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“Uh, Chad?” The pretty blond woman tugged at his sleeve.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Catie, this is Amber. Amber, Catie.”
“Caitlyn,” Catie said. “I go by Caitlyn now.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Caitlyn,” Amber said. “I just moved here from San Antonio.”
“Really? How nice,” Catie said. “Would the two of you care to join us for a drink? I told Harper I just had to have a Colorado margarita after that plane ride. You must excuse me, I know I’m a mess. Overseas flights are a killer.” Catie stopped to take a breath. She was talking too fast. And what was she thinking? Inviting them for a drink. Chad McCray was the last cowboy in Bakersville she wanted to have a drink with.
Yeah, right.
“Yeah, please join us,” Harper said. “The more, the merrier.”
“We were just leaving,” Amber said, “but I’d love a rain check. How about it, Chad?”
“You don’t mind if we join them, do you?”
Chad’s words were for Amber, but he raked his gaze over Catie. Her heart sank. She didn’t want him to see her like this. He was no doubt thinking she looked as bad as she felt.
“Well…” Amber fidgeted with her small purse.
“You’re new here, honey,” he said, and the word “honey” sent another slice into Catie’s gut. “Don’t you want to meet more people?”
“Of course I do.” Amber continued to fidget.
Catie felt a little sorry for her. She seemed like a perfectly nice person, and Chad had totally put her on the spot. Of course, she was Chad’s date for the evening, so Catie didn’t feel all that bad.
Then again, Chad always had a date.
Ever since that fifteen-year-old boy had strutted into her house to work with Angie on some sociology project, he’d been a ladies’ man. He’d never dated Angie, but he’d dated every other pretty thing in Bakersville. Every time he had, another chisel had chipped away at Catie’s heart.
Her little girl crush had never gone away. She’d always thought it would, had actually hoped it would, but nope, it’d only gotten stronger over the years. When she hit puberty herself at twelve, it turned into full blown heart-breaking puppy love. Puppy love that bloomed and grew for the next six years.
Deciding to attend the Sorbonne in Paris had been Catie’s own idea. Her mother had balked at it, saying the distance was too far to go for college, but Catie had wanted to leave Bakersville. Leave the whole U.S.A. She loved her country, but she thought if she got away from Chad McCray, maybe she could stop pining over him.
She’d left after her eighteenth birthday, though she’d made the decision several months earlier. On her eighteenth birthday, though, after her botched seduction attempt with Chad, she’d realized the decision had been a good one. A perfect one. She needed to get over Chad McCray.
That’s why she hadn’t come home for four years.
Oh, the traveling had been fun, and she’d learned and experienced so much. Wonderful memories and amazing friendships that she’d treasure forever.
But the traveling wasn’t why she hadn’t returned.
The reason she’d stayed away was embodied in the tall and ruggedly handsome cowboy staring at her.
“Well, then,” she said, trying her darnedest to act nonchalant, “let’s have a seat, shall we? I’m thirsting for that Colorado margarita.”
She took Amber’s arm, bypassing Chad. “It’s wonderful to meet you. What brought you to Bakersville?”
“I’m working for Judy at the salon. I do nails.”
“Oh, how nice.” Catie led Amber to a table for four in a corner. “Mine are a fright. I’ll have to come see you.”
“Oh, yes, please do. I’m just starting to build my clientele.” Amber sat down next to Chad and possessively glommed onto his arm. “I’d appreciate any new business.”
“I imagine I’ll be coming in for the works in a few days,” Catie said. “Traveling does terrible things to my hair.” She shook her head and tried to act casual. “I need a facial, too.”
“Sheesh, Catie, what’s all this girl talk?” Harper said. “Let’s get you that margarita. Then you can tell us about your trip to Greece.”
