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

shocked at how quickly his outlook had changed. And in others, he knew it hadn’t been quick at all. It had started that first evening he’d bumped into her at Bella’s Diner…

Suddenly feeling nostalgic about that first night and wishing that he hadn’t wasted a year being apart from Beth, he pulled out his phone to suggest that they eat there tonight, kind of like a do-over, but saw on the screen that she’d texted first.

Hey. There’s an impromptu girls’ night tonight. I wouldn’t blow you off if it wasn’t necessary. This is to prevent a murder! Hope that’s ok with you? Don’t give yourself food poisoning! I miss you xx

Well, that sort of scuppered his plans. He was disappointed but wouldn’t to stop her from seeing her friends. Not that he’d been given a choice. He kind of loved that about her. He quickly typed out a response.

As a doctor, I took an oath to preserve human life, so it’s definitely ok. I miss you too. If you stay at mine tonight, I can show you how much. ; )

God, that was cheesy. He didn’t care though.

And actually, her being busy tonight gave him a chance to speak to Beck. Josh had been thinking over a lot of things in the last few days, and it was time to make some decisions. If girls’ night was tonight, that meant Zoe would be busy, too, leaving Beck free to, hopefully, help Josh out with what he wanted.

He sent another text asking his friend if he was free for a bite after work before calling for his next patient.

As Mrs. Brody came through the door with a squalling baby, Josh’s phone buzzed again.

He glanced down to see a response from Beth.

Deal, hot stuff xx

He doubled-checked to make sure that was from Beth before turning his attention to a little female who seemed a lot less impressed with him than she was.

The drinks were flowing a lot more than Beth had expected, but Beth wasn’t complaining. It wasn’t often that they all really let their hair down, especially Paige who really seemed to need this.

Stephanie dropped another round of cocktails on the table in front of them, and Paige was reaching for one before Beth had even handed over the money for the drinks.

“I don’t know what I’ll do if the library closes.” Paige twirled her straw in her drink.

“You can teach your classes anywhere,” Brooke reassured her, but Paige was already shaking her head.

“It’s not just my classes I’m worried about,” she said dully. “It’s the library itself. It means a lot to so many people in Rocky Valley. Not to mention the building itself. It’s been here almost as long as Rocky Valley has existed. To think of it just—“

“Hang on,” Brooke interrupted. “You’re right. It has been here almost as long as the town.”

“So?” Paige frowned.

“So, you can’t just develop historical buildings,” Tara blurted excitedly.

They all turned to look at her in surprise, and she coloured slightly under their scrutiny.

“I — ah — I had some experience in that stuff before I moved to Rocky Valley.”

She didn’t expand so Beth figured she didn’t want to. But she wondered why Tara was waitressing if her experience was in historical buildings. Or at least knowing the rules around them.

“What exactly has Mason said about it?” Brooke asked after a bit.

“Nothing past telling me to get used to the idea. Pointing out that I’ll never be able to raise enough money to stop him and Damon.”

“We’ll see about that,” Brooke said ominously. “Damon Wakefield deserves to be taken down a peg or two. No offence, Jenna,” she tagged on.

Jenna shrugged. “None taken,” she grinned. “If you can take Asher down while you’re at it, so much the better.”

“You’ll help me then?” Paige asked.

“Of course we’ll help you,” Zoe said, reaching over and squeezing Paige’s hand. “As soon as the festival is over, we’ll make a plan to save the library from Mason Decker’s gorgeous clutches.”

“Gorgeous?” Paige scoffed.

“But evil,” Zoe added quickly.

“You really think he’s gorgeous?”

Zoe looked at Paige as if she’d grown an extra head. “Honey, I think my husband is the most beautiful man who’s ever walked the planet,” she said. “But I still have eyes. Girl, you know that man is crazy gorgeous.”

“He knows it,” Paige argued. “I don’t like conceited men.”

Beth noticed that she hadn’t denied it though. Not that she could. There was no denying that Mason Decker was movie-star-good-looking.

But while Zoe claimed Beck was the most beautiful man on the planet, secretly, Beth had to disagree.

“Let’s do shots!” Jenna suddenly exclaimed. “Beth, come help me.” Without listening to anyone’s objections, she dragged Beth through the unusually busy bar.

With the matchmaking festival still on, Joe’s Bar & Grill was doing a roaring trade, and Beth could see that there were definitely some couples forming.

But it seemed to be the place for singles too, since there were lots of people milling around in small groups, chit-chatting and just hanging out. Beth recognised some of them but not all.

As she and Jenna waited for the attention of Joe, Jenna turned and wiggled her eyebrows. “So, Dr. Larson. We haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet.” She grinned.

Beth laughed at Jenna’s expression.

“Well, we—“

“Excuse me. Sorry for interrupting, but I couldn’t help overhearing. Are you talking about Josh Larson?”

Beth turned to see a stunning redhead looking politely between her and Jenna. She was wearing a dress that looked as if it cost more than Beth’s entire wardrobe. Thin as a rail, she towered over Beth. Even Jenna didn’t match her for height.

“Uh — yeah, we are,” Jenna answered with a quick look at Beth.

“Oh good.” The redhead laughed. “I thought I was never going to track him down. Do you know where I could find him? The doctor’s surgery was closed by the time I found this place,” she said a little disparagingly.

“Um…“ Jenna hesitated and looked to Beth again. For some reason she couldn’t put