Blossom Street Brides (Blossom Street #10)(15)

“That’s so great.” Lauren had fleeting memories of both sets of her grandparents, who lived on the other side of the country. When she was a kid they visited at least once a year, but as their health failed the visits became less frequent. She could recall only a handful of trips east. The expense of flying the entire family to the east coast was more than her parents could afford.

“Casey’s always thinking of things to do with my mom,” Lydia went on to say. She was about to add something more when Lauren heard the irritating sound of motorcycles roaring down the street. She grimaced and glanced out the window but couldn’t see the riders.

Blossom Street tended to be a more reserved neighborhood, so the piercing sound of the motorcycle engines took her by surprise.

Half rising out of her chair, Bethanne set down her knitting and craned her neck, looking out the window. Apparently disappointed, she sat back down. “For just a minute I thought that might have been Max.”

The sound faded into the distance.

“My head is playing games with me. Even if Max was in town, he wouldn’t know I was at the yarn store.” Bethanne’s mind wasn’t on her knitting. She looked completely miserable. “I guess it’s just wishful thinking on my part.” She reached for her cell, grabbing it out of the side pocket on her purse. “I told myself I wasn’t going to call him again. As it is, I’ve left him five messages. That’s enough. When Max is ready to sort this out, he’ll contact me.” While her words were strong, Lauren noticed Bethanne’s hand trembling as she replaced her phone. She released a slow breath. “I can remember my mother telling me never to go to bed without resolving an argument. That was good advice. I don’t ever want to go through another day like this one.”

Casey walked up to Bethanne. “Did you have a truly terrible day, too?”

Bethanne nodded. “I want to talk to my husband.”

The bell above the shop door made a jingling sound, and two men walked into the shop.

“I think that could be arranged,” the taller of the two men said.

“Max.” Bethanne was out of her chair so fast it nearly toppled backward. She hurried across the space separating them and threw herself into her husband’s arms. Then they were kissing and hugging and clinging to each other as if the world had suddenly been set right again.

Lauren knew she should have looked away but discovered she couldn’t. The scene in front of her was mesmerizing. Although she hardly knew Bethanne, she felt the other woman’s joy and relief.

“How did you know where to find me?” Bethanne asked, when she was able.

“I heard you tell Grant this was where you’d be.”

“I did?”

“Yes, you did.” Max kissed her again, his hands framing her face. He gazed down at her as if being with her was more precious than gold. “I’m here for the family dinner.”

“Oh, Max.”

For a moment, Lauren feared Bethanne was about to burst into tears.

“Why didn’t you answer your phone?”

“I couldn’t. I’ve been on the road all day.”

Bethanne hugged her husband closer.

A little embarrassed to be watching, Lauren looked away from the couple. Her gaze drifted to Max’s companion. The other man looked as though he was part of a motorcycle gang, complete with a leather vest, bare arms, and tan, bulging muscles. His dark hair was long and tied in a ponytail at the base of his neck, his head covered by a bandanna. His dark glasses made it impossible to see if he was watching her with the same intensity that she was him. He braced his feet apart and crossed his arms while he patiently waited for his friends.

“Hi, Rooster,” Casey greeted.

“How’s it going, cupcake?” he asked.

Casey laughed at his pet name for her. “I had a terrible day. Bethanne, too.”

“It seems matters are looking up for her, though.”

“Looks that way,” Casey agreed.

His name was Rooster? Interesting, to say the least. Lauren chanced another glance in his direction. If any man was the complete opposite of Todd, it was this one. Not her type, for sure. She hesitated and forced herself to look away. How quickly she’d judged this man she had yet to meet, strictly from appearances.

She’d passed over him with little more than a glimpse. How unfair and judgmental of her. Just that morning she’d told herself it was time to think outside the box, beyond outward appearances. She found herself staring at him, unable to pull her gaze away. Then, to her utter embarrassment, he removed his sunglasses, stared back at her, and smiled.

Chapter Six

It’d been a good long while since Rooster had ridden his bike this hard and this far. He had to admit, it’d been a challenge. He didn’t like to think he was getting soft, but that might well be the case. It’d been a year since he’d gone farther than a couple hundred miles on his motorcycle in a single stretch.

Max had been eager to get to Seattle, and they’d ridden practically nonstop. Seeing the greeting Bethanne gave him, Rooster knew Max would consider it worth every minute of discomfort they’d endured on the long ride. The instant the two of them had entered the yarn store, Bethanne’s eyes had brightened and she’d practically flown into Max’s arms. Witnessing the love the two shared lightened his mood and his day.