Page 12 of Dangerous Secrets
Delaney took in the atmosphere.For aThursday night, the place was hopping and she realized Keeley’sidea of getting away from the farm had been a good one.WithJames’s funeral coming up on Saturday, Delaney needed a distractionfrom what was sure to be an emotional wringer of a day.
They’d come through the door on thebar side of the business.Big-screen TVs above the bar displayed abaseball game with the volume low.She spotted Mateo Reynosowearing his usual SFD ballcap with the visor pulled low, sitting ona stool at the bar and popping peanuts in his mouth as he watchedthe game.
He spotted them coming in and rose tohis feet.“Hey, Delaney, Keeley.Haven’t seen you in a while.”Mateo possessed the longest eyelashes she’d ever seen on a man.Hewas saved from being too pretty by a tough squared jaw and awell-muscled physique.
The year before he’d represented thefire department in the town’s annual triathlon, coming in first inthe contest that included biking, running, and swimming events.Delaney wondered why neither she nor Keeley couldn’t have fallenfor someone as rock solid as Mateo, but they’d all been pals sincehigh school and were comfortable keeping things asfriends.
He stood and gave Keeley a quick hug,then turned to wrap his arms around Delaney, murmuring in her ear,“Sorry about James, Laney.He was a good man.”
“Thanks, Mateo.”Hereleased her and she stepped back.“How’s your mom?I heard shebroke her wrist.”
“She did.Misjudged thelast step on a ladder and fell.But it hasn’t slowed her down much.She’s already back to work.We’ll be at the service.”
“I’ll look foryou.”
“Come sit with us,” Keeleyurged.
“Maybe in a bit.”Twomonths before, Mateo’s fiancée had dumped him days before thewedding and Delaney knew her friend was having a hard time gettingpast the heartbreak.
Keeley gave Mateo a smooch on thecheek.“I’ll stop in at the shop to say hey to your mom before Ileave town.”
A couple rose from a table in a cornernot far from the bar and headed for the door, and Keeley zippedforward to snag it, Delaney trailing behind.“This is the besttable,” Keeley said.“It’s far enough from the band so we can talkwithout yelling, and it’s an excellent spot topeople-watch.”
They settled into their seats on thesame side of the table, their backs to the wall, Delaney hookingher purse on the back of her chair.She eyed the band as Keeley’shead swiveled, her eyes gleaming.“Look at all these peoplechecking each other out.I love the human mating ritual.In fact,if I weren’t dating Oliver, I’d consider partaking myself.Thereare a couple of really cute guys here.”
“I thought you werethinking of breaking up with Ollie.You said he’s more into youthan you’re into him, and staying together wasn’t fair tohim.”
Keeley nodded and looked glum.“Theother day he was talking about what our kids would look like, andsince I have no intention of marrying him or having babies withhim, it’s time.But as that unhappy event has yet to happen, Ican’t do anything other than look.”
“Back to Owen.I think hemay have been checking you out.”
“Are you kidding?Furtherproof he acts like I don’t exist: he hardly speaks a word to me.How can a bartender be surly and not like to talk?It’sunnatural.”
“He’s not surly, and I’vetalked with him.I called him the other day and asked about theband and he was helpful.”
“Well, he doesn’t talk tome.Maybe he’s decided he doesn’t like me.Some people don’t, youknow.”Keeley tapped her lip with a fingertip.“Back to the subjectat hand.While I’m currently otherwise committed, you, on the otherhand, have made casual dating into a science.The minute guys wantto get serious you dump them.”
“That’s because I don’twant serious.”
“I know.Now that Walker’shome, and since I haven’t seen him in forever, I need to get a lookat him.I want to judge if he’s worthy of you saving yourself forhim all these years.”
It was stupid, but even hearing hisname made her heart skip a beat.“I have not been saving myself forWalker.”
“I’m not talking about‘saved yourself’ in the abstaining from sex kind of way, but morein the avoiding emotional investment way.You haven’t been open toa real relationship with anyone else because you’re hung up on yourhigh-school-early-college crush.”Keeley shrugged.“Now that he’sback, it’s a good time to figure out your feelings.”
Had she saved herself for Walker?Delaney shifted uncomfortably, because pining after the guy who’dmade it clear he didn’t want her was pathetic in the worst way.Shedidn’t want to be pathetic.
Music drifted over the conversation asthe band tuned their instruments.“Hey,” she said as a thoughtoccurred.“You’re forgetting Josh.We went together for almost ayear.”
Keeley had the “you’ve gotto be kidding” look down pat.“Josh was so unimportant it took youa whole minute to even remember you’d dated him.He was safebecause he wasn’t looking for serious either.That is, until he metyour friend Annie and fell flat on his face in love.If I remembercorrectly, you practically pushed him at her,andthenhosted their engagement party.”
“They’re a cute couple.Icouldn’t be happier for them.”
“You just proved my point.You weren’t emotionally invested in Josh.You don’t commitemotionally because you’re still in love with someoneelse.”
The server came to the table andDelaney breathed a relieved sigh.Anything to distract Keeley fromDelaney’s pitiful and depressing love life was welcome.Since onedrink was her limit, she’d make it a good one.“Strawberrymargarita for me.”
“I’ll have a margarita aswell, but make mine classic,” Keeley said.“And we’d like a bigserving of the loaded nachos.Don’t skimp on the guacamole and addextra cheese, with two plates.Thank you.”Keeley gave the serverher sunny smile as Delaney groaned.
