She gave him a soft smile. “Better drink your coffee before it gets cold.”
“Right.” And snap out of his daze. If Abigail had noticed him staring at Ingrid like that, she’d make the correct assumption.
So much for finding a creative way to ask if she was free after the bakery closed. Texting would be safer than prolonging the conversation and struggling to be clever. He picked up his mug. “Thanks.”
“You bet.” With another quick smile, she turned away.
He sighed. She couldn’t be caught staring at him, either. He hated this. Disguising their feelings for each other sucked. He was ready for it to end.
As he headed for a table with his coffee and brownies, a tall cowboy walked in. Wes blinked. Couldn’t be.
But it was. That cocky grin belonged to none other than his vagabond brother Gage.
The grin turned to laughter. “You should see your face, little brother! Wish I’d had my phone ready. That would’ve made a hilarious picture.”
Wes slopped his coffee as he put it back on the counter along with the plate of brownies. “I can’t believe this.” He strode over and gave his brother a tight hug. “Have you been out to Dad’s? Does he know you’re in town? Are you—”
“Whoa, whoa. Don’t hurt yourself. Haven’t been to Dad’s, yet. I took a chance and stopped here, first. Hoped you might be around and sure, enough. You must be in hog heaven living over a bakery.”
A heaven that had recently turned into a frustrating hell. “It suits me fine. Let me introduce you to these two ladies, the best bakers I’ve ever known.” When he glanced back, they were watching the drama with obvious interest. “Abigail and Ingrid—” He gestured to each one in turn. “Meet my long-lost brother Gage.”
“Glad to make your acquaintance, Miss Abigail and Miss Ingrid.” Gage tipped his hat.
“It’s good to finally meet you, too, Gage.” Abigail smiled at him. “I’ve heard rumors about a third Sawyer brother but I was beginning to think you were an urban myth.”
“No, ma’am. I may be legendary, but I do, in fact, exist. And although my sweet tooth isn’t nearly as developed as Wesley’s, I wouldn’t mind joining him for some coffee and brownies.” He glanced around. “Although from the look of things you might be getting ready to close.”
“We close at four, but we won’t kick you out,” Abigail said. “It’s not every day another Sawyer turns up.”
“Well, I’m the last of the litter, so if another joker rides into town claiming to be a Sawyer, he’s an imposter.”
Abigail laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind. How many brownies would you like?”
“A dozen, if you have that many. And a dozen chocolate chip cookies, too, so I have some goodies to take out to my dad’s.” He looked over at Wes. “I was hoping I could talk you into going out there with me after we gird our loins with coffee and brownies.”
“I can do that.”
“What kind of coffee do you want, Gage?” Ingrid swept a hand toward the menu on the wall. “We have plenty of options.”
“You certainly do.” He rubbed his chin. “I’ll have one of those Firecrackers, please, ma’am.”
Wes chuckled. “Same old Gage.”
“No point in drinking coffee unless it’s gonna put hair on your chest.”
“Then you made the right choice.” Ingrid glanced at Wes. “I’ll get you a fresh cup.”
“You know what? I’ll take a Firecracker, too, if you don’t mind.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” Might as well get his kicks where he could. The way this afternoon was shaping up, he wouldn’t be enjoying a secret rendezvous with her anytime soon.
“Alrighty, then. Please have a seat. I’ll bring them to you.”
“Okay.” Wes picked up his plate of brownies. “Thanks, Ingrid.”
“You’re welcome.” She flashed him a warm smile.
“See that?” Gage punched him lightly on the shoulder as they walked over to a table.
“See what?” If Gage had sensed the vibe between him and Ingrid...
“I’m in town ten minutes and I’m already a bad influence on you. Now you’re ordering triple-shot lattes.”
“Yeah, you’re a terrible influence.” Whew. Disaster averted. “I’ve missed you.”
“Missed you, too, big guy.” He took the small bistro chair across from Wes. It didn’t fit Gage any better than it did him. “I thought it wouldn’t bother me, Dad selling the Lazy S. I mean, I haven’t lived there for years and lately I haven’t been home much. But still…”
“Not surprising you’d feel weird about it. It’s where we grew up.”
Gage’s jaw dropped in pretend shock. “You noticed that, too? But then you’ve always been smart. Makes sense you’d become a doctor. Which reminds me, I have this pain in my gluteus maximus and I—”
“I’m sure you do.” He laughed because Gage was funny, but his pattern was achingly familiar. Whenever he was worried that he’d revealed more than he’d intended, he started cracking jokes. Wes pushed his plate to the middle of the table. “Take one of these and call me in the morning.”
“Don’t mind if I do. Thanks.” He picked up a brownie and bit into it.
“How long are you here for?”
He chewed and swallowed. “That’s yet to be determined.”
“You don’t have a job?”
“Not at the moment.” He took another bite of the brownie.
“Did you get fired?”
He rolled his eyes and finished chewing. “No, I did not. I’ve only been fired that one time. It so happens I quit my current job.”
“In the middle of the busy season?” Wes was used to Gage’s erratic behavior but this wasn’t smart. A wrangler had to make money when he or she was in demand, which would be now.
“I—” He glanced up as Ingrid came over with their coffee drinks. “Ah, thank you, ma’am. I’m looking forward to this.”
She set one in front of each of them. “I’d advise taking it slow.”
“And I second that.” Abigail showed up with two more brownies on a plate for Gage and a bakery box. “There’s a reason we posted a warning for that one.”
Gage smiled. “That’s why I got it.” He took a hefty swallow.
Wes could do no less. He didn’t choke, but the effort not to made his eyes water. Across the table, Gage was in the same fix. And red in the face. Wes figured he was, too.
Ingrid and Abigail ducked their heads and there was much throat-clearing going on between the two of them. Abigail excused herself and left but Ingrid remained.
She had every right to stay and gloat. She’d warned them. And maybe, just maybe, she was using this as an excuse to be near him.
He dragged in a breath. “Great stuff.”
“You said it, bro.” Gage coughed once. “Excellent brew, Ingrid.”
“Glad you like it.” Her eyes gleamed with mischief as she looked over at Wes. “I could start another one for each of you if you’d like.”
“Thanks,” Wes said, “but we’ll be shoving off soon.” Right after they finished guzzling their jet fuel. “Have you tried this?”
“Of course. I invented it.”
“Respect.” Gage hoisted his mug in her direction. “You have talent and guts, ma’am.”
“Thank you. I’ll leave you to enjoy your coffee.” She returned to her spot behind the counter.
“So that’s how it is.”
Wes’s gaze snapped to his brother’s. “I don’t—”
He leaned closer and lowered his voice. “I highly approve, not that you need my approval. She’s great. And a baker. Perfect for you.”
Denying it was pointless. Gage had come into the situation with no preconceived ideas. That allowed him to see what others couldn’t. “Nobody’s supposed to know.”
Gage’s eyebrows lifted.
“She’s Roxanne’s best friend.”
“That should be a plus.”
> “It’s not.”
“Okay. We’ll talk later.”
“But don’t say anything to the others.”
“I won’t.” He picked up his coffee and took a more conservative swallow. Even then, he gave a little cough afterward. “Epic brew.”
“Yep.”
“Listen, I need your advice. Speaking of keeping things quiet, I’m not planning to tell anyone else.”
“Okay.”
“I’ve saved a little money and I’ve decided to take a break and figure some things out. I’m—don’t laugh—thinking about settling down.”
“I’m not laughing. That sounds great.”
“There’s this woman I spent some time with about a year and a half ago when I was working at a ranch outside of Great Falls. We got along well, extremely well, but you know me. I felt the walls closing in and took off.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I think that was a mistake. But it’s been a year and a half. Should I forget her or go see her?”
“Neither. Call her.”
He shook his head. “It’s too easy to say no on the phone. If she doesn’t want to have anything to do with me, I want her to say it to my face, look me in the eye.” He took a breath. “Or I could just forget the whole thing.”
“I don’t think you will.”
“You’re right.” He heaved a sigh. “I’ll go see her. Then at least I won’t be in limbo.”
“Limbo’s not good.” And he couldn’t live that way much longer, either.
Gage’s sudden arrival had focused a spotlight on what he wanted. Or maybe it was the Firecracker’s caffeine running through his system, turning him into a human lightbulb.
In any case, he’d gained a new perspective. He just had to figure out what to do about it.
After he and Gage finished their lattes and said goodbye to Ingrid and Abigail, he led the way out to their dad’s place. He’d tried to talk Gage into texting to find out if their dad was even home. He could be over at Kendra’s, or out at Roxanne and Michael’s building site checking on the progress. He could even be working on his latest art project, although probably not. Mornings were his creative time.
But Gage was all about just showing up. He liked to surprise people, which was interesting because when the family had given him a surprise party for his sixteenth birthday, he’d freaked out.
Pete wouldn’t be home yet, and Roxanne hardly ever stopped by, busy as she was with her graphic design projects and the new house going up. Gage might have no one to greet him besides Fudge, Clifford and Banjo. Not that it was likely to bother Gage one bit. After he’d said hello to the horses, he’d probably kick back in one of the rockers on the porch and invite Wes to join him while they waited. At least Wes had a key to the house.
Then he spotted his dad’s truck parked in its usual place by the barn. Good. His dad had been worrying about Gage and seeing him this afternoon would be a big deal. Yeah, the plan to spend time with Ingrid had been torpedoed, but it was a small sacrifice in the grand scheme. The payoff for his dad would be huge.
He pulled in and shut off the motor. Gage parked beside him just as his dad walked out of the barn, no doubt to ID his visitors. He lifted a hand in greeting as Wes climbed down from the cab.
Then he paused, shoved back his hat and stared in the direction of the other truck. “What the hell? Gage?”
“Hey, Dad.” He swung down and came around the back of his truck.
Wes decided to stay put and let the reunion play out. It was a great show. Both men wore big grins as they quickly closed the distance, although his dad’s smile looked a little wobbly.
As they embraced, Wes choked up some, too. The Sawyer clan had been a close family until all the kids except Pete had left the Lazy S to chase their dreams. Gage had made the biggest break, rarely visiting since he’d taken off at the age of eighteen.
Stepping back and clearing his throat, his dad surveyed Gage with a fond expression. “You seem to be holding up okay.”
“Thanks.” Gage smiled. “I manage.”
“To what do we owe the honor of your presence?”
“I was in the neighborhood.”
“Likely story. Did you tell Wes that you were—”
“No, sir, he had no prior knowledge. I showed up at the bakery about an hour ago and ambushed him.”
“Well, whatever your reasons, I’m glad to see you, son. Everybody else will be, too. Let’s go grab some cold ones and I’ll start making calls.” He ushered them into the house and pulled beer out of the fridge before he picked up his phone.
In no time the house turned into party central. Kendra came over first, followed by Roxanne and Michael not long afterward. Pete showed up last and gave Gage some good-natured hell for dropping in unannounced.
Everybody pitched in to get a meal going as conversation and laughter flowed. All of Wes’s favorite peeps were finally gathered under one roof. All except one.
She could have been here, too, since her work was over for the day. She would have fit in so well with this crowd. Her name even came up when Gage regaled the group with a description of her Firecracker latte. Nobody besides Gage and Wes had tried it.
Pete and Michael vowed to order one soon, as if downing a Firecracker had become a test of manly courage. Ingrid would get a kick out of that. She was missing out by not being here, damn it.
He’d understood her need for discretion in the beginning but tonight it weighed him down like an anchor around his neck. Yes, she was gun-shy after what had happened with her last relationship, but he wasn’t her ex. Their situation was completely different. Keeping their affair secret from his family, people he loved and trusted, didn’t sit well.
He’d talk to her about it tomorrow, get things out in the open. Gage had picked up on the emotional currents running between him and Ingrid without knowing anything about the situation. That would only be possible if those emotions ran deep. Ingrid might not be ready to admit it, but he was. Gage’s confirmation had convinced him it was time to shake things up.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The text from Wes dropped into Ingrid’s phone at three-thirty in the morning as she was getting ready for work.
I need to see you today. Can you give me a little time during your morning break? So we can talk?
And what could he want to talk about? The answer was obvious. He was frustrated with the status quo. He’d radiated it yesterday when he’d come in, probably to arrange a chance to see each other. Then Gage had arrived.
Well, Wes wasn’t the only one who was frustrated. She hadn’t been sleeping well, and watching him walk out of the bakery with his brother had put her in a funk for the rest of the evening. They had a plan for Saturday night and Sunday morning, but she didn’t want to wait that long, either.
Can you meet me in my apartment at ten-thirty this morning?
His answer was immediate.
I’ll be there.
Good. They had a plan. But instead of helping her anxiety, tension wrapped a tight band around her skull, pressing against her temples and giving her a mild headache.
If only they’d connected this week. Then neither of them would be in this fix. But he was building a clientele, and sacrifices had to be made. Keeping their relationship secret—her rule—added another layer of stress.
By the time ten-thirty rolled around and she walked out of the bakery, she was a bundle of nerves. His dusty truck was in its parking space so he was already up there waiting. Joy had been the driving force behind their interactions…until now.
She clutched her phone in one hand as she climbed the stairs. The timer was set so she wouldn’t be late getting back to work. She stepped into the hall.
He stood just outside her door. Then she was in his arms, his hungry mouth capturing hers.
Her anxiety melted in an avalanche of warmth, caring and passion. So much passion. He groaned and pulled her tight, fitting his hips to hers, letting her know how much he wanted her.
He lifted his mouth a fraction from hers. “I’ve missed you like the devil.”
“I’ve missed you, too. And Saturday night we—”
“I can’t live this way.”
She went very still. “What?”
He closed his eyes and groaned. “Sorry. That wasn’t how I planned to open the discussion.”
“But it’s open, now.” Her blood had been racing with excitement. Now it slowed, chilled by his pronouncement. “Do you want to have it here or—”
“In your apartment.” Releasing her, he took her hand and squeezed it. “We’ll work this out. I know we can.”
She hoped he was right. They walked into her living room and took a seat on the sofa, still holding hands, their bodies angled toward each other, their opposite knees touching. “Before we start, do you notice anything missing in this room?”
“Missing?” He frowned. “Like what?”
“The poster.”
He glanced across the room at the blank wall. “I’ll be damned. You’d think I’d have seen that first thing.”
She smiled. “You’d think.”
“When did you take it down?”
“Sunday. I wasn’t in the mood for that message anymore.”
“That’s encouraging.” He gazed at her. “Does that mean you’re ready to talk with Roxanne?”
The band tightened around her skull. “No, it doesn’t. The event at the GG tomorrow night is a big deal and I’m not going to risk upsetting her before a fundraiser Michael’s orchestrating, a night that’s also special for your dad. I—”
“How do you think she’ll feel when she finds out after the fact?”
“What do you mean?”
“I spent last night with my family, including Michael and Kendra. When Gage showed up, everyone gathered. It was a special time and I wanted you there, too. If we weren’t hiding our relationship, you could’ve been.”
“But I’m not part of—”
“Aren’t you? You said this was important to you, that I’m important to you.”
“You are!”
“How can I be when nobody knows about this except us?”
“They will know. In due time.”
“How much time?”
A Cowboy’s Challenge_The McGavin Brothers Page 14