Stealing the Cowboy's Heart

by Debbi Rawlins

  “Okay, okay. You’re helping a buddy. Spending a lot of time and money on furniture that you could buy anywhere, instead of risking a hell of a lot by acting like you know what you’re doing.”

  “Chad...”

  “Look, I’m not saying don’t do it. But building this stuff isn’t like putting up a prefab shed or fixing fences. Nobody’s better when it comes to breaking horses. But carpentry?”

  “Which is why I’m calling you. You can build damn near anything, and I figure if I run into trouble, I can count on your help. Right?”

  “Hey, if it’s important to you, it’s important to me. Tell you what. I’ll text you a list of everything you should need to get this sucker done, okay? You can match it to what you already have.”

  The relief Landon felt was immense. “Thanks. I’ll call you later.”

  “Wait. I’m putting this on the list, but just to be clear, make sure you have a level. And you know how to use it.”

  “Come on. I’m not an idiot. ’Course I have a level.”

  “’Course you do. Talk to you later.”

  Landon clicked off the call, then right after he added low-riding tool belt to his list, he wrote level.

  * * *

  KYLIE SWAPPED THE closed sign for the one she’d put out first thing in the morning, letting people know she was closing an hour early. She’d lived in Blackfoot Falls long enough that she should’ve expected the barrage of questions. But the degree of some people’s nosiness still amazed her.

  Just what she needed, too. After yesterday’s conversation with Landon she could barely keep a thought in her head. He actually wanted to take their relationship to a new level. The idea had brought up all kinds of feelings she’d tried to forget. How much she liked him, the role he’d played in her fantasies for longer than she should admit. The fact was, she based a lot of her new criteria for the kind of man she wanted on Landon. His kindness, consideration and so much more.

  But it bothered her that he hadn’t remembered his plan. Landon had always seemed like such a solid guy who knew exactly what he wanted. Obviously, he’d changed. And while she knew he wasn’t Gary, not knowing how long he’d be rodeoing and being unsure about where he’d end up were big obstacles. Especially after this incredibly difficult year she’d spent building the life she had now.

  Stepping out onto the sidewalk, she peered in the direction of the motel. No sign of Landon yet, although she had a few minutes before they were going to meet. What the heck, she’d use it to touch up her makeup.

  “Hey, Kylie...”

  Mallory’s voice stopped her at the door. She ducked her head and saw Mallory locking up the Full Moon. It wouldn’t open for another three hours.

  “Got a minute?” Mallory asked, briskly walking toward her.

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  “First, Landon. Wow.” Mallory was wearing her usual jeans and T-shirt, her hair pulled into a messy ponytail, and she still looked gorgeous. It just didn’t seem fair. “I mean, holy crap. How come you never mentioned him?”

  “I’m sure I know a lot of people I’ve never mentioned,” Kylie said, grinning at Mallory’s glare.

  “Let me be more specific. Hot guys who’re hot for you. Got a lot of them stashed away?”

  “Okay, I agree he’s hot. But we’re just...”

  “Friends?” Mallory studied her with a question in her eyes, though not for long. One of the things Kylie liked about her was that she wasn’t nosy. She wouldn’t ask why Kylie was suddenly wearing makeup to work. “Also, Rachel’s off sweets. Her doc thinks her new obsession with sugar is causing her recent mood swings.”

  “Oh, no. Poor Rach. Although she has been overindulging.”

  Mallory let out a laugh. “That’s putting it nicely. She’s been inhaling sweets like they’re going to run out.” She glanced down Main Street. “My car’s in the shop. Gunner is picking me up. Anyway, if she comes to the bakery, don’t give her anything, no matter how much she begs.”

  “What? I’m supposed to cut her off? And expect to keep breathing? I don’t think so.”

  “Hey, this comes from Rachel herself.”

  Something didn’t feel right. “Okay, why didn’t she call and tell me?” Kylie said. “I’m practically her dealer.”

  “According to Sally, Rachel just got the news yesterday and she’s in mourning.” Mallory’s gaze drifted beyond Kylie. “I think your just friend is here,” she said with a barely contained laugh.

  “Really, Mallory?” Kylie gave her a quick glare before glancing back to see Landon pulling to the curb. “Here I thought you were better than that.”

  “I know, right? Guess I’ve been living here too long.”

  They both laughed. And then Kylie had the sudden urge to tell Mallory about last night. What Landon had said, and how she felt about it all. Kylie needed someone to be the voice of reason, and Mallory would give it to her straight. Though Kylie was still so unsure she’d probably muddle the whole conversation.

  Landon powered down his window.

  “I just have to grab my purse and lock the door,” Kylie called to him, and he nodded. She met Mallory’s gaze. “Behave.”

  “You’re in luck,” Mallory said, shading her eyes from the sinking sun. “I see Gunner’s truck.”

  Kylie darted inside, took a quick look in the bathroom mirror and decided against lip gloss. In less than a minute she’d locked the front door and jiggled the knob for good measure.

  Gunner had brought his truck to a stop in the middle of the street. Mallory headed toward him, while he seemed to be admiring Landon’s truck.

  Just as Kylie reached the passenger door, Gunner stuck his head out the window and yelled, “Hi, gorgeous. Had one of your éclairs last week. Damn, it was good.”

  “I heard you blamed me for the five extra miles you had to run the next day.”

  Gunner laughed. “True.”

  “See ya,” Kylie tossed over her shoulder as she climbed into Landon’s truck.

  “Am I gonna have to start beating guys off with my crutches?”

  “Oh, please.” Kylie rolled her eyes, even as a little shiver chased down her spine. “He and Mallory are a couple, and believe me, he doesn’t have eyes for anyone but her.”

  Landon pulled out onto the road. “You say that guy’s a runner?”

  “Yeah, he is. Um, are we still going to Kalispell?”

  “Isn’t that what we decided?”

  “I thought so.” She pressed her lips together. “You should probably turn around.”

  “Oh, hell.” He squinted at the highway sign as they left the town limits. “Don’t laugh.”

  “I’m trying not to.”

  The side of his mouth hiked up. “Are there any side streets that might loop around? Or do I have to make a U-turn and go back through town?”

  “Better go back down Main since it’s the only way I know.” A light flashed on the computerized dashboard screen. “You’ve always had a good sense of direction. This wouldn’t be a ploy to show off your new truck?”

  He grinned. “It’s a beauty, isn’t it? My old beater had finally started to give up. It stalled twice in one week, and I said, that’s it. I coughed up some of the prize money I’ve been saving and drove this puppy off the lot. Besides, I got a deal too good to pass up.”

  Kylie had wondered about his truck. It must’ve cost a fortune, even with a deal. Which wasn’t like Landon. He’d been sensible, if not frugal, which she’d admired. On the other hand, his old truck had been a real clunker.

  As they passed Gunner’s truck, she remembered Landon asking about him being a runner before they got sidetracked.

  “Gunner used to work as a stuntman before he moved here last summer,” Kylie said. “He still takes stunt jobs now and then, mostly when th
ey’re shooting a movie nearby. Mallory said it has something to do with keeping his union benefits. I guess he has to stay in shape for that. He runs almost every day.”

  “What does he do here?”

  “He and another ex-stuntman are partners in a ranch. In fact, they raise and train animals for Hollywood. Horses mostly.”

  “But he’s not from the area?”

  “Nope.”

  “Huh. He looks young, but he just up and quit and moved out here. Good for him having an exit strategy.”

  Like the plan Landon had abandoned? “I don’t think that was it.” Kylie said, upset that she was pulling apart everything he said. If she wanted to give this an honest try, she’d have to give them both some leeway. “Mallory’s from LA, but she got here around the time I did. They’d been friends for years and when Gunner came after her...” Seeing the question in Landon’s eyes, she wished she’d phrased that differently. “Bottom line is they’re together and very happy.”

  “Kind of a familiar story, don’t you think?” Landon said with a slow, unnerving smile. “So, dinner first, or do you want to get the shopping over with?”

  “You didn’t say anything about dinner,” she muttered, wondering if their story could turn out just as happy.

  Chapter Nine

  Even armed with the list Chad had sent him, walking into Home Depot made Landon uneasy. There was some comfort in the familiar layout of the store, although he’d rather be riding buck naked on a high roller than face the rows and rows of hardware. Especially while using crutches. He’d thought about leaving them in the truck, but they had a lot of walking on hard cement floor ahead of them.

  “Wood first?” Kylie asked.

  “Yep. Let’s get one of those platform carts. And a regular one for the smaller stuff.”

  She insisted on pushing the flatbed, which, yes, okay, was necessary. That left him to maneuver with one crutch under his arm and the other tucked in the cart in order to give him a free hand. Kylie looked as if she was about to protest but met his eyes and didn’t argue.

  “I can’t believe I forgot to tell you,” she said, as they walked toward the back of the store. “I mentioned you needing a helper to Rachel, who told Matt, who then got in touch with some friends of his. He found a kid named Barry who’s a high-school wrestler, which means he’s pretty strong.”

  “No kidding?” Landon saw that his lack of enthusiasm didn’t go unnoticed. But he would’ve preferred a kid her friends didn’t know. Just in case this Barry let something slip. “That’s great.”

  “It’s not for sure.”

  “If it doesn’t work out we’ll find someone else.”

  “You know you can back out at any time, right?”

  “Hey, I’m looking forward to this. I just don’t want any of it to be an added burden on you.”

  “It was a phone call,” she said, laughing. “Not to mention I’m the one benefiting from all this. Anyway, Joe’s coming in at three tomorrow, so I won’t have to close too early. Then I’m supposed to meet with the woman who wants part-time work. After that I’ll be free to help do whatever you need.”

  Landon did a quick mental calculation. “Won’t you have prep work to do for the next morning?”

  “I’ll try not to get in the way,” she said, clearly disappointed. “But if you’d rather I stay out of your hair—”

  “Hey.” He stopped in the middle of the plumbing aisle and cupped her elbow. “All I’d planned to do was hang around and pester you until I was all healed up. And if you think this little project is going to keep me out of your hair, think again.”

  A faint blush and a shy smile encouraged him to slide his palm down her arm and give her hand a light squeeze. Her skin was so soft, her fingers small and delicate. This little trip to Home Depot wasn’t turning out so bad after all.

  And then her phone chirped and ruined the moment. Not that those few lousy seconds amounted to anything earth-shattering. “It’s just a text,” she said, her gaze lowering to the phone she’d pulled out of her pocket. “But I do need to check it.”

  “No problem.”

  Whatever she saw brought a smile to her lips. It could’ve been Rachel confirming the kid was a go, or any one of her friends, for any number of reasons...

  She finally looked up, but got distracted by something behind him.

  He followed her gaze and found an orange-vested dude waving and racing toward them in one of the store’s motorized scooters they had for people with disabilities. As if the crutches weren’t bad enough.

  At Kylie’s laughter, he transferred his glare to her. “What?”

  She bit her lip. “Your face.”

  “I’m glad you think this is funny.”

  “It won’t be when his head explodes from the way you’re looking at him. He’s just trying to be nice.”

  By the time the kid reached them, he must’ve picked up on Landon’s vibe because he didn’t look quite so eager. He stopped the scooter a few feet away and looked from Landon to Kylie and back again.

  “I appreciate the gesture.” Landon kept his tone light with the boy, refusing to sound like Smaug, although if that cart didn’t turn around right now, he might start breathing fire. “But I’m good.”

  “It doesn’t cost anything. We keep them for customers who—” The boy’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he noisily cleared his throat. “Okay, sir. But if you need—”

  “Turn that thing around. Now.”

  The kid disappeared before Landon’s scowl did.

  Kylie was still giggling, only now her cheeks were a deeper pink and her eyes were damp. “This is a new side to you.”

  “Oh, hell, can you see me riding around in one of those things?”

  “Doesn’t fit your macho image?”

  “As a matter of fact...” His glare was wasted on her. “No.”

  The admission set her off again. “Come on, that was priceless.”

  “Hilarious,” he said, and looked at his watch. Then her. Then his watch again.

  “Fine. Go on ahead if you’re so anxious. I have to find a tissue.”

  He hobbled away as quickly as he could without losing his balance or his dignity. Although that last one was already a goner.

  * * *

  BY THE TIME they reached the lumber, Kylie had pulled herself together. It hadn’t been very nice to laugh at Landon, but honestly he’d asked for it. And she hadn’t been kidding about seeing a new side to him. She wasn’t sure what to make of it.

  “You said oak?”

  She nodded as she led him down the aisle with all the appearance boards. Everything from hardwoods to laminates.

  “It’s a decent wood.”

  Kylie slowed. “But?”

  “Oak is a hardwood, but it’s not going to last as long as something like ash or maple.”

  “Are you saying I’d have to replace it in a few years?”

  “No, nothing like that. More than likely you won’t have to worry about a thing. I’m just saying you should keep an open mind.”

  She ran her hand over the smooth surface. It was difficult to believe something that looked so strong had hidden weaknesses.

  Moving onward, Kylie stopped by the ash samples, which had that rustic look she liked, but was a little cheaper than the oak.

  Mesmerized, she watched the way Landon stroked the lighter wood. They were big, his hands. Sturdy and calloused from hard work, helping at his family’s ranch, even doing some chores for Kylie when her pleas to Gary had fallen on deaf ears during those last two awful years.

  But she’d also seen Landon with horses, and the way he could gentle a tempestuous stallion was a sight to behold. It was difficult not to imagine those hands on her. Stroking the tension out of her muscles, easing her fears, her doubts... />
  A loudspeaker announcement jerked her out of her reverie, and she studied the wood as if it were the most fascinating thing ever. As her racing heart slowed enough to let her breathe again, she had to admit, his suggestion had merit. “Well, it is beautiful.”

  “Hey, I’ve been mulling something over... I wasn’t sure when to bring it up, but I guess now’s as good a time as any. What would you think about an investor?”

  “In the bakery?”

  “Well, yeah, now that you’re expanding.”

  She knew exactly what he was doing, and she appreciated the gesture, but it sure left a sour taste in her mouth.

  “Before you answer, just remember I meant it when I said I won’t be rodeoing forever. I figure I have a couple more good years. After that...”

  “Stop. I don’t need your help. I’m doing fine. Besides, you told me last night you had to put away money for your future, not lend it out. At the moment, you’re already helping me more than I ever expected with the furniture.”

  He looked as if he wanted to argue but just nodded, and she turned her attention to the wood, imagining what it would be like as a bench seat, as tables and chairs.

  “Rachel suggested that maybe I could find some cute funky chairs at garage sales. That might make up for some of the extra expense. Because I do like this ash a lot,” she said, “especially the durability. I plan on having that bakery for a long time.”

  “How long?” Landon asked, as if the answer actually mattered to him.

  That was all it took to send her brain off in a thousand different directions. Yet the truth was, the question could mean nothing at all. “Um, at least until my next birthday,” she said.

  His mouth curved into a feeble smile. Guess he didn’t appreciate her little joke. Or maybe all this wasn’t simple for him, either.

  * * *

  “I’M GLAD WE decided to eat,” Kylie said as they climbed back into the truck. “I think that just might’ve been the best burger I’ve ever had.”

  “Me too. And that strawberry shake. Man, I couldn’t live near here.” Landon started the engine and looked over at her when she laughed. “What’s so funny?”