Taco-Truck Tryst (Quinn Valley Ranch Book 1)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  She had him stop at the firework stand, and she got out of the truck, picking through the things that were displayed. She mostly picked out the big stuff that would have showers of sparks in the sky. Roxane knew no one loved the fireworks half as much as she did.

  After choosing everything she wanted, the man behind the counter put everything into three big boxes. He knew her because she was a regular every single year. He gave her the total, and she fumbled in her purse for her wallet.

  Instead a hand reached over her shoulder with a credit card. “You don’t have to pay!” she protested. She did this every year, and she always paid.

  “You’re my girl. Of course I’m paying.”

  “I am?” she asked softly.

  “Didn’t you just take me to your grandparents’ house for a holiday and tell me you love me?” Ciran asked, his eyes on hers.

  “Well, yeah.”

  “Then you’re my girl, and I’m paying. It’s that simple.”

  After signing for the purchases, he picked up the first box and carried it back to the truck. She grabbed the next box and ran after him, wondering what he meant by all that. She was his girl. Did that mean they were going steady, like Joanie and Chachi? What did it even mean?

  She handed him the box she was carrying, and he put it in the back of the truck. She turned to go back for the last box, but she saw that the salesman had followed them with the third box. “Thank you.”

  “Thanks for your business. Come back.”

  She grinned. He knew she’d come back. She always did. “I will.”

  She got into the truck and waited for Ciran, wondering what to say.

  “What do you mean when you say I’m your girl?” Roxane asked softly.

  “What do you think I mean?”

  “That’s why I’m asking. I have no idea.”

  “Well, to me it means that I’m not going to see anyone else, and I don’t want you to see anyone else. We’ll spend some serious time together and decide where to go from here.” Ciran carefully pulled the truck back onto the country road and headed back to her grandparents’ house.

  “You’re not afraid of my dad anymore? Or Bobling?”

  “Nah.” He paused for a moment. “Okay, I’m still a little afraid of Bobling, but since no one seems to know where he is, it’s hard to be really afraid of him. And your dad has a weak heart. It’s not like he can chase me down.”

  She laughed softly. “So if Bobling comes back into town, then you’ll be afraid again?”

  “I hope not, but he was scary enough when he was just the quarterback of the football team. Now he’s a Marine in Special Forces. How could I not be afraid of him?”

  “Well, I don’t know. Just don’t be.” She hoped they could be married before Bobling returned, and then Ciran would have no reason to fear her brother. She wasn’t going to tell him that though. She needed him to come to that conclusion on his own. “I think your sopapillas went over well with the family today.”

  “I hope so. I put a lot of work into making that many. Do you have any idea how big your family is?”

  She laughed. “Sure do. It’s huge!”

  Chapter Ten

  As her dad got back to work the following week, Roxane threw herself headfirst into both her work and her relationship with Ciran. There were no more real invitations to do things together. They just both knew they’d spend every evening together, hating saying goodnight more and more.

  Ciran ran a lively business from his taco truck, and he hadn’t been able to find help, so he was open from ten in the morning until six in the evening, and then he was off for the rest of the night. He worked seven days a week because he knew that most of his business would happen during the summer, though he was now convinced that he would do a good business throughout the year.

  He booked two more parties to cater for locals, and he was excited to see what would happen after Labor Day. For the town of Quinn Valley, the summers were fabulous and filled with tourists. Often the winters were filled with tourists, looking to snowmobile and ski. But the falls and springs weren’t as busy or as exciting. Some of the little shops in town closed until Memorial Day, and most shops were open reduced hours. The only thing that kept the town going were the tourists who came to soak in the hot springs.

  When Labor Day came and went, he changed the hours he had posted on the side of his truck. Now they read, “Open Monday through Friday from ten am to four pm.” Now he’d have more time with his Roxie.

  In the two months that had passed since she had blurted out her feelings for him after he’d made her father low sodium tacos, he’d thought of little else but what she’d said. He needed to tell her he felt the same, but he wanted to do it romantically. He wanted it to be special for both of them.

  They still hadn’t had their chance to go four-wheeling into the mountains surrounding Quinn Valley, so he decided to take her. He went to her office just before she got off work on September fourth . . . the day after Labor Day.

  He knocked on the door and walked in, grinning as he saw her bent over her work. He loved knowing that she was capable of working hard and being serious but that she could let loose and joke and tease with him when the occasion warranted it.

  She looked up at him, a slow grin crossing her face. “Well, if it isn’t Ciran. What are you doing up here? The world ends when you leave your taco truck early!”

  “It does not.” He closed the door behind him and walked to where she sat behind her desk, taking her hand and pulling her out of her chair. “Hi you.” He lowered his head and kissed her softly. “You know what?”

  She shook her head, grinning at him happily. “No, what?”

  “You owe me a day in the mountains on four-wheelers. We talked about it right before your dad got sick, but it’s never happened. I think you need to think about when I get my rain-check. Preferably before the month is out and we need to drag out the snowmobiles instead of the four-wheelers.”

  She frowned. “Let me look at my schedule. I have weddings every Saturday this month.”

  “What about Sundays? What are you doing on Sunday this week?” It was Tuesday, and he could wait until Sunday for what he wanted to do. He had it all planned out, and it was going to be perfect . . . well, it would be perfect if he could get her to agree to go.

  She grabbed her schedule and looked. She didn’t remember anything for Sunday, but that didn’t mean there was nothing. She picked up the book and flipped through it, finding Sunday on her calendar. “I can do Sunday. What time?”

  “Ten. I’ll meet you here at ten, and we need two four-wheelers. I’ll bring a picnic basket.” Ciran took her hand and bowed low over it, kissing it softly. “I ensure you will have the most wonderful time of your life.”

  Roxane frowned, wondering why he was being so formal. “Will I see you tonight?”

  He turned and grinned at her, back to his normal self. “Of course! It’s Tuesday, so it’s taco night. You provide the movie, and I’ll provide the food.”

  “Sounds good, but I want queso tonight!” she called after him.

  “No problem!”

  Roxane was left staring at her closed door, wondering just what was wrong with Ciran. He’d acted strangely, and she hoped that didn’t mean he was leaving again. She didn’t think he would, but . . .

  She sighed, shaking her head. She had to quit worrying he’d leave. He’d given her no indication he was anything but happy in their relationship.

  There was another knock at her door, and she looked up, wondering who was there. “Yes?”

  Her mother popped her head in. “You promised me before your father went into the hospital that you would come up and let me balance you. That was two months ago, and you haven’t been in the spa since. You have an appointment right now.”

  Roxane knew there was no point in arguing, and she followed her mother up the stairs and into her witch doctor office. Riley had called her mother a redneck witch doctor once when she was twelve, and no one had
let either of them forget it.

  She removed her shoes and sat on the stool, holding the wand thing in her hand. Her mother sprayed her hand with a spray bottle of water and started poking her with a metal thingie. Roxane had no idea what the machine was supposed to do other than balance her, and she preferred not to know. It was odd, and that’s how April Lynn Quinn liked things.

  At the end of the visit, her mother frowned at her. “You’re balanced in everything. Have you been taking the supplements I give you?”

  Roxane shrugged, knowing her mother would know what that meant. She hadn’t taken a single supplement, and she wasn’t even ashamed of it.

  “Roxie, I’m trying to help you!”

  “I know that, Mom, but I’m healthy! I don’t think I need to be balanced anymore.”

  Her mother sighed. “I want you to still need me.”

  “I do need you. I always will!”

  “I feel like I only see you at work lately. You need to spend more time with the family.”

  Roxane got down from the stool and kissed her mother’s cheek. “I’ll try harder. I promise.”

  “All right. I’m starting to feel like you’re as far away as Bobling sometimes.”

  Roxane put her shoes on. “I’ll come for dinner Sun—a week from Sunday! I promise!” She rushed out the door before the guilt trip could be laid on her any thicker. She loved her mother more than she could express, but her guilt trips needed to be avoided at all costs.

  Roxane rushed home to find Ciran already inside, waiting for her. “Sorry. My mother decided I could not wait to be balanced another minute. I think she was actually disappointed when there was nothing wrong with me.”

  He laughed. “I’m sure that’s not true. She just wants to be a part of your life.”

  “I’m going over there for supper a week from Sunday. She’ll have to hold onto her britches until then.”

  Ciran spread out their supper on her table, putting a big bowl of queso in the middle of the table and a bowl of chips beside it. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  “You know I’m always hungry for your food.” Roxane saw that he’d brought them each a Lime Rickey, so she didn’t bother to grab them drinks. As they ate, she couldn’t help but wonder what was so important about Sunday for him. She almost asked, but she decided it would be nice to be surprised. For once.

  *****

  Roxane saw Ciran waiting beside the four-wheelers at the hotel a few days later. She’d just driven hers there. No one minded if they did that in Quinn Valley. She had a key to another, and she tossed it to him, pointing to machine number four. She’d rented it the day before just as she was leaving work, explaining she’d be using it all the next day. No one questioned her with things like that.

  “You lead the way!” she called as she got onto her four-wheeler.

  He nodded, strapping his helmet to his head and climbing onto the vehicle. Together they rode through the quiet streets of Quinn Valley. It was amazing to her that it had been so busy just a week before, and now the streets were perfectly quiet.

  They couldn’t talk, so she just followed him up the trail, leading toward the top of one of the nearby mountains. They’d been up that trail before, but it had been many years, and she was excited to go up it again. It was there he’d asked her to be his girlfriend back in high school, and she had felt so special to be the one chosen by Ciran. She wondered if he’d ever made the connection between their names that she had. Ciran and Roxane. Cyrano and Roxane. It made her tingle when she thought about it.

  When they reached the top point they could get to on the vehicles, he pulled off to one side and parked, shutting off the four-wheeler and pulling off his helmet. He reached behind him for the small cooler he’d attached to the vehicle, and she swung off her own. It was so nice to watch him move. His shoulders—which had been broad enough to make her stumble when they were twelve—were so wide, and she just wanted to watch him all day.

  He spread a blanket on the ground, and she sat down, her legs crossed in front of her. “What did you bring me?” she asked, knowing what his answer would be.

  “I brought hamburgers,” he said with a grin.

  “You did not! Gimme tacos!” She reached for the cooler, trying to see what was in it, but he held it away. “Fine.”

  He laughed, tossing her the three soft tacos he’d made her and a container of guacamole. “Are you ever going to get tired of tacos?”

  “Probably not. I didn’t even know I liked them so much until June. Now I have to make up for lost time. So much lost time.” She took a bite of her first taco and sighed. “You sure can cook, Ciran Benedict.”

  “You sure do make me happy, Roxane Quinn.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “Yeah. And knowing how happy you make me has had me thinking for a while . . .”

  “Thinking about what?” She took another bite of her taco after dipping it in the guacamole.

  “Well, I was thinking that since we’re so happy when we’re together, we should be together more. You know . . . like living in one house and sharing one bed every night!”

  Roxane raised an eyebrow at him. They had never slept together, and she had let him know that they wouldn’t be until they were married. “Oh?”

  He nodded, digging his hand into the pocket of his jeans. “I thought maybe this would make you happy.” He handed her a ring box, and she swallowed hard as she opened it.

  “Is that a sapphire surrounded by diamonds? This is beautiful!”

  “I’m glad you like it. Does that mean you’ll wear it? Will you marry me, Roxane?”

  She smiled, nodding excitedly. “I will marry you. Are you going to ask my father?”

  He groaned. “That’s such an antiquated way of doing things . . . you don’t want me to do that!”

  “Sure I do! We can take the other trail down the mountain and end up in their backyard. My dad would love it if you asked.”

  “What if he says no? Then what will we do?” Ciran asked with a frown.

  “Then we’ll get married anyway, but don’t worry. He won’t say no. He just wants to be asked.”

  Ciran looked into her eyes. “You know that I love you more than words can express, or I wouldn’t even consider talking to him, right?”

  She nodded, a smile on her face. “I sure do!”

  He kissed her quickly. “Can we eat so I can be fortified to face your dad?”

  She laughed softly. “He’s not that bad! At least it’s just him and not him and Bobling.”

  “I don’t know that I agree with that, but okay.” He ate his meal slowly, somehow hoping she’d forget that she wanted him to talk to her dad. “When do you want to marry? I’m thinking the last Sunday in September.”

  She stared at him with wide eyes. “How am I supposed to get a wedding dress that quickly? Have you lost your mind? We probably need at least six months.”

  “Now you’ve lost your mind. I’m not waiting another six months.” His tone of voice left her in no doubt of what he wasn’t waiting for.

  She blushed but nodded. “I see your point. Let me see what Mom thinks. I’m going to need a lot of input from the redneck witch doctor.”

  “Will you let my grandmother help with the plans, too?” He was almost afraid to ask, but he knew she had always loved his grandmother.

  “Absolutely. We’ll get my mom and both grandmothers involved. I wish my mom’s mom could have been here, but she died five years ago.”

  “I didn’t know. I’m so sorry! I know you were close to her.”

  “I was, but she lived a full life, and she was happy. It was time.”

  He took her hand in his, slowly slipping the ring on her finger. “Renae told me that would fit.”

  “Renae? Was she in on this?”

  “She helped pick out your ring. Nothing else.”

  “Good because she’s a little wackadoodle. Well, all my sisters are, which is why I love them so darned much.”

  He grinned, taking his la
st bite and getting to his feet. He carefully cleaned up their mess, and then held his hand down to her. “Let’s go get this over with.”

  She wrapped her arms around him for a moment, just resting her head on his shoulder. “I’m going to be very proud to be your wife.”

  He rested his cheek against the top of her head for a moment before he folded the blanket. “Am I leading or are you?”

  “You.” She wanted to stare at his shoulders a little more.

  He attached the cooler onto the back of his four-wheeler, put on his helmet, and started up. She followed him slowly down the mountain, and they stopped in her parents’ backyard a little over an hour later. He removed his helmet, but he gave her a look that told her he had no desire to get off his four-wheeler and go talk to her parents.

  “Come on. Mom will be thrilled that we get to spend time together planning a wedding. Dad will be thrilled because Mom will be happy. We can do this!” Roxane took his hand and tugged him toward the house, opening the back door and yelling out that they were there. “Mom! Dad! I’m here with Ciran!”

  Her mother walked into the kitchen and smiled at them both. “I thought you were coming for supper next week.”

  “I am. Well, probably we are, but Ciran wants to talk to Dad for a minute.”

  “He’s in the living room.” April Lynn pointed the way to the living room, though Ciran knew the house well. He’d helped babysit Riley more times than he could count.

  Ciran walked toward the living room as if he was walking to his death. He knew that Roxane would wait in the kitchen with her mother. “Mr. Quinn? I wondered if I could talk to you for a moment.”

  Bob Quinn turned from the television and hit a button on the remote to mute the football game. “Yeah, let’s talk.” He looked resigned to the conversation.

  “I asked Roxane to marry me, and she wanted to make sure that I had your permission to marry her. I love her very much, and I promise I will take good care of her.”

  Bob sighed heavily, rubbing his hand over his chin. “Are you sure you know how to take care of a Quinn girl? She’s used to being loved. Like loved so much she has never had to question whether there would be someone in her corner every day of her life. Can you love her like that?”