Bidding on a Texan

by Barbara Dunlop

  “You don’t like it,” JJ said, obviously catching Rafe’s frown. “Forget I suggested it.”

  “No,” he corrected him. “I think it has merit. But I’m running late. I gotta go.” He started for the door to the dining room where he could cut through to the parking lot, but then abruptly looked back over his shoulder. “Would your mom bake me some samples?”

  “She’d love to. Business opportunity or not, she’d be thrilled to bake for you.”

  Rafe grinned and gave the chef a parting thumbs-up as he rushed to the parking lot.

  He hopped in his SUV and headed for the highway. Given the amount of money Mandee had paid for her ranch day, Rafe was determined not to be late.

  He swung into the ranch yard with five minutes to spare.

  Mandee was already there, chatting with Matias on the shaded front porch. Her outfit was almost glaringly bright, but Rafe supposed it must look good on camera. In his worn blue jeans, steel-gray shirt and a battered brown Stetson, he was perfectly happy to fade into the background.

  He strode up to them, pasting a smile on his face. “Good morning, Mandee. Welcome to the Cortez-Williams Ranch.”

  She grinned back, while Matias smirked at Rafe from behind her back.

  Rafe gave his brother a look that told him he was going down next.

  Matias’s experience had been sold to an online bidder named Anastasia Kovell from Boston who was due to arrive in Royal in a few days. Rafe and his brothers had taken bets on her age. With a name like Anastasia, Rafe had put his money on her being sixty-seven. Matias was going to have to be careful she didn’t break a bone or something.

  “Mom’s put out coffee and honey cornbread muffins,” Matias said.

  Rafe looked to Mandee. “Hungry?”

  “That sounds great,” she answered enthusiastically. “Will your family mind if I take pictures inside?”

  Rafe shrugged. “Shouldn’t be a problem.” He couldn’t see anyone caring if their dining room made the internet.

  Seven

  When Gina saw the first photo of Rafe and Mandee pop up on her phone at ten o’clock in the morning, she knew it was going to be a long day. The pair looked annoyingly happy, sipping coffee and eating muffins with melting butter.

  “Try the lemon curd,” Sarabeth said, waving her hand toward one of the half dozen little cakes on the table in front of them at Best Baked. The specialty bakery was conveniently located next door to Natalie Valentine’s Bridal Shop, where they were headed next.

  Gina told herself to set thoughts of Rafe and Mandee aside. She should be grateful for the distraction of wedding shopping with her mother today. “Are you sure eating cake before trying on dresses is a good idea?”

  “It’s the best idea,” Sarabeth said, taking another bite of the vanilla lemon curd cake. “Yum. This one is definitely in the running.” She pushed the mini cake and a knife in her daughter’s direction. “That way, we can pick dresses that leave us room to eat at the reception.”

  Gina couldn’t help but appreciate her mother’s logic.

  She cut herself a thin slice of the cake and transferred it to a small plate, taking up a dainty silver fork to have a taste. The cake was moist and sweet, while the lemon curd layer was creamy smooth with just enough tang for balance.

  “Oh, yes,” she sighed with approval, taking a second bite to confirm. “Do we even have to try the others?”

  “Of course we have to try the others. All of them. How often does a woman get a free-for-all with cake?”

  Gina’s phone chimed. She’d set up an alert for posts from Rafe and Mandee’s experience. Gina told herself it was part of her job as project manager. She needed to ensure each of the cowboy experiences was a success.

  Mandee’s outing with Rafe was the first one on the calendar, since the reporter was local and also very eager. As far as Gina knew, nobody else was planning to live-share their day. But if they did, she’d told herself she’d keep tabs on them, too.

  She picked up her phone to see what was happening on the ranch. Breakfast seemed to be over. They’d moved on to the horse barn and were tacking up. Mandee looked glorious in a pair of burgundy jeans and a patterned shirt of burgundy, silver and white that was fitted perfectly to her slim curves. Topping off the outfit was a pair of Western boots and a gleaming white Stetson. The crowning touch was a big silver belt buckle at her waist.

  Gina wondered if Royal Tonight! had specifically coordinated the dramatic outfit.

  “Not the carrot. No.” Sarabeth’s words brought Gina back to the present. She was wrinkling her lips and scowling.

  Gina set down her phone. “I guess I can skip that one then.”

  “Have a bite to confirm my opinion.”

  “Sure.” Gina reached for the carrot cake, determined to please the bride.

  In Gina’s opinion, everything about wedding planning ought to be fun. It wasn’t just a day or a weekend, it was a whole experience leading up to the ceremony and the reception—the cake, the dress, the flowers. She looked forward to doing it herself one day, maybe...hopefully.

  Until then, she was her mother’s go-to gal for this wedding, and she was determined to do a fantastic job.

  In the end, they settled on the vanilla lemon curd and chose a white chocolate frosting with a spray of butter yellow flowers cascading down the multitiered cake. It had to be large given the number of guests invited to the wedding. But it would be elegant without looking too fussy.

  As they walked down the block to Natalie Valentine’s, Gina surreptitiously checked her phone.

  If the video clip Mandee had uploaded was any indication, the horseback ride was a hit. They were walking their horses along the banks of the river, lush green trees flanking the trail and giving them some shade. Rafe looked sexy and at home in the saddle. Mandee’s form left something to be desired, but it obviously wasn’t her first time on a horse.

  Rafe was laughing, looking like he was having a great time. Maybe they were having a great conversation. Maybe he thought Mandee was beautiful dressed up like that. Maybe he was glad she had won the auction.

  Gina hated the jealousy that surged within her. But she wanted to be the one Rafe rode horses with, talked with, laughed with. She should have bid higher.

  “Have you thought about a color for your dress?” Sarabeth asked as she pulled open the door to the wedding shop.

  Gina guiltily tucked her phone away. “I’m flexible. What did you decide for the flowers?”

  “With an ivory dress, I thought cream and pale yellow, maybe a bit of green to set things off.”

  “I like it.”

  “Hello, Sarabeth.” A smiling thirtyish woman—Mary, according to her name tag—came their way. “Your timing is perfect.”

  The shop was light and airy with a long row of wedding gowns on one wall and a rainbow of bridesmaid and flower-girl dresses. The back of the shop featured large opulent changing rooms and curved full-length mirrors.

  “I’ve got a sketch all ready for you,” Mary said, indicating a round table with four plush chairs. “Please, get comfortable.”

  “This is going to be fun,” Sarabeth said, moving eagerly to the table.

  “You can see the sweetheart neckline,” Mary pointed with the tip of her pencil. “Cap sleeves, like we talked about. We can play with the length.”

  “I love it,” Sarabeth said with a wide grin. “You got it just right.”

  In her handbag, Gina’s phone chimed another subtle alert.

  A younger woman appeared from the back of the shop, approaching them with glasses of white wine on a silver tray. “Can I offer you a chardonnay?”

  “Yes, please,” Sarabeth said.

  “I’m in,” Gina said.

  Not a date, she reminded herself, even if it did look like they were totally into each other. It was a cowboy experience. She c
ould only hope Mandee didn’t experience too much of Rafe before it was all over.

  Mary opened a book pointed to a swatch of lace. “I was thinking of this one.” She pointed. “Or—” she turned two pages over “—this?”

  Sarabeth leaned forward to study the two options, and Gina slipped her phone out of her purse for a peek.

  On the little phone screen, Rafe and Mandee had dismounted and the horses were drinking from the river. Mandee was showing off a bouquet of wildflowers to the camera, bringing them to her face for a sniff. Since she was the focus of the video, it was hard to see Rafe’s expression.

  Next there was a photo of Rafe with a quirky smile. The old windmill was in the background, catapulting Gina back to her kiss with him there, the moment his lips had touched hers, and her world seemed to fill up with sunlight.

  “Oh, that I like,” Sarabeth enthused. “What do you think, Gina?”

  Gina looked back up, quickly orienting herself to the swatch book and seeing a delicate ivory lace pattern of leaves and vines. “Nice,” she quickly agreed.

  Annoyed with her wandering attention, she stuffed her phone back into her purse.

  “Time for you to get to work,” Sarabeth said to her, pointing with her wineglass to the array of bridesmaid dresses.

  “I have some ideas.” Mary came to her feet. “After I did your sketch, a few of our new styles jumped out at me.” She marched over to the wall of dresses, swiftly choosing a peach, a mint green and a butter yellow dress.

  Sarabeth got comfortable in her cushy chair. “Give me a fashion show.”

  Gina took a bracing drink of the chardonnay and came to her feet.

  It took over an hour of changing, laughing, twirling and sipping wine to find the right dress. But when Gina walked out for the final time, she knew it was the one, and Sarabeth obviously knew that as well.

  It was a strapless chiffon of pale seafoam, skewing blue in some lighting, green in others, with a sweetheart neckline and a snug wraparound bodice that flattered her waistline. The skirt fell softly to land four inches above her knee. She had no less than a dozen pairs of shoes that would work with it.

  “Well, there you go,” Sarabeth said with a smile.

  “That’ll work,” Mary said with a nod. “And we can do other colors.”

  “I like it just like this.” Her mom stood, walked closer and tilted her head. “It brings out the green in her eyes.”

  “I’ve got some jade-and-gold earrings,” Gina said. “Or just some little diamond studs.” She drew back her hair. “Half up, half down, you were saying?”

  “You’ll need just the right necklace,” Sarabeth told her.

  “Show me what you’re wearing, and I’ll find something that coordinates.”

  “Or we could go shopping.” Her mom’s eyes lit up. “I haven’t bought you a bridesmaid gift yet.”

  “You don’t need to—”

  “Oh yes, I do,” Sarabeth said firmly.

  “Something delicate,” Mary said. “Yellow gold would be better than platinum.”

  “You can’t go wrong with diamonds,” Sarabeth said.

  “Mom, you can’t.”

  “I want you to have a keepsake, honey. I want you to remember this your whole life.”

  “I’m never going to forget your wedding.” The unbridled love Gina had felt for her mother when she was a little girl came suddenly spilling back. All their trials and tribulations, and the separation that had kept them apart for so many years, fell away.

  Her throat clogged. “I love you, Mom.”

  Sarabeth pulled her into a warm hug. “I love you, too, honey.” Then she stood back, her eyes shining. “You’ll knock ’em dead in that dress.”

  Gina gave a brave smile, wondering who exactly she’d knock dead since she didn’t even have a date. Her traitorous mind turned to Rafe again, picturing him out on the range in his blue jeans, then at the restaurant in his finely fitted suit. He was definitely a guy you could take anywhere.

  * * *

  The Edmond Organization was covering the hard costs for each of the cowboy experiences.

  Gina could have paid the RCW dinner tab tomorrow or the next day or even next week. But when a picture of a candlelit dinner for Rafe and Mandee at a cozy RCW table came up on her phone, Gina decided punctuality was more important.

  She left home, driving across town to park in the RCW lot. She had no way of knowing if both Rafe and Mandee were still inside laughing over dinner and their day. The photo had shown them finishing up a chocolate soufflé, but maybe they were lingering over brandy now.

  On the other hand, maybe they’d already left RCW. If they had, she’d never know if they went together or separately. And wouldn’t that just mess with her mind.

  But she’d come this far. She braced herself and headed for the front entrance, passing through the double doorway into the dark, richly appointed lobby.

  “Good evening,” the hostess greeted her with a smile from behind a narrow desk.

  Moving forward, Gina craned her neck to scan the main dining room. No Rafe there, only a few diners in the flickering firelight among some empty tables.

  “Are you meeting someone tonight?” the hostess asked pleasantly, coming out from behind the little counter. “I’m afraid we can’t seat a new party after ten.”

  “I was looking for Rafe.”

  “Mr. Cortez-Williams?”

  “Yes,” she answered.

  “I’m not sure he’s still here. Can you wait here a minute? I’ll check.”

  “Thanks.”

  Gina waited a few minutes, considered leaving, then stuck around a few minutes more. She told herself she was here to pay the tab, nothing more, nothing less. If Rafe had already gone, she’d thank the hostess for her help. But if Rafe was still here, and Mandee was with him... Well, she would still hand over her credit card and slink home in disappointment, knowing the cowboy experience had turned into a real date.

  “Gina?” Rafe appeared in the archway from the dining room, looking surprised to see her. His shirtsleeves were rolled up and his tie was loose. Whatever he was doing, it was a lot more casual than dinner.

  “Sorry to disturb you,” she said, trying to surreptitiously check behind him for signs of Mandee. “Are you busy?”

  “No. What are you doing here?”

  She swallowed, trying for an offhand look. “Edmond is paying the tab, remember?”

  He looked confused. “You’re here for the check?”

  She nodded. “Yes. I’m...uh...trying to...you know.”

  “Be ridiculously punctual?”

  She nodded. “I don’t like to leave things hanging.”

  “Sure,” he said, still looking confused, but also looking deliciously disheveled and oh so sexy.

  They both went quiet. After a moment, she could feel the hostess’s curious gaze.

  “I can give you my credit card,” Gina offered, going for her purse.

  He canted his head into the dining room. “Come on in.”

  She hesitated, sorely tempted to follow him, but wanting to keep up the facade that she was only here to pay the bill.

  He started to walk away, and she had only seconds to make her decision.

  With a quick thank-you to the hostess, she followed. He led the way through the swinging kitchen door into a wave of fragrant warmth where the cooking staff was clearing and cleaning.

  The two of them skirted the edge of the kitchen before climbing a short staircase.

  Rafe pushed open a door and stood back to let her pass.

  She walked into what was obviously his office. It was surprisingly large and airy, especially for a room accessed via the kitchen. But then she saw a second door and realized they’d taken a back route.

  His desk was at one end of the rectangular room. It was honey oak wi
th clean lines and a low-back chair. In front of the desk were two light brown leather armchairs that looked very comfortable. There was also a six-person meeting table in the inside corner and a small conversation group with four armchairs and a low square table next to windows that looked out on the lush greenbelt.

  The door clicked shut behind Rafe.

  “This is really nice,” Gina said, glancing around.

  “You bid on me,” Rafe murmured without preamble, a thread of amusement in his tone.

  He caught her off guard, and she turned back. “I was only making a point.”

  His brow went up in a challenge. “That point being?”

  “Mandee wasn’t supposed to bid. None of us were. We wanted as much money as possible to come from outside the community.”

  “Her money is as good as anyone’s,” he said easily.

  Gina didn’t have a counter to that. “How did today go?”

  Rafe shrugged his wide shoulders. “It went. I don’t believe you.”

  “Don’t believe me about what?”

  He eased closer, a glint of determination in his eyes. “Why you said you bid on me.”

  She felt herself rise to the challenge. “Oh, yeah? Why do you think I bid on your cowboy experience?”

  “Because you wanted it.”

  “Aren’t you full of yourself.”

  “I didn’t say you wanted me.” But his heated gaze moved to her lips.

  She wasn’t about to admit anything. “You’re saying I wanted a horseback ride?”

  “Yes.”

  “I have a stable of my own.”

  “I guess you also wanted to meet the foals and calves and walk through the Cortez-Williams Ranch.”

  “Don’t forget the cattle herding.”

  “Or the dinner,” he said, leaning in, his voice dropping lower. “Admit it, Gina. You wanted to experience this cowboy.”

  His deep tone and sensual words vibrated through her, bringing desire, want and passion to life.

  “Good news,” he said, brushing his hand against hers.