Free Winter's Magic (Music City Hearts Series) by Cynthia Gail Page B

everyone—no exceptions.”
    “Beth, are you okay? Is there anything I can do?”
    “No, thank you. I really can’t discuss it right now.” Her voice cracked and the stinging behind her eyes grew stronger as she saw the concern in Gina’s face. Turning her head away just as a tear escaped, Beth bolted to her office and shut the door behind her.
    She’d been strong, not allowing herself to cry, even when she’d reached her car in the bank’s parking lot. She knew she had to keep her emotions contained until she made it to the shop. Now she was safe. Alone in her office with the door locked, she could sit at her desk and let the tears fall.
    When she was finished, she actually felt better for letting all of her frustration out. But the pity-party was over. Lifting her head up off the desk, she blew her nose, stood, drew her shoulders back, then went to her private bathroom to wash the ruined makeup from her face. After pulling her hair into a clip, she headed to the storage room.
    One by one, she carried ten boxes of blue prints, swatches, purchase orders, memos, licenses, permits, and receipts to her office. She’d been careful to keep everything, placing monthly packets into sealable containers until the contractor had said those four beautiful words, You’re ready to open . Now all she had to do was find eighty-five needles in the haystack by tomorrow evening.
    When Nick parked in front of La Bella Vita, it was almost eight o’clock. Seeing Beth’s car, his relief quickly turned to frustration. Her cell phone had gone straight to voice mail all day and when he’d tried the office, the front desk would only tell him she wasn’t accepting calls.
    What did that mean? She wasn’t accepting anyone’s calls, or just his? Maybe she’d changed her mind and didn’t want to see him. The idea shook him. All he’d thought about since leaving her house Sunday night was seeing her again.
    “Gina, you’re here awfully late.” He approached the front desk and immediately caught the tension in her eyes as she looked up from the computer.
    “Oh! Hi, Mr. Chester. How are you?”
    “It’s been a long day and I’m glad to finally be home. Is Beth in?”
    Her eyes widened in a flash of panic, before quickly turning back to her computer, as if it held the answer to his question. His stomach began to sink.
    “She is, but she asked not to be disturbed.”
    “Is something wrong?”
    “No. She just has a big project going on, that’s all.” The statement made him feel only slightly better. It still didn’t make any sense as to why she wasn’t answering or returning his calls.
    Gina was holding back. And why wouldn’t she? Just because Beth had gone on one date with him didn’t give him access to privileged information. He respected her for being so professional, even though he sensed something more serious in the air.
    “We’re supposed to be going to dinner tonight. Do you think I could peek into her office for a quick minute?”
    “I don’t know. She was pretty clear this morning.”
    “You haven’t seen her all day?”
    “We’ve been busy and she was upset when she came in.”
    A slight relief. It didn’t sound like this had anything to do with him, though now he was worried and even more determined. He wouldn’t leave until he knew where they stood.
    “I think I’ll take my chances.” He headed toward the hallway that led to Beth’s office. “Even if she doesn’t have time to eat dinner, maybe she’ll let me bring her something. I’ll tell her I snuck by while you were on the phone.”
    Nick walked down the hallway and stopped in front of her door. He couldn’t hear anything coming from the inside, so he knocked softly.
    No answer.
    He knocked again a little harder.
    “Whoever you are, please go away. I’m not available.”
    Nick turned the handle and slowly opened the door enough to step inside. The loveseat, coffee table, and various parts of the floor were covered in storage boxes, all