Shelter Mountain (Virgin River #2)(71)

“That’s one of the things I love most,” she whispered.

Mike smiled. “You give him some time, huh?”

She nodded. She smiled weakly.

Mike dropped a brotherly kiss on her forehead. “It’s going to be all right.”

“You think so?”

“Oh, yeah. Just hang in there. Don’t give up on him.” Mike thought, that lucky son of a bitch. This woman adored him. Wanted nothing so much as to make him happy all night long. “Go wash your face. I’m gonna get myself a beer.” He gave her shoulders a final squeeze, and as she turned away from him, Preacher was standing in the back door with his catch.

Paige skittered past Preacher, keeping her head down so that he wouldn’t see her tears. Preacher scowled at Mike. “Need something?” he asked.

“I need a beer before I walk over to Doc’s and let Mel torture me. Want me to get it myself?”

“Help yourself,” he said, throwing his fish in the big sink.

Jack came in right behind him. “Hey, Mike. How you feeling today?” He threw his catch on top of Preacher’s.

Mike rubbed his right upper arm with his left hand. “A little better every day. Need a hand? I have exactly one.”

“Nah, but if you want to drink your beer back here while we clean fish, you’re welcome.”

Preacher had a stuffed trout that was nothing short of amazing. It was a lot of trouble—fileting the fish, stuffing it with a delectable corn dressing, slipping it back into the trout skin and under the broiler. It was one of Paige’s favorites. He served it with spinach soufflé, warm pasta in a white garlic sauce and bread. It was good to make a meal that was labor intensive; it took his mind off things.

He’d seen her leaning against Mike; seen Mike kiss her forehead, smile and whisper to her. Well, he wouldn’t be surprised if she fell for Mike. Mike was the sexy one, the romantic one, even when he was a little scraped up. Always successfully wooing women. He’d had more women than he deserved. So, if that was how it went, that wouldn’t surprise Preacher. He’d thought from the beginning that Paige just saw in him a true friend, a man who could protect her against the world. All that business with the sweet smiles, the embraces—she was probably just ready, period. Not necessarily for Preacher.

Now it embarrassed the hell out of him what he’d said to Jack.

She made the bread. “You did good here, Paige,” he told her.

“I did exactly what you said would work,” she said. “You okay?”

“I think I got stuffed up from the rain,” he lied. “It was so cold out there today.”

“Did you take anything?”

“No, it’s okay.”

“Why don’t I go get you something. Aspirin or something.”

“Naw, forget it. I’ll be fine.”

There were only a few for dinner, typical for a rainy night. Jack sat at a table with Mel, Doc Mullins and Mike while Paige and Christopher sat at the bar with Preacher standing on the other side, coaching Christopher to eat a little more. Everyone was done before seven and Jack was picking up the plates. Mel went back to the kitchen with him where they started washing up.

“Hey, man,” Preacher said. “I got that.”

“We’re almost done here. Then we’ll get out of your hair.”

“No hurry, man. I have sweeping up to do.”

“I could get that, too,” Jack offered.

“Don’t worry about it.”

In ten minutes, Jack was holding Mel’s coat for her. Mullins was edging out the door and Paige was taking Christopher upstairs for his bath.

“You coming, Mike?” Jack asked.

“Yeah, I’ll be along in a minute.”

“Don’t overstay your welcome,” Jack advised.

“I’ll be right behind you.”

When everyone had gone, Mike moved to the bar. Preacher started putting chairs up on the tables so he could sweep. But Mike said, “Hey, Preacher, come here a minute, would you, buddy?”

Reluctantly, Preacher went around the bar. Don’t tell me now, he was mentally pleading. Don’t tell me about you and Paige. I don’t want to hear it. Just let it happen and I’ll live with it. I’ll find a way to live with it. Never really thought I had a chance, anyway.

“Have a drink with me. A short one. No pain pills today, I swear.”

Preacher got down two glasses and poured them each a shot.

“I’m gonna tell you something, and you’re going to act like you never heard it. You get me?”

“Sure,” Preacher said, throwing back the shot for courage.

“I caught your girl crying today.”

Shock settled over Preacher’s face.

“That’s right, old man. She can’t figure you out. I think she loves you, Preacher. She’s waiting. She needs some attention. You with me?”

Preacher nodded solemnly. He wasn’t going to go there with Mike.

“She thinks you don’t find her attractive. Desirable.”

“Aw, that’s crap,” Preacher said. He poured himself another shot.

“I’m telling you. You don’t have any excuses here, pal. If you don’t step up, she’s going to think you don’t want her. Don’t care about her. I’d hate it if she thought that because I’m looking at the two of you, the three of you, and I think it’d be a damn stupid shame if you three lost one another because you’re an idiot. Now, I’m not going to try to guess why it’s not happening for you two. Preacher, buddy, it’s time to make it happen.”