He felt like he’d been punched dead-center in the chest. And for one miserable moment, he let those words slam into his head and heart, too. But they didn’t stay because they weren’t true and he knew it. Knew it down to his bones. Amanda wasn’t a cheat and she wasn’t a liar.
His hands curled into fists at his sides and he took one long step toward one of his best friends.
Chance held up both hands and took a step back. “Hey, I didn’t say I believed any of the talk.”
“Then why the hell are you telling me this?”
He pushed a hand through his hair. “I didn’t want to, but if you want a life with Amanda, then you’d better find out who’s spreading the poison and get it stopped.”
Chance was right. Years ago, someone had spread lies about Amanda aborting their baby. And yeah, now he could see the lies for what they were. Amanda never would have done that. Back then, he’d been too young and stupid to think past his own fury.
Now things were different.
“On that, we totally agree,” Nathan muttered darkly. “I’ll find whoever it is and when I do …”
A couple of days later, the diner was packed and Amanda was still reeling from the realization that she was in love. On top of that, her stress level was sky-high just from keeping what she was feeling from Nathan. Then there was the situation with Pam.
She shot a covert look at her sister, ringing up a customer at the cash register. Things were still strained there, but at least they hadn’t argued again.
“Everything okay?”
Amanda turned and forced a smile for Alex Santiago. She refilled his coffee cup, then set the pot down onto the counter.
“Everything’s fine,” she lied.
He studied her for a moment or two then nodded. “Yeah, I can see that.”
“What about you, Alex?” Now that she was looking at him, she noticed that he wasn’t giving her one of his million-dollar smiles. His eyes looked shadowed, as if he hadn’t been getting much sleep. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Just …” He shrugged and tried, but didn’t quite manage to smile at her. “You know how it is. Sometimes, you’ve got too much to think about.”
“That, I understand completely.” Whispered conversations from off to her left caught her eye, but Amanda ignored them. If people were going to talk about her, she couldn’t stop them.
“I think you do,” he said, then took a sip of coffee. “Don’t worry about me, Amanda. Everything will be fine.”
She might have said something else, tried to draw him out a little if only to erase some of the worry in his eyes, but a shout sounded out.
“Amanda, honey, how long till that burger of mine is ready?” John Davis slapped one meaty hand to his broad chest and gave a groan. “I’m a starvin’ man, darlin’.”
Alex laughed a little. “Go. Feed the man before he dies of hunger.”
She rolled her eyes and patted Alex’s hand. “I will. But if you need anything, all you have to do is ask.”
He covered her hand with his briefly and said, “You’ve a kind heart.”
Amanda went to pick up John’s lunch, then delivered it, all the while wondering about Alex. But by the time she got back to the counter, he was gone. His coffee was still steaming and there was a five-dollar bill next to the saucer. She frowned and looked through the front window in time to see Alex hurry down the street.
A few days later, Nathan answered the phone at the sheriff’s office and smiled. “Alex. What’s up?”
“Nothing much,” his friend said, then asked, “Are you going to be at the TCC meeting tonight?”
“I’ll be there,” Nathan said on a tired sigh. “With Beau Hacket still making waves over the child-care center, figured I should attend just to keep him in line.”
“That’s good,” Alex said. “After the meeting, I’d like to talk to you. Privately.”
Nathan frowned and straightened up in his desk chair. There was just something about the tone of his friend’s voice that set off small alarm bells in Nathan’s mind. “Everything all right?”
“Yes,” Alex told him quickly. “Absolutely. I’d just like to talk to you.”
“Okay, sure.” Still frowning, Nathan suggested, “We could grab a late dinner.”
“That would be good,” Alex said and now relief colored his words. “I’ll see you later, then.”
“Right.” Nathan hung up, but his mind raced with questions.
That night at the meeting, Nathan wished he could just leave. His heart just wasn’t in being there. He’d have much rather been with Amanda.
What had he come to? He laughed at himself. Who would have guessed a few weeks ago that he’d be feeling downright…domesticated? He wasn’t sure what it was they had going between them, but he was damn sure he didn’t want it to end. Was this love? Hell if he knew. He’d imagined himself in love with her seven years ago, but what he felt now was different. Bigger.
He glanced around the meeting room, but didn’t make eye contact with any of the people. They were all busy, talking, visiting, but Nathan wasn’t in the mood. Hell, he wasn’t in the mood for much here lately. Not until he found out who was behind the rumors designed to hurt Amanda.
And, now there was the question of what was bothering Alex, as well. He glanced at the empty chair behind him and wondered again where his friend was. Alex hadn’t shown up for the meeting and though Nathan kept telling himself the man would appear at any moment, the meeting was almost over and there was still no sign of him. For the moment, though, he let thoughts of Alex slide away as Amanda’s situation took precedence.
From the corners of his eyes, Nathan looked at the familiar faces around him and wondered if it could be one of them. One of his “friends” who had deliberately sabotaged his relationship with Amanda so long ago and was now trying to do the same. But what the hell did anyone have to gain by spreading lies? Not like anyone was going to stop eating at the diner. Or talking to Amanda, for that matter.
So what was the point?
Well now, he thought, he’d know that as soon as he found the bastard.
Raised voices caught his attention and Nathan dragged his thoughts back to the present. Just like every other weekly meeting, there were the same people gathered, having the same arguments. Beau and his bunch were still bitching about the new child-care center and Abby Price looked downright pleased to be able to tell them all to shove off. Couldn’t blame her, Nathan thought. She’d fought hard to become a member here at the club. It had to be satisfying to now be able to ensure that not only more women were welcome here, but their kids as well.
Shaking his head, Nathan wondered why Beau couldn’t let it go. It was a done deal. Move on.
He caught Chance’s eye across the table and the two of them shared a smile.
“I tell you, it’s disgraceful,” Beau was sputtering. “Putting a babysitting club in the billiards room? Our founding fathers are probably spinning in their graves.”
A few raised voices shouted in unison with Beau and the little man seemed to get bigger every time someone sided with him. So before he got out of line entirely, Nathan spoke up.
“No one even plays billiards anymore,