It was barely Monday when Adam rolled onto his stomach, pulling the pillow down on top of his head. The plaster ceiling hadn’t offered much of a view for the past two hours and he needed some semblance of sleep. One problem—his conscience wanted no part of it.
Cole Langtry had asked him to the ranch on Sunday so he could see how well Adam worked the horses. But Adam hadn’t expected anyone to hire him on the spot. He had a two-day grace period before starting his new job, and only because they wanted him to start at the beginning of the pay week.
Still stunned the Langtrys had hired him without any form of a background check, Adam knew he was digging himself into a deeper hole with each passing day. What would happen if the truth got out?
It shouldn’t matter what the people of Ramblewood thought, but it did. If they were willing to give him a chance, he had to give them a hundred percent of himself. His immediate to-do list had just grown exponentially. He needed to surrender his California driver’s license considering he’d told everyone he was from Katy. It may have been a long time since he’d earned a regular paycheck, but even he knew a driver’s license was the first item they’d ask for when he started working. He’d picked up a few bare necessities when he was on the road, but didn’t have enough clothes to sustain him very long. And his California cell-phone number was a dead giveaway.
With only two days to reestablish himself as a Texan, Adam prayed they wouldn’t ask him to take a driver’s test as they had when he’d moved to California. He didn’t have much time to get everything done before he raised suspicions as to where he was, and he needed to make sure he did it outside of town. Preferably in San Antonio, where he wouldn’t run into someone from Ramblewood.
A faint squeak came from down the hall. If he’d been asleep, he’d have missed it. He rolled, lifting his head and checked the bedside clock. Half past four in the morning. It had to be Bridgett getting ready for work—she’d mentioned she started before five. Who else would be up at this hour?
Dashing into the bathroom, he quickly brushed his teeth. He wanted to charm her, not chase her away with his morning breath.
Easing the door open, Adam peered into the hallway. He tiptoed down the stairs, catching Bridgett before she disappeared into the dining room.
“Adam.” Bridgett’s hand flew to her chest. “You scared me half to death. You’re awfully stealthy this early in the morning.”
“I’m sorry. I wanted to wish you a good day.” Leaning in, he kissed her softly on the mouth. It wasn’t a passionate kiss—he’d keep those on reserve for later. Especially since he heard Mazie bustling about the kitchen a few feet away—people sure were early risers in Ramblewood.
“Are you always this sweet first thing in the morning?” Bridgett tugged at his shirt hem.
“Actually, I’ve been told by family and friends that I’m a first-class ass when I wake up.” Adam wrapped his arms around Bridgett’s waist, pulling her closer. “You bring out the best in me.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear it, but if we keep this up, I’ll be late for work.” Bridgett released herself from his arms and stepped back, still holding his hands. “Stop by the luncheonette if you want. I’ll be there until two-thirty. Now I must go console Mazie for once again coming in second to Maggie in the pie competition.”
Bridgett started for the kitchen, but Adam couldn’t resist one more kiss goodbye. It amazed him how clearly he envisioned Bridgett fitting into his life—his new life. He’d easily be able to deal with mornings such as this. Los Angeles was quickly becoming a distant memory. Whether he stayed in Ramblewood or moved back home to Katy, LA was a part of his past.
* * *
BRIDGETT HATED HER five-minute walk to The Magpie this morning. She wanted to play hooky with Adam and visit the toilet seat museum. Okay, it wasn’t her type of thing, but as much as she’d love to leave Ramblewood for good, she’d settle for a day trip to San Antonio.
She still hadn’t figured out what had compelled Adam to stay. On Saturday she’d had the distinct impression he’d been about to say goodbye. But then he’d asked her about Bridle Dance again.
Apparently Adam had told the Langtrys he wasn’t certain how long he’d be in town, but they’d hired him anyway. Regardless of whether Adam stayed or left she knew getting involved too soon would be a mistake. She still had plans to leave Ramblewood and she refused to allow anyone to get in the way. At least she’d have a good portion of the day to keep her mind on something other than Adam Steele.
Bridgett breezed through her morning setup and even found a spare moment to make a peanut pie before the breakfast crowd arrived. Maggie commented on how much more at ease she seemed, which was ironic considering her anxiousness to see Adam again.
The bell jingled atop the luncheonette’s doorway, a sound Bridgett would forever equate with the moment she had first laid eyes on him. A tingle traveled the length of her spine. When she turned around, she had hoped to see Adam standing there. The sight of Darren Fox, her biological father, quickly killed her good mood.
“What do you want?” Bridgett spat.
“I thought I told you the other day—you’ve got no business here.” Maggie dashed from behind the counter and stood in front of Bridgett, hands on hips. “I respectfully ask you to leave my restaurant...again.”
“Maggie,” Darren said. “You can’t throw me out.”
“Yes, I can, just like your wife kicked your sorry butt to the curb. Think of this as an instant replay. You’re officially out. Bridgett told you she needed space and I told you not to bother her at work, yet you insist on coming in here day after day. Personal issues aside, I won’t allow you to harass one of my employees. Don’t make me call the law.”
“I’m her father.”
Bridgett snorted at the declaration.
“Yeah, and it took you almost twenty-eight years to acknowledge her.” Maggie turned and steadied Bridgett’s hand before she had the chance to hurl the sugar dispenser she’d swiped from the counter. The woman truly did have eyes in the back of her head. “When and if she’s ready, it is something to be worked out after business hours. If you keep it up you will find a restraining order slapped across your forehead.”
“This is between me and my daughter.” Darren remained firmly rooted to the floor. “I spoke to Abby and—”
“Exactly.” Bridgett pushed past Maggie. “You spoke to Abby and that’s the only reason why you’ve acknowledged me. If Abby hadn’t come to town and your affair with my mother hadn’t been exposed, I still wouldn’t know you were my mother’s sperm donor.”
Darren physically recoiled at her choice of words. “A little vulgar, don’t you think?” He adjusted his tie as if Bridgett had physically roughed him up, and it suited her just fine, considering she was way past offended at this stage.
“If the sperm fits.” Bridgett stormed past Lark, who looked ready to throw knives at the man herself. The other waitress might be new in town, but she’d witnessed almost every encounter Bridgett had had with Darren. She hadn’t hidden her opinions on the situation, either. Something in Lark’s past must have triggered her reactions because she’d defended Bridgett as if it were personal.
Running up the back staircase, Bridgett paced the length of the catering kitchen. She couldn’t hide out all day, but a few minutes to calm her anger were necessary or else she would break down crying. And she refused to give any of them the satisfaction of seeing her cry. She’d head back down shortly, and if Darren still lurked she’d call the police. She despised the hatred building inside her. It wasn’t her nature to stay so angry, but she couldn’t seem to work past the feelings.
Tired of the daily drama, Bridgett wasn’t sure how much longer she’d be able to control her fury in front of people. By now, half the town would already know she’d almost thrown a sugar shaker at the mayor. It only reconfirmed her desire to escape Ramblewood.
Leaving led her back to Adam. A small part of her wondered if she was only using him as a distraction, and it wasn’t fair to either of them. How do you know when your feelings are real? She had the indescribable urge to ask Abby how she’d known her feelings for Clay were true, but Abby wouldn’t be able to leave it at that. She’d read too much into it and start grilling her about Adam. It was too much.
In a way, she found herself jealous of Adam. He had the fresh start she desperately wanted. She’d get hers. Until then, she needed to remain focused and patient.
Darren had offered her and Abby money to compensate them for not being around when they were growing up, but both women had refused. Bridgett’s shoulders still tensed at the casualness of his offer. As far as she was concerned, Darren had been around the entire time, yet he had actively chosen not to participate in her life. While his money would help her realize her restaurant dream faster, she’d rather work twenty-four hours a day than take one cent from him.
The only problem she foresaw with getting the job that would take her one step closer to that dream was not having a reliable ride to an interview. One of the mechanics from the garage had looked at her car for free last week and told her it wouldn’t be much longer before it died. Not what she wanted to hear. He’d promised to look out for a cheap, dependable replacement. Cheap being the operative word. She didn’t want to blow any more of her savings than she had to.
Bridgett hated to admit how much she held herself back. She had blamed everyone else, but the truth began to stare her in the face. She had chosen to stay at The Magpie when she could have worked in any of the countless places along restaurant row. Maybe if she had, she’d have more money in savings. And instead of working for someone else, she’d be working for herself by now. But she’d never taken the time to find out.
Bridgett admired Abby’s gumption to pick up and move on a whim. She’d chastised her sister for moving because of a man, despite Abby’s protest that she’d done it to be near her newfound family. Now Bridgett imagined herself doing the same thing with Adam. Only this time it would be to run from family.
“How are you doing?” Maggie stood in the doorway.
“Is he gone?”
“Yes, and I don’t think he’ll be back anytime soon.”
“I’m sure he’ll stop in tomorrow, acting pathetic...if not, it’ll be the day after.” Bridgett sighed. “He won’t go away until I give him what he wants.”
“After the way Bert chased him down the street with the soup ladle, I disagree.”
Bridgett’s laughter echoed throughout the kitchen. “Seriously? I’m sorry I missed it.”
“Oh, you would’ve been proud. Who knew Bert could move that fast.” Maggie’s face remained serious as a smile began to curl the outer edges of her mouth.
“Thank you, Maggie, for standing up for me.” Bridgett hugged the older woman. “I need to do something nice for you and Bert this week.”
“You’ll do no such thing.” Maggie withdrew from her embrace and squeezed Bridgett’s shoulders. “My offer still stands if you want to take a week off and get away from here.”
“You have no idea how tempted I am. I can’t really afford to go solo, though, and my car won’t get me very far.”
“I’ll give you the money, and if you feel you need to repay me, fine. But I wish you’d accept it as a gift. Go somewhere tropical and fun. Fly down to Cancun or Belize and clear your head. They’re relatively short flights from here. I think Adam’s nice, but I’m not necessarily sure if getting involved with him is the best escape. Don’t jump into anything too quickly.”
Yet another warning. It wasn’t exactly what she wanted to hear, but Bridgett also knew her friends meant well. She loved Maggie, who she knew had her best interests at heart. However, Adam had been the best part of her life recently.
“Maggie, I’ve already questioned my own intentions.” Bridgett tried to find the words to convey how she felt, but if she couldn’t describe it to herself how would she describe it to her friend?
“Well, he means something to you. You call it whatever you want.” Maggie’s brow rose. “Take your time. Breathe.”
“I moved out of my mother’s house so I could breathe. But I come to work and I still face the daily drama of this whole secret-sister, hidden-paternity nightmare. If it’s not Darren, it’s somebody else asking personal questions or staring me down. I’m not on display for the world to gawk at. If I leave for a week, it’ll just start again when I get back. I’d have to leave town for good.”
“You’re planning on leaving us?”
“What choice do I have?” Bridgett had wanted to wait until she had a new job lined up before she told Maggie she was leaving. “I’m a constant source of gossip. Abby’s a novelty, but I’m the one who’s lived a lie in front of everyone. Don’t you hear what they say? How they remember me waiting on my father while he pretended I was just another waitress. Poor Bridgett. If I hear it once more—” Bridgett balled her fists and paced the room again. “Now his other daughter rolls in and suddenly Darren wants to play daddy. And please, explain why the minute his wife walked out people started to feel sorry for him? He’s not a hero for finally doing what he should’ve done twenty-eight years ago.”
Maggie folded her arms and grinned. “There’s the fire I’ve been waiting for. Get mad, Bridgett. You keep trying to bottle it when it’s okay to let it out.”
“You don’t want me to let it out, Maggie. It won’t be a pretty sight.”
“I’d rather have you vent on me than leave town. Don’t you waste another thought on leaving us. I need to head back downstairs. Lark’s working the front alone. Stay up here as long as you want. And remember, I’m always here for you.”
“Thanks, but I’m right behind you.” Bridgett tightened her ponytail. She should have known Maggie wouldn’t take her leaving seriously. “I’m done feeling sorry for myself. If I keep my mind occupied it doesn’t hurt as much. Don’t worry, I won’t go off on another customer.”
Maggie linked her arm in Bridgett’s. “We’ll trade places today. I haven’t worked the front in ages. Are you game?”
“You want me to be your pastry chef?” Bridgett had shadowed Maggie when time permitted, but hadn’t thought she’d get a chance to work in the kitchen for the entire day.
“It will be good for me to talk to the customers like I used to. I have faith in you. I’ve seen what you can do. Besides, it will be good training for when you open your own restaurant.”
Bridgett longed for that day. She refused to settle for anything less than her dream.
* * *
“I’VE MADE MY DECISION. I can’t take this lifestyle anymore. I’m done.” Adam stared out the window of his truck while he waited for the motor-vehicle office to open.
“I hear you.” Phil was not only his drummer, they were best friends. “Now that I have a kid of my own, I don’t want to tour again.”
“Have you talked to Roman yet?” Adam asked. He’d listened to no less than twenty-five voicemail messages from their manager.
“Yeah, basically I told him what we discussed last week, but I left out the finer details. We’re through with the gig and pursuing other interests.”
“It sounds as if we’re launching solo careers.”
“I left it open-ended,” Phil said. “I don’t know where I’m going next. I might do something with a local band or maybe I’ll produce. But I can’t continue on the way we’ve been living. I want to be there when my daughter grows up. Not out on the road. I don’t want her to learn about her father from the pages of Rolling Stone magazine.”
While Adam was proud of his Grammy awards and platinum records, he wished he’d done it differently. Too much time had passed. Too many wrongs had gone unnoticed and unforgiven. He’d love to say disbanding the group was his idea, but the reality was they were all ready for a change.
Adam hung up with Phil when the motor-vehicle office opened. Fortunately, the insurance renewal papers on the house and the bank statements on the account Lizzy never touched would prove his residency since they were all in his name. He was glad Lizzy had insisted he take them along instead of her mailing them as she usually did.
An hour later, Adam stared at his temporary driver’s license. He had the surreal feeling he’d time-warped back to his teens. Back in Texas, sitting in a pickup truck, excited about a new job on a ranch and a new girl. He waited for an alarm to go off and wake him from his sleep. None of it felt real. Going unnoticed was as addictive as fame had been.
Arriving back in Ramblewood much later than he had anticipated, Adam slid into the Bed & Biscuit’s dining room seconds before Mazie served dinner. Along the way, he’d gained more of a feel for the area and picked up a new cell phone with a Katy, Texas, number. Feeling a bit more secure in his cover, Adam took a deep breath.
“There you are.” Bridgett set a stack of plates on the table. “I wanted to call you when I got off work, but I don’t have your number. Where did you run off to today?”
Adam told her what he didn’t quite think of as a lie, though it wasn’t the complete truth, either. “I wanted a better feel for the area so I took a drive and lost track of time. Give me a minute to wash up first and then I’ll give you the number.”
Adam bounded up the inn’s staircase to his bedroom and quickly pulled out his phone to double-check the new number. He had attempted to commit it to memory on the way home but his nerves had betrayed him. It was safer to write it down on a piece of paper and hand it to her.
Adam tried to calm his nerves with a few inhalation breathing exercises he used to run through before a show. Bridgett made him more nervous than playing onstage in front of eighty-thousand screaming fans. Still unable to pinpoint the hold she had over him, Adam decided to go with the feeling and enjoy the moment. The sooner he did damage control, the sooner he could tell Bridgett the truth.
He found her waiting for him at the bottom of the stairs. She stood to face him, a slow smile forming as be approached.
“How about grabbing a bite to eat elsewhere tonight?” Bridgett asked.
“Are you sure Mazie’s okay with us leaving? I thought you were kind of obligated to eat here.”
“Not at all.” Bridgett took his hand in hers and led him outside. “I let Mazie know earlier we might go out tonight, but she prepared extra in case we changed our minds. I wasn’t sure what you wanted to do, but it’s too gorgeous to stay inside. I love the fall.”
“Lead the way.”
The sun had already begun its final descent for the evening, casting shades of red and gold against the western sky. Before they reached the porch stairs, Bridgett put her arms around his neck and kissed him with a fire he could only compare to that of a military wife seeing her soldier for the first time in ages. He’d witnessed a handful of those surprise reunions during his last USO tour.
Adam had had many women kiss him, but none as passionately as Bridgett. He hated how he’d just compared her to other women. When she found out the truth, she’d inevitably ask if he compared her to any of them. They always did. When you’d been around so many groupies, a certain lifestyle was assumed. She wouldn’t be far off with her assumptions in the female-companion department. It was a conversation he dreaded having with her if they ever reached that stage.
Bridgett’s brazenness bothered Adam a bit. It wasn’t the kiss, it was how she kissed him on the front stairs of the Bed & Biscuit—near the center of town—for everyone to see. Adam felt more like a prized bull on display for people to admire than—than possible boyfriend material. Whatever they were, Adam’s gut instinct told him Bridgett wasn’t a wild child. While he’d gladly accept any kiss from Bridgett, a staged one wasn’t on the list. The stiffness in her body only confirmed his suspicions.
Setting her away from him, Adam stared into her piercing green eyes and tried to make sense of the situation.
“What’s this really about?” He pushed a stray lock of hair out of her face. “You’re different tonight.”
“Who says it has to be about anything except me wanting to be with you?” Bridgett took a step forward. “Tell me you didn’t miss me today and I’ll back off.”
“I can’t,” Adam admitted. “I’d be lying”
Seemingly satisfied, Bridgett strode down the walkway. Unlatching the iron gate, she held it open for him to pass through. “I’m not sure how to take you.”
Adam followed Bridgett onto the sidewalk and twirled her into his arms. “Why don’t we take it day by day and see where it goes? But I have to ask... When you kissed me on the porch just now, was it because you really wanted to kiss me or was a part of you saying to the town, ‘Hey, I’ll give you something to talk about’?”
Bridgett flinched at his question and Adam immediately regretted asking it. “Forget I asked.”
“No. You’re partially right, but not for the reasons you might think. I am so sick and tired of everyone’s pity I wanted to show them I can be happy and I can move on. It wasn’t to show you off or try to take center stage. I’m in the spotlight as it is and I’d like the curtain to fall.”
He, more than anyone, could understand that. Drawing her into his arms, Adam gently kissed Bridgett until her body softened against his. He had a sneaking suspicion if he opened his eyes, he’d catch everyone in the Bed & Biscuit peeking through the window at them, but none of it mattered. He wanted to relish the kiss. He’d taken too much for granted and wanted to savor his time with Bridgett.
Reluctantly he released her, and they continued walking toward the center of town. “Where would you like to eat tonight?”
“If you like Mexican, we can go to The Whole Enchilada on restaurant row.” Bridgett pointed ahead. “It’s only a few blocks down, along Cooter Creek.”
“Mexican it is.” Adam wanted to slow their pace tonight. Once they returned to the Bed & Biscuit, he would have to start mentally preparing himself for the conversations he needed to have tomorrow. Namely with his manager and sister. The sooner they both knew he had officially severed ties with the band, the sooner his new life could begin. It was the first step in winning his parents’ trust. Adam hadn’t wanted to break Bridgett’s trust in the process, but it was inevitable. Hopefully she would understand why he’d had to keep the truth from her.
* * *
“HAVE YOU SPOKEN any more with Abby?” Adam asked as they finished their enchiladas.
“No, and now that you mention it, she didn’t stop by The Magpie.” Bridgett would’ve accepted an entire day with Abby in exchange for one minute with her biological father. “Instead Darren paid me visit.”
“How did it go?” Adam’s concerned expression warmed Bridgett.
“I told him off and Bert chased him down the street with a ladle.”
“You’re kidding me?” Adam covered his mouth with a napkin. “Remind me to thank this Bert character. He definitely sounds like he’s a member of your fan club.”
Bridgett watched Adam’s expression go from jovial to almost painful in under a second.
Adam reached across the table for Bridgett’s hands, pulling her attention back to him. “Do you think you’ll ever want a relationship with your father? And no, I’m not judging. I’m in no place to do so.”
“I don’t know what I want yet, which has been the problem. This happened so unexpectedly. When Abby left to confront her parents, I thought I’d have a break from the situation. I wasn’t expecting Clay to follow her and drive back with a U-Haul truck filled with all her belongings. It’s not that I have anything against Abby. I guess a part of me is jealous. She has a nice car, an amazing career...and Darren was more interested in her life than he was in mine.”
“I don’t understand how he could ignore you all these years. You never noticed anything strange between him and your mom?” Adam turned her palms upward and stroked his thumbs across them.
Bridgett shook her head. “Not at all. It’s a small town, they ran into each other a lot, but I never sensed anything inappropriate between them. They didn’t try to avoid each other, either. They didn’t exactly run in the same social circles though. But would you believe she cut his hair all this time? It didn’t seem like an unusual relationship until Abby came to town. Then things got weird. Mom became scatterbrained and weepy all the time.”
“Did she realize Abby was her daughter?”
“She claims she didn’t at first, but after talking to Abby a few times she figured it out. Abby had been vocal in her search for me, but little did Abby know she was looking for her long-lost mother, too.” Bridgett shuddered at the memory of the night her mother had told her and Abby they were sisters. The confusion still hadn’t lifted.
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pry.” Adam released her hands and reclined against the back of the chair. “I have my own mess to straighten out and I shouldn’t be digging into your personal life.”
“I’m available if you want to talk about it. What do they say...the best lovers are friends first?” Bridgett’s own statement surprised her and she silently applauded her inner seductress.
“Don’t tease.” Adam winked. “Now I won’t be able to get that image out of my head tonight. You better be careful, Little Miss Ramblewood.”
“Why?” Bridgett sucked on the lime slice from her drink. She was teasing and she enjoyed it. It came naturally with Adam. After countless failed blind dates where Bridgett had fended off advances, it felt good being the one to make the first move.
“I might take you up on your offer.” Adam slid his chair closer to hers. “You were offering, right?”
Bridgett threw her head back and laughed. “Wow! If you can’t tell I’m flirting with you then I’m extremely rusty at this.” She lifted her hand and lightly ran her fingers along his jaw line. “Thank you for making me laugh. I haven’t done much of it lately.”
“You don’t need to thank me. Just promise me you’ll continue to be happy.” Adam’s mouth was inches from her ear. “And don’t be in such a hurry to leave town.”
Bridgett straightened. “Why? You’re not planning to stay in Ramblewood forever. The day will come where you reconcile with your family and leave our little burg. Why should I stay for you when you don’t plan on staying for me?” Bridgett couldn’t stop herself. The words slipped out of her mouth before she’d been able to stop them.
“Which one is it?” Adam’s brow creased. “One minute you want to leave town, the next you seem upset that I might leave. For the record, if things work out with my family—I don’t necessarily think I’d move back there. Three hours isn’t far from here. Besides, even when I lived in Katy, I didn’t see them every day. My goal is to repair the relationship, not move in with them. There’s no reason why I can’t continue to live here...unless you don’t want me to.”
“Not at all. I don’t mean to imply otherwise. Well, that’s not entirely true.” Bridgett inhaled deeply. “I want out of Ramblewood. I have hopes and dreams and I can’t picture them happening here anymore. I’m afraid that if you stay in Ramblewood it will be even harder for me to leave. But I don’t want to ruin your happiness, if you think you’ve found it here. Do you really believe you’ll be happy in this little town, working as a ranch hand? When you got here you were excited to see all those places from that movie—toilet seats, buried cars... But you must have bigger dreams than that. Don’t you?”
Adam hesitated, and Bridgett eagerly awaited a deeper glimpse into the man next to her. “I’d like to keep spending time with you, get to know you better. But I want to stick around Ramblewood for a little while. There’s been so much fighting in my family, so much chaos in my life lately. I just need to take some time out and direct my attention elsewhere. A ranch job is very cathartic—hard, physical work keeps me from dwelling on my problems. That doesn’t mean I’ll stay in Ramblewood forever, but for the moment I’m happy to be here.”
Bridgett forced a smile, but inside her heart was sinking. She’d thought maybe Adam could be part of her new beginning, but he was more likely to keep her trapped in Ramblewood if she let him. Plus, he still hadn’t told her what he wanted out of life. He also hadn’t given her any details about his battle with his family. She wanted to get to know him better, but it felt as if there was a wall she couldn’t see past.
Tension buzzed between them instead of the electrifying sparks they’d experienced on their walk to the restaurant. “Maggie let me work in the kitchen as pastry chef today instead of waitressing,” Bridgett said. Maybe the subject change would recapture their earlier energy. “I’ve been her catering assistant for the past few years, but I’ve only had the opportunity to experiment when The Magpie was slow. Today was amazing. It was the first time in a long while that I was able to spend some decent time in the kitchen. I can’t wait to open a restaurant where I can create my own recipes and menus. Hopefully I won’t have to be a waitress much longer.”
“Nothing wrong with waitressing.” Adam gave Bridgett’s hand a reassuring squeeze, one that annoyed her more than comforted. “You live a simple life here in Ramblewood and I’ll be the first to admit I’m jealous of it.”
He must be kidding! Bridgett held her tongue as the waiter set a dessert plate of churros between them. “There’s simple and then there’s boring.” She was stuffed from her chicken enchilada but the scent of cinnamon sugar and fried dough became impossible to resist. She broke off a piece of churro and popped it in her mouth. “Oh my stars, this is good.”
She wiped at her fingers then glanced up at his handsome face. If only she could make him understand. “The Magpie’s the only job I’ve ever had. I’ve learned a lot about catering and restaurant management from Maggie, and Mazie’s taught me some of the finer techniques she learned in Paris. She’s also gone into more depth on small business finances. I’ve always pictured myself running my own place—American food, small and quaint... Wow, I really am boring. My vision doesn’t stray very far from my reality.” She sighed inwardly. “I guess I might as well just stay in Ramblewood and buy The Magpie from Maggie one day.”
Adam bit into a piece of churro, sugar speckling the fiesta-stripe tablecloth. “You’re far from boring. Don’t put yourself down. Expanding on what you already know is how people get ahead in business.”
“I’m in dire need of new experiences. I’ve never been anywhere.” Bridgett shrugged. “I’ve certainly never been as far east as Katy. Well, I did go to Vegas but we flew, so I didn’t get to see much of the country. I’d love to travel the world and really see what’s out there. I want to experience life instead of just living it.”
Adam reached across the table and wiped a dusting of sugar from Bridgett’s chin. The gentleness of his touch sent a flush of heat through her body. “Maybe you haven’t done those things because it wasn’t your time yet.”
She used to believe things happened for some greater purpose, but now those beliefs seemed naive. If she wanted her life to change she’d have to take action. “I may never be able to afford to travel all the places I want to see, but I’ll certainly try. I don’t have a destination in mind, although your cross-country trip does have some appeal. I wouldn’t mind seeing the biggest ball of twine.”
Adam flagged their waiter for the check. When it arrived he released her hand, removed a couple of twenties from his wallet and slipped it into the restaurant billfold. “Well, maybe you’ll stay long enough for us to take that trip together.”
“Maybe.” Bridgett removed a hand-sanitizer sachet from her bag to wipe away the remainder of the sticky sugar residue from her fingers. “I wish I knew what drew you to this town, though.”
From the other side of the room, a woman shrieked. They both looked in her direction as a man knelt down on one knee and held a ring box open in front of his girlfriend.
“Yes!” The woman shrieked again. “Of course I’ll marry you.”
Bridgett turned to Adam and found him studying her. “I’m looking at the answer.”
“Excuse me?”
“You asked what drew me to Ramblewood.” Adam cupped her chin. “I’m looking at her.”