because Lucas handled everything. Just as her grandparents had done for most of her life. No question of where to go. Who to be.
That’s what she wanted. That’s where she felt safe.
Joe didn’t make her feel safe. Joe made her mad. Made her feel…unanchored. Ironic considering they were on Anchor Island. That zing stood as clear evidence Bethneeded an anchor. Or something just as heavy to smack her upside the head.
“This beer goes back to Sid in the pool room,” Tom said, sliding a longneck Beth’s way.
“Who’s Sid?” The name sounded vaguely familiar. Maybe Patty had mentioned him.
“Works with Joe. Just holler the name from the doorway.”
“Got it,” Beth said, dropping her now empty tray by her hip and carrying the bottle with her free hand. Sid sounded like a name that should belong to a large man. Shouldn’t be that hard to find.
When Beth entered the pool room, she glanced around for a man towering over the others but didn’t see one. “I’ve got a beer for Sid!” she yelled over the Buffett song pouring from the jukebox.
“That’s me,” came a female voice from Beth’s right. She turned and met dark brown eyes belonging to one of the most gorgeous women she’d ever seen.
The body belonged in a centerfold layout, but the clothes looked more like something from the agri co-op in the small farm town where Beth grew up.
Not a speck of makeup on her face, but she didn’t need it. Her skin was pale and flawless, eyelashes long without the aid of mascara, and lips Beth imagined sent men to their knees.
An instant feeling of inadequacy slid down Beth’s spine. “You’re Sid?” So much for making assumptions where names were concerned.
“That’s right, princess.” The brown eyes narrowed, and a dark ponytail flopped to one side as the woman stuck outher hip and tilted her head. “You going to hand over that beer or do I have to wrestle you for it?”
That was uncalled for. What had Beth ever done to this woman? She’d definitely never met her, even if the name sounded familiar. No woman would forget the bombshell who made her feel as if she should hand in her girl card.
“Did you say wrestle me?” Beth asked. Though Sid’s head barely reached Beth’s nose, her rolled-up sleeves revealed well-muscled arms. For a woman anyway. Not that Beth intended to wrestle her for anything. She’d never been in a cat fight in her life and didn’t intend to change that fact now.
“For a lawyer, you sure are dense.” The woman invaded Beth’s space, slamming her pool cue down inches from Beth’s blistered toes.
The Band-Aids together with Aunty Claudine’s magical ointment were working so far, but she doubted they’d protect her against a solid stick of wood.
“Somebody needs to blow in your ear and give you a refill.”
While Beth processed that insult, a figure appeared on her left.
“Back off, Sid.” Joe moved in closer until his body stood between Beth and her aggressor. “She’s just bringing you a beer. Go back to your game.”
Sid let out a breath, staring hard into Joe’s eyes. Then she shook her head and said, “Rack ’em up boys, and get out your wallets.”
The standoff lasted several more seconds with the sound of pool balls being gathered on the table. When Sid turnedaway, Beth saw Joe’s shoulders relax. Surely he wouldn’t have hit a woman.
“You okay?” he asked, taking the longneck she’d forgotten she was holding.
“I’m fine. What was that all about?”
“That’s Sid.”
“Yeah, I got that. Who is Sid, and how does she know I’m a lawyer? For that matter, why does she hate me?”
“She doesn’t hate you. She’s just…” He seemed to be searching for the right word.
“Bitchy?”
“That works.”
Beth glanced over Joe’s shoulder. Four men, all in denim and flannel (the clear island dress code), lingered around the table as Sid bent over to break. None of them were paying her body any attention.
“Why are those guys
That’s what she wanted. That’s where she felt safe.
Joe didn’t make her feel safe. Joe made her mad. Made her feel…unanchored. Ironic considering they were on Anchor Island. That zing stood as clear evidence Bethneeded an anchor. Or something just as heavy to smack her upside the head.
“This beer goes back to Sid in the pool room,” Tom said, sliding a longneck Beth’s way.
“Who’s Sid?” The name sounded vaguely familiar. Maybe Patty had mentioned him.
“Works with Joe. Just holler the name from the doorway.”
“Got it,” Beth said, dropping her now empty tray by her hip and carrying the bottle with her free hand. Sid sounded like a name that should belong to a large man. Shouldn’t be that hard to find.
When Beth entered the pool room, she glanced around for a man towering over the others but didn’t see one. “I’ve got a beer for Sid!” she yelled over the Buffett song pouring from the jukebox.
“That’s me,” came a female voice from Beth’s right. She turned and met dark brown eyes belonging to one of the most gorgeous women she’d ever seen.
The body belonged in a centerfold layout, but the clothes looked more like something from the agri co-op in the small farm town where Beth grew up.
Not a speck of makeup on her face, but she didn’t need it. Her skin was pale and flawless, eyelashes long without the aid of mascara, and lips Beth imagined sent men to their knees.
An instant feeling of inadequacy slid down Beth’s spine. “You’re Sid?” So much for making assumptions where names were concerned.
“That’s right, princess.” The brown eyes narrowed, and a dark ponytail flopped to one side as the woman stuck outher hip and tilted her head. “You going to hand over that beer or do I have to wrestle you for it?”
That was uncalled for. What had Beth ever done to this woman? She’d definitely never met her, even if the name sounded familiar. No woman would forget the bombshell who made her feel as if she should hand in her girl card.
“Did you say wrestle me?” Beth asked. Though Sid’s head barely reached Beth’s nose, her rolled-up sleeves revealed well-muscled arms. For a woman anyway. Not that Beth intended to wrestle her for anything. She’d never been in a cat fight in her life and didn’t intend to change that fact now.
“For a lawyer, you sure are dense.” The woman invaded Beth’s space, slamming her pool cue down inches from Beth’s blistered toes.
The Band-Aids together with Aunty Claudine’s magical ointment were working so far, but she doubted they’d protect her against a solid stick of wood.
“Somebody needs to blow in your ear and give you a refill.”
While Beth processed that insult, a figure appeared on her left.
“Back off, Sid.” Joe moved in closer until his body stood between Beth and her aggressor. “She’s just bringing you a beer. Go back to your game.”
Sid let out a breath, staring hard into Joe’s eyes. Then she shook her head and said, “Rack ’em up boys, and get out your wallets.”
The standoff lasted several more seconds with the sound of pool balls being gathered on the table. When Sid turnedaway, Beth saw Joe’s shoulders relax. Surely he wouldn’t have hit a woman.
“You okay?” he asked, taking the longneck she’d forgotten she was holding.
“I’m fine. What was that all about?”
“That’s Sid.”
“Yeah, I got that. Who is Sid, and how does she know I’m a lawyer? For that matter, why does she hate me?”
“She doesn’t hate you. She’s just…” He seemed to be searching for the right word.
“Bitchy?”
“That works.”
Beth glanced over Joe’s shoulder. Four men, all in denim and flannel (the clear island dress code), lingered around the table as Sid bent over to break. None of them were paying her body any attention.
“Why are those guys
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