Country Brides - Debbie Macomber [56]
Rorie kept her hand on the receiver long after she’d hung up. Her back was pressed against the kitchen wall, her eyes closed.
She’d regained a little of her composure when the doorbell chimed. A glance at the wall clock told her it was Dan, who’d promised to drop by that evening. She straightened, forcing a smile, and slowly walked to the door.
Dan entered with a flourish, handing her a small white bag.
“What’s this?” she asked.
“Frozen yogurt. Just the thing for a girl with a hot keyboard. How’s the writing going?” He leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
Rorie walked into the kitchen and set the container in the freezer compartment of her refrigerator. “It ’s not. If you don’t mind, I’ll eat this later.”
“Rorie.” Dan caught her by her shoulders and studied her face. “You ’re as pale as chalk. What’s wrong?”
“I…I just got off the phone. I was offered another job—as head librarian…”
“But, darling, that’s wonderful!”
“…in Nightingale, Oregon.”
The change in Dan’s expression was almost comical. “And? What did you tell them?”
“I refused.”
He gave a great sigh of relief. His eyes glowed and he hugged her impulsively. “Does this mean what I think it does? Are you finally over that cowpoke, Rorie? Will you finally consent to be my wife?”
Rorie lowered her gaze. “Oh, Dan, don’t you understand? I’ll never get over Clay. Not next week, not next month, not next year.” Her voice was filled with pain, and with conviction. Everyone seemed to assume that, in time, she’d forget about Clay Franklin, but she wouldn’t.
Dan’s smile faded, and he dropped his arms to his sides. “I see.” Leaning against the counter, he sighed pensively and said, “I’d do just about anything in this world for you, Rorie, but I think it’s time we faced a few truths.”
Rorie had wanted to confront them long before now.
“You’re never going to love me the way you do that horseman. We can’t go on like this. It isn’t doing either of us any good to pretend your feelings are going to change.”
He looked so grim and discouraged that she didn’t point out that he was the one who’d been pretending.
“I’m so sorry to hurt you—it’s the last thing I ever wanted to do,” she told him sincerely.
“It isn’t as if I didn’t know,” he admitted. “You’ve been honest with me from the start. I can’t be less than honest with you. That country boy loves you. I knew it the minute he walked across the street without even noticing the traffic. The whole world would know,” he said ruefully. “All he has to do is look at you and everything about him shouts his feelings. He may be engaged to another woman, but it’s you he loves.”
“I wouldn’t fit into his world.”
“But, Rorie, you’re lost and confused in your own.”
She bit her lower lip and nodded. Until Dan said it, she hadn’t recognized how true that was. But it didn’t change the fact that Clay belonged to Kate. And she was marrying him within the month.
“I’m sorry,” Dan said, completely serious, “but the wedding’s off.”
She nearly laughed out loud at Dan’s announcement. No wedding had ever been planned. He’d asked her to marry him at least ten times since she’d returned from her vacation, and each time she’d refused. Instead of wearing her down as he’d hoped, Dan had finally come to accept her decision. Rorie felt relieved, but she was sorry to lose her friend.
“I didn’t mean to lead you on,” she told him, genuinely contrite.
He shrugged. “The pain will only last for a while. I’m ‘a keeper’ as the girls in the office like to tell me. I guess it’s time I put out the word that I’m available.” He wiggled his eyebrows, striving for some humor.
“You’ve been such a good friend.”
He cupped her face and gently kissed her. “Yes, I know. Now don’t let that yogurt go to waste—you’re too thin as it is.”
She smiled and nodded. When she let him out of the apartment, Rorie bolted the door then leaned against it, feeling drained, but curiously calm.
Dan had been gone only a few minutes when Rorie’s phone rang again. She hurried into the kitchen to answer it.
“Rorie? This is Kate Logan.”
“Kate! How are you?”
“Rotten, but I didn’t call