If he thought of her at all.
Besides, she had too much on her plate to worry about men very much. The next intake for deputy training was coming up fast. First she had to pass the entrance exams, including a physical fitness test. That meant getting into better shape.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about you.” Eric broke into her thoughts, drawing her closer.
“Really?”
“Really.” He bent to brush a kiss over her forehead. Stella’s heart sank. He’d been thinking about sex with her, clearly. Did he ever consider her intellect, sense of humor or achievements?
Of course he did, she told herself, but they were at a wedding. The whole evening had been romantic. Could she blame Eric for being in a romantic mood—even if she wasn’t?
The truth was, she felt torn about her single status. On the one hand, everyone around her was getting married, and she felt left behind. On the other hand, she wasn’t sure she was ready for a relationship with anyone. She had things to do—changes to make in her life. She had a feeling Eric was the kind of guy who liked things to stay the same.
Steel probably relished a challenge. He struck her as the kind of man who could wake up one morning and change everything about himself.
Which didn’t make him boyfriend material, she reminded herself severely. Eric was far more appropriate. He ticked off all the right boxes as a potential mate, and she liked him. Admired him.
But she never found herself daydreaming about him—not the way she daydreamed about Steel.
When Eric bent down again, angling for her mouth this time, Stella pulled back. “I’m going to try to be a deputy,” she blurted. “And I need to pass the physical fitness test. Do you want to train with me sometime?”
He blinked. Pulled back, wary at this sudden change in conversation. “Well, I… sure, Stella, if that’s what you want.” It was obvious his mind had been on an entirely different activity they could do together.
“Well, you passed it, right?” she barrelled on. “I mean I know it was a long time ago, and maybe you don’t even remember the test, but…” Oh, this wasn’t going well at all.
She was pretty sure Eric sighed. “I’m not ancient. I do remember the agility test.”
Had she hurt his feelings?
“I know you’re not ancient.” She tried again. “That wasn’t what I meant at all. I meant maybe you’re too busy for something like that.” Over his shoulder she spotted her uncle Jed talking with Steel’s aunt Virginia. Those two were known to get into heated arguments, so she knew she’d better keep an eye on them, but they were chatting amicably enough for now.
“I’m never too busy for you.” Eric tugged her closer again. “But are you sure you’ve thought this through? Being a deputy isn’t a walk in the park.”
Stella straightened. Did he think she couldn’t handle the job? There weren’t too many female deputies in town, but it wasn’t like she’d have to break new ground.
“I work at the station, remember? I have a fair idea what it’s like.” At the refreshments table, Jed offered Virginia a piece of cake. Virginia stabbed a finger at a plate piled high with cookies, and he added several of them to the dish and handed it to her. Stella bit back a smile. She was fairly certain Jed had a crush on Virginia, despite the way they fought.
“You’re not exactly brawny.” Eric spanned her waist with his hands as a visual demonstration, pulling her back to their conversation. “I’m not sure you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“Well, I’m sure,” Stella said crisply. So much for romance. Now she was good and annoyed. She didn’t need him talking down to her like that. She was a strong woman, not some debutante in a hoop skirt.
Eric must have sensed her anger. “Heck, Stella, sorry—that was out of line. You’re a smart lady, and I’m sure you know your capabilities. I’d be glad to help anytime.”
Stella relaxed a little and let him move her around the dance floor again. “I do know my capabilities,” she said. Now Virginia was supervising while Jed loaded up a plate of desserts for himself. She could see her giving him a lot of advice. He reached for something, and Virginia swatted his hand away. Her shrill voice carried over the music. “That cake’s filling has cream in it, and it’s sat out for far too long!”
Eric frowned. “You can’t blame me for worrying about you. I’m a man. Guess I like to think of myself as the protector in this relationship. If you’re a deputy, too…”
“Then maybe I’ll be the one doing the protecting,” she quipped. “Welcome to the twenty-first century, Eric. I’ll be fine.”
He growled in a playful way. “Every time I turn around something’s changing. Guess I’ll have to change, too.”
“Guess so.” She spotted her younger sister, Maya, heading over to the refreshment table. Was she doing refills or beginning to pack things away? “I’d better go help out a little. Maya’s looking for me.” She spotted her mother, Mary, and Enid Cooper coming to join her sister. They’d done a lot to help set up the wedding, and Stella was happy that the two of them had rekindled their old friendship. She hadn’t exactly patched things up with her mother, but she supposed she’d get there someday.
“Do you have to?” He made no move to let her go.
“I have to. See you around, Eric.” She disengaged herself from his arms, not giving him time to try to kiss her again or ask what she was doing later.
“Everything all right?” Maya asked when
