But after he’d swept out his work area and moved all his sculptures around at least half a dozen times, he realized there was nothing else to do. He was as ready as he was going to get. What he hadn’t expected was the feeling of nervousness making it difficult to stand still. If he wanted the art thing to be a legitimate source of income, this weekend needed to go well. If it didn’t, he wasn’t sure if he could justify putting any more effort into the sculptures. He might piddle for a hobby, but if it became apparent there wasn’t a market for his work then he needed to refocus his attention on the ranch and ways of making it more profitable.
But right now, all he wanted to do was go find Devon and kiss the living daylights out of her. The woman was an unexpected but highly addictive drug. When he thought about it, he was surprised she was still single. But maybe her mother’s constant efforts to set her up had left little time and opportunity to find someone she actually liked.
He thought of that online dating site where she’d signed up. She hadn’t said anything else about it. Had she even gone looking through the profiles? Or had she been too busy with work and dealing with her mother? And with him? He liked the idea of him keeping her mind off all those unknown men, even though that was selfish on his part. She wanted forever with someone, and he was delaying her finding her Mr. Right. But damn, he didn’t want to give her up yet.
With that in mind and with everything ready for the opening of the trail the next day, he hopped in his truck and headed to town. When he parked on Main Street, he saw Devon through the window of her shop. She and someone else, probably Mandy, appeared to be doing something over on the side of the store that held the chairs and small table.
With a buzz of anticipation, he got out of the truck and jogged across the street. When he stepped inside the store, she looked up from where she was placing brochures about A Good Yarn on the table.
“About ready for tomorrow?” he asked.
She smoothed back the wisps of her curly hair that had escaped her ponytail. “I think so, though I feel like I’m forgetting something.”
“You haven’t forgotten anything,” Mandy said as she stepped up to the front counter with a few short, fat candles. She quickly arranged them, likely with the intent of encouraging impulse purchases at the register, then looked at him. “She’s been worried all day.”
“This is important,” Devon said.
“And we’re ready.”
Devon shifted her gaze to Cole. “Why aren’t you prepping for tomorrow?”
“Because I’m ready, too. Only so much you can do with metal sculptures displayed in a barn.”
“Did the business cards come in?”
He slowly closed the distance between them. “They did, and they look great.” He pulled her close.
“Cole, not here.”
He grinned at her when he remembered what they’d done in the back room. “Why not?”
“We’re open, and I’m running a business here.”
He just chuckled before capturing her mouth with his. For someone who had protested his simply holding her in his arms, she sure did fall into the kiss easily. And he took full advantage.
When he finally released her, she looked a little addled for a few seconds before she took a step back and straightened.
“You’re a bad influence,” she said, half reprimanding, half teasing.
“From where I’m standing, I need a bad influence,” Mandy said.
Devon’s cheeks flushed red, making Cole smile all the wider.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” he asked.
Devon scanned the store then shook her head. “I think Mandy’s right. We’re about as ready as we can get. But I bet I don’t sleep a wink tonight.”
Visions of why she might be awake strolled through his mind. The sound of a snort behind him said that Mandy’s mind had gone right to the same place.
Devon put her hands on her hips. “You’re both impossible.”
“Actually, I’m pretty easy,” he said.
Mandy full out laughed at that. “You two need to leave before it really does get not safe for work in here. Go, do couple things.”
Couple. He hadn’t really thought of him and Devon that way even though they were sleeping together. It sounded more serious than he’d intended, and yet it felt right. And he did want to go do couple things with her. He was surprised when he realized sex wasn’t even at the top of the list, though he fully intended for it to be on the night’s agenda at some point. But even though their relationship was casual, he wanted more than sex. He could satisfy that itch with any number of women, but what he couldn’t get with them was someone he truly liked as a person, someone who was a good listener, willing to help those around her, who seemed to instinctively know so much about him. In the short time they’d really known each other, it felt as if Devon knew him better than either of his wives ever had. Cared about him more than both of them put together.
Something moved in his chest, something that felt like a lot more than casual dating. Oh, hell. He fought the urge to turn and run out the front door. Without him even realizing it, Devon was becoming more important to him than he’d ever expected. The self-preservation part of his brain screamed for him to abort, to bring about the end of their relationship sooner rather than later.
But another part of him, a bigger and growing one, wanted to punch the screaming part in the mouth. Yeah, he cared about Devon. She meant a lot to him, and he liked being with her, but that didn’t mean it had to end in wedding bells.
“You okay?” Devon asked.
Damn, how long had he been standing there with his thoughts racing?
“Yeah. How about that trail ride I was promised?”
Looked like today wasn’t going to be the day he pulled away for good.
* * *
DEVON WAS CONFLICTED when they reached a lovely sloping meadow on the Teagues’ guest ranch. On the one hand, she was more than ready to get off the horse and stretch her legs, to explore the beauty of the spot. But that would mean leaving the nice, warm nook in front of Cole. She tried not to think about it, but in the back of her mind she always knew that each day with him could be the last. That wasn’t a great way to live, always with a layer of dread accompanying her everywhere she went, but it was the situation in which she found herself.
She’d considered ending their relationship first to protect herself, but that felt like an overreaction. She was strong, more than just what a man made her, so she would survive whatever heartache was to come. In the meantime, she wanted to enjoy her time with him and not regret it when it was over.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Cole said, the vibration of his voice rumbling through his chest behind her.
“Just appreciating the view.”
“Nathan told me about it. I thought it sounded like a place you’d enjoy.”
“It’s so quiet and peaceful. Makes you realize just how much noise there is even in a town as small as Blue Falls.”
“That’s one of the things I missed when I was still on the circuit,” he said. “Being able to ride out across the pastures and not hear anything that wasn’t part of Mother Nature.”
Cole dismounted then reached up for her. She swung her leg over the saddle and sank down into his arms. When she looked up into his eyes to find him watching her with appreciation that she felt all the way to her marrow, she lifted to her tiptoes and kissed him. He reciprocated in the most delicious way, causing the meadow and the world beyond it to fade away.
When they finally drifted out of the kiss, her heart was thumping like a runaway jackhammer in her chest. To keep her thoughts from latching on to words such as forever and happily-ever-after, she forced humor into her voice as she said, “Well, that doesn’t get old.”
Cole laughed. “No, it doesn’t.”
“You look like you’re miles away,” Cole said as he squeezed her hand.
“Sorry. Just thinking how lucky I am. Good friends, a business I love, living in a place that’s so beautiful. A gal couldn’t ask for more.”
Except having the man she loved love her back.
Cole directed them to a spot near the top of the meadow and sat. She followed, sitting close beside him. He continued to hold her hand, and it felt so natural, as if they’d had years of practice.
“You’re right,” he said. “We’re pretty darn lucky.”
He didn’t elaborate, and she didn’t allow herself to do it for him.
They talked a bit about the weekend’s opening of the Arts and Crafts Trail and spent a few minutes watching a couple of deer at the lower edge of the meadow. Devon found herself never wanting to leave this little slice of Eden.
“You’re beautiful.”
The unexpected compliment from Cole drew her attention to him. He actually looked startled that he’d said it out loud, but the intensity in his gaze made her want to believe it. Instead, she smiled and said, “I think you’ve been out in the sun too long.”
“Why do you do that?”
“What?”
“Brush off compliments.”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe they just don’t feel truthful.”
His expression tightened. “You think I’m lying to you?”
She turned part of the way toward him. “No, it’s not that. It’s just that... Well, it feels like you’re not really seeing me.”
Cole lifted his hand to the side of her head and slid his thumb across her temple. “I see you clear as day. And despite banging my noggin on the ground who knows how many times, I still have pretty good eyesight.”
She smiled a little, but echoes of the past still asserted themselves.
“Did someone tell you that you’re not beautiful?” Cole asked. “Your mom?” He’d asked her that before, and that he asked again made her suspect he realized it did indeed have to do with her mother.
“Not in so many words. It’s just...” A lump formed in her throat and she turned back to face the meadow. She considered changing the subject, but the truth churned in her stomach. “I guess you could say I tried to eat my way out of my unhappiness as a teenager. It’s why I wore the baggy, shapeless clothes. My mom was so unaware of how the pressure she put on me to be perfect chipped away at my self-esteem. I remember she bought me an outfit for one of the big Christmas parties the company hosted, and it was three sizes too small. I couldn’t face talking to her about it, so I acted like I was sick that night so I could stay in bed.”
Cole was quiet for so long that she chanced a glance his direction, hoping she didn’t see disgust on his face. Instead, she saw the telltale signs of anger. Tightened jaw. Stiff posture. Heightened color.
“You have no idea how much I want to go give your mom a huge piece of my mind right now.”
His words, the way he said them, the righteous anger on her behalf, touched something so deep and profound in her that she fell the rest of the way in love with him. She couldn’t help it, even if she’d tried with every ounce of her strength. This time, she was the one to place her hand against his cheek.
“It wouldn’t change anything, but thank you for the sentiment.” She paused for a moment as he turned his head and kissed her palm. “You probably don’t remember this, but you actually did stand up for me once, with Amy.”
“I did?”
She nodded. “She was making fun of me, and you told her to stop. That was it, but you have no idea how much I appreciated it.” She left out how even then she’d felt something for him. No need to make their eventual parting more awkward than it was already likely to be.
“I’m sorry I was a lot more clueless then.”
“It was high school. We were all clueless.”
“You weren’t.”
“Trust me there were lots of things I was completely clueless about.” Such as how to make her mother accept her for who she was, not who her mother wanted her to be. Some things never changed.
As the afternoon waned toward evening, she glanced over at where the horse was leisurely munching. “Shouldn’t we head back before it gets dark?”
“Nah. I thought we’d watch the stars come out.”
Did he have any idea how romantic that sounded?
And it was. They lay back in the grass and watched as the heavens seemed to turn on one star after another until the entire dark expanse of the sky was covered with them. Between the heavenly beauty, the soft breeze and the warm, reassuring feel of Cole’s hand wrapped around hers where they lay on the grass between them, Devon didn’t think she could have created a more perfect way to spend her evening.
If only it could last forever.
* * *
COLE SANK DOWN onto a hay bale and gulped half a bottle of water. When he’d agreed to have his art be part of the Arts and Crafts Trail, he figured he could always pull out if no one showed up. He couldn’t have been more surprised by the steady stream of art lovers who’d not only found their way to the ranch but who’d either bought something or commissioned pieces from him. His buddies still riding the rodeo circuit would get a kick out of it, but a sense of accomplishment filled him that he hadn’t truly felt since his days of winning rodeo buckles.
He pulled out his phone and texted Devon about his latest commission and to see how things were going at the shop.
That’s awesome! she texted back after a couple of minutes. We’re full to the gills here.
He imagined her chatting with customers, her smile ensuring they’d come back as much as her products. Damn, he’d grown to love that smile. Anything to do with Devon, really. Lying in that meadow with her looking up at the stars had been about as perfect an evening as he could ever remember having.
He shook his head. He’d sworn to himself he’d never be serious about a woman again, but Devon was making it really hard to keep that promise. When he wasn’t with her, he couldn’t seem to go five minutes without thinking about her. He kept trying to tell himself to retreat, that he didn’t want to walk this path again, but it didn’t feel true anymore. Something deep in his gut told him that Devon was nothing like Amy or Bridget. And that was a good thing because he suspected he was falling for her.
No, there was no suspicion about it. He was certain.
“You must be thinking about Devon.”
He’d been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn’t heard his mom’s approach. He was coming to the conclusion that she was either stealthy or he was really unaware.
“What makes you say that?”
“The look on your face. You love that girl. And don’t bother denying it.”
His instinct was to do exactly that, but he found he couldn’t. He wasn’t going to look his mom in the eye and lie.
“Maybe.”
His mom chuckled. “Honey, there’s no maybe about it. And for the record, I never saw that look on your face when you were with Amy or Bridget. You might have loved them in a way, but this is different.”
“You’re right.”
“I usually am.”
This time he laughed. “I suppose an ‘I told you’ is coming next.”
“Nah, you alrea
dy said it for me. But I am curious what you’re going to do about it.”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“Well, I guess you best get to figuring it out.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Saved by another customer.”
She started to turn away.
“Mom?”
“Yeah?”
“Thank you.”
She looked a tad confused. “For what?”
“Being the best mom a guy could ask for. I always took it for granted, but I realize now that not everyone had that growing up.”
She nodded. He had no doubt she knew he was talking about Devon in particular.
“Thank you for being a good son. Now make your mama happy by not letting that girl go.”
As he continued to greet visitors and conduct business throughout the rest of the weekend, his mom’s words were never far from the front of his mind. He wasn’t sure how things would progress between him and Devon in the days to come, but he’d come to the firm conclusion that he had no intention of letting Devon go. Ever.
Chapter Fourteen
Devon danced around her kitchen as she cooked. The past few days had been wonderful. Beyond wonderful. Every moment she spent with Cole was better than the last, and they’d both had a rousing success with the opening weekend of the Arts and Crafts Trail. She’d never seen her store so full of people, and Cole not only sold several of his pieces but he’d also garnered three commissions for large sculptures. One was even going to be displayed in a new art gallery opening in Austin.
All that awesomeness deserved some celebrating, thus her current flurry of cooking and baking. She was going to feed him, then take him to bed. And quite possibly keep him there for a few days. She giggled at the image as she performed some dance moves between the stove and sink.
She noticed Honeysuckle watching her as if she’d lost her mind. “You’re just jealous because you don’t have a hot date tonight.”
Honeysuckle just sneezed and left the room.
Devon was sliding the chocolate cake out of the oven when someone knocked on the door. She squeaked as she looked at the clock. Still too early for Cole, unless he’d decided not to wait until the time she’d given him. No, no, no. That would ruin everything. She wanted everything just right for their special night. A quick glance down at herself, clothed in loose workout pants and a ratty T-shirt, didn’t really say seduction.
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