Redeeming the CEO Cowboy

by Charlene Sands

  “Sounds good.” Whether it tasted good or bad, he’d be forcing the meal down his gullet.

  She rose from her seat and called out, “Time for dinner, Ally.”

  Ally stopped petting Charger’s underbelly and looked up from her spot on the grass. “Can Charger come, too?”

  “I can put him in my yard and close the gate,” Casey offered.

  “No, it’s just as well. Ally will never let it rest. She can play with him inside the house until I get the meal on the table.” She called to Ally, “Yes, it’s okay, sweetie.”

  “Yay!” Ally jumped up, a toothy smile breaking out on her face. “C’mon, Charger.”

  Susanna chuckled.

  Charger trotted after Ally, and all of them followed Susanna into the house.

  * * *

  Just seconds later, Susanna shut off the egg timer, fit her hands into oven mitts and pulled the meatloaf out of the oven. A half-baked turkey concoction greeted her. She stared at the uncooked portion of meat. “Oh, no, not now.”

  Her shoulders sagged. Tears welled in her eyes as she removed her oven mitts and waved her right hand close to the opened door. She already knew the outcome. Her doggone oven was on the fritz. Where the elements should’ve been red hot and the turkey sizzling, the temp was lukewarm at best as if the oven had made a valiant effort before taking the night off. “Darn it.”

  This can’t happen now. She lowered her lids and prayed to the oven gods for an easy fix. She had orders to fill tomorrow. And her new clients at Casey’s job site were expecting muffins in the morning.

  Casey sidled up next to her and stared into the roasting pan. “What’s wrong?”

  “The meatloaf hasn’t been cooking. My oven must’ve petered out halfway through.”

  “Do you know what’s wrong?”

  “It’s happened before. Last time, I had to replace some fuses. But the repairman said she’s on her last legs.”

  Casey blinked. “Mind if I take a look at it?”

  “Not at all.” She moved aside, giving him room to work. Casey had magic hands. Maybe they were good at coaxing an oven back from the dead.

  He gave the oven a once over, tinkering with the knobs and inner workings, while she kept an eye on Ally playing with the dog by the kitchen table. A few minutes later, he walked over to her. “The bad news is, I don’t think I can fix it. The good news is, I know someone who can.”

  He whipped out his cell and began punching in a number.

  “Who are you calling?”

  “Our head electrician. He’s been working at the restaurant. If I can reach him, he’ll come out right now.” Casey turned his wrist to glance at his watch and she caught a glimpse of the time. It was past seven o’clock. She heard it ring and ring on the other end. “No answer,” he said. “If he’s still working at the site, he probably can’t hear the phone. Let me try another number.”

  While Casey was on the phone, Susanna called the repairman from Speedy Service who’d come to her house the last time. She didn’t have any luck reaching him or the three other repairmen she quickly looked up on her smartphone.

  Shoot. This wasn’t good. Her mind began racing. She’d never failed to make a delivery. Not when her father was ill, not after her mother had married, not when Ally had come to live with her. Somehow, she’d always managed to fulfill her orders.

  “I can have someone out here first thing in the morning,” Casey said.

  “You don’t have to do that. I’m sure I can reach someone in the morning. It’s just that...I won’t make my deliveries. And your crew won’t be getting their muffins tomorrow.” She was kicking herself now for not investing in a simple electric oven sooner. She’d been saving up to buy a digital three-in-one convection oven with all the bells and whistles.

  The puppy’s bark broke into her thoughts. Ally’s giggles came next and Susanna broke into a smile. What a cute picture they made. Ally sitting on the floor cross-legged, the pup on his hind legs, his paws on her shoulders, moistening her skin with doggie licks.

  “Charger, down.” Casey’s voice was softer than usual when reprimanding the dog. He shifted his eyes to hers. “Little girl’s best friend.”

  She chuckled. “That’s one way of putting it.”

  His eyes lit up. He flashed a beautiful smile set off nicely by his five o’clock shadow and Susanna took a steadying breath. Oh, boy.

  “I’ve got the solution to your problem. Wrap the meatloaf up and stick it in the fridge for tomorrow. I’m taking you both out to dinner.”

  Four

  Susanna sat in a semi-circular booth facing Casey with Ally propped in a booster seat between them. Cut crystal bottle lamps gave off a soft light that illuminated the booth and the bowl of fresh roses floating in water that sat in the center of the table. On the drive over, Casey had assured her that Michael’s Steakhouse was a kid-friendly restaurant and Ally wouldn’t be out of place.

  Glancing around, Susanna noted a few other children at nearby tables and her shoulders fell in relief. There was McDonald’s kid-friendly and then there was fancy, white tablecloth, kid-better-behave-himself, kid friendly. Michael’s fit into the second category.

  It still amazed her she was sitting here, having dinner out with Casey. She’d agreed without argument, not even flinching when he’d suggested it. She’d spent her time on the drive over here wondering why that was. Judging by the lift of his brows when she’d said yes, she’d surprised him too. Why hadn’t she flat out refused Casey? She could have made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and then called it a night.

  The reason had hit her just as he pulled up to the valet parking area. Susanna was beat, mentally and physically. Her nights were long, her days even longer. She juggled her business and motherhood. Each day brought a new experience raising Ally. She was constantly second-guessing herself. What did she know about being a mother?

  Tonight when the oven conked out and Casey took control, she was actually grateful, and her resolve had melted faster than a strawberry sundae on a hot afternoon. Her decision making skills took a short and much needed vacation. She’d caved because the fight was out of her and the thought of being served a delicious meal had almost as much appeal as gorgeous Casey Thomas.

  Over her glass of lemonade she watched Casey dip his fork into his Caesar salad.

  “Admit it, you were glad the meatloaf didn’t make it to our plates tonight,” she said.

  Casey’s lips twitched one twitch too many. “I won’t admit that.”

  “But it’s true.” She couldn’t blame him. Rodeo cowboys bred on beef didn’t eat faux meatloaf.

  “Not saying a word, Suse.”

  This time she didn’t stiffen her back when he used her nickname. “I should invite you over tomorrow night, for day-old, reheated turkey meatloaf. That’ll show you.”

  He laughed and then his eyes darkened. “Is that an invitation?”

  Whoops. She hadn’t meant to blurt that out. “Uh, sure.” She shifted her gaze to Ally, who was content eating fancy breadcrumb-topped mac and cheese, a dish off the children’s menu recommended by the waiter. “That’s if I have a working oven by then.”

  “You will. I’ll pull my electrician off the job if I have to.”

  “You want my turkey meatloaf that much?”

  His expression softened and he blinked.

  Darn it, she wasn’t a charity case. A noisy sigh escaped her throat. “Really, you don’t have to do that. I’ve got calls in to three repairmen.”

  “What about tomorrow morning?”

  She moved pieces of chicken piccata around on her plate. “Nothing much I can do about that.”

  “Why not? I have an oven. The last time I checked it was functioning. You can bake at my house.”

  It wasn’t a bad idea. But when she ga
ve it more thought, her lips tightened and she shook her head. “I can’t do that to Ally. I’d have to yank her out of bed at four in the morning and disturb her sleep.” She glanced at her charge, still busy eating her meal, and lowered her voice. “She’s just started sleeping better. I feel bad enough waking her up when I do and dragging her across town with me every morning.”

  “What if you didn’t have to wake her up earlier?”

  “Meaning, what?”

  “You and Ally can sleep at my house tonight.”

  “W-what?”

  Casey leaned forward, bracing his powerful arms on the table. A whiff of lime cologne floated to her nostrils and her senses heightened. He wasn’t implying anything sexual, but her imagination took flight anyway. No, no, no, she screamed in her head.

  “There are two extra bedrooms in my house. My folks’ room and Audrey’s room. You can have one or both tonight, and you won’t have to wake Ally up before dawn. You can bake and make your deliveries like any other day.”

  She stared at him. He really didn’t have five purple horns sprouting from his head, but you couldn’t convince her of that right now. She began shaking her head. She leaned forward and whispered, “You can’t be serious.”

  “Why not?”

  Was he dense? She didn’t want to sleep under his roof. With him only steps away. She wouldn’t get a wink of sleep. But she wasn’t going to admit that to him. She stared even harder.

  When he caught on, he jerked back in his seat, opened his mouth and then shut it. “Oh, okay. I get it. That’s an easy fix. We’ll trade houses for the night. I’ll sleep in your house. Or get a hotel room for the night.”

  “I would never put you out of your own home, Casey. Really, it’s a generous offer but...”

  “There’s no buts, Susie. You need an oven, I have an oven. You need a bed, I have a...” He stopped talking then and Susanna blushed. Casey grinned. “You know what I mean.”

  Why was he going to such trouble for her? Was it guilt or pity or something else? Casey had never been this accommodating before. Her lids lowered halfway. “Why are you doing this for me?”

  He hesitated for half a beat. “Just being neighborly, Susanna. I’ve learned how to be a problem solver. Had to be for Audrey’s sake. Your problem is easy to fix.”

  Now she felt like a jerk for questioning his motives. “Everything I need is over at my house.”

  “So we box it up tonight real quick and bring it to my place. It’ll take us about ten minutes.”

  Us?

  Susanna glanced at her watch. It was a quarter after eight. She could have Ally in bed by nine o’clock at the Thomas’s place, and not have to lose a day’s pay tomorrow morning.

  She turned to Ally and smiled, softening her voice. She had to broach the subject lightly. “Ally, would you like to sleep at Casey’s house just for tonight? You and I can share a big bed. Sorta like a fun sleepover. In the morning, you can help me bake using Casey’s oven.” Heaven help her, she didn’t want Ally going backward. No big changes in her life, the psychologist recommended. This probably didn’t count as a big change, but Susanna had to be cautious.

  Unsure, Ally shifted her gaze to Casey.

  He added, “Charger will probably want to sleep in your room too.”

  The child’s eyes rounded to quarter size and she bounced up from her seat. “Can we, Auntie? Can we?”

  Why hadn’t she thought of saying that? Score one for Casey Thomas.

  “Oh, well, yes,” she said, meeting Casey’s eyes. “Yes, I think we can.”

  Minutes later, Casey paid the check and slid out of the booth. He extended his hand to help Susanna and she took it casually, as if tingles weren’t running up and down her arm, as if her heart wasn’t thumping like crazy against her chest. She liked it better when she hated Casey and shoved him out of her mind completely. Now, he was back in town and her female hormones were acting like jumping beans.

  As she rose and straightened, he released his grip and she found herself staring into his handsome face. She cleared her throat and took a big, hopefully unnoticeable, swallow.

  Ally walked across the booth seat toward Casey. Instead of helping her down, he turned and pointed to his back. “Wanna ride on my shoulders?”

  Ally giggled shyly and slipped Susanna a quick glance.

  Susanna worried her lips. Was Casey up to this? It was obvious he didn’t think he’d have a problem carrying the slip of a child on his shoulders.

  She gave an encouraging nod. “Go ahead, sweetie. It’ll be fun.”

  Casey turned and bent down, giving her his broad shoulders. “Climb on.”

  With Casey’s assistance, she managed to wiggle atop his shoulders. It was clear Ally had never had a shoulder ride before. Her eyes lit brightly but with a hint of fear. Casey grabbed her legs to secure her and slowly rose to his full height. “All set? Here we go.”

  Ally giggled again. “Okay.”

  Susanna walked beside them, noting genial smiles from restaurant customers as they headed toward the front door. They probably looked like a happy family trio and for a few seconds, it was fun to pretend they were.

  Geesh, what had come over her?

  They reached the entrance and Casey bent his knees to clear the doorway. “Duck,” he said to Ally.

  It was great advice.

  Susanna had better do the same.

  Or she’d find herself getting knocked on her butt again.

  By Casey Thomas.

  * * *

  It wasn’t hard boxing up her kitchen utensils and ingredients for tomorrow’s baking. Casey did the heavy lifting and the transfer went smoothly from her house to his. Getting Ally all cuddled in bed was amazingly easy since Casey Thomas, Ally’s new friend and hero, made sure to put Charger’s plaid doggie pillow on the floor of his parents’ bedroom when he’d given her fresh linens. A blur of blond fur had bounded onto the bed as soon as Susanna had tucked Ally in. The two were becoming inseparable.

  “Charger can stay with you for fifteen minutes,” Susanna said.

  A wide smile spread across Ally’s face and she bobbed her head up and down. “But when I come back, it’ll be time for sleep. Charger will have to sleep on his own bed. That’s the deal, sweetie.”

  “Deal,” Ally said, her little fingers rubbing the underside of the pup’s chin. The dog was so content, if he’d been a cat he’d be purring right now.

  Susanna left them and marched into the kitchen. Casey was leaning against the counter, one ankle crossed over the other, drinking beer, looking every bit as appealing as he had when he was younger and she was in love with him. He tipped the bottle toward her. “Want one?”

  Her eyes fixed on the bottle. Yes, yes she did. But it wasn’t a good idea—mixing Casey with alcohol. “No, I’d better not.”

  He took a long sip and her gaze flew to his throat as he swallowed. If only she wasn’t so darned attracted to Casey, this being-neighbors-again thing wouldn’t be so hard. Shifting her attention, she eyed the box sitting on the counter beside him.

  “I should organize my stuff. Morning comes early for me. I hope I won’t disturb your sleep.”

  His gaze darted down the length of her body in a quick scouring that melted her bones. A second whizzed by, then another. What was he thinking? “I’m a sound sleeper.”

  “T-thanks again...for dinner and for letting me use your oven.”

  He shrugged and set the beer down on the counter. “No problem.”

  When he didn’t move out of her way, she sidled next to him and began taking items out of the box. Darn that cologne he wore. It drifted straight up her nostrils and would smother all rational thought if she let it. With jittery nerves, she pressed on. “I’ve got to get the butter and eggs in the fridge before they spoil.”

 
“I’ll help,” he said, turning so he stood beside her.

  He dipped his hand into the box and reached for the eggs at the same time she did. His hand brushed hers, and for a second she relished him touching her. His palm was calloused—probably from years of reining in broncs—and warm as a furnace. Hot tingles flew up her spine. “You don’t have to.”

  His fingertip brushed over her hand as he pulled out the carton of eggs. “It’ll go faster if I do.” He smiled.

  So many smiles from Casey lately. Her gaze dropped to his mouth. His lips were full and surrounded with pale blond stubble. Sexy eye candy. Mindy’s words. Not hers.

  She didn’t want his help. He was a one-man wrecking crew and she was trying not to be wrecked again. But how ungrateful would she seem if she argued with him? She was barging into his home, taking up residence and usurping his kitchen. “Okay...thanks.”

  “Welcome,” he whispered.

  Susanna grabbed the butter cartons from the box and walked them over to Casey’s refrigerator. Cool air blasted her when she opened the door. Glancing inside, she sighed. Poor thing was empty but for a few condiments, beer bottles and a partially used half gallon of milk. “Wow, and you’re turning down my turkey meatloaf?”

  He walked over and peered into his fridge. A deep chuckle rose from his throat. “I know, pretty pathetic. I haven’t had time to do any shopping. And I didn’t turn down anything. I’m taking you up on your invite for dinner tomorrow.”

  “You shop. As in, you buy groceries?”

  “I wash my own back too.”

  She pictured him showering and silently cursed. What was wrong with her? “You know what I mean,” she said softly.

  “Okay, I admit to having my housekeeper fill my refrigerator and cook my meals when I’m home.”

  “So this is a new learning curve for you? I don’t get why you didn’t stay at a hotel near the River Walk. Would’ve been easier for you, I’d imagine.”

  Casey folded his arms and leaned them on top of the open refrigerator door. He was close, just inches away, and his gaze bore into her. The fridge temps were useless, doing nothing to cool her down. “Sometimes, it’s nice to come home.”