Page 51 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
“There was no need for you to rush like that,” said Roan.
“I didn’t want to make you late.” Beth shut the car door, buckled her seatbelt and pulled her purse onto her lap, then realized it was stuck. “Ope! I shut my purse strap in the car door.” She opened her door, gathered her strap, and sat back. Only this time she caught her jacket that was draped over her lap in the door.
She opened the car door once again to retrieve the jacket, then somehow ended up dangling out the door with her face a few inches from the gravel.
Roan leaped from the car and went around to her.
“Are you okay?”
Beth blew a few stray curls out of her face. So much for all those bobby pins. “I think so. What happened?”
Roan helped her sit up then noticed her jacket had snagged on the seat lever. He pulled it free then asked to see her hands.
“Roan, I’m a nurse.”
“And I’m a concerned man who would like proof your palms aren’t bleeding.”
Beth held out her palms. Aside from a few temporary pits from the pebbles, they were intact.
“Now turn your wrists for me and wiggle your fingers.”
“Roan I?—”
“Please?” She did as he asked. “May I?” He reached for her hand and she nodded. With the utmost tenderness, he felt around her hands for any injuries.
Watching Roan made her think of hitting him with her car and swiping Aidan off his feet. At least Roan had walked away unscathed and Aidan had appeared to be back to being Mr. Grumpy Puss.
Satisfied that Beth wasn’t injured, Roan grinned and backed out onto the street.
“Good thing it was only my purse this time and not my dress.”
“Why, has that happened to you?”
“Yeah …” she sighed. “Twice my skirt has gotten caught in the car door and twice the car drove away along with my dress.”
“So, you were left standing naked in the street then?”
Beth nodded her head. “That’s right. One time I was on a date, he never called again, and the other time was at my best friend’s wedding.”
“That would be Lauren?”
“Yes.”
“She sounds like a good friend to have looking out for you. She put the fear of God in me and all she did was ask my name.”
“Yeah, that’s Lauren.”
The car went silent for a minute and all that was heard was the grating sound of the road.
“So, was it your bridesmaid’s dress that got caught in the door?”
“That’s right.” Beth looked out the window at the stony, uphill countryside passing by. In the field was a flock of sheep, all with a bright blue circle on their wool. They looked content as they grazed on green grass and bright colored wildflowers. She thought back on the memory from Lauren’s wedding and smiled. “It was June first and couldn’t have been a more beautiful day. There was a long white limousine, really fancy inside. I’d never seen the inside of a limo before.” Suddenly she heard Aidan’s voice in her head interrupting her saying, “And the cat ran away with the spoon.” He’d meant that as a joke, right? Or did she really talk too much? Okay, maybe she had talked a little too much. But she was scared, okay? Give her a break! Just in case, she didn’t want to bore Roan with the details so she got to the point. “Anyway, luckily the driver didn’t get too far before Lauren caught up to him and my dress was fine.” The memory of Lauren hiking up her poofy wedding gown with her enormous bouquet in one hand then running after the limo waving her massive bouquet like an air traffic controlman and shouting was one of the funniest memories of their thirty-three year friendship.
Now Roan understood why Beth hadn’t freaked out when he saw her naked. Bethany Spinner was a bit of a handful. But a handful he was happy to have beside him in his car. Although, getting her to talk much was still a bit of a challenge. Maybe a fun evening would help relax her? After all, she hadn’t liked one bit of her trip to Ireland and yet, there was no mistaking the change in her these past few days. She wasn’t afraid or worried with exhaustion. She was well rested and relaxed, more or less.
Yes, Roan was confident that a fun night out would be just the ticket.
With that said, they spent the rest of the twenty-five minute drive mostly in silence, and listening to the radio.
