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Does she now doubt his love for her?
30
EDEN
Inside the tavern, a live band plays hits of the nineties, and the catchy beat has many patrons on the dance floor. In between songs, we talked quickly as we were almost shouting over the music. Amy secured a booth in the back near the bar, thinking we could have our own area, except it was a walkway, and she said hi to the locals almost every minute.
“You’ve made a lot of friends.” My heart expands with pride.
She taps her glass several times before meeting my gaze. “Most say hello because I teach their kids or their friends’ kids. You know how it is in a small town.”
“Don’t play it down. You’re a magnet to people with your bubbly energy and beauty. And I noticed a couple of guys eyeing you off.”
She waves a hand dismissing my words. “Oh, they’re too young for me. A new face in the town has the appeal of a new toy.” She winks. “I’m older and wiser not to fall for the hot guy with come-to-bed eyes and the smile to make you drop your panties.”
Samuel chokes on his beer.
“I’m proud of you,” I tell her, reaching out to squeeze her hand.
She squeezes mine back before releasing it. “Don’t be too proud. I fucked a couple of hotties first before I realized small towns have a grapevine that’s not only for wine.”
I chuckle.
“Good for you,” Samuel says. “As long as you’re happy, Amy.”
She smiles at him. “I am for now, but I’m a city girl, and I probably won’t stay long.”
We glance up at a guy staring at us.
“You know many a woman has said thatbeforeshe falls in love with a hot country boy,” a deep voice says.
“Rhett,” Amy says and laughs before sliding across her seat. “You remember Eden, right?”
“No man would forget Eden.” He takes my hand and kisses it. “How’s your dad?”
“Rhett,” I say affectionately. “Still the charmer, I see. Dad is good.” I can’t help but smile at Rhett as he always has a starry-eyed effect on girls. “This is my fiancé, Samuel McMahon.”
Rhett stares at me, bewildered. “The doctor from the Amazon?”
I nod quickly as Samuel holds out his hand. “Good to meet you, Rhett. How do you two know each other?”
“Let me tell the story,” Amy pipes up.
“You’re quite the storyteller tonight,” I joke.
Amy’s gaze flicks between Rhett and Samuel. “Eden attended university for a short stint with Rhett when, what… you were around nineteen?”
“Yeah.”
“And they remained friends although we barely saw him as he played football and had superstar status until he got caught with drugs.”
Rhett moans. “You had to mention it.” His expression is serious when he addresses Samuel. “I was young and didn’t handle fame well, especially being a country boy. My father died, and I had two younger brothers who also relied on me. Leaving Mum alone on the farm while I bathed in the pleasure of football stardom got to me.” He glances at me and then Samuel. “I became an obnoxious prick.”
“Wow,” Amy says wide-eyed. “I wasn’t going to say all that. Anyway, he went on a reality show to clean up his image on national TV, or he’d lose his contract.”
Rhett stares up at the ceiling. “Not one of my finest moments.” He meets Samuel’s gaze. “Although I met my wife on the show.”
“Hang on,” Amy interrupts. She stares at Samuel. “She wasn’t a contestant. In typical Rhett style, he fell for his mentor.”
