Can’t Hurry Love by Nadine Millard (little red riding hood ebook TXT) 📗

So, now here he was. At a dating event about to watch the one woman he was interested in meet and most likely fall in love, knowing Beth.

He couldn’t quite believe that the festival had the turn out it did. That so many people were just willing to put themselves out there. Just like that. No qualms. No hesitations. No fear of getting hurt or betrayed. There were a lot faces he recognised, and a lot he didn’t. Paige was chatting to the band, with Jenna Wakefield and Brooke Winters flanking her. Sheriff Callahan was conversing with the fire chief, Cal Winters. Damon and Asher Wakefield were watching the drummer of the band eye up Jenna, identical scowls of displeasure on their faces.

Josh smirked and shook his head. He wondered if he’d have been the same with a younger sister. Though he couldn’t imagine Jenna paying much attention to the twins. Same as he didn’t think Grayson, Zach, or Seth Carroway would have any influence over what Beth did.

She wasn’t here yet. Josh knew because he’d been watching the door like a stalker since he’d gotten here. He was surprised at her lateness, and for a moment, he thought maybe she wouldn’t come. That she’d decided not to try to find her soulmate at a speed date, or whatever the hell this thing was. And the relief he felt at that idea scared the crap out of him.

The thought of Beth finding and falling in love with the man of her dreams made him sick, filled him with jealous anger. It was ridiculous. Selfish, too. But he couldn’t help it any more than he could help wanting to spend time with her. Being this attracted to Beth when he couldn’t commit was a pain in the ass, frankly.

Over the past couple of weeks since that night in her bakery, he’d been tempted to just go for it. Maybe over time he’d be willing to say “I do” again.

Beth was the furthest thing from Elaine. He knew that. But even the thought of it broke him out in a cold sweat. And he liked her too much, respected her too much to pretend.

So, he was stuck here. Frustrated, celibate, and too distracted by the peppy blonde to find any other woman even remotely attractive.

Like he said. Pain in the ass.

“Dr. Larson, how’s it going?”

Josh turned to see Mason Decker approach him, holding out a beer.

Mason Decker, who’d had one date with Beth and hadn’t called since, as far as Josh knew. He couldn’t figure out if that made him like or loathe the other man. On the one hand, he was immature enough to be glad nothing had developed between Mason and Beth. On the other, he felt weirdly protective as if he wanted to demand reasons that Decker somehow, weirdly, hadn’t fallen hook, line, and sinker for her.

The woman was making him lose his damn mind.

“Call me Josh,” he said, taking the beer with a nod of thanks. “Didn’t think you were the blind-dating type,” he continued for want of something else to say.

“I’m not.” Mason shuddered. “But I need to talk to Miss Sallins, and she’s proving a little difficult to pin down.”

Josh followed Mason’s gaze to where Paige was still chatting happily with Chase Roberts.

“You working your way through the ladies of Rocky Valley?” he asked, a tinge of bitterness to his tone.

But seriously — Beth wasn’t good enough for him? Paige was next on the list? That weird protectiveness surged through him again.

Mason laughed. “Hardly,” he scoffed. “I’m not exactly on Paige Sallins’ list of favourite people.”

Was it Josh’s imagination, or did the businessman sound a little upset by that?

“It’s strictly business between the lovely Paige and I.” Mason continued speaking to Josh, but his eyes stayed fixed across the room. “And as for Beth…let’s just say we were both a little distracted by outside influences to enjoy each other’s company.”

There was something in Mason’s tone that made Josh wonder if Beth had said anything about him, but hell would freeze over before he’d ask.

Just then, a movement by the door caught his attention, and there she was, wearing a black dress similar to the one she’d had on that night in her bakery, but shorter; she looked more beautiful than he’d ever seen her. Her blond curls fell loosely around her shoulders, her eyes looked like huge pools of the clearest water, and the excited smile on her face literally took his breath away.

Moving his gaze slowly down to the tips of her killer heels, the slam of desire he felt just looking at her nearly floored him.

“Close your mouth, Josh,” Mason’s sarcastic drawl wasn’t enough to tear Josh’s eyes from Beth. He didn’t think anything could. “Or at least get over there before someone else does.”

“The whole reason she’s here is to meet someone else,” Josh argued. “I’m not that someone.”

“No,” Mason said quietly. “But you are that outside influence.”

Josh felt rather than saw the other man walk away. His eyes were still on Beth.

Chapter Eleven

“So, where’s Prince Charming then? Do you have to take off a shoe and throw it at him or something?”

Beth rolled her eyes at Josh’s sarcastic question. She’d known he was standing behind her before he even spoke. Just as she’d known he was here the second she walked in.

Call it fate. Call it destiny. Call it the tragedy that it was.

Whatever it was, the pull toward him was as strong as ever, and that was exactly why she had to forget him, ignore him, and find Number 107. The perfect man. The man who’d make her forget all about Josh Larson and his stupid, distracting gorgeousness.

“What do you want, Josh?” she asked, making sure to sound bored and uninterested.

Fake it till you make it, Beth.

“Just saying a friendly hello. Can I get you a drink?”

Beth sighed and turned to face him. She wanted to be all cool and slightly unfriendly like