that man is?” Allison took her beer from Declan and thanked him.
“Not this week, but it has been insane lately.” She took a sip of the beer in front of her as Allison drank half of her glass in one go. “Whoa, lady, what’s with the power chugging?”
Allison sighed and shook her head. “How in the heck am I going to ever find a man? I’m thinking of moving south.”
Eden sat down her glass. “What brought all of this on?”
Allison shrugged. “Guess I’m feeling sorry for myself.” She smiled and waved a hand. “Never mind me. I’m pulling the party mood down.”
She put her hand on Allison’s arm. “Before you decide to move, maybe you should ask yourself if moving is going to help.”
Allison snorted. “So, I’m undateable?”
Eden bumped her shoulder against her friend’s. “No, I didn’t say that. But there are options here.” She pointed to Zeke. “Doctor number one. Trent Macy is Doctor number two. Carson from the hardware store, Kerry Ross out at the processing plant.” She waited until Declan passed by and pointed at him. “Prime options. They have jobs and are good-looking.”
Allison rolled her eyes. “They know me and have never looked twice in my direction.”
Eden shrugged. “So, give them something to notice.”
“How?”
Eden lifted an eyebrow. “You sure you want the answer to that?”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Stop chasing after them.” Her friend could scare away a man in two seconds flat. “Men enjoy the chase.”
Allison turned to face her on the barstool. “Did Jeremiah chase you?”
Eden felt her face flame. “Well, he really didn’t have to. But Zeke tried harder each time I said no. Think about it, at least.”
Allison took another sip of her beer. “I don’t know. I mean, what I’ve been doing hasn’t worked, has it?”
“Just don’t take it too far.” Eden glanced over at Jeremiah, who seemed to know she was looking. He turned and winked at her, which sustained the blush that her conversation with Allison had caused.
“Geeze, Eden, I want to date, not balance on a tightrope.” Allison’s comment drew her back into the conversation.
“Moderation, Alli. Be yourself, how you are with me and Gen when we’re having a girl’s night. Be fun but don’t crowd.”
The woman snorted. “But I am an in-your-face person. Why should I change? You either like me or you don’t.”
Eden stared at her friend and digested her words. She put her arm around her friend. “Oh, crap, honey. You know what, you’re absolutely right. Disregard everything I said. You be you. There is a man out there for you. I’m sure of it, and if these guys don’t see how great you are, to hell with them.”
Allison leaned her head against Eden’s. “Thanks.”
“Nothing to thank me about. Someday, some man is going to walk in and sweep you off your feet.”
Allison lifted away and groaned, “Well, damn it. Now I have to lose twenty pounds.”
Eden felt Jeremiah’s hands on her shoulders. He leaned between them and spoke to Allison. “Bullshit. Never change for a man. If he doesn’t love you for you, then he’s the wrong guy.”
Allison’s eyes widened and her face flamed. “Yeah?”
Jeremiah nodded. “Definitely. Now, if you will excuse us, my woman made me a promise I intend to cash in on.”
She watched Allison light up. Her friend looked directly at her. “Have I told you this week how lucky you are to have this guy?”
Eden laughed and jumped off the barstool. “You have, but feel free to remind me.”
“You are so lucky to have this guy,” Allison repeated.
“I agree. See you later.” She grabbed Jeremiah’s hand and they made their way to the door, saying their goodbyes.
They strolled out of the parking lot to the blacktop before he spoke. “I’ve experienced nothing like that. I mean, I’ve attended political rallies with my father, but the people there were plastic. They had their hands extended for one reason or another. Here, the only reason they extend a hand is for a handshake.”
Eden hummed in agreement. “Life here isn’t easy, but it is… fulfilling.”
Jeremiah dropped her hand and placed his arm over her shoulder. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to make a living as a doctor here.” She glanced up at him and waited. “I don’t need to. I’ve told you I have money, right?”
She nodded. “Your grandma and grandpa gave you some when they passed.”
He toggled his head back and forth. “Some is a slight understatement.”
She lifted her eyebrows. “Slight?”
“Okay, massive understatement. Anyway, all of this is to tell you that even