Cassidy texted her part-time employee to cover the counter while she dashed in to get the leash hanging from the hook, leaving the door slightly open so she could soothingly talk to the dog. “You can’t run away this time. Don’t you want your forever home? If you’re not Maggie, I’ll bet Daphne will take you in and find you a home. Don’t you want to go where you truly belong?”
Woof! the dog responded.
“You are such a good dog.” Cassidy carefully slipped the leash around Maggie’s neck, trying to attach the clasp to the corded part, but Maggie gave a woof and slipped out of the makeshift collar. She took off, leaving Cassidy with an empty leash.
Noooo!
“Pup, come back!”
Cassidy went racing down the little alley, looking in every direction for the dog, but she didn’t see her. She caught her breath then called Daphne again.
“I’m so sorry,” Cassidy said. “The dog got away while I was trying to attach the leash I bought.”
“Oh darn.” Daphne sighed. “We’ll get her eventually. Thanks for trying, Cassidy. Oh, and I’ll see you Saturday where I can properly congratulate you.”
Cassidy beamed. “I’m excited about meeting the Taylors. And by the way, what’s the dress code? Should I dress up?”
“Family party at the ranch? Let’s see...my father will be in his crispest jeans, a Western shirt and one of his hundreds of Stetsons. Jessica, my stepmother, will be in a shift dress with a tiny cardigan over her shoulders and high heels. I’ll be in a Happy Hearts T-shirt.”
Cassidy almost gasped. Based on what Brandon had told her, their father would go nuts. “Really?”
Daphne laughed. “No way. Totally joking. I’ll wear a casual dress.”
“A casual dress—perfect. I appreciate the help. I’m really sorry about Maggie.”
“We’ll find her. See you soon.”
The chat with Daphne made her feel a little more connected to the Taylor family. The last time she’d gone to a Taylor function was Jordan’s wedding, and she’d been part of the catering team. Now she was going to be a guest at a family party. Her baby was a Taylor.
Suddenly she did want to know her future, what was going to be. Were she and Brandon going to work out just fine, get married, live happily-ever-after?
If she had a Magic 8-Ball, she was pretty sure it would tell her to ask again later.
Chapter Fourteen
On Tuesday morning, Cassidy was surprised to look up from the cash register in Java and Juice to find Brandon next in line. He was in business casual, which meant he was working from home at the cattle ranch instead of the Taylor Beef offices in town. Dark jeans, long-sleeved button-down shirt, and cowboy boots. Could he be any sexier?
“Hey, beautiful.”
She most definitely did not look beautiful. She was tired, had powdered sugar in her hair, and her apron was covered with icing from a doughnut a toddler pressed against her “to see if it would stick.” Her face had to register the crazy morning, and the shop had only been open for a little over an hour. “Hi, yourself.” Her face also had to register how good it was to see him.
“I mentioned to my stepmother that I was headed into town and she asked me to pick up four quarts of juice. She said the same as her last order.”
Ah, Jessica Taylor and her quarts of juice. Cassidy loved that. It was like having twenty customers in one. “Ah, I can easily call it up.” Cassidy typed “Taylor” into her tablet and Jessica’s last order appeared. Half were green juices and half were fruit.
“I wish I could see you tonight,” he said, “but I’ve got late meetings with our ad agency to go over concepts for the Burris ad campaign.” He wasn’t quite looking at her since he was reaching for his wallet. Brandon was different since Lewistown. Or the same as he’d been before.
Her heart went south. “Oh...well, another night then.” She tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice. She knew Brandon was going through a “thing” and she had to let him work it out. He’d gone from “I will never be in a committed romantic relationship with strings again” to being in exactly that. She couldn’t expect that he’d always find it comfortable. Still, she had an important appointment today that could result in good news and she’d been hoping they could celebrate if there was cause.
“Definitely,” he said. But he didn’t suggest a night.
“Brandon, I’m a straight shooter. Are we okay?” Nothing wrong with asking, she told herself. You didn’t ask, you didn’t find out. She’d kept it light and simple.
He gave her hand a squeeze. “We’re okay. I’ve just got a lot on my plate. I will definitely see you Saturday night.”
Saturday night? It was Tuesday.
They definitely were not okay.
“Text me if you need anything,” he said and then left with his shopping bag of pricey juices for his stepmother.
At least he came in. If he were truly trying to avoid her, he would have made an excuse not to do Jessica the favor.
The shop got busy and didn’t let up. As usual, Cassidy was grateful for the distraction. And then, finally, at two thirty, she took off her apron, speed-cleaned and was grateful her service was coming in for the weekly deep clean. Cassidy had to get ready for her appointment. The appointment of all appointments!
Butterflies let loose in her stomach. Today she was meeting with a loan officer at Bronco Bank and Trust about her goal to open a second location in Lewistown. She was confident she’d be approved. But not too confident. The bank could easily say no. That she was doing fine with one location but not fine enough to justify them giving her money for a second. Her business plan was sound, though. She’d added the revenue her side business had brought in and what she expected going forward. She had her papers in order. She even had testimonials from Bronco residents.
If she got the loan, she’d let Brandon know a celebration was in order, and they could have a magical night in Lewistown sometime this week, scouting locations for her second shop. When she’d opened the shop in Bronco Heights, she’d been alone, her mother freshly gone. Now she’d have Brandon by her side, sharing in her joy, her success.
If he didn’t let his head start controlling his heart again.
Cassidy headed upstairs, showered and changed into a black pantsuit and her pumps, packing her business plan into a leather folder that her mother had bought her for her eighteenth birthday. Dear Future Businesswoman, you’ll need this, her mother had written on the card. She hugged it against her chest. “I’m gonna make you proud, Mom,” she said heavenward.
At four o’clock, Cassidy sat across from David Harwood, loan officer. Despite her being prepared in every way, the man was intimidating because of his title. He held her future in his hands.
No, she corrected. He doesn’t. You do. You’ve got this.
She took out her business plan and was about to begin her well-rehearsed speech when Harwood held up a hand.
“No need to convince me,” he said. “You’re approved for a half million dollars. I’ve drawn up the paperwork, so if you’ll just sign here.” He slid the paperwork across the desk.
“Wait, what?” she said. “Approved for five hundred thousand dollars? I didn’t ask for even half that much in my online application.”
“A benefactor has backed you, Miss Ware,” he said. “Brandon Taylor. You’re all set.”
The air whooshed out of her and she sat back, stunned.
And angry.
What. The. Hell.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “When did he do this?” Brandon didn’t know she was coming here today.
“Mr. Taylor called the owner of the bank personally this past Friday afternoon to discuss it, then came in just before closing to sign the necessary documents to transfer funds on an as-requested basis by you.”
Good Lord. The day they’d gotten back from Lewistown. Sh
e remembered they’d talked about her hopes of expanding. She’d mentioned it was still a “someday” goal financially speaking.
She slid the paperwork back across the desk. “I filled out an online application. And I have a solid business plan typed up. I’d like you to consider me on my own merits.”
The loan officer’s mouth dropped open. “Are you saying you don’t want the preapproved funding?”
“Yes, that is exactly what I’m saying. Mr. Harwood, please consider my application and read over my business plan. I’ve worked hard to build Bronco Java and Juice into a successful shop and I know a second location in a town with a much larger population will be even more successful.”
He accepted her leather folder. “I’ll be in touch,” he said and shook her hand.
With that, she stood and walked away, fury mingling with embarrassment. Cassidy had never been one to care what anyone thought. But did the entire bank think her boyfriend was bankrolling her?
She stalked back to the shop and got in her car. She was about to tell Brandon Taylor what he could do with his half million dollars.
* * *
Cassidy had been to the Taylor Ranch twice before, once when Camilla Sanchez had first hired her to cater drinks and desserts for her wedding and had showed her where she’d set up, and then for the wedding itself. She drove up the winding road toward the main house, just able to catch a glimpse of the stables through the trees. How different would her life be at this moment if she hadn’t escaped to see the horses that night? Or if she’d gone back to the wedding before Brandon had arrived at the stables?
One thing she knew was that she would have still gone to the bank with her business plan, full speed ahead on her goals and dreams. She parked and bit her lip, actually not so sure about that, after all. Had Brandon’s belief in her spurred her on? Maybe. Being in a supportive, happy relationship had done wonders for her and had absolutely boosted her self-confidence. Regardless, Brandon should have known she wouldn’t want his truckload of ready cash. He knew she was independent and believed in working hard for what she had and what she got. His grand gesture was about him, she realized. Not her. He was able to throw his money around and had.
As she opened her car door, Cornelius Taylor was coming out of the grand house, a tablet in his hand. Tall and imposing, he wore a leather vest over a Western shirt and dark jeans and boots.
He didn’t even glance over to see who’d arrived. She rolled her eyes. The MO of someone who didn’t have to care who’d arrived. He had people to care.
She got out and walked up to him. “Mr. Taylor, nice to see you again.”
He finally looked up. “Miss Ware!” He clasped both her hands. “As mother of my future grandheir, I’m thrilled to welcome you to the Taylor Ranch. Congratulations, by the way. Jessica and I are thrilled. This will be her first stepgrandbaby.”
Cassidy smiled. Huh. She wasn’t expecting him to be this effusive. He seemed a lot less scary. “I’m thrilled, too. Due in the springtime.”
“Fabulous. I can envision an outdoor nursery in the backyard. I’ll have our architect look into that. That little one will want for nothing. Now, as someone who doesn’t have any people, you don’t have to worry. Did you know you can special order a handcrafted marble crib with an inset of diamonds in the shape of cows? Jessica found that on a baby website. We can use the Taylor Beef logo itself. You and Jessica can discuss all that on Saturday.”
“People?” she repeated, stuck on that and grateful since she’d heard the words cow-shaped diamonds and couldn’t process that.
“Family. You’re all alone. But not anymore. You’re a Taylor now because of my grandheir. You make a list of what you need now and for when the baby comes, give it to Brandon and we’ll get going on it. Jessica suggested a separate playroom in the house you build. We’re thinking a wading pool, ball pit, climbing equipment, a children’s library and art area. We’ll have the playroom staffed with qualified childcare associates, of course.” His phone rang and he glanced at it, giving her a moment to breathe.
Whoa. A little overbearing there, Mr. Taylor.
“Is Brandon here?” she asked as he typed something onto the tablet with two fingers. “I need to discuss something with him.”
“In his home office,” he said, still typing. “Make a left at the entry, second door on the right.”
“Thanks,” she called as she headed for the steps.
The house never failed to take her breath. Like a luxe log mansion, it stretched on forever, the mountains in the distance, the rustic landscape surrounding it so gorgeous and peaceful. She went inside, stopping and slowly turning, taking in the grand scale of the foyer alone, all polished wood and beams that managed to look rustic. The house reminded her of photos she’d seen of luxury guest ranches—the massive stone fireplace and the natural furnishings that made you feel as though you were in the wilds of Montana and a luxe spa at the same time.
She went down the long hall and came to the second door on the right.
Her anger came rushing back. It wasn’t only that he’d assumed she needed him to achieve her goals. It was also the insane amount. Five hundred thousand dollars. As if that were nothing to him! Oh, here’s half a mil, Cassidy. Have fun with it, honey. She shook her head. The arrogance!
Indoor wading pool. Qualified childcare associates in her baby’s playroom! It was all too much for her to even digest.
Cassidy sucked in a breath, lifted her chin and knocked—hard.
“Come on in,” Brandon called.
Cassidy opened the door and he looked up from where he sat at his desk, surprise lighting his handsome face.
She walked in, stopping halfway between the door and his huge desk. “I went to my bank today with my business plan to discuss my loan application for a new location in Lewistown,” she said. “To my surprise, the loan officer told me I didn’t need the paltry amount I asked for because I had a cool half million ready to be transferred into my account. All I had to do was sign.”
He stood and came around the desk, half sitting against it. He was studying her, and could clearly see that she wasn’t grateful. “I did want to surprise you. I figured when you were ready to open the second location, whenever that would be, it meant you believed in yourself and your business plan, and I wanted the money to be at your disposal whether that was now or another five years from now. I believe in you, Cassidy. Always have, always will.”
Damn it. Why did he have to explain it that way, which tempered her anger. He was still in the wrong, but he’d acted from a place of kindness, not arrogance.
“Brandon, I don’t want your funding. If I meet my goal to expand, it’ll be on my own merit, with my own money—or borrowed money from my bank because they trust in my company and my business plan. So thank you, but no thank you.”
He stared at her—and almost looked a bit hurt. “I admire you for that. But Cassidy, you’re forgetting one thing. You’re going to be the mother of my child. My money is your money.”
No, you’re forgetting one thing, Brandon. “We’re not married, remember?” She closed her eyes, wishing she hadn’t said that.
“Is that what you want?” he asked.
“Not with how things have been between us,” she said, the emotion in her voice making her wince. “You’re the one who wanted to get married—but your way. The loveless way. The cold, emotionless way. I can’t and won’t do that. But marriage isn’t what I’m here about. I’m here about the money you arranged for me at my bank.”
He glanced down for a moment, then back up at her. “I never want you to have financial issues, Cassidy. I never want money to come between you and your dreams. I have gobs of money. I want to share it with you. It’s that simple.” He turned and looked out the window.
She closed her eyes, shaking her head. He just didn’t understand.
Or maybe she wasn’t unde
rstanding him, not that she had to in this situation. But she had the feeling he was thinking about his mother. Looking for a huge payday and leaving her own children once she had it. But he quite obviously knew that Cassidy wasn’t in any of this for the money.
“Brandon, I just want you to understand how important it is to me to make my own way. It’s not that I don’t appreciate what a generous person you are.”
Cassidy heard footsteps and then Cornelius Taylor appeared in the doorway.
“Trust me, Miss Ware, you need the money,” Cornelius said. “Take it as a safety net. Who the hell knows what will happen with you two? One day, you and Brandon likely won’t be speaking to each other, and he’ll have to pay you off anyway to keep our heir.”
Cassidy gasped.
Brandon bolted up from where he’d been leaning against the desk, his expression angrier than Cassidy had ever seen. “Now you listen to me, Dad,” he began, steam coming out of his ears.
“I most certainly will not,” Cornelius said and huffed away.
“I’ll deal with my father later,” Brandon said to her, his dark eyes glinting. “Mark my words. Right now, I want to finish our conversation.”
“I said what I came to say.” She waited, hoping he’d say something that would make everything okay again.
But he didn’t say anything. She could see, plain as day on his face, that he wanted to. But he remained silent.
Cassidy turned and left, wishing he’d come after her, but she got to her car and he didn’t appear in the doorway. Fine. Whatever. I said my piece.
She had no idea what was going to happen between them, where they’d go from here.
She only knew her heart was breaking.
* * *
When Cassidy left, Brandon thought about going after her, but he was still too furious at his father to think straight. He needed to clear his head before he could figure out how to make things right with her when everything was so wrong in so many ways. So he headed to the stables and got Starlight ready to go.
The Most Eligible Cowboy Page 17