by Beth Carter
“Tony and I had plenty of issues in the beginning too—still do—but we occasionally, okay, rarely make it work. Never mind. Bad relationship example.” She sighed and added two more chilled beers to the bag. “How’s Gage, by the way? Too bad you no longer need a limo driver around here. I miss seeing him.”
Busying herself by straightening a stack of farm magazines on Cole’s counter, Cheri clutched an enormous bowl of mustard potato salad. “I need to replenish the food. Can you carry that beer?”
“Of course, but you didn’t answer my question.” Alex’s brows furrowed. “I haven’t heard a word from Gage since my surprise trip to New York last spring. After he kissed me and expressed his feelings, I know I disappointed him by telling him I’m still in a relationship with Tony—no matter how messy it is most days.” To her surprise, tears filled her eyes. “I really like Gage. I can’t get him off my mind.” Alex stepped closer so no one could overhear since the windows were wide open. “Can you keep a secret?”
Cheri stiffened. “A secret? What?”
Alex chewed on her bottom lip. “I think I made a mistake. I should have ended it with Tony before I went to Manhattan last spring. If I had, Gage and I would have been free to date, albeit long distance. He’s a good man. I know it. As usual, I screwed everything up.”
Cheri set the bowl down and rubbed her forehead. “I can’t believe this. Cannot. Believe. What. I’m. Hearing.”
“Why?” Alex stood frozen. “I don’t like the sound of this.”
Cheri put both hands on Alex’s shoulders. “Maybe you should sit down.”
“You’re scaring me. I’m standing. Tell me.”
Cheri exhaled. “I have a secret too and I don’t think you’re going to like it.”
“Give me the bottom line. I’m a bottom-line person.” Steadying herself against the counter, Alex said, “I can take it.” She swallowed. “I think.”
Cheri reached for Alex’s hand. “I’m going to blurt this out. I’m sorry in advance.”
“Stop with the drama already. Tell me.”
“Gage is engaged.”
Alex’s mouth fell open. “Who? When?” Her face crumpled. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Lanky Wyatt poked his head inside. “Cole told me to tell you we’re out of buns and baked beans. He said he’d get them but he’s cleaning up a heap of a mess. Someone knocked over several glasses of moonshine on the food table.”
“On my way,” Cheri opened the oven door and reached for a large pot of baked beans.
“Are you really putting beans ahead of this conversation?” Alex felt tears sting her eyes. “At least tell me who Gage is engaged to.”
Struggling with the heavy dish, Cheri placed it on the counter atop a pot holder. “Her name escapes me but she’s an actress.”
Alex rolled her eyes. “Shit. Just my luck. Movies or television?”
“TV. She’s on a soap. Gage said she’s apparently the up and coming, younger Susan Lucci in Soap Opera Land. He even said she’s petite and a brunette like Susan—”
Alex held her hands up. “You can stop. That’s enough for now. Go feed those cowboys. I’ll bring the beer and wine.” As Alex followed Cheri outside, she could have kicked herself. I let a good man go and it has come back to bite me.
Chapter 42
Once Cheri replenished the food and helped Cole with the moonshine spill, she rearranged the serving spoons, squeezed the cowboy’s hand, and noticed Alex’s sad sack face. She kissed Cole and said, “Be right back, Cowboy. I’ve basically ruined Alex’s day, week, or life.”
“Huh?” Cole rubbed his hand across his stubbly chin. “How could you ruin anyone’s life? You brighten mine every day.” Taking her face in his rough hands, he kissed both cheeks and then planted a long kiss on her mouth. “Don’t be a stranger.”
Cheri leaned into the warmth of his body and kissed his neck, among hoots and hollers from Cole’s friends. Cole turned toward his friends. “Settle down, boys. I’m sure you’ve seen a kiss before.”
Cheri planted another quick kiss on his tempting mouth and whispered, “I wish everyone would leave. Some guests haven’t even arrived. This is going to be a long night.”
Chuckling, Cole patted her backside. “Your friend looks like she just lost a baby calf. Why don’t you talk to her? I’ve got the food under control.”
Cheri glanced in Alex’s direction. Her OCD control freak friend had never looked so pitiful. “I think you’re right. I gave her some shocking news. I’ll try to smooth it over.” She sighed. “Doubtful, but I’ll try. First, I have to get something out of the kitchen.” Running in the back door, Cheri got the wine opener and joined Alex.
Alex was perched on a big rock in the yard with another half-filled glass of moonshine. Cheri wrinkled her nose, gingerly took the plastic cup, flung out the contents, and poured a glass of wine for both of them. “Drink this instead.” Cheri clanked her glass with Alex’s. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. There was never a good time and I didn’t know how to begin, I guess. Besides, I’ve been preoccupied with my company, that stupid rag magazine, and getting Cole back.”
“It’s not your fault; it’s mine. I’m the one who messed up.” Staring fixated into her wine, Alex asked, “How long have you known?”
“A couple of weeks. Gage hasn’t said much. He knows you and I are good friends. The entire conversation was via text but he mentioned his-his—”
“Fiancée,” Alex deadpanned.
“Yeah, apparently she proposed to Gage after they jogged in Central Park. Sounds spur of the moment to me.”
Alex rubbed her temples. “Oh, God. I can’t believe this. She proposed to him?”
Cheri nodded, sipped her wine, and studied her friend.
Alex stared at the rowdy crowd and back into her drink. “I wonder if they sat on the same bench where I basically ended our relationship.”
Shaking her head, she asked, “Do you know where they plan to get married?” Alex took a big gulp of wine. “Not that it matters.”
“Vegas.”
Alex laughed. “Probably by an Elvis preacher.” She stood and brushed grass off her legs. “I’ve heard enough. I’m ready to have some fun.”
A deafening motorcycle revved a few feet away. Alex glanced at the cyclist who drove in circles, making tracks in Cole’s yard. Once the engine was off and the driver put the kickstand down, Alex was surprised to see a gorgeous leather-clad woman. “I guess someone wanted to make a grand entrance. Who the hell is that?”
“She always has to make an entrance.” Cheri’s jaw clenched. “That, my friend, is Jade, Cole’s ex-girlfriend.”
Alex studied the woman dressed in a leather jacket, extremely short denim shorts, and black Harley knee boots. Alex snorted. “First, it’s way too fucking hot for leather. Second, she looks even more bad ass than me.” Alex crossed her arms. “I wish I had a Harley about now. I’d like to blow off some steam.”
Cheri studied Jade who enjoyed every moment of the country boys flocking around her as she removed her helmet with excruciating detail. Jade shook her jet-black hair which flowed down the middle of her back. After strapping her helmet to the handle bars, she linked arms with Sawyer and Wyatt. “Where’s the booze, boys.”
Alex’s eyebrows shot up. “She could give Tony’s ex some competition. I’d like to see those two in a ring.” She finally laughed. “What a peacock. Let’s head over there and watch.”
Making a beeline toward Cole, Jade sashayed until she caught his attention. Cheri rolled her eyes. “Maybe we should go inside. I’m not in the mood for Jade’s antics.”
“And miss this? No way,” Alex said. “At least she’ll get my mind off of Gage for an hour or two.”
Chapter 43
Turning her back to the crowd, Jade wriggled out
of her shorts, exposing lacy, red bikini underwear. Everyone’s head swiveled in her direction. Jade undoubtedly knew every eye was upon her as she shimmied out of her black tank. She noticeably wasn’t wearing a bra.
“What the hell is she doing?” Alex asked. “She’s a real piece of work, isn’t she?”
“You have no idea.” Cheri watched Jade like a hawk. “She’d like nothing better than to get Cole back.” She glanced in the cowboy’s direction who pretended to be talking to Sawyer but had one watchful eye on his ex.
As she neared the edge of the pond, Jade yelled over her shoulder, “Aren’t you boys going to join me?” She plunged into the water up to her shoulders. The edges of her dark hair floated around her. “Chickens,” she yelled.
Alex scrunched her nose. “Don’t cows wade into that pond?” She shuddered. “It can’t be clean.”
Cheri stood with her back to the pond, avoiding the spectacle. “Jade doesn’t care. As long as she’s the center of attention, she’ll try anything.” Wyatt and two other cowboys stripped down to their skivvies, hooted, hollered, and jumped in. Their splashes and laughter filled the air. “I’m over watching her. Want to play horseshoes?”
Alex laughed out loud. “A New York socialite asking me to play horseshoes is about the last thing I expected to come out of your mouth. I think the cowboy is changing you more than the other way around.”
“Maybe,” Cheri said. “I had forgotten how much fun I could have doing humble things. It reminds me of my teens and early twenties when I went ice skating in Manhattan.” Her face clouded. “Until the paparazzi discovered me and—”
“That’s when Gage rescued you from the onslaught of cameras and became your limo driver,” Alex added.
Cheri’s mouth fell open. “How did you know?”
“He told me last year when I surprised him with my impromptu Eat, Drink, Chill vacation in New York City.” Alex’s face crumpled. “I screwed up. I wasn’t going to break up with Tony from afar. I owed him more than that after our years together.” She turned to Cheri. “I guess I wasn’t ready to break up but I hate the fact that I no longer have the option of Gage, which makes me sound like such a bitch. I shouldn’t have kept him on the back burner. He wasn’t going to play that game.” Tears threatened her eyes. She glanced away. “I hope he’s happy. Gage is a great guy.”
Cheri placed her arm across Alex’s shoulders and handed her a horseshoe. “He is a great guy. You’re pretty great yourself. You never know what’ll happen in the future.”
“But he’s engaged.”
“What’s that old saying, ‘You can’t cry over spilled milk’,” Cheri said.
“You are becoming a country girl before my eyes—a stylish, rich one, but still.”
“Maybe so.” Cheri held a horseshoe. “Want to go first?”
“I’ll keep score.” Cole crossed the yard. “I’m glad someone’s usin’ my horseshoe pit.” He gave Cheri a quick peck on the mouth and stepped to the side. “Two beautiful women playin’ horseshoes is hot.”
Chapter 44
After they played horseshoes for several monotonous minutes, Alex appeared bored. Cheri obviously noticed and picked up a nearby woven basket. “Want to help me pick some peaches? Cole has several peach trees. Fresh peaches make fabulous peach cobbler.”
“I’ll pass. I’m about countried out,” Alex said. “I may need a T.J. Maxx and Starbucks fix after this outing—no offense.” Alex observed farm guys in jeans and overalls standing near an enormous round hay bale drinking beer and moonshine. Several women gathered on the other side, some wore short shorts with western shirts, others wore sundresses and cowboy boots.
Alex sighed. “Just like high school. Boys on one side and girls on the other.”
“That’ll change once the music starts,” Cheri said.
~ ~ ~
Finally dressed after her skinny-dipping stunt, Jade smoothed her wet hair and yelled, “Having fun with our country boys, Van Buren?”
Cheri turned toward Cole’s ex. A smug look crossed Jade’s face. “I knew it.”
Cheri glanced at Cole but he was talking to someone and didn’t appear to hear.
“What a bitch,” Alex said.
“Right?” Cheri visibly stiffened.
Narrowing her eyes, Jade said, “I thought I recognized you from that gossip magazine. You’re one of the hoity toity rich Van Burens from New York City.” She cupped her hands around her mouth, “Hey, everyone, we have a celebrity among us.”
Cole glanced up, as did everyone. Even the birds seemed to stop flying. Cole had a winning poker face. “What’s your point, Jade? Who cares if she is?”
Jade flipped her wet hair over her shoulder as if it were an annoying fly. “The Van Burens are filthy rich. The Van Burens don’t associate with people like you and me. The Van Burens most likely have maids and butlers. The Van Burens—”
Cole crossed the yard and held his hands in the shape of a “T,” as if he were an umpire calling timeout. “Enough. I can assure you Cheri’s real nice. She’s down to earth. She’s not like that.”
Jade put her hands on her hips. “Has she helped you build fence or birth a cow?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “That’s what I thought.” Winking at Cole, she said, “Nice party, babe.”
Alex yelled, “It was until you showed up.” Cheri shot Alex a glance. She shrugged. “Just trying to help.”
Fuming, Cheri reached for Cole’s hand in an attempt at solidarity. He tapped the spatula against the side of the grill to get everyone’s attention. “Everybody, meet Cheri Van Buren. She’s apparently as rich as sin, and no, you can’t borrow money from her.” Cole chuckled at his own joke and added, “Cheri’s also down to earth and as sweet as honey. Any questions?”
The crowd was quiet as everyone gawked from Cheri to Cole. “Good.” Cole glared at Jade. “Mind your business and watch your trap. Now, get back to partyin’, everyone.”
Cheri wrapped both arms around Cole’s neck. “Thanks for standing up for me, Cowboy.”
“Any time, little pony. Any time. Jade can be a real handful. Sorry ‘bout that. If you’ll excuse me, I need to fill up the boys’ beers so they forget all about this drama.”
Cheri patted him on the butt. “I owe you one.”
Alex studied their interactions and returned to her friend’s side. “That was worth the price of admission.”
Cheri shook her head. “At least everyone knows now. I can stop hiding my identity. Hopefully, Cole’s friends won’t treat me differently.”
“Doubtful if you keep feeding them—what’s it called in the country—grub,” Alex said. Enjoying the Indian Summer, the party was in full swing. Alex stayed close to Cheri. “I have to admit I’m having fun in small doses. These country boys are cute and sweet.”
Cheri winked at her. “Stick with me. They’re hard workers with big hearts too.”
As dark clouds threatened, Cole nodded toward the band and slowly moved the crowd to the front yard. Jade’s wet clothes clung to her, but she gave Cheri and Alex a wide berth as several country boys fetched her drinks and food.
Cole clapped his hands to get everyone’s attention. “Thanks for comin’ today. My girl had a great idea havin’ this party, didn’t she?” Cheri blew Cole a kiss as the guys whistled and hollered. “Let me introduce our band, The Charmin’ Farmers. Plucking a harmonica out of his pocket, Cole said, “I think I’ll join them.”
“Cole plays the harmonica?” Alex asked.
Cheri shrugged. “That’s news to me.” She didn’t take her eyes off her boyfriend as band members took seats on the swing, porch steps, and in a rocking chair by the front door. One had a guitar, Wyatt played the fiddle, and someone else kept beat on an upside-down galvanized tub creating an improvised bongo drum.
While they warmed up, Al
ex shook her head. “They sound pretty good. They can definitely harmonize.” She watched Cole play the harmonica. “He’s hot, Cheri. Don’t lose him.”
Cheri stared at her boyfriend. “I’m not plannin’ on it.”
Grinning, Alex said, “There you go dropping your g’s again. It’s cute. You two are cute.” She sighed. “Tony and Nikki on the other hand—not cute.”
Cheri slung her arm across Alex’s shoulders. “Don’t tell my mom I dropped my g’s. I’d never hear the end of it.”
“No worries since she’s in Europe.” Alex snapped her fingers. “Let’s get this party started.”
Swaying to the music, Cheri said, “I think Jade already did, but you’re right. We need to dance.”
Once the music began, partiers gathered in the front yard. Some danced, others sipped beer and moonshine, while a few shouted out song requests. Riveted by the country band, Alex didn’t notice Tucker and Hope had arrived. She heard Cheri say, “Look who’s here,” and snapped her head around.
Chapter 45
Alex’s mouth fell open when she spotted Hope. Hope is with a man? This is, wow, different. She couldn’t take her eyes off the couple as they walked hand in hand across the grass, shoulders touching. This obviously isn’t their first date. Once the couple entered the throng of partiers, Cheri handed them both a beer. “Better drink up so you can catch up with this crazy crowd.”
“Thanks,” Tucker said, as he took a sip.
Hope hugged Cheri and reached for the cold brew.