Unfortunately, Gabe came after her.
Grabbing the phone, she gave her name.
“Mrs. Hill, this is Ron Frizzell with TGM Corporation. We visited with you earlier today.”
Katherine’s heart began beating double time. Was she going to get a second chance? Could fate be that kind?
“Yes, Mr. Frizzell, I remember.” She held back the plea that he give her another opportunity to secure the contract. She’d wait to see what he had to say. At least she’d try to wait.
“My colleagues and I have discussed your bakery item, and we have decided to go ahead with the arrangement. We will order nine cakes a day and provide the transport for twenty-five dollars a cake. Will that be satisfactory?”
Excitement was bubbling up in Katherine and she struggled to hold on to her composure, to sound professional. “Yes, Mr. Frizzell, I accept your offer. When do you want the order to begin?”
“Today is Tuesday. Can you have the first order ready Thursday morning? That way our restaurants will have them for the weekend rush.”
“Of course I can.”
“Very well. Do you have a fax machine?”
“No, but my attorney’s office does. Please send the papers to Alexandra Langford.” Then she gave him the fax number. Mac had let her use his fax machine before.
“Very well. Payment will be mailed every Monday for goods provided through Saturday. Is that satisfactory?”
She hoped she remembered everything he told her. Her mind was racing ninety miles a minute. She even caught herself trying to calculate how much she could save before Paul started school in the fall. “Oh, yes, it’s satisfactory.”
“Good. Let us know if you have any difficulties.”
“I will. Thank you.”
When she hung up the phone and could release the excitement bursting inside of her, she spun around and discovered Gabe hovering over her, an impatient look on his face.
“Gabe! I did it! I actually did it!” she screamed, and threw her arms around his neck. Then she planted a kiss on his lips that brought the world to a halt.
GABE TOLD HIMSELF he wasn’t interested in kissing Katie. He told himself he would have grabbed her and kissed her back if he hadn’t been so stunned. He told himself he didn’t want her more than life itself.
Impossible.
“What happened?” Mary asked from behind him. Evelyn was peering over her shoulder.
“That was one of the gentlemen who visited today,” Katherine told her workers, after one darting look at Gabe. She then stepped around him. “He placed an order for nine cakes a day.”
“Mercy!” Evelyn exclaimed.
Mary at once began asking questions, demanding details, and Katherine tried to answer them.
Gabe didn’t feel any of the excitement showing on the three ladies’ faces. But he couldn’t help asking, “How are you going to produce nine cakes a day?”
“Fourteen cakes,” Katherine said.
He could see the wheels turning in her head. She didn’t even remember what they’d been discussing before the call came. More importantly, he didn’t think she remembered that she’d kissed him.
That thought upset him more than her lie. If one kiss could destroy his peace of mind, she ought to at least remember it!
“Katherine!” he snapped. “We still need to talk.”
“Gabe, I can’t—”
“I won’t take long.”
The way she avoided looking at him made him think that maybe she did remember that kiss after all. Good.
“Ladies, we’ll talk in a minute,” she said quietly to the two women. They left the kitchen, staring over their shoulders at Gabe. He felt like a tiger on display.
Katherine walked away from him, circling the worktable. Putting distance between them.
He made his demand at once. “I want to know who you’re seeing. You said you were seeing someone. It’s obviously not Jack Ledbetter. I made a fool of myself because of your lie, but I found out the truth.”
She ran a hand over the smooth cabinet, still not looking at him. “It’s none of your business.”
“What did you say?” He couldn’t believe her response.
“I said it’s none—”
“I heard your answer! Of course it’s my business! If you don’t marry, I’ll lose my grandmother’s home.” He began circling the worktable. If he got close to her, he might wring her neck. Or kiss her. But that was a chance he had to take, because he wasn’t going to be ignored, told it wasn’t his business.
Katherine started walking again, ahead of him, rounding the opposite corner from him.
“Stop, Katie, or I’m going to get dizzy.”
“I’ll stop when you stop.”
He came to an abrupt halt. “What’s the matter? Do you think I’m going to hurt you?” He remembered his question to Cal about her husband. “Did Hill hurt you?”
She looked away. “That’s none of your business, either.”
Drawing a deep breath, Gabe tried to organize his thoughts. That surprise kiss had shaken him. “Look, Katie…”
“Katherine,” she insisted.
He heaved another sigh. “I’m trying to remember, but old habits die hard.”
An almost mournful look came over her face. “I know,” she said softly, still not looking at him.
“Katie—Katherine, I have to fix this. I want to live in Gran’s house, to be surrounded by her things, to feel—to remember—I don’t want to lose the memories of my grandmother.” He was baring his soul to her, well, some of it, anyway. She didn’t deserve to know the thoughts he had of her.
Finally she looked at him, her beautiful blue eyes filling with tears. “Gabe, I don’t know what to do. I’d help you any way I could, but I don’t—”
“You’ll help me?”
“But Mac said you can’t break the will.”
“If you’ll help me, I think I can fix things.” He knew he could if he could get her married to someone else. Whoever she was dating.
He ignored the empty feeling in his stomach. It was probably hunger anyway. He hadn’t eaten any of Cal’s cookies.
“How?”
Somehow, he didn’t think she was in the mood to agree at the moment. When she wouldn’t even give him a name, it didn’t seem likely she’d set a wedding date. But he’d find out who the man was. He’d work from that end to encourage a wedding date. Soon.
“I’m going to have to work out the details. I’ll get back to you. And Katherine, I appreciate your cooperation. That’s kind of you.” He gave her a smile. It wasn’t sincere, or warm, or even friendly. But it was a smile.
She looked leery.
“I’ll let you know what I work out, okay?”
“Yes, of course. But Gabe, I won’t do anything illegal,” she cautioned.
He stepped back as if she’d slapped him. “Illegal? Katherine, I’ll have you know I’m a member of the bar. Do you think I’d throw away my career? Of course we wouldn’t do anything illegal!”
Her smile was tremulous. She nodded. “Okay.”
He turned to go, then thought of something else. “Um, I’d better warn you. I think you’ll have company tonight.”
Her eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re coming over?”
He was almost as taken aback as she was. “No! No, not me. Jack Ledbetter. He said he was going to—he’d be over.”
“Why?”
“That’s none of my business,” he returned, pleased to use her own excuse against her. Then he left The Lemon Drop kitchen.
Chapter Six
Katherine had a lot to do. Unfortunately, she seemed to be mired in molasses. Instead of making plans, reorganizing her kitchen, preparing for the increase in business, all she did was stare into space. Thinking about the kiss.
“Get over it, Katherine,” she admonished herself.
It was only a kiss.
But the instant her lips had touched Gabe’s, she was Katie again, that young Katie Peters, naive, opti
mistic…in love. Believing that her future was bright.
“Your future is bright. You’ve got a good business here. You’re able to provide for your family. You’re a lucky woman!” All of that was true. So why did she feel her heart had been broken all over again?
“Katherine? Did you call?” Mary asked, sticking her head past the kitchen door.
“No! No, I was thinking out loud,” she assured Mary, smiling. “Isn’t that a sign of craziness, talking to yourself?”
Mary shrugged her shoulders. “I’m not going to say that, since I talk to myself all the time.” After a glance over her shoulder, she said, “Things are pretty slow out here. Need some help to get ready for Thursday?”
“That would be great if Evelyn can handle business.”
Mary’s presence would help settle her down. Force her to concentrate on mundane matters. Make it possible to forget the taste of Gabe Dawson.
When six o’clock finally rolled around, Katherine had accomplished a lot. She’d called Jessica to give her the good news. After all, it was Jessica who had pointed out to the corporation how well her carrot cake sold. And she’d called Alex Langford to warn her about the incoming fax and ask her to review the contract for her.
She’d planned out a schedule for early mornings when she’d need more help turning out fourteen carrot cakes in addition to the cinnamon rolls and sausage biscuits. She hoped her mother would agree to come in until she found additional help.
Everything was organized.
Except her heart.
She almost dreaded going home and facing her family. Could she hide the devastation she felt? The loss all over again?
She knew she’d made the right choice ten years ago. If she’d asked Gabe to wait for her, to give her a chance to settle things with her family, he’d still be waiting. And she could never have abandoned her family.
But she’d also known he would have insisted he wait…for a while. Until he grew impatient. He hadn’t been known for his patience. And the result would have been the same. Only the agony would have been prolonged.
Damn it, why did this one man have such a hold on her heart? Of course, he was handsome. But there were other handsome men. He was brilliant. Loving.
But surely there were other men with the same makeup, the same qualities. But if there were, she’d never met them. Never been interested. Never—
She clamped down on those thoughts. Concentrate on the good news. Think about telling Mom about the extra income. Watch her face light up in relief.
When Katherine reached her home, she was composed, ready to sit at the dinner table with her family and thrill them with her news. It would be a good evening. A family evening. The start of a better life.
Okay, so maybe she was exaggerating a little, but that was better than going home with her head hanging down just because of one stupid little kiss.
Then hell broke loose.
“Mom? I’m home,” Katherine sang out in her most cheerful voice. Two things struck her at once. There were no enticing smells from the kitchen. And there were no noises of people moving around, going about their business.
As if to contradict that thought, her mother came running into the kitchen, tears streaming down her face, followed by Susan, making an impassioned plea.
“Tell her, Katie!” Susan screamed. “Tell her she can’t do it! It’s the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard. Tell her she can’t be so selfish!”
Margaret, sobs racking her body, buried her face in her hands. She mumbled something, but Katherine had no idea what she’d said.
Katherine immediately put her arms around her mother, stroking her back. Then she turned her attention to Susan. “Calm down and tell me what you’re talking about. Without any more attacks on Mom,” she added in a tone of voice that let Susan know she wouldn’t tolerate it.
“It’s that Jack Ledbetter!” Susan spat, having found a new target for her anger.
Katherine suddenly remembered Gabe’s warning as he’d left her shop. Expect company. She guessed Jack hadn’t waited until evening. And now she had a clue as to the cause of Susan’s anger.
She led her mother over to the table. “Where’s Paul?” Her calm, supportive brother would help settle the turmoil.
“He’s not home yet. He had a meeting after school. I had to catch a ride with Prissy Dunlap.” Susan’s contorted features emphasized her feeling of mistreatment. “And when I get home, I find Mom and that—that man in the living room, kissing!”
Margaret sobbed even harder, her face buried on Katherine’s shoulder.
“Susan, go to your room and stay there until I’ve talked to Mom. And try to calm down.” She and her sister dueled with stares, but Katherine won out. For ten years, she’d been the only disciplinarian in the house. Her mother wasn’t strong enough to say no.
After Susan had left the room, Katherine took her mother’s shoulders and eased her back, trying to see her face. “Mom? Mom, tell me what’s wrong.”
Her mother hiccuped several times and tried to wipe away the tears. “I wouldn’t—I loved your father.”
“Of course you did.”
“But Jack—” She stopped and hid her face again.
“—is a wonderful man,” Katherine finished.
Margaret nodded, her face flushing. “He—he wants to marry me!” she said hurriedly, shooting a guilty look over her shoulder in the direction of Susan’s room.
Katherine hugged her mother. “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”
“But I can’t marry him,” Margaret said, sobbing again.
With a sigh, knowing she had an uphill battle, Katherine set out to convince her mother differently. Then she’d have to deal with Susan.
GABE WAS POURING Puppy Chow into a bowl for his new companion when he heard a vehicle outside.
Had Cal come to call again? Or one of his other friends? He stepped to the sink to look out the kitchen window. Much to his surprise, Jack Ledbetter was getting out of his truck.
“Think he’s come to take you back, Cinnamon?” he asked the puppy, curled up in the crook of his left arm. He hoped not. He was surprised at how quickly he’d gotten attached to the little dog.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. He opened it for Jack Ledbetter. “Come in, Jack. How are you?”
He blinked rapidly when the man’s composure disappeared and he looked tragically at Gabe. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I need help.”
“Come in, man. Of course, what can I do?” In Cactus, as in most small towns, neighbors did what they could for each other. He hadn’t forgotten that small-town spirit.
Gesturing to the table, he put Cinnamon back in her box and washed his hands, then poured two cups of coffee. “What’s the matter?”
Jack didn’t answer at once. He gulped down coffee and tried to calm himself. “I know this isn’t any of your business, but I don’t understand women too well.”
Gabe cleared his throat, hoping to hide the urge to chuckle. “Most men don’t, including me.”
“But earlier today, you gave me some advice.”
Uh-oh. Gabe immediately regretted his interference. But he hadn’t thought—he’d believed Jack was talking about Katie, not her mother. “What happened?”
“I went over there—I couldn’t wait until this evening. And I told Margaret how I felt. I kissed her.” Jack paused, a gentle smile on his face, his eyes glazed over.
Gabe understood that reaction. After he’d made love to Katie that one time, he’d scarcely been able to think of anything else—until she rejected him.
“And she accepted?” he prodded.
His question brought Jack crashing back to reality. “No. I think she intended to. She snuggled into my arms. She fit perfectly.” Another pause. “Then Susan came in.”
It didn’t take ESP to figure out Katie’s youngest sister had spoiled the moment. “She got upset?”
Jack pressed his lips together. “It was horrible. She said terrible things to
her mother. When I tried to stop her, Margaret turned on me, like a lioness protecting her cub. She told me she could never marry me.”
Unhappy silence filled the room. Gabe prodded again. “And you left?”
“What else could I do? She doesn’t want me.” Jack was the picture of dejection.
Gabe ran his fingers through his dark hair, wondering what he should say. He and Jack might not be close friends, but they had one thing in common. They had apparently both been spurned because the Peters women were self-sacrificing. Unless Katie was telling the truth that she’d fallen for someone else.
“Look, Jack, you need to talk to Katie. I think she’s in favor of you marrying her mom. She can probably help you more than I can.” Gabe felt partly responsible for today’s events, but there wasn’t much he could do.
“I couldn’t force Margaret to marry me, Gabe. She doesn’t want me.”
“Sounds more like Susan doesn’t want you,” Gabe pointed out.
“You marry a woman, you take on her family.”
“What about Paul? What did he say?”
Jack sighed. “He wasn’t around. Sometimes he works at Katherine’s shop.”
Gabe wanted to help Jack. If for no other reason than to show Katie this ridiculous behavior that seemed to run in their family was wrong. But what could he do?
Finally he got up. Scooping Cinnamon from her box, he put her in Jack’s arms. “Entertain Cinnamon for me for a minute. I’ll be right back.”
He hurried to Gran’s bedroom. The phone company was supposed to turn on the phone service today. He only hoped they’d kept their word.
No such luck. The phone was dead and he’d forgotten to charge his cell phone. So he couldn’t call Katie to find out what—not what he should do, but what she and her mother wanted Jack to do. That’s what he needed to discover.
He went back to the kitchen, where Jack was stroking Cinnamon, staring at the ridiculously pleased puppy.
“Jack, my phone isn’t connected, so I can’t call Katie. Maybe tomorrow—”
“We could go over there,” Jack said, a spark of hope in his voice.
We? Gabe swallowed a sudden lump in his throat. Go to Katie’s house? Face her family? “No, I don’t think—”
The $10,000,000 Texas Wedding Page 6