It was odd because there was an open table. River Lee stood at one, drinking coffee with her hiking guide, Heather Turner, but the third was empty. Still, it could be hard to be alone in a new town. “Of course.”
He set his coffee down. He had dark hair and eyes and a scar on his face that ran across the left side of his jaw. “Thanks. It’s a nice day. My wife is roaming the stalls but I strained my calf on the golf course yesterday.”
There was a new course outside of town. She didn’t like it. She wasn’t sure why they had to use so much water in order to prove someone could put a tiny ball in a hole on perfectly manicured lawns. It would be more impressive to do it on real land. Still, she gave him a brief smile. “I’m sorry to hear that. Are you staying here in Bliss?”
“We rented a cabin in Del Norte,” he replied. “It’s nice and quiet. It’s also got a kitchen, hence our trip out here. My wife is all into this organic stuff.”
Good for his wife. “She’s lucky. We only have this market once a month.”
“Yes, we’re definitely lucky,” he said with a nod. “This is a nice town. I looked into it a bit when she wanted to come here. I was downloading directions, you know.”
She wasn’t sure why he’d had to download directions. They were right off the only highway that connected Bliss to Del Norte. “Of course. You wouldn’t want to get lost.”
“No. I’m not all that into nature, but I will admit it’s pretty. So do you and your husband live around here?”
He must have seen her wedding ring. “Yes, we’ve been here for a long time. Well, I have. My Henry and I got married almost six years ago. He’s been here ever since.”
“He’s not from Colorado?”
She shook her head. “No. He was born in Ohio, but he was working as a college professor in Washington State when he came here for a vacation, met me, and moved here six months later.”
She didn’t mention the whole “he left her alone for those six months and she hadn’t thought he would ever return” part.
“That must have been a big change,” the man said.
“He fit right in.” When he’d come back to her, he’d embraced the whole of Bliss. It made it easy to remember how naïve he’d thought she was, how he’d initially been cold. He was so warm now.
“Well, I’ve heard this is the place to be. I read something about that tech guy building a big cabin out here. The one from New York. Read about it on the plane. Can’t remember his name, though.”
“Are you talking about Seth?”
He pointed her way. “Seth Stark. That was it. Yeah. Read he spent some time out here. I work in the tech sector, so I hear about him all the time.”
But he couldn’t remember Seth’s name? Something was off. “What’s your wife’s name?”
He took a long drink and then smiled again. “Susan. We’re from Houston. How about your husband?”
“Henry. Henry Flanders. And I’m Nell.”
“Dave Smith,” he replied smoothly. “I’d love to meet your husband. I spent some time in Washington State, too. Does your husband golf by any chance?”
Oh, that was not happening. “No. He’s more of an intellectual.”
She often invited new friends over to dinner, but something about the man put her off. She wasn’t sure what it was, but there was definitely some instinct telling her it was time to find a way to politely exit the conversation.
“Hey, Nell. I was looking for you. I needed to ask your opinion about the zucchinis.” River walked up with a smile. She was a sweet-faced woman with dark hair that was cut in a bob that hit right past her jawline. “I was going to make your muffins. I don’t want to overbuy. Could you help me?”
Women always seemed to know when their sisters needed a hand. “I would love to. Please excuse me, Mr. Smith. I hope you enjoy your day.”
“I will, Ms. Flanders. I think I’ll enjoy it very much,” he replied.
“Okay, Heather was right,” River said with a shake of her head as they walked away. Nell placed her glass back on the bar for Teeny to wash. “She thought you needed some help. That dude was creepy.”
He kind of was. She didn’t like to judge people, but he’d been rather intense for a man on vacation. “I think he was lonely in a new place. Where did Heather go?”
River shrugged. “That girl is a mystery to me. She’s been so great to have around, but she spaces out at the oddest times.”
She probably had an artistic nature. Nell herself had been accused of spaciness. “Well, I’m more than happy to help you find the perfect zucchini. I heard there was some lovely okra, too.”
She was kind of craving fried okra. This baby was making her crave all kinds of things.
But mostly she craved Henry. If he didn’t touch her soon, she was going to go crazy. “How many muffins did you want to make?”
River sighed. “Oh, the muffins were just to get you out of the situation. I don’t cook much anymore. It’s only me now.”
River’s husband had left her, and her father had passed after a long illness. Nell was glad she had a friend in Heather. River needed more people around her, and it had been a while since Nell had gone out to River’s. She slid her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “Well, I’m going to buy some ingredients because I need your rice casserole. I’ve been thinking about it for days. I’m pregnant, and you can’t turn away a pregnant
