True believer - Nicholas Sparks [56]
“Bad guys getting you down again?”
Rodney nodded. “You could say that.”
She smiled, looking pretty, though Rodney didn’t seem to notice. He’d long since come to view her as something of a sister.
“Well, it’ll get better,” she reassured him.
He nodded. “You’re probably right.”
Her lips went together. Sometimes she worried about Rodney.
“Are you sure you can’t squeeze in a quick bite to eat? I know you’re in a hurry and I can tell ’em to make it quick.”
“No. I’m not all that hungry. And I’ve got some protein powder in the car for later. I’ll be fine.” He extended his cup. “A refill might be nice, though.”
“You got it,” she said, pouring.
“Hey, would you happen to have noticed whether Lexie came through here? Maybe for a to-go order?”
She shook her head. “I haven’t seen her all day. Have you checked at the library? I can call over there if it’s important.”
“No, it’s not that important.”
She hovered over the table, as if debating what to say next. “I saw you sitting with Jeremy Marsh this morning.”
“Who?” Rodney asked, trying to appear innocent.
“The journalist from New York. Don’t you remember?”
“Oh, yeah. I just thought I should introduce myself.”
“He’s a handsome fella, isn’t he?”
“I don’t notice whether other men are handsome,” he growled.
“Well, he is. I could look at him all day. I mean, that hair. Just makes me want to run my fingers through it. Everyone’s talking about him.”
“Great,” Rodney mumbled, feeling worse.
“He invited me to New York,” she boasted.
At this, Rodney perked up, wondering if he’d heard her right. “He did?”
“Well, sort of, anyway. He said I should visit, and even though he didn’t put it in so many words, I think he kind of wanted me to visit him.”
“Really?” he asked. “That’s great, Rachel.”
“What did you think of him?”
Rodney shifted in his seat. “We didn’t really talk that much.”
“Oh, you should. He’s really interesting and very smart. And that hair. Did I mention his hair?”
“Yes,” Rodney said. He took another gulp of his coffee, trying to stall until he figured things out. Did he really invite Rachel to New York? Or did Rachel invite herself? He wasn’t quite sure. He could see how City Boy might find her attractive, and he was definitely the type who’d make his move on a woman, but . . . but . . . Rachel tended to exaggerate and Lexie and City Boy were out and about and nowhere to be found. Something here didn’t quite add up, did it?
He began sliding from the booth. “Well, listen, if you see Lexie, tell her I stopped by, okay?”
“Sure thing. You want me to put your coffee in a Styrofoam cup to go?”
“No, thanks. My stomach’s feeling a little green already.”
“Oh, you poor thing. I think we have some Pepto-Bismol in the back. Do you want me to get some for you?”
“To be honest, Rach,” he said, puffing his chest out and trying to look official again, “I don’t think it’s going to help.”
Across town, just outside the accountant’s office, Mayor Gherkin hustled to catch up to Doris.
“Just the woman I wanted to see,” he called out.
Doris turned to watch the mayor approach; in his red jacket and checkered pants, she couldn’t help but wonder whether the man was color-blind. More often than not, he looked ridiculous.
“What can I do for you, Tom?”
“Well, as you may or may not have heard, we’re arranging a special evening for our guest, Jeremy Marsh,” he said. “He’s writing a big story, you know, and . . .”
Doris mentally finished the story, mouthing the words along with him.
“. . . you know how important this could be for the town.”
“I’ve heard,” she said. “And it’s especially good for your businesses.”
“I’m thinking of the whole community here,” he said, ignoring her comment. “I’ve spent all morning trying to set things up so it’ll be just right. But I was hoping you’d be willing to help us out with something to eat.”
“You want me to be the caterer?”
“Not for charity, mind you. The town would be happy to reimburse you for expenses. We’re planning to hold it at the old Lawson Plantation just outside town. I’ve already talked to the folks there, and they