Being out should have perked up Sarah’s spirits and energized her like a toy bunny with brand-new batteries. But as soon as she stepped inside the brewpub, the smells of hops and grease assaulted her. Her stomach churned, not with hunger, but a severe case of nerves.
Rock music played, but the din of conversation drowned out the lyrics. Servers dressed in jeans and black T-shirts carried pitchers of beers, pint glasses and sodas.
“They’re in the back,” Cullen said.
She had no idea how he’d found his friends among all the people, but she followed him, weaving around crowded tables and past jam-packed booths. She ignored the strong impulse to grab his hand.
That would be a bad move. Just like kissing him back and coming here. Sarah should have stayed at the cabin, locked away in her bedroom, where she wouldn’t be so hypersensitive. She didn’t know if it was aftereffects of his kiss or the anticipation of meeting more of his friends or…
Yours is a happy ending.
Yeah, that was what had gotten her panties—make that thong—in a twist and turned her insides into a quivering mess.
Sarah wanted a happily-ever-after of her own. Once upon a time she thought she’d found hers with Cullen. But she should have known it wasn’t meant to be. As a child, she might have dreamed of living a storybook-type life, but she’d learned the chances of happily ever after were slim to none. She accepted that reality, though she hated it.
You were no longer a part of my life. I could start over in Hood Hamlet with a clean slate once the divorce was finalized.
She’d thought the same thing about living without him before her accident. Now she wasn’t so sure.
Cullen had found the perfect place to spend the rest of his life, to fall in love, get married again and raise a family. She would return to the institute, work until her grant was over then find another job at a volcano somewhere else in the world. That adventurous way of life had always appealed to her.
Until now.
What was she thinking? She loved what she did. Work fulfilled her. It was her life.
The confusion, envy and dissatisfaction had to be from the concussion and her injuries, tiredness and hunger. Once she ate, she would feel better.
Cullen motioned to a long table with attractive men sitting on one end and beautiful women on the other. “Looks like most of the crew made it.”
Bill sat with two men Sarah hadn’t seen before. Cullen fit right in with that bunch of eye candy.
Zoe Hughes waved. She wore a colorful sleeveless shirt with ruffles on the front. A sparkly clip held up her hair with stylish, artfully placed tendrils around her face. “Leanne said we might see you tonight. I’m so glad you came.”
Sarah wasn’t used to people being so happy to see her. It felt good. “It took some convincing, but the good doctor finally relented.”
Cullen raised his hands. “I know when to surrender.”
Zoe’s blue eyes twinkled. “Proud of you, Doc.”
Introductions were made and a pitcher of Jake’s handcrafted root beer ordered for Sarah.
Leanne shooed him away. “Go sit with the guys, Doc, so us girls can chat.”
Cullen pulled a chair out for Sarah. “Let me know when you’re ready to eat. I’ll go with you to the taco bar. It’ll be hard for you with one hand.”
With a nod, she sat.
He pushed in her chair, then joined his friends a few feet away.
Carly pushed her long blond hair behind her ears. “Cullen is so overprotective of you.”
Leanne nodded. “I always knew there was more to him than met the eye.”
“It’s so sweet.” Zoe sighed. “I can’t imagine what Sean would be like if I was injured in an accident. I doubt he’d let me out of his sight or want me to do anything, either.”
As if Cullen loved Sarah that much. A lead weight settled in the bottom of her stomach. He might care, he might be concerned, but not the way a devoted husband would be if something happened to his beloved wife.
Sarah glanced his way.
Tenderness filled his gaze.
Her heart bumped. Flustered, she looked away.
“You have more color than this morning,” Leanne said. “Feeling better?”
Sarah might still be flushed after being kissed so thoroughly. Or it could be embarrassment. She cleared her throat. “I went for a walk today with Bill. Got some fresh air.”
“And now the brewpub,” Carly said. “That’s more excitement than you’re used to.”
Especially when you added in Cullen’s kisses. Sarah nodded.
The server placed a pitcher of root beer and a glass on the table. Cullen already had a beer in his hand. Carly filled the glass and gave it to Sarah.
“Thanks.” She took a sip. Thick and rich with the right amount of sweetness. “This is great.”
Carly grinned. “Jake makes the best root beer in Oregon.”
Leanne grinned. “The two of you are so cute. You act like newlyweds, even with a baby.”
“Nicki is officially a toddler now,” Carly said.
Sarah noticed how Jake and Carly smiled at each other a lot. The same with Sean and Zoe.
A diamond-engagement-ring-size lump lodged in Sarah’s throat. These happy couples gave her hope some marriages could succeed. They also were a harsh reminder of how hers had failed.
How did some people get so lucky? That was what she wanted to know.
A plate with two large pretzels and a small bowl of mustard dipping sauce appeared in front of her. She looked over her shoulder to see Cullen standing there.
He smiled. “You wanted to try a pretzel.”
His gesture touched her. If only they could have been one of the lucky couples. “I do.”
“The pretzels are almost as good as the root beer,” Carly said.
Zoe flipped her hair. “The pretzels are better.”
“Try one,” Cullen urged.
“Listen to the good doctor,” Leanne said. “He would never lead you astray.”
No, he had only turned Sarah’s world inside out by making her believe happy endings were possible. But they weren’t for her. She took another sip of her root beer.
Cullen held a piece of pretzel in front of her face. Mustard covered an end. “Open up.”
The lump in her throat doubled. She looked up at him.
A devilish smile curved his lips. “You know you want it.”
Her heart slammed against her chest. What was he doing? This felt like…flirting.
As he brought the pretzel closer, wicked laughter lit his eyes.
She parted her lips and cautiously bit off the end of the pretzel. The bread, salt and mustard sauce complemented each other perfectly. But she was more interested in the way Cullen looked at her—as though he wanted to taste her.
“How is the pretzel?” Jake asked.
The pretzel. Right. She focused on the men at the far end of the table. “Delicious. Like the root beer.”
But not quite as yummy as Cullen. Her pulse picked