“If nothing else, she’ll be touched by knowing you wanted to do something special.” Jonah nudged back his hat. “And you won’t have to find a place for anything except the bears. It’s not like we’ve added a bunch of things you’ll have to dust.”
“That’s a good point,” Cade said. “I used to think Mom didn’t have knickknacks because we’d break them. Recently she told me it was the dust factor.”
Austin picked up the two bears. “You don’t have to dust these, either. Just whack them together, like this.” He gave a quick demonstration.
“Hey!” Cade snatched them away from him. “Don’t do that.”
“Why not? It’s a great dusting technique.”
“That may be true, but Cade Bear and Lexi Bear would prefer to have the dust carefully brushed from their furry little bodies.” Cade walked over and gently placed them side by side on the sofa. “They don’t appreciate being smashed together like a pair of cymbals.”
Jonah was cracking up. “Cade Bear and Lexi Bear? Are you really gonna call them that?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Because it’s not manly. It sounds like you’re three.”
“No, it doesn’t.” Since Austin had insisted on the bears he felt the need to defend Cade. “What else would you call them? They’re supposed to represent the happy couple. You can’t name them George and Sheila.”
“Why do you have to name them at all?”
“Because that’s what you do with stuffed animals. I had a bear I called Teddy. Not very original but I came up with it when I was around two, according to what my mom told me.”
Cade nodded. “I had a bear. Named him Rufus after the character on Sesame Street. When I thought I was too old for teddy bears, I gave him to a younger kid.”
“Yeah, I did that, too. When my mom died, I wished I had him back, but it was too late. That little kid was attached to Teddy and I didn’t have the heart.”
Jonah gazed at them. “Well, I didn’t have a bear, so I guess that explains it.”
“Doesn’t have to be a bear,” Austin said. “Like you heard last night, Sophie has a plush tarantula. I knew a kid who had a plush snake.”
“Well, I didn’t have any of those critters. Didn’t know there was a naming protocol involved.”
Austin couldn’t believe that he’d lived in the same cabin with Jonah for years and hadn’t known the guy had never had a stuffed toy as a kid. No telling what else Jonah had done without, but it might explain his philosophy about material possessions. He exchanged a quick glance with Cade.
“You know what?” Cade gestured toward the items piled in the kitchen. “We’re standing here shooting the breeze like we have all day and we don’t. I want to spit shine this cabin before we start putting flowers and candles everywhere and the morning is slip-sliding away.”
“That’s the damned truth.” Jonah seemed relieved for a change of topic. “When are these long-lost relatives of yours going to show up, by the way?”
“They said not to expect them until right before the ceremony. They’re checking into a hotel in town because they know we’re full up here. If you’re asking whether I should be down at the house soon in case they arrive, the answer is no. We need to start the cleaning project ASAP, though.”
“I’ll help you with that.” Jonah jerked a thumb at Austin. “John Denver has to restring his guitar and practice his tunes.”
“Yeah, I do.”
“Then take that project out to the porch, please,” Cade said, “so we don’t have to vacuum around you.”
“Do you want to vet the songs? Yesterday I was just winging it but you can have different ones as long as I know them.”
“What you played yesterday was fine. I trust your judgment. Just don’t play stuff like ‘Does My Ring Burn Your Finger’ or ‘Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?’ and we’ll be good.”
“Damn. You just nixed my two favorites.”
Cade grinned at him. “Grab your guitar and get outta here, cowboy. And thanks. It’ll be great having you play.”
“Especially when I launch into ‘All My Ex’s Live in Texas.’ I know you want that one.”
“There’s the door, Junior.”
Austin chuckled as he picked up the box of strings from the kitchen table and grabbed his guitar from the corner of the living room. He also took his phone out to the porch and laid it on the railing so he’d hear it. The men and women staying at the ranch were supposed to remain mostly separated today, but he remembered that Drew wanted to mic his guitar.
They couldn’t be testing the mic at the last minute, either. If she didn’t contact him by midafternoon, he’d text her. This was important, but it was also a great excuse to see her and maybe steal another kiss or two. He was getting seriously addicted to those kisses.
An hour later he had the guitar tuned and had started through his memorized pieces. None of them were sad songs or even mad songs. He’d never cared for those and Cade knew it.
Sitting on Cade’s porch on a sunny day with his guitar balanced on his thigh was almost perfect. A light breeze was blowing and the birds were chirping away. Having Drew in the chair next to him would complete the picture but they were a long way from an idyllic scene like that. Neither one of them had a porch, for one thing.
He’d planned to rent an apartment but now he was thinking a house would be better, a small house with a porch. Porches and guitars were a natural fit. He might be able to find something like that at a rental price he could afford.
Staying overnight in Cade’s house had given him a clearer picture of what he eventually wanted, although the place was a little small if Cade and Lexi had kids. He wondered if they’d thought of that. He sure would when he bought or built a house.
The door opened and Cade and Jonah came out with a big bag of chips and three beers. Cade handed Austin one of the beers and leaned against the porch railing while Jonah took the other chair. “This is lunch,” Cade said. “We figured after a big breakfast we could survive on a snack until dinner.”
“Works for me.” Austin put down his guitar and twisted the cap off his beer. “You finished in there?”
“Yep.” Jonah ripped open the bag of chips. “We came out here so we won’t drop chips on the floor, although it’s so clean you could eat off it.”
“Am I allowed to walk on it?”
“Only if you take off your boots,” Jonah said. “And don’t touch anything.”
“What’d you do with my duffel?”
“It’s sitting by the front door along with mine. My recommendation is we finish our beer, grab our stuff and head down to the meadow so we don’t mess up anything in the house. We have to go down there eventually to get dressed, and we can shower and shave in the bathhouse.”
Austin smiled. “Like old times.”
“Exactly.” Jonah sipped his beer. “No telling how often a bunch of us will be together so we might as well make the most of it.”
Austin grabbed a handful of chips. “We’ll be doing this again before you know it. I’ll be inviting the whole crew to my wedding.”
Cade choked on his beer.
“Okay, okay. I don’t have a date set or anything, but—”
“Or a bride.” Cade looked at him and shook his head. “Please learn from my mistakes. You rush this thing and you’ll live to regret it.”
“It all turned out okay for you in the end, though. You’re marrying Lexi and you have this great cabin.”
“This extremely clean and tastefully appointed cabin,” Jonah said.
“You’re right, Junior. I have this cabin and a wonderful woman to share it with. But it’s taken two very long years to get to this day because I tried to rush the process in the beginning. I’m trying to save you from screwing up like I did.” He reached for
some chips and dropped crumbs on the porch. “Whoops.”
“No worries,” Jonah said. “I parked the broom next to the door so we can sweep down the porch before we leave.” Then he turned to Austin. “Cade’s right. There’s no doubt she likes you, but I wouldn’t try to sell her on the wedding gig just yet.”
Austin sighed and glanced around. “It’s just that I know what I want now. I want her and a house, something like this. I’m already twenty-six, and—”
“You’re only twenty-six,” Cade said.
“My dad was thirty-two when he died.” He didn’t bring that up often but it might be the only way his brothers would understand.
Cade’s quick glance of solidarity showed that he did. “My mom was thirty-five. I get what you’re saying. But I guarantee Drew isn’t coming from that same place.”
“Most people aren’t,” Jonah said. “And while it’s good to know that time is precious, you can’t railroad folks.”
“Like a bullet train,” Cade said with a grin.
Austin rolled his eyes.
“Well, he said railroad. You can’t expect me to pass that up.”
“Obviously.” Austin took a long swallow of his beer and rested the bottle on his knee as he gazed at his brothers. “Well, it turns out you’re both right. She asked me out for coffee yesterday to find out whether I was thinking long-term commitment already. I didn’t mention that conversation last night because I didn’t want to hear either of you say ‘I told you so.’”
Cade grimaced. “Knowing me, I would have said it.”
“Not me.” Jonah polished off his beer. “I’d rather say it now when we’re all sober. Hey, brother, I told you so!”
Austin threw a chip at him.
“No food fights allowed!” Jonah carefully picked the chip from the porch floor and tossed it into the yard for the birds. “I’ll get the broom and both duffel bags if you two losers want to head for my truck.”
Austin drank the last of his beer. “What about the bottles?”
“We’re taking them and the bag of chips,” Jonah said. “When we leave, there will be no trace of us anywhere.”
“Except for the candy, the flowers, the candles and the teddy bears.” Austin stood. “I’ll get my own duffel. I want to take a peek inside.”
“Yeah, okay.” Jonah opened the door and pulled out the broom. “We did an awesome job if I do say so.”
Austin grabbed his duffel and set it on the porch. Then he surveyed the house, or as much of it as he could see from the open doorway. Flower arrangements, bowls of candy and candles in various sizes sat on the coffee table, the mantel and the kitchen table. The two bears on the sofa added the perfect touch and he was glad he’d insisted on them.
“You need to move,” Jonah said. “I want to sweep.”
“Hang on.” Austin went back and picked up his phone from the porch railing. “I want a picture.”
“Don’t show it to anybody,” Cade said. “I want Lexi to be surprised.”
“I won’t. This is for me, so I can remember what we did.” He took several shots. “I wish now I’d bought another set of those bears. You don’t find those everywhere.”
Jonah clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll make you a promise, bro. When it’s your turn, I’ll scour the internet for those bears.”
“Okay. Thanks.” But Austin didn’t trust doing it that way. Some things you needed to hold in your hands to make sure they were right. In the next few days he’d go into town and buy another pair of the stuffed toys. It couldn’t hurt to have them on hand.
He was still holding his phone when the text came in from Drew. When can U stop by the barn? Need 2 mic your guitar. His world suddenly became several shades brighter. He texted her back to say he’d be there in five minutes.
“What a big smile you’re wearing, Junior,” Cade said. “Can I guess who that text was from?”
“She needs me to come to the barn so she can mic my guitar.”
Jonah laughed. “That’s a new one. I’ve heard clean the windows and mow the lawn, but not mic my guitar.”
“She really does need to.”
“I know. Just needling you. Would you like us to drop you off at the barn?”
“I would.” He rode in the back of Jonah’s truck on the way down and had to keep a firm grip on his hat and his guitar because the ride was breezy and bumpy. It suited his upbeat mood perfectly. He’d get to see Drew again, and with any luck, she’d be alone.
Chapter Nineteen
Drew had picked up sound equipment before driving to the ranch this morning. She’d also brought a wooden stool from her kitchen because Austin would need something to sit on and he might not have thought of that.
Elise was up at the house shooting video with Drew’s small camera as the women fixed each other’s hair and steamed the wrinkles out of their dresses. Drew liked to include that footage in the final cut, so it was a good thing she had help handling it while she was down in the barn trying to figure out the best spot to put Austin. The music setup was critical and until that was done to her satisfaction she wouldn’t breathe easy.
When Austin walked in carrying his guitar, her pulse jumped the way it always did when she saw him. But she was determined to keep their interaction businesslike. She’d thought about him quite a bit today and she’d always come back to the same sad conclusion—his vision of the future was very different from hers.
“Howdy, ma’am.” He leaned his guitar in the corner and hung his hat on it before coming toward her wearing that killer smile.
“Did you actually just say ‘howdy, ma’am’?”
“I did. I like saying it. Makes me think of the olden days.” With no hesitation whatsoever, he drew her into his arms. “I was hoping you’d be all by yourself.”
“Elise is taking footage up at the house.” Keeping their interaction businesslike wasn’t quite so simple when he was used to kissing her whenever they were alone.
“Good.” He pulled her close.
“And we have work to do.” Somehow she’d ended up with her palms flattened against his broad chest. His heart was beating as fast as hers. “This probably isn’t a good idea.”
“I think it’s a great idea.” He cupped the back of her head and leaned closer. “I won’t be able to concentrate unless I kiss you first.” He captured her mouth.
Kissing him had always made the world disappear, but not this time. All that thinking about their situation had her on edge.
Slowly he lifted his head and gazed down at her. “Drew, what’s wrong?”
“I’m just... We need to talk, but there’s no time for it now.”
His breath hitched. “You’re right about that, but we’ll have time tomorrow night.”
“Yes, we will.”
Slowly he released her and stepped back. “Do you still want me to come by?”
She hated seeing the uncertainty in his gaze, but this would be a terrible time to discuss whether they should consider parting ways.
“Yes, please.” She put a hand to her chest and struggled to breathe normally. “But I could be late.”
“I don’t care what time it is. I hope you’ll call me regardless.”
“Okay.”
He massaged the back of his neck and stared at her. “You wore your hair down.”
“I didn’t want to be quite so casual today. I’ll be changing clothes in a little while, too.” She took a deep breath. “If you’ll get your guitar, we can see if this microphone placement works.”
He didn’t move. “When you wear your hair down, it curls more. I didn’t realize that. I love the way it looks.”
“Thank you. But we really need to—”
“Get down to business. I know. It’s just that...you’re beautiful.”
&
nbsp; She looked into his eyes and saw everything she’d been afraid he was feeling reflected there. She wasn’t wrong about his intentions. The two of them were a train wreck in the making. Pain sliced through her when she thought of how that could hurt him.
He cleared his throat. “Just couldn’t go without saying that.” He gestured toward the mic. “Ready to test that thing out?”
She nodded.
“I’ll get my guitar.”
Moments later, she adjusted the sound levels and the position of the mic while Austin played country love songs. He didn’t sing the lyrics but it didn’t matter because she knew most of them. She also knew he was playing those songs for her.
Concentrating on the sound quality was a challenge when she kept thinking of how he’d looked at her. What a mess. Watching him play tore her into little pieces because he was obviously serenading her. A sweet serenade was the last thing she deserved now that it seemed certain she would break his heart.
“That’s probably enough,” she said. “I’m satisfied if you are.”
He slid off the stool. “The mic’s good and I like the acoustics in this old barn. Didn’t know if I would. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll head on down to the meadow so I can spruce up for the big event.” At the door he turned back. “Listen, whatever it is, we’ll work it out. See you later.”
When he was gone, she sank down on one of the benches to catch her breath. She was still there trying to sort through her volatile emotions when Elise came back.
Her sister hurried over, sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “What happened?”
“Austin’s in love with me.”
“He said that?”
“No, but I can see it in his eyes. And he thinks we can work out our differences but I don’t think we can. We’re on completely different trajectories.” She sighed.
“Is there anything I can do?”
Drew shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, though.”
“Are you absolutely sure you’re not in love with him?”
“I’m not sure at all. The way this hurts right now, I very well might be. But if I do love him, the kindest thing would be to let him go. I have a gut feeling that he wants marriage and babies and I think he wants them soon.”
Do You Take this Cowboy? Page 16