Blossom Street Brides (Blossom Street #10)(43)

At the top of the ninth, Rooster got a text from Max. He replaced his phone on his belt and looked to Lauren.

“Everything all right?” she asked.

Rooster grinned and studied her with his gaze. “Max and Bethanne invited us to dinner.”

“Would you like that?”

He shrugged. “Up to you.”

“Then I say we should go.” She liked the idea that Rooster and Max were as close as brothers. When she’d been with Todd, it had always been just the two of them. He had acquaintances but no deep friendships, no one he was especially close with, even from high school. Now that she thought about it, that was understandable. Todd’s focus was solely on the demands of his career. Everything else seemed superfluous.

Thankfully, the mist had stopped by the time they left the stadium. “Shouldn’t we contribute to the dinner?” she asked, and then realized it would be difficult when they were on the bike.

“I’ve got that covered,” Rooster said, again taking her hand as they crossed the street.

“You do?”

“Yes, my lovely. I never leave home without a bottle of wine.”

Naturally.

When they arrived at the colonial-style home, Max opened the front door and welcomed them inside.

Bethanne was busy in the kitchen, cutting vegetables for a salad. She glanced up. “I’m glad you two could join us.”

“Me, too,” Lauren said. “Thanks for the invite.”

Soon Rooster had a beer in his hand and was on the deck with Max, who was busy barbecuing spare ribs.

“Can I do anything to help?” Lauren offered.

“Sit up on the stool and keep me company.”

“Glad to.”

Bethanne continued to add a variety of ingredients to the green lettuce. She tossed in a few cashews, Chinese noodles, and dried cranberries. “I’m pleased you were able to connect with Rooster and clear up what happened.”

“I am, too.” And she had Bethanne to thank for that. “I wouldn’t have known where to find him without you. I’m grateful.”

Bethanne glanced up and smiled. “I was happy to help. What did you think of Hog’s Hideout?”

Lauren braced her elbows against the countertop. “It intimidated me at first, and Rooster was no help. He saw me and then immediately looked away, pretending he hadn’t, silently letting me know he would rather I went elsewhere.”

“But you persisted?”

“I don’t know why I found it so important to clear the air. I think the bottom line is that I didn’t want him to think badly of me. I couldn’t bear for him to believe I would use him, or anyone, for my own selfish purposes. We’d had such a good time; he wasn’t anything like I expected.” She looked away and feared she might have blushed when she added, “I wanted to see him again in the worst way.”

Bethanne smiled again. “So that explains it.”

It embarrassed her to relay the details. “In part. I had to explain after Todd caused that dreadful scene in the restaurant. I couldn’t let Rooster believe I’d purposely set that up so Todd would find us.”

“I don’t blame you.”

“Rooster practically dragged him outside. I don’t know what he said to Todd. I’m not sure I want to know.”

“You’re probably right.” Taking two wooden forks, Bethanne tossed the lettuce and other ingredients for their salad. “I’ve got the dressing in the refrigerator. Would you mind getting it and then setting it on the table?” she asked.

Lauren slid off the stool and retrieved the dressing. As she set it on the tabletop she looked to this woman she barely knew and asked, keeping her voice low, “Am I missing something?”

Bethanne paused, the wooden salad bowl gripped with both hands. “Say again?”

“Am I missing something?” Lauren repeated.

“What do you mean?”

Lauren was unsure how to put it into words. “Rooster seems too good to be true. He’s … smart and fun and decent and charming. And, my goodness, he’s hot … does he have a flaw I haven’t seen yet? Is there a dark side to him that comes out when the moon is full?”

Bethanne set the salad in the middle of the table. “Rooster is as genuine as they come. If he has a personality flaw, I have yet to see it.”

“Then why isn’t he married?”

The other woman mulled over the question before she answered. “That I can’t answer with complete certainty. I do know that he took care of his parents until they both died. Then after Max lost his wife and daughter, he covered for him, working crazy hours to keep the business afloat. I think it’s simply a matter of opportunity. He might have been stung a time or two, which could explain his reaction to Todd on Friday night.”

“True.” Lauren half suspected something like that must have set him off.

“But if that’s the case, I don’t know any of the details.”

The door off the deck opened, and Max came inside carrying a plate piled high with ribs. “Are you ready for a feast?”

Dinner proved to be a fun exchange of good-natured teasing and delicious food. The ribs were cooked to perfection. At one point, Rooster leaned over and wiped barbecue sauce from the side of Lauren’s mouth with his napkin. His eyes told her he’d rather have kissed it away, and her eyes told him she’d rather he had, too.