Champagne and Lemon Drops: A Blueberry Springs Chick Lit Contemporary Romance by Jean Oram Read Free Book Online Page B

her work clothes
while he was in a pair of sweats and a tee, she kept her eyes on
the opened bottle of Johnny Walker. It sat next to a melted tray of
ice cubes and a shot glass. Whisky was not Oz's usual drink of
choice.
    "Is this a bad time?" Most mornings he was
showered and finishing breakfast by now. "Maybe I should have
waited until Sunday?"
    "It's fine." He continued to stare at
her.
    She squinted at him. "Aren't you going to
work?"
    He shook his head. He looked sad.
    She opened her mouth to tell him he had to
work, but quickly switched to something less likely to cause a
fight. "How was your weekend?"
    "Fine." His arms tightened across his chest.
"Yours?" His jaw flexed and Beth drew in a long, slow breath,
feeling as though she had parachuted into a minefield.
    "I wanted to tell you about that," she
began. All weekend she'd wanted to text him about her plans and
ideas, but had held off as part of their agreement. This morning,
while getting ready for work, she'd just about bubbled over from
excitement thinking of how she was heading over to share her news
with her best friend. But now she wasn't sure how to dive in when
he seemed inexplicably peeved.
    "I've already heard all about your weekend,"
he said, his eyes shutting like he was dealing with a sharp
pain.
    "Are you okay?"
    "Fine."
    She met his eye. "Are you sure? You don't
look too good."
    "I'm Fine."
    She really wanted his advice and approval
about the outreach—especially since it would affect his weekends
once they were back together, too. "Do you think it's a good
idea?"
    Oz gave her a hard look that was difficult
to decipher. The vibe coming off him told her something was wrong.
Really, really wrong.
    "What?" she asked, unease settling over her
like an itchy wool sweater.
    "Giving your ring back, moving out, then
telling the town you're doing it with the new doctor followed by
taking off to the city to spend all weekend with him? Don't you
think that might be what's wrong?"
    Beth's skin grew cold. "I was joking."
    "Nobody's laughing."
    Her face heated with guilt. She never would
have guessed that he would assume the worst from any rumors that
surfaced about her. He was usually so good about ignoring rumors
and saying there had to be another side to the story.
    "It was a training session. I'm starting an
outreach program." She tried to meet his eyes, begging him to
believe her. To trust her. To know her heart was still his.
    "It's only a break, Beth. We're still
exclusive. We're still engaged."
    "I know that! Jesus could you trust me a
little? What the hell?"
    "I'm finding it a little hard right
now."
    "Oz! I was joking for Christ's sake!" Beth
slammed her hands on the table and stood.
    "You're not the kind of girl who jokes about
that kind of thing!" Oz stood, his face red. He grabbed the bottle
of whisky and took a swig, his face contorting as he swallowed.
    Beth planted her hands on the tabletop and
leaned forward. "Do you know how hard the rumor mill is working me
over right now? Do you have any idea how much their probing and
speculation hurts?"
    He pointed a finger at her. "You're the one
who chose to leave your ring here. You're the one who chose to move
out! You're the one who chose the doctor."
    "I didn't choose him!" She slapped her hands
on the table and leaned forward, glaring at Oz. "Do you really
think I could have stayed here without you and that I'd choose some
city man? I moved out because you wanted me out of your life!"
    He stood, echoing her posture, bringing them
almost nose-to-nose. "I don't want you out of my life, dammit!"
    "You broke up with me! You didn't tell me
until it was too late that you wanted to change your life. You
didn't give me a chance."
    "It's a goddamned break so I can get my shit
together!" His breath pushed against her face.
    "You don't even love me—"
    Oz grabbed her face in his large hands and
shoved his lips against hers, silencing her. He kissed her slowly
and with meaning. Legs trembling from the effort of