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Nicole went on as if Beth hadn’t said anything. “Which tells me that, as much as you claim to have no interest in him, you do. A lot of interest, if I’m not mistaken. So stop being a coward and go out and say hi to the man.”
Beth dropped the towel and hunched her shoulders. “It’s not that easy.”
“Oh sweetie, yes it is. He’s not Ben.”
“You don’t know that. You don’t know any more about him than I do.”
Nicole edged closer. “I know he’s been a firefighter for seven years and was recently promoted to captain. I know he’s got an eye for detail. When we walked through a building today, he spotted a few things that both me and his buddy missed. And I know from the looks he was giving you last night and how he kept glancing over his shoulder to see if he could catch a glimpse of you throughout lunch that he’s interested.”
“I can’t. I’m sorry. I know you mean well, but I just can’t. It’s too soon.”
Her friend sighed. “Okay. I don’t agree with you, but . . .”
“Thank you.”
“Well, I’d better get back out there. Don’t want them to think I ditched them or something.” Nicole winked and turned to go.
“Nicole?”
“Yes?”
“You don’t think he’d say anything, do you? I mean, he’s new. He knows not to . . . I mean . . .”
Nicole grinned. “I don’t think he’ll say anything. We were both shocked when we met this morning. I figured if he was going to let the cat out of the bag, he would have done it then. He didn’t say anything. Didn’t even act like we knew each other. I’d say you’re safe.”
“Okay.”
“Anything else?”
“Yeah. If you ever pull anything like this again, I’m going to ask to use Katrina’s cat-o’-nines.”
Nicole laughed and ducked out of the kitchen. “You’d have to catch me first.”
Beth threw the towel in her friend’s direction. She missed, and it landed on the tile floor a few feet shy of the doorway. Sighing, Beth ambled across the room to retrieve the towel. Throwing it in the hamper, she went to the closet to get a clean one.
The door closed behind her and she was alone in the small supply closet. Instead of going to the back of the room, she lowered herself onto the step stool they kept right inside the door. Moisture welled up in her eyes, and before Beth knew it, she was crying uncontrollably. It made no sense, and yet it did. The tears weren’t for Ben or her lost relationship. Beth was scared. Terrified. Nicole was right. Drew was interested, and Beth couldn’t deny she was attracted to him as well. And he was a sub. It should be perfect. It would be perfect if not for the nightmare she’d experienced with Ben.
She wiped at the tears, but for every one she banished two more came in its place. Interested or not, Beth couldn’t risk it. If Drew hurt her, she didn’t know if she’d be able to survive it. Ben, and his wife and daughter, nearly killed her. Beth took her role as a mistress seriously. It wasn’t a game to her. She not only wanted the physical connection it provided, but the emotional one as well. Beth had loved and trusted Ben, and he’d taken both and trampled it.
There was a knock on the door, and Beth jumped up. “B? You in there?”
She rushed to the back of the room to get the towel she’d originally come to retrieve. “Yeah. I’m just getting a clean towel. I’ll be there in a minute. You need some help with something?”
When she emerged from the storage room, Tommy was washing dishes. He paused mid wipe, and frowned. “Are you all right?”
Beth knew she must look a mess. She quickly turned her back to him. “I’m fine. Did you need me to watch the counter for a while?”
“Beth?”
“Hmm?”
“It’s two thirty. There’s only a few tables left, and they’re finishing up.”
She glanced at the clock on the far wall. Sure enough, it was two thirty. Beth had been in that supply closet for almost two hours.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Tommy asked.
Beth nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine. Really. I’ll just go check on the tables we have left and then I’ll be back to help you.”
