“Um…” She’d meant to talk to Luke about birthday plans for Abigail but hadn’t done it yet. She needed to, though. It was coming up next month.
“Hey, if that’s what’s going on, don’t answer. I’d hate to ruin whatever you two are planning.” Abigail’s attention turned to the front door. “Hey, Yolanda!” She glanced back at Ingrid. “Don’t tell Luke I asked about my birthday, okay?”
“I won’t.” Whew. If she could get through today, she wouldn’t see Abigail again until Monday. By then she should be more comfortable with the new arrangement and wouldn’t be giving off any I have a secret vibes.
In the meantime, she’d text Luke and find out if he was planning a birthday surprise. It would be the first time he’d celebrated with Abigail so he should be planning a surprise, right? If not, she’d suggest that he get on that ASAP.
Wes walked in around nine, after the morning rush. She came so close to spilling a latte down her front. His grin told her he’d noticed, too. He nudged back his hat and sauntered over to the counter.
She could have asked Doug, their other young employee, to handle Wes’s coffee order. Doug was turning into an excellent barista. But when Wes gave her a quick wink, she accepted his challenge.
She cleared her throat. “What can I get for you?”
His dark eyes gleamed with mischief. “I dunno. What’s good here?”
“Everything.”
“Do you have a suggestion for me?”
Several. “How about a Firecracker?”
“Better not.” He held her gaze and his lips twitched. “I had one earlier this morning. Nearly took the top of my head off.”
Heat flooded her cheeks. You are a devil, Wes Sawyer. “Then maybe you need something tamer. Something you can handle.”
“Good idea. That’ll give my system a chance to settle down before I try something like that again.”
Yowza. She cleared the lust from her throat. “Regular coffee, then?”
“Please.” His voice was like velvet.
“Something from the case?”
“No, thank you. A generous lady brought me several pastries yesterday and I have some left. They’re out in my truck. I’m well taken care of.”
She lowered her voice. “You didn’t need to come in for this coffee, did you?”
“Not for the coffee, no.” The mischief in his gaze had morphed into something hotter. “How’re you doing?”
“I’m doing well, thank you.”
“Any issues?”
“Nothing I can’t take care of.”
“Glad to hear it. I—”
“Hey, brother of mine! Fancy meeting you here, stranger.”
“Hey, sis!” Without missing a beat, he turned and enveloped Roxanne in a bear hug.
She smiled at Ingrid over his shoulder. “Hi, there.”
Ingrid’s heart thumped double-time. She hadn’t expected to run into her friend this morning. Or any morning for that matter.
For reasons known only to her libido, in the past forty-eight hours she’d stopped thinking of Wes as Roxanne’s brother. Which was a major oversight. The flush rising in her cheeks confirmed it. Thankfully her voice come out perfectly normal. “Hi. Want your usual latte?”
“You know it, girlfriend.” She stepped away from Wes and patted him on the cheek. “What a bonus to get a hug from my elusive brother. Haven’t seen much of you lately, big guy.”
“Sorry about that. You know how it goes. Working my tail off.”
Ingrid kept herself busy making Rox’s latte so she had an excuse to avert her gaze.
“I know. Dad said you and Ingrid went riding last Sunday, though. That must have been fun.”
“Yeah, it was.”
Rox turned to her. “Isn’t Wes the best trail riding buddy ever?”
Ingrid concentrated on pouring the steamed milk into the cup. If she looked up, she’d probably end up scalding herself. “He is. And I loved being on a horse again. We had a great time.”
A boulder settled into Ingrid’s stomach. Rox wouldn’t dream that her best friend—who was only three weeks past a breakup—would sleep with her brother. Not in a million years. Even if someone flat-out told her it had happened, she wouldn’t believe them. Ah, the guilt.
“I came in for my latte,” Rox said. “But also to ask if you want to get together for a girls’ night. Michael’s working and I haven’t hung out with you in a while, so I was thinking a bottle of wine, a movie, maybe a board game. Are you up for that? Say around six?”
The universe was bringing her to heel for her transgressions. She studiously avoided looking at Wes. “Sure, why not?” She hoped he wouldn’t be hurt by her quick capitulation, but their plans had been tentative. He might not even be available.
She’d also have to scour the apartment and remove any sign that Wes had spent the night there. But what if she missed something?
“Great! I could bring a pizza, that veggie kind you like. You probably haven’t had one in ages.”
She swallowed a bubble of hysterical laughter. “I’d love that.”
“Thought so.” Rox turned to Wes, who’d been pretending great interest in the coffee menu posted on the wall. “But, hey, I didn’t mean to hold you up, big brother. I’m sure you must be rushing off to an appointment. Did you order?”
“He did.” Ingrid spun around so she could grab a to-go cup and suck in a breath. She managed to get his coffee into the cup and snap on the lid without making a mess. Turning back to the counter, she handed it to him.
He reached for his wallet.
“Never mind.” Ingrid made a shooing motion. “It’s on the house.”
Rox gave him a puzzled glance. “That’s all you’re getting? No bear claw? No chocolate éclair?”
“No time.” His smile encompassed them both. “Good seeing you two.”
“Wait. I am such a dunce.” Rox touched his arm. “Want to hang out and have pizza with us? It’s funny, but I totally forgot you’d be right down the hall.”
“I will if I can. Lately it seems like emergency calls come in at night, especially on the weekend.”
“Well, I hope that doesn’t happen. It would be fun to spend a little time with you. We could play Sorry if you’re there. It’s more fun with three. Bring your beer, though. I know wine’s not your favorite.”
“I’ll show up if I can.” He touched the brim of his hat. “Ladies.”
Rox gazed after him as he barreled out the door. “He’s so cute. I’m amazed nobody in this town has snatched him up.”
Ingrid’s choked inhale set off a small coughing fit. “Probably because he’s…always working.”
“I know, right?” She peered at Ingrid. “Are you okay? You look a little flushed.”
“Just swallowed wrong. I’m fine.”
“Well, good. I’m really looking forward to tonight.”
“Me, too.” It was the first out-and-out lie she’d ever told Rox, but it likely wouldn’t be the last.
Chapter Nineteen
Wes pulled out his phone and texted Roxanne that he’d pick up the pizza and order a family size. Then he phoned in the order and pointed his truck in the direction of the pizza parlor for the second time in two days.
Eating the same kind of pizza two nights in a row didn’t bother him. He had other, more pressing concerns. Every minute he spent with Roxanne in Ingrid’s apartment would increase his chances of accidentally blowing this program to smithereens.
As he’d told Ingrid, he wasn’t good at keeping secrets. Gage was a whiz at it, but he was the only one in the family who had that talent. Everyone else tended to forget that something was a secret and blurt it out at exactly the wrong time.
An emergency call could still save him from spending several hours monitoring every word out of his mouth. Gee, didn’t that sound like fun? But no call had come in yet. Just when he desperately needed an excuse to bail, his phone had gone silent.
He wouldn’t wish an emergency on anyone, but the
calls had been so regular. Three Forks had handled two for him last night while he was with Ingrid. Looked like he’d be with her again tonight. Only it wouldn’t be quite the same, would it?
Not that he didn’t love Roxanne. He adored her. But her timing sucked. Or maybe not. They’d had such a close connection all these years that on some level she could be sensing that his life had changed dramatically in the past week and a half.
Kind of like his sudden urge to visit her in Eagles Nest in March had been prompted by a vague uneasiness and a sudden need to see her. Lo and behold, she’d just become involved with Michael.
She didn’t suspect his recent connection with Ingrid, though. If she did, she wouldn’t have been so breezy and casual this morning in the bakery. If she’d thought anything was going on, she would have taken him aside right then and there to get the scoop. She wouldn’t have been coy about it.
After he picked up the pizza, he stopped by his apartment to drop off his hat and snag the six-pack. It was the same one Ingrid had brought down Thursday night, and it was only minus the one beer he’d opened then.
She’d bought him beer sometime between their encounter on Sunday and Thursday night. At the time, he’d been too tired to have it register, but why had she done that? Had she planned to entertain him in her apartment at some point? Evidently he hadn’t been the only one who’d been hoping they’d escalate the relationship.
As he started down the hall, laughter spilled out of Ingrid’s open door. That brightened his mood. He was glad his sister and Ingrid were such good friends even if it complicated the situation now.
He didn’t want to take a chance on messing that up. Roxanne had bravely moved to Eagles Nest without knowing a soul. Ingrid had welcomed her and offered friendship. Abigail had, too, but Ingrid had been the key player in Roxanne’s early days here.
Although he didn’t think Roxanne would be upset about this relationship, he wasn’t privy to everything that had transpired between the two women. He’d have to take his cues from Ingrid.
As he approached her open door carrying pizza that smelled exactly like the one from last night, he struggled to block the automatic association. More specifically, the association with making love to her moments after he’d come through the door with said pizza.
At least this one was ginormous, so the look and heft was different. He trusted that Ingrid had taken the box from the previous one to the dumpster. They’d had wine left over but that wouldn’t have been a giveaway since she might have bought it for herself.
“I vote for When Harry Met Sally.” Roxanne’s voice drifted out the open door.
“Are you sure you don’t want Toy Story? We haven’t watched it in ages.”
He should have guessed it would be one of those two choices on the docket tonight. They were his sister’s favorite films.
“But I’m in a Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan mood.” Roxanne was sticking to her guns.
Was Ingrid avoiding the romantic movie on purpose? Time to announce his presence. “What about Alien?” He walked through the open door. “How about watching that, instead?” He was greeted by a chorus of boos and hisses. He shrugged. “Just a thought.”
His sister and Ingrid lounged on the sofa, barefoot and dressed in shorts and tank tops. They’d each pulled their hair back with a scrunchie. Roxanne looked relaxed. On the surface, so did Ingrid, but she avoided glancing straight at him. That was a tell.
“You don’t even like Alien,” Roxanne said. “Oh, yum. That pizza smells delish. Thanks for bringing it. Let’s set it on the coffee table. We’re eating in front of the TV.”
Ingrid picked up the stack of plates and napkins from the coffee table and set them on her lap. “You can stick your beer in the fridge.” Her gaze met his but didn’t linger.
“Okay.” He put down the pizza, carried his beer into the kitchen and took out a bottle before stashing the rest in a vacant spot in her fridge. Might be the same spot she’d had it in originally. The six-pack had come home.
“Oh, Wes,” Roxanne called from the living room. “I was telling Ingrid about the big shindig next weekend at the GG. Have you heard about it?”
“Nope.” He opened his beer and dropped the cap in the recycling bin before rejoining the women. “Fill me in.”
“Next Saturday night the GG is hosting a fundraiser for Raptors Rise. They’ll unveil Dad’s finished scratchboard project and donate half the night’s proceeds to the organization.”
“Sounds great. I’ll make sure I’m there.”
“But what if you get called out?”
“I can arrange to have it covered.”
“How?”
“I’ll put an out of office message on my phone and direct them to Three Forks.”
“What a great idea. Have you done that before?”
“Yes.”
“Well, good, then. I’d hate for you to miss this. The Whine and Cheese Club will be serving that night.”
“Oh, really?” That surprised him. “Do they have any experience at that?”
“Kendra says they’re all rank amateurs. And they’ll be wearing bird costumes.”
“Of course they will.” He hadn’t been around for any of their antics other than dancing in the back of Faith’s truck on the Fourth. He’d been told that was mild compared to their usual shenanigans. “Can’t wait to see how that turns out.” He glanced at Ingrid. “You’re going, right?”
“Wouldn’t miss it.”
“You can walk down with me, if you want.” He said it as if he didn’t care one way or the other.
“Okay, why not?” An appropriately casual response.
“I’m glad I remembered to tell you.” Roxanne turned back to the TV. “Come sit down so we can start the movie.”
He evaluated the available space. “I’ll take the floor.” He walked around to the far side of the sofa.
“No, no, come sit with us.” Roxanne shifted to one end to make room in the middle. “You can reach the pizza better that way. We can fit, right, Ingrid?”
“Right.” She plastered herself against the arm of the sofa on the other end.
He hesitated. Being that close to her was problematic.
“Sit down, Wesley.” Roxanne rolled her eyes. “We won’t bite.”
He settled into the space they’d left him but didn’t allow his knee to touch Ingrid’s. If he’d been totally relaxed, he wouldn’t have worried about it.
“Here’s a plate.” Ingrid handed him one with a quick glance and a tiny smile. “Get some pizza before we start the movie.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He returned her smile. Maybe having this secret wasn’t all bad. It bonded them.
“Wait, I need more wine.” Roxanne picked up a bottle that was almost empty and poured it into her glass. “That kills that one.” She reached down beside her and came up with an identical bottle. “Want to top yours off, Ingrid?”
“Sure, thanks.”
“Let me do it.” He took the bottle from Roxanne, opened it, and poured some in each of the glasses they held out until they told him to stop. He recapped the wine and handed Roxanne the bottle.
She surveyed the arrangement. “Everybody ready? Got pizza? Got your beverage of choice?”
“I’m all set,” Ingrid said.
“Roll it, sis.” He settled back as much as he dared. His right shoulder was almost touching Ingrid’s. Their hips were only a couple of inches apart. If he relaxed his knees, his right one would meet her left one.
They were positioned the same way they had been for the three-legged race, but opposite. She was left-handed and holding her wine glass in that hand. She must have held it that way the night before. And on Sunday, she must have eaten with her left hand. He’d been too focused on the sensual overtones of the meals to catch that.
He looked at her. “I’ll try not to bump your arm.”
“No worries.” She gave him a cute little smile.
“Shh,” Roxanne said. “It’s starting.”
&nb
sp; He dipped his head in acknowledgment and lifted his beer bottle in her direction. She touched her wine glass to the side of the bottle. When he checked to see if Roxanne had noticed, she was engrossed in the movie. Didn’t matter how many times she’d seen it, she hung on every word of the opening, a montage of long-married couples describing how they’d met and fallen in love.
He liked the opening, too, and watching it with his sister and Ingrid while he drank beer and ate pizza was cozy. At some point his knee settled against Ingrid’s and their shoulders nudged up against each other’s.
Had they been alone, he would have gathered her closer, but nestling against her, even a little bit, made a nice connection. He could be happy with that until later. She didn’t have to get up at three tomorrow morning. That created some interesting possibilities.
He finished his beer and could have used another one, but disturbing the dynamic wasn’t worth it. And they’d come to the diner scene. He hadn’t forgotten a single thing about what had become the most famous part of the movie.
He and Roxanne had watched the scene together many times. She’d educated him about the practice of women faking orgasms, which had made no sense to him at first. But through personal experience, he’d learned. Incredible though it might be, some women, maybe a lot of women, did it.
Thanks to his sister and Meg Ryan, he could tell the difference. Meg was funny as hell demonstrating the appropriate cries and moans while sitting across from Billy Crystal in a crowded diner. Wes usually got a kick out of it.
Not this time. The noises Meg Ryan made were fake, but they were close enough to the real thing that his cock stirred. Not surprising considering what he and Ingrid had been doing the night before. She shifted her weight. Not much, but enough to signal that she might also be reacting.
Roxanne laughed. “I just love this scene.”
“Me, too.” Ingrid sounded on the verge of giggles. She set her empty wine glass on the table. “What a classic.”
“Yep.” A one-word response was the most he could offer under difficult circumstances. He gripped his empty beer bottle and willed his inconvenient erection away.
Then Ingrid nudged his knee with hers.
A Cowboy’s Challenge_The McGavin Brothers Page 12