and began clearing the dishes. When she placed the check on the table, both Reed and himself reached for it. Reed was a split second faster than he was.
“I’ll pay.” Brad held out his hand.
Reed shook his head. “You’re a guest. I’ve got this.”
“At least let me pay for Abby and myself.”
“Hey,” Abby objected. “I can pay for myself. Thank you very much.”
The next thing he knew, everyone at the table was tossing cash into the center of the table. At least their server was going to get a generous tip.
Reed smiled and shook his head. “So much for a guy trying to do something nice for his friends.”
They made their way outside, and everyone piled into Abby’s car for the short drive to the Jukebox. He wasn’t sure what to expect with a name like that.
Brad wanted to call an end to the evening. This felt way too much like a real double date. Sure, Abby was good-looking, better than good-looking. But they would never make a couple. They were too… He struggled for a reason.
She was too small town. And he was too big city. That’s all the reason he needed.
What was wrong with him?
Abby was glad this wasn’t a real date because she would have made an excuse and left already. He looked like he was waiting in the dentist’s office to have all of his teeth extracted.
How could Reed believe his best friend was there to see her, when Brad hadn’t said a word to her since they’d stepped inside Sonny’s Jukebox?
He could have at least made small talk about the fifties décor.
With the black and white tile floor, the aqua and white vinyl booths, and the pink walls with a whole host of memorabilia, there was a lot to talk about.
There were even neon pink lights going around the edge of the ceiling.
This place was…perhaps a decorator’s nightmare.
Still, Brad said nothing. Maybe she could plead a problem at the coffeeshop. Then she checked the time on her watch and realized it was already closed. She doubted anyone would believe that excuse anyway. The coffeeshop never had emergencies.
Finally, she excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. Sadie tagged along. As they touched up their lip gloss, Sadie asked, “What’s going on with you and Brad?”
Heat rushed up her neck and settled in her cheeks. As nonchalantly as she could muster, she said, “What do you mean?”
“You two are supposed to act like you’re into each other, but it seems like you hate each other. Soon Reed is going to know that something is up.”
Abby slipped her lip gloss into her bag before turning to her friend.
“You should be having this conversation with Brad. He hasn’t said a word to me since we left the restaurant.
” She couldn’t exactly blame him. Being thrown into a fake relationship with someone he didn’t like was extremely uncomfortable.
“This was a mistake. Can’t we just tell Reed the truth? ”
“No.” Sadie’s voice was firm as she shook her head.
“We made it this far without him finding out. We just need to make it until tomorrow for the “birthday” party.” Sadie used air quotes.
“Thankfully, Kate didn’t mind us borrowing her birthday, and the guests are willing to go along with the cover story. ”
At that moment, the next day seemed like a lifetime away. Abby lifted her gaze to meet Sadie’s. “I don’t think he believes Brad is into me.”
“Maybe if you two loosened up and talked.” Sadie sighed.
“I know I’m asking a lot, but please don’t quit.
I need this surprise party to show Reed that I’m as invested in this wedding as he is.
That proposal was something I’ll be telling our grandchildren about.
” She got a dreamy look in her eyes. “He’s such a great guy. He’s thoughtful and kind.”
“Okay. Okay. I’ll keep up the charade. But you need to have this conversation with Brad. He’s totally shut down. I can’t pull this off by myself.”
“Okay.” Sadie turned and headed out the door.
What just happened? Was Sadie really going to speak to Brad? How was she going to make that happen without raising Reed’s suspicion?
Abby rushed out the door after her. When Sadie was on a mission, she moved swiftly.
On the way, Abby got waylaid by her assistant manager. “Hey, Mia. How did closing go?”
She was a steady, reliable employee who had been working at the Steaming Brew for three years. If Abby needed something done, she knew Mia would make sure it was done properly. It was why Abby had given her the promotion without any reservations.
Mia worried her bottom lip. “There’s something I need to tell you. I tried to call you, but you didn’t pick up.”
Abby reached for her back pocket but found it empty. Then she recalled taking out her phone to take a picture of the hall to send Sadie. She must have put it down and forgot to pick it back up. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear it.”
“It’s okay. But you need to know that the espresso machine quit working. Like it’s totally done for.” Worry shone in Mia’s eyes. “I’m so, so sorry.”
Abby knew the machine was old. In fact, it was old when she picked it up second-hand. But she’d really been hoping it would hang in there a little bit longer so she could save up some money for a new one.
“It’s not your fault. It’s old. And it has been giving me some fits lately.
I’ve known that it was going to need to be replaced.
I was just hoping for a little more time.
I’ll look at it in the morning.” Just then the band started to play a new set.
Abby had to raise her voice to be heard. “Is that the only problem?”
Mia nodded. “Oh, there’s Paige. Gotta go.”
After they said their goodbyes, Abby made her way over to the table. There were four chairs around the table, and only one of them was occupied.
She pulled out one across from Reed. “Where is everyone?”
Reed gestured behind her. She scooted around to find Sadie dancing with Brad to some old-time rock-n-roll.
For the first time since they’d started this ridiculous charade, Brad’s shoulders weren’t rigid, and the smile on his handsome face looked to be genuine.
She got an uncomfortable sensation in the pit of her stomach, but she refused to examine it too closely.
She turned away, but that left her facing Reed. And though they were friendly, they weren’t exactly friends. The things she knew about him were what Sadie had relayed to her. So, it was time to make small talk.
“I heard we’re due for more snow next week.” Abby inwardly sighed that the weather was the first thing she thought of to talk about.
Reed nodded as his gaze moved from her to the dance floor, where his bride-to-be was dancing with his best friend. Then his gaze returned to her. “He’s a really good guy. You’ll see that once you get to know him better.”
Abby inwardly groaned. Talking about Brad and their fake relationship did not fall under the category of small talk.
“I’m sure he is.” She forced a small smile to her lips.
“He has a habit of putting up barriers, but don’t let that stop you. He’s really worth going the distance for.” The next thing she knew, Reed was out of his seat and standing next to her with his hand held out to her. “Shall we dance?”
Normally, she’d pass, but that would mean continuing to sit at the table, discussing Brad, and that was the last thing she wanted to do.
So, she nodded as she placed her hand in his and got to her feet.
Reed immediately released her hand as he stepped back to let her lead the way to the dance floor.
They were playing a fast number making it nearly impossible to have a conversation while dancing. It was a welcome distraction. She didn’t want to continue their conversation about Brad. But Reed was being cryptic. And now there were all of these questions floating around in her mind.
Why would Brad put up barriers? Was he some sort of confirmed bachelor? Or had someone hurt him deeply in the past?
And why was Reed pushing for her to stick with Brad? Did he really think there was something going on between them? Or was he onto them and just getting a little payback?
She gave the last question a little more thought.
There was nothing she knew about Reed that would suggest he would seek payback, which left her with the knowledge that he was looking out for his friend.
She was happy that Brad had a friend like that.
She was lucky enough to have three of them: Sadie, Carrie, and Kate.
Just then she realized they were dancing next to Reed and Sadie.
When she smiled at Brad, she noticed that he smiled back, but it wasn’t the big, warm smile that she’d witnessed him sharing with Sadie.
Instead, his face now looked a bit stiff, and his icy-blue eyes told her nothing.
If they were doors to his soul, those doors were firmly closed to her.
The song ended, and a slow song started to play. Before Abby could excuse herself and make her way back to the table, she heard Reed say, “Okay, time to swap partners. I need a dance with my bride.”
Reed moved fast, and the next thing Abby knew, Brad was standing in front of her. She had to crane her neck to look into his eyes.
“Don’t just stand there, you two,” Reed said. “Dance.”
Brad held up his arms as though an invitation for her to step into his embrace. She supposed it would look strange if she were to turn around and walk back to the table now.
And so, she stepped forward. His right arm wrapped around her. His hand pressed against the small of her back. His left hand grasped hers. And then they were swaying to the music.
Not knowing what to say to him, she averted her gaze. She could tell when guys were into her, and he definitely wasn’t into her. And that was fine with her. Just because he was the most handsome man she’d ever met didn’t mean she wanted to date him.
When he drew her closer, her heart skipped a beat or two. It was then she noticed how broad his shoulders were and how muscled his arms were. Not that she was the least bit interested in him beyond friends.
Besides, after the wedding was over, she doubted she would see much of him again. He’d already made it clear he loved Chicago, and he was not impressed with Bayberry.
“You’re awfully quiet.” His deep voice drew her from her thoughts.
When she lifted her head to look at him, she suddenly realized just how close they were. Her heart started to pound. All she had to do was rise up on her tiptoes and lean forward ever so slightly, and they would be kissing.
The thought was so tempting. She wondered what it’d be like to feel his lips on hers. Would his kiss be quick and passionate? Or would it be slow and tender?