37

 

Returning from an afternoon fishing trip, Mark entered Fishy Business from the back, Beth by his side. He set down a cooler, removed two small striped bass, and placed them in the freezer. Either he needed a larger deep freeze or he needed to release more fish instead of bringing them back to the store.

Beth leaned her head on his shoulder. They’d fished for several hours. She had to be tired.

He interlaced his fingers with hers. How tiny they were next to his. Hard to believe they’d been dating for two weeks…two weeks since their first kiss. Perhaps he should have stolen one before they came inside the store.

Tim grinned and pointed. “Hey, look, it’s Mark and the Mrs.”

Bill glared at his brother.

And a good thing, too. If Beth hadn’t been around, Mark would have done the same and then some. So maybe he and Beth finished each other’s sentences. It didn’t bother him. Everyone else, well, they could adjust. Truth be told, he had no problem with Beth becoming “Mrs. Graham,” but that didn’t mean Tim had to give him a hard time about it.

The doorbell chimed, and a man dressed in a gray uniform walked inside and over to the cooler. He appeared to be taking inventory on a clipboard.

Beth stepped closer to get a better look. “You got a new vendor?”

“Yeah, we don’t know what happened,” Tim said, “but it doesn’t matter.”

Bill shook his head. “One day Randy was gone, and then the other guy came.”

Beth folded her arms. “That seems to happen a lot.”

“What do you mean?” Mark asked.

“Remember Antonio?”

Mark put his arm around her and walked outside the store. “Antonio? Tall, thin, couldn’t keep his eyes off of you? Nope, never heard of him.”

She held his hand. “Anyway, he broke his teaching contract midyear, just left his job. Very odd. Some sort of personal business.”

“So he won’t be at school with you every day?” He released a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding. While Will Marshall had been the man who attacked them that night, he’d been cleared of writing notes to Beth, and the real author was never found. Mark had continued to suspect Antonio, even though she hadn’t received any more notes. Who else had such easy access to Beth’s classroom?

He leaned in and gave her a short kiss—way too short.

Beth glanced back at the store. “Tim referred to me as the ‘Mrs.’ What’s that all about? Am I spending too much time with you? Do I need to give you space, more time to hang out with the guys?”

He liked his friends, but these days, he’d much rather spend time with Beth. And if that didn’t spell love, he didn’t know what did.

“No, it’s only Tim”—he released a sigh—”being Tim. Don’t worry about it.” The joy of working with friends.

“OK, then I won’t. You don’t have to tell me twice.” Beth looked at her watch. “I better go, or I’ll be late for the school district meeting. I heard it’s supposed to be important. I’m hoping it won’t take all day, so let’s still plan on having dinner together.”

He kissed her forehead then moved to her lips.

“OK, OK.” She chuckled. “I’ll see you later.” Beth walked away then waved as she got into her car.

Mark marched back inside, over to where Tim stood, and flashed him his infamous look. “The Mrs.?” He liked Tim well enough, but there was a reason he chose to confide more in Bill.