Page 42 of Vodka and Chocolate Drops

Amber quirked her head, struggling to stay focused on her customers. “I thought Nicola was busy with her community planning job.”

“She’s almost done her part on that new subdivision. We never see her because of the long hours, but now she’s wrapping it up.”

Liz jumped in. “And so Nicola’s going to need a new distraction.”

“Did someone say Nicola Samuels needs a distraction?” Devon Mattson, Mandy’s oldest brother, asked as he joined the ladies at their table, helping himself to Liz’s mostly untouched fries. He gave Amber a large grin, illustrating that he knew just how handsome and supposedly irresistible he was. “I’m available for distracting women.”

“You always are,” Amber said. “Is it any wonder?” The man was a daredevil playboy.

“Don’t feel left out. There’s plenty of me to go around.” He winked at her.

“You stay away from our niece,” Mary Alice scolded. “She doesn’t need your kind of wildness.”

“What about me? You’re not going to protect me from this big lump?” Amber asked, smacking Devon’s chest. She blinked away images of Scott coming and rescuing her from Devon’s clutches.

My goodness. She needed to get over whatever it was that was messing with her mind. Such as that kiss. Man, that had been good.

“I’m not wild,” Devon replied, arms out as though that proved his innocence.

“Right,” Liz said with an eye roll. “And I wear shorts in snowstorms.”

“I’m sure it’s happened. Zip out to grab the newspaper off the front step while wearing your husband’s oversize shirt and boxers?” he teased.

He was rewarded by a glare.

Mary Alice continued, “What do you think we could distract her with?” She pointed a finger at Devon. “Don’t say it.”

“Summer is coming,” Amber offered. “She used to travel and hike and stuff, didn’t she? When she went around the world with Todd? Maybe she could help Jen.”

“Aha!” Devon slapped the table in triumph. “This is about Todd, isn’t it? You want him to get her, not me.”

The sisters ignored him.

“Jen’s wilderness guiding business is expanding.”

“And she’s pregnant?” Mary Alice added, looking hopefully at anyone who would offer confirmation.

The group let out a collective sigh, and Amber said, “But I don’t quite get what she needs the distraction from.” She pointed to Devon and mouthed, “Him?”

Mary Alice shook her head.

“I do like that idea--helping Jen,” Liz said, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

“Are we really just trying to distract her from Devon?” Amber asked, as though the man in question wasn’t sitting at the table, listening intently.

“Todd,” the sisters said simply.

Devon and Amber shared a look.

“What do you mean?” Amber asked. She had thought the two friends were going to get together at the Valentine’s Day extravaganza, but assumed they hadn’t, since she hadn’t seen Todd around. Since then, Nicola had all but disappeared into her job, losing weight in the process. Amber hadn’t thought much of it, but now she wondered. Nicola used to barely be able to take a breath without talking about her BFF Todd, yet Amber could barely recall the last time he or their grand travel adventures had been mentioned. What had happened? And how had Amber managed to push her head so far up her own butt that she hadn’t even noticed the changes in her friend?

“What’s going on out there?” Liz asked, craning her neck to look through the big windows that faced the sidewalk. “Don’t tell me there are more reporters in town.” She stood, straightening her floral blouse. “Oh, well. I chased them out of Blueberry Springs when they were harassing Jen. The least I can do is chase them out for you, too.” She smiled at Amber and hustled to the door.

Amber followed, not quite sure whether Liz would make things better or not.

On the sidewalk, Amber blinked and looked again. She didnotjust see who she thought she had. Nope. Sure enough, there was a television van, but that’s not what had caught her eye. It was her sister. Talking to a reporter.

What was she doing in town? And why was she talking to the media? This could not be good.

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