Bluestone Song Read Online Free PDF Page B

“You don’t know what you’re doing.”
    “I can carry this. How hard can it be?” He
took a stronger grip and the bottles swayed.
    “Maddox, don’t!”
    Too late, the bottles and glasses shifted and
tumbled. Her reflexes weren’t quick enough and they fell to the
wooden floor with a crash. Quinn shouted from behind the bar and
Beth jumped back as bottles bounced on the wood floor.
    “Are you trying to make my life miserable?”
she demanded, snatching the tray from him and tossing it Frisbee
style onto a nearby table before crouching to gather the bottles
and broken glasses. “Don’t!” she snapped when he reached toward a
jagged piece of glass. “The last thing we need is for you to cut
those hands and not be able to play.” But then he’d leave and life
could go back to normal. She picked up the piece gingerly and
placed it on the table behind her, then gathered the other bottles
within his reach before he could.
    He sat back on his heels with a sigh.
“Beth.”
    “I don’t need you to save me.”
    “I’m not.”
    “You are. You’re butting in where you’re not
wanted and—”
    “Problem?”
    Beth looked up the long, jean-clad legs of
her boss, who stood over her, leaning on a broom. She popped up,
losing her balance for a moment, catching herself before she fell
back onto broken glass. She took the broom from Quinn without a
word and aimed the bristles between Maddox’s boots, sending bottles
rattling across the floor.
    “What the hell, Beth?” Quinn grabbed the
broom back and looked from Beth to Maddox.
    Heat flushed her face. “Why don’t I go help
Jess?” she said, not meeting either man’s gaze.
    “Why don’t you?” Quinn agreed, and swept up
the mess himself.
    Distance from them didn’t make her relax,
though. She was focusing so hard on ignoring Maddox that she didn’t
realize he was waiting for her outside when she was done. She
jolted when he pushed himself upright from where he’d been leaning
on the rail.
    “So is that the guy you were thinking about?
When I asked if you were seeing anyone?”
    “What guy?” Her head was starting to pound,
and the last thing she needed was Maddox Bradley stalking her.
    “The older guy, the one who looked like he
wanted to kiss you when he left.”
    Understanding clicked. “What, Dale?” They’d
had a flirtation for a bit, but he moved a little slow, which was
fine with her. She didn’t have time for another complication,
though she liked spending time with him, liked being around him. He
didn’t make her uneasy like Maddox did. “We’re friends.”
    “He wants more.”
    “Yeah, well, I don’t have time to give him
more. I already told you that.” She started down the steps and he
followed. “Did you wait for me?”
    He spread his hands as if to say, “Clearly.”
“I thought I’d see that you got to your car okay.”
    “Maddox, this is Bluestone. We may not have a
lot, but we don’t have crime. And I didn’t drive tonight.”
    He stopped for a moment. “You were going to
walk home at this time of night?”
    “I do it all the time. It’s not far.”
    “All right, then. I’ll walk with you.”
    “No, thank you.”
    “Beth.”
    “Maddox. It’s the only time I’m by myself all
day. I’m not scared, I’m not in danger. I look forward to
this.”
    She could sense him holding himself back as
he stopped at the edge of the gravel lot. He was going to let her
go without further argument. Amazing. “Good night, Maddox.”
    “Good night, Beth. See you tomorrow.”
    Well. Her peaceful night disappeared with
that reminder.
     
    Maddox opened the side panel of his fifth
wheel and retrieved his tackle box and rod and reel. He hadn’t been
fishing in years—hadn’t had time—but the scent of the lake in these
early hours drew him, despite his late night. He closed the panel
gently so he didn’t wake his neighbors, tugged his hat lower on his
eyes over the glasses he’d found in the silverware drawer, and
headed