The Billionaire Bull Rider

by Kate Pearce

  “I could hardly throw you out now, could I? You’re bigger than me.”

  “You could’ve called in that cowboy. I suspect he’s dying for an excuse to run me out of town.”

  “He’s a good friend,” Yvonne said.

  Paul raised an eyebrow. “I suspect he’s a lot more than that. Did he mention he threatened me last night?”

  “Rio did?” Yvonne tried hard not to smile. “In which language?”

  “Oh, you heard about that, did you?” A reluctant smile crossed Paul’s even features. “I suppose when you work all over the place, as itinerants tend to do, you pick up languages fairly easily.”

  “Itinerants?” Yvonne couldn’t hold her amusement back any longer. “You have no idea who he is, do you?” She walked toward the apartment door. “Let me help you out with that. Google ‘Rio Martinez, bull rider,’ and let me know how that goes for you.”

  She was still smiling as she came down the stairs, let Paul out into the back parking lot, and went on into the main kitchen. It was getting close to lunchtime, and Antonio was already prepping his selection of meals. Lizzie would need help at the counter. She was going to have to split her time between that and making up for Tom’s absence.

  She wasn’t even going to think about Paul’s ridiculous plea for them to get back together. It just felt wrong, but she’d have to deal with it at some point. Her answer wouldn’t change. Had Paul really suggested that the divorce wasn’t even final? What the heck was she supposed to do about that? She really was very proud of what she’d achieved in Morgantown, and nothing could take that away from her.

  Her steps slowed. Could she go back to being an adoring wife who thought her husband was the sun, moon, and stars? Did losing that amazing capacity to blindly love and trust someone make her a harder and less sympathetic person? She guessed Paul would say it did, but she wasn’t so sure. She liked herself so much better now, and she was so happy to have a man like Rio in her life who liked and respected her just the way she was.

  Rio . . .

  Yvonne pushed the swing door and entered the café, but the table where she’d glimpsed Josie and her brother sitting at earlier was empty. She was aware of disappointment settling in her stomach. Had Rio watched her talk to Paul, and take him up to her apartment? Had he cared?

  She knew she had no right to ask him those questions. She’d been the one to define their relationship as just good friends, but just this once, she’d dearly like to know what he was feeling right now. . . .

  The door of the café opened, and right on schedule, a stream of people from the various businesses in Morgantown came in for lunch. Yvonne found her apron, tied it around her waist, and went to work.

  * * *

  Rio checked out the boots at Maureen’s General Store while Josie chose herself a new hat, and a couple of shirts to complement the Morgan Ranch T-shirts January had given her. The back of the shop was packed with everything a local rancher could ever need, and supplemented with food for the tourists who constantly drove through the town on the old gold trail.

  When Josie was finally done, they made their way through to the front of the store and found Nancy at the cash register.

  Josie put down the considerable pile of clothes she’d accumulated and pointed to the white straw hat on her head. “And this please.”

  Rio smiled at Nancy as she checked the price tag still attached to the hat.

  “Hey, I didn’t know you worked here as well.”

  “Maureen’s my mom.” Nancy snipped off the ticket. “I help her out when she needs it.”

  “You don’t look much alike,” Josie chimed in.

  “Apparently I favored my father.” Nancy carried on checking out the clothes. “Not that I’ve actually met him, so I can’t confirm that.”

  “My father died when I was quite young,” Josie said. “I don’t remember much about him either.”

  “That sucks.” Nancy found a large paper bag, set it on the counter, expertly folded the shirts, and put them inside.

  “How much is it going to be?” Rio inquired as he hunted for his wallet in the back pocket of his jeans.

  Josie gave him her best glare. “I can afford to buy my own clothes, Aurelio, so put your card away right now.”

  Rio shrugged. “Just offering. I know how expensive college can be.”

  “Like either of us had to pay a dime for it. Your father paid for you, and mine paid for me out of my trust fund.” Josie handed over her own credit card.

  “And I’m sure Nancy doesn’t need to hear all about that,” Rio said.

  “I dunno, I’m really nosey. That’s why I like to work at the only bar in town. You wouldn’t believe the stuff I hear there.” Nancy ran the card through the machine. “But I promise I won’t tell anyone that you’re both filthy rich.”

  “I’d appreciate that,” Rio said gravely. “My sister is sometimes a little bit too honest for her own good.”

  “Yeah, we wouldn’t want her being kidnapped or anything,” Nancy agreed.

  “Unlikely in Morgantown, but you never know.” Rio winked at his sister.

  “So are you and Yvonne dating now?” Nancy asked as she handed over the receipt to Josie.

  “You’d better ask Yvonne.” Rio gave her his sweetest smile. “I’d hate to speak out of turn.”

  “Because her ex-husband is back, and I’ve never trusted him an inch.” Nancy paused. “He’s a bit of a charmer, and I’m worried that she’s going to let him sweet-talk her into something.”

  “Like what?” Rio asked, despite himself.

  “I dunno. I just know what he’s like.” Nancy shrugged. “I think he’s leaving soon, so hopefully he won’t have much of a chance to get to her.”

  “I think you underestimate your friend.” Rio picked up the heavy bag. “She is more than capable of taking care of herself.”

  “Usually I’d agree with you, but she has a soft spot for that loser a mile wide.” Nancy wrinkled her nose. “First love and all that crap.”

  Rio had a sense Nancy was trying to convey something to him, but he wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted.

  “Do you think I should talk to her about it?”

  “God, no.” Nancy shuddered. “You know what Yvonne’s like.”

  “Then what do you suggest I do?” Rio asked patiently.

  “Do?” She blinked at him. “Nothing. I’m just bringing you up to speed.”

  “Okay.” Rio nodded to her. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome!” Nancy called out to them as they exited the store.

  Rio stole a glance at his sister as she walked along beside him. “Did I miss something important back there?”

  “With Nancy?”

  “Yeah.”

  “No, she was just letting you know what was going on with the woman you are secretly dating.”

  “I know that’s what she said, but am I meant to be doing something more proactive?”

  “Typical man,” Josie sighed. “You can’t go rushing in there and fight for your fair lady’s honor, you know. Nancy really was just giving you a heads-up.”

  “Okay.”

  Rio kept walking toward the parking lot behind Yvonne’s café, where he’d left his truck. The problem was, even though he trusted Yvonne to sort out her ex, he hated not doing something directly to get rid of Paul himself. It made him feel . . . useless. He imagined Yvonne laughing her ass off at that stupid macho statement—and then demanding to know why he cared so much when they were supposed to be just friends....

  Liking and respecting someone was good. Getting passionate and hotheaded was a recipe for disaster. He’d watched that movie in real-time action with his volatile parents, and didn’t want a rerun. Yvonne brought out a side of him he’d never realized he possessed, and he didn’t like that feeling at all.

  “Oh!” Josie stopped right by the truck. “I’m supposed to pick up some live yeast from Lizzie for Ruth. I’ll just go and get it.”

  She went running of
f to the shop before Rio could offer to go in her stead. He opened up the truck and placed the big bag full of Josie’s new purchases on the back seat.

  “May I speak to you for a moment?”

  At the unexpected voice, Rio almost banged his head as he exited the back of the vehicle. He turned to find Paul standing by the truck.

  “What can I help you with?” Rio asked.

  “It’s about Yvonne.”

  Rio raised his eyebrow and waited to hear what the man had to say.

  “I just wanted to ask you, as a gentleman, whether you’d consider doing me a favor and backing off from Yvonne for the next day or two.”

  “Backing off?”

  “I’m . . . trying to make things right between us again. I’d like her to have the opportunity to think things through without any outside influences.”

  “Like me, you mean.”

  “Exactly.” Paul hesitated. “We were married very young, and we made some stupid mistakes, but I’ve never stopped loving her.”

  “If Yvonne wants to talk about it, I’m not going to stop her,” Rio said even as Paul’s softly spoken words burned a hole in his gut. “We’re friends.”

  “But you won’t try and dissuade her from thinking things through?”

  “That wouldn’t be my place.” Rio looked past Paul to where Josie was rapidly approaching. “I have to go.”

  “Do I have your word on this?” Paul insisted.

  “Sure.” Rio tipped his hat to Paul. “I won’t interfere.”

  He got into the truck, started the engine, and stared grimly out over the half-empty parking lot. Josie got in, and he released the break and put the truck into drive.

  “What did Yvonne’s ex want?” Josie asked.

  “He was just making conversation.”

  “Didn’t look like that from where I was standing,” Josie scoffed. “Was he warning you off, or did he challenge you to a duel?”

  “This isn’t a movie, Josie,” Rio said as he turned out of the parking lot.

  “Well, I think you should challenge him to a duel, and then kick his skinny butt all the way back to France. Yvonne shouldn’t have to deal with that idiot.”

  Rio gripped the steering wheel hard as he straightened up the truck. “You know what? I’m sick and tired of other people telling me what I should and should not be doing with Yvonne Payet!”

  “There’s no need to shout, Rio. I’m just saying—”

  “Then maybe, just for once, you could keep it to yourself?”

  She didn’t say anything until they turned off the county road onto Morgan Ranch land and waited for the automatic gate to open.

  “You know why you’re mad at me, don’t you?”

  Rio let out a breath. “I’m not mad at you. I’m sorry I shouted.” What was wrong with him? He never raised his voice to his sister or his mother.

  “You’re mad because, for the first time in your life, you actually care about someone, and you don’t know how to handle it.”

  He whipped off his sunglasses to glare at her. “I said I was sorry!”

  “I know you did, but that still doesn’t change my point, does it?” Josie gave him a sympathetic smile. “Maybe it’s time for you to stop hiding, and reach out for what you really want.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “What are you doing in my kitchen?”

  Yvonne rubbed the sleep from her eyes, and stared at Paul, who was washing his hands in the sink. It was four-thirty in the morning, and she was usually the only person in Morgantown apart from the deputy sheriff who was up and about.

  “You said you were shorthanded. I thought I could help out today.”

  “How did you get in here?”

  He shrugged. “I met your cleaners coming out, and they kindly let me in. Otherwise I would still be standing on the step waiting for you to come down.”

  “You don’t need to do this,” Yvonne said.

  “I’d like to. There’s nothing else to do around here.” His smile was both charming and self-deprecating. “It’s a whole month since I’ve been in a kitchen. I’m getting worried I’m forgetting my basics.”

  “I’m not sure—”

  “I’ve already put the ovens on, so you might want to check the temperatures and show me your work order list for the day.”

  Yvonne considered all she had to do without Tom around, and conceded defeat. If Paul thought working alongside him would make her go all romantic again, he was way off base. With a sigh, she got out her notebook and accessed the calendar on her tablet.

  “Here’s the list of extras.” She pointed at the written orders. “The regular daily batches are on my tablet.”

  “You are quite productive.” He came over to look at the list. “Where do all these large-batch orders go out to?”

  “The Morgan Ranch and the Hayes Hotel.” Yvonne put on her apron. “What would you like to help out with?”

  “Not the bread. That was always your specialty. I’ll work on the patisserie, and if I have time, I’ll start on the cakes.”

  “Great.”

  The rest of her staff came in around seven for the café to open at eight. Aside from Antonio and trainee Tom, she had two additional staff in the kitchen who finished up the batch jobs and sorted them into the correct boxes for collection. After checking the temperature of the ovens, she started assembling the basic ingredients for her first batch of bread.

  Hauling huge bags of flour, fresh yeast, and other essentials kept her in shape and gave her something to work her rage off on if she was having a bad day. With Paul in her space, she might need all her strength just to get through the day.

  An hour later, she glanced up to see him working competently, rolling out pastry, buttering it, and refolding it before placing it in the refrigerator. Unlike Tom, he worked at the speed of an expert in a professional kitchen. He noticed her looking at him and winked.

  “This is fun.”

  “Hmm . . .” Yvonne wasn’t going to let him charm her. “There’s still a long way to go.”

  She lugged a mass of dough into the kneading machine and turned it on. When she made smaller quantities, she liked to do the kneading herself, but for the batch orders there was never enough time. She walked over to the window where she kept her cell phone and surreptitiously checked her messages. There was nothing from Rio, which wasn’t really a surprise. He’d probably be in to see her in person later.

  And then she’d have to decide whether to tell him about Paul’s offer to make a go of their marriage again and the current complicated unknown status of her divorce.... Would Rio want to know? Would he expect her to tell him? Things had gotten thorny so quickly that she wasn’t sure anymore. Seeing as she had no intention of agreeing to Paul’s proposal, maybe it would be better not to mention it at all?

  She checked the dough and moved on to the next thing on her list. There was plenty to do, and worrying about Rio would have to wait.

  * * *

  Ruth smiled up at Rio and patted his arm. “You’ve been so helpful today, I’ll buy you a cup of coffee at Yvonne’s.”

  “You don’t have to do that—”

  Rio’s protest died away as Ruth grabbed his hand and headed into the café. She’d asked him to bring her to town, saying no one else was available to help her, so how could he refuse? She’d spoken to her lawyer, visited every other shop in town, including the Realtors, and they’d ended up outside Yvonne’s, where he wasn’t supposed to be.

  Did Ruth know that? Had she sensed his reluctance to proceed and made the decision for him? He wouldn’t put anything past Ruth Morgan.

  “Sit here and save the table,” Ruth said. “I’ll go and get the coffee. You drink yours black, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but please let me—”

  She patted him on the shoulder like he was five years old. “My treat.”

  He sat down. They’d missed most of the lunchtime rush, and Lizzie was by herself at the counter. But not for long . . .

&nbs
p; The kitchen door swung open, and Yvonne emerged with a fresh tray of pastries. Her face broke into a smile when she saw Ruth, and Rio couldn’t look away. He didn’t want her thinking about Paul. He wanted her thoughts firmly centered on him.

  A moment later, her gaze turned his way and he instinctively rose to his feet. She took the smallest of steps backward before she made the decision to come over.

  “Hey, stranger.”

  “Hey yourself.” He gestured at the seat. “How are things going?”

  She made a face as she sat down. “They are a bit . . . complicated.”

  “Anything you need to share with a friend? I’m available most evenings until nine.”

  “That’s very sweet of you, but I think this is something I’m going to have to work out for myself.”

  “Well, you know where I am if you need me,” Rio said.

  It was the right thing to say, even though the thought that she’d chosen not to confide in him hurt more than it should have.

  “Rio . . .” She reached across the table and took his hand. “I’m not trying to shut you out. I really don’t think any of my friends can help me with this decision.”

  He wondered if she knew her ex was already trying to ensure that her friends didn’t have any input on her state of mind. Just as he was about to reply, the kitchen door opened again, and Paul came out dusting his floury hands on his apron.

  “Yvonne, do you have—?” Paul stopped talking and stared down at Rio. “Hey.”

  “Hey, are you working here now?” Rio asked as he eased his fingers away from Yvonne’s.

  “Just for a day or so. Yvonne needed some help.”

  “Oh, that’s right. Tom’s sick, isn’t he?” Rio directed his question at Yvonne, who nodded. She didn’t seem worried about Paul seeing her with him so he wasn’t going to worry about it either. “When’s he due back?”

  “The weekend, I think. I might just tell him to stay home until Monday.” Yvonne smiled.

  “Seeing as I’m here until Sunday,” Paul chimed in. “You’re in the clear.”

  Yvonne rolled her eyes at Rio. “Yeah, lucky old me.”

  She didn’t look like a woman trying to get remarried. . . . She looked like she wanted Paul to leave. Rio sat up straighter.