His grandfather’s friend studied him. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” Cash answered, even though he had a headache starting behind his right eye. “I’m gonna take a little time to digest all this, then I’ll get back to you if I need anything.”
“Sounds good.” He hesitated. “You think you might want to contest the will?”
He shook his head. “You and Hank. You’re singing the same tune.”
“I think we’ve got grounds,” Gideon said.
“Maybe so, but I don’t want to do that. And before you ask, Mom, Dad, Babs, and I have already discussed this. They agree with me.”
“Would the letter help us?”
“Oh, yeah. But the answer’s still no. Why drag Grandpa’s good name through the courts. Hell, Vivi’s his widow. Maybe it’s only fair she gets half.”
“If she was a different person, I might agree.”
“Yeah, well, what are you gonna do? She is what she is.”
Gideon walked with them to the door. “Your grandfather loved you, Cash.”
“I know.” With that, he and his dog loped down the stairs and stepped onto the non-bustling street. When he went no farther, Staubach looked up at him and whined.
“I’m okay, boy, I’m okay. Got way too much running around in my head, though. Not sure which side is up anymore.”
His grandfather’s letter hadn’t told him anything he didn’t already know. It had, though, reminded him of a few things he’d forgotten.
His grandfather had been a good man. A decent, hardworking man.
Cash had been a good, decent man, too. He wasn’t so sure that was true anymore.
He wanted it to be.
He thought about Annie. He’d done her wrong. Not because they’d made love. Not even because he’d taken her virginity. He’d done her wrong because he’d been a certifiable ass afterward. He couldn’t understand why she hadn’t clocked him, right there and then. If the shoe had been on the other foot, he was pretty sure he would have.
“Staubach, we’ve got some shopping to do.” He wagged a finger at the dog sitting so patiently at his feet. “And you will not get in the bags and eat any of it. Understood?”
Staubach barked and wagged his tail.
“Okay, then. Let’s go.” Digging the car key from his pocket, he headed to his old blue Caddy, his dog following behind. Staubach waited till Cash opened the door, then hopped into the front seat, tongue hanging out, ready to go.
They drove to Sadler’s store. “You stay right here. I’ll only be a minute.”
He ran into the store, pulling his phone from his shirt pocket. “Hey, Barbara Jean, it’s your baby brother. Listen, I need a no-brainer recipe. Something that will impress, but is easy, fast, and can’t fail.” He listened while his sister listed a few possibilities.
“They all sound good, but she’s in an upstairs apartment, and it’s hotter than Hades. I don’t want to heat it up with the oven.”
“She? This would be Dottie’s upstairs apartment? Cash, are you fixing dinner for Annie? Lots of gossip about the two of you going around town.”
Argh. He’d said too much. With her blabbermouth, everybody in the county would have the latest scoop by sunup, including his mother. Shoot me now.
Well, nothing to do but man up. “Yeah, I am. So?”
“So, nothing.”
But he heard the glee in her voice and knew she was deciding who to tell first and whether it should be by smoke signal, phone, or e-mail.
They finally decided on their aunt Eileen’s fruit salad, French bread, and grilled kielbasa. Dottie had a small barbecue in the backyard, and he figured she wouldn’t mind him using it, especially if he fixed her a plate.
Via phone, Barbara Jean walked him through the aisles, telling him exactly what he needed. For something so simple, he sure seemed to be tossing an awful lot of stuff in his basket.
After paying, he wheeled his cart to the car, took one look at a smiling Staubach, and loaded his bags into the trunk.
Annie wasn’t home. He hadn’t factored that possibility into the equation. He knew she’d driven over to Lone Tree, but figured she’d be done and back by now.
Dottie spotted him on the steps. “Hey, Cash, looking for Annie?”
“Yeah, I thought I’d stop by and—” Oh, what the hell. “I figured I’d fix dinner for her. I’ve got stuff in my car.”
“Well, don’t let it spoil. Bring it in, then you can take it up when she comes. I’m in the middle of cleaning out my kitchen cabinets and decided to take a break. I made a fresh pitcher of lemonade this morning. You and I can sit out back with our feet up and a cold drink and wait for her.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Half an hour later, they’d solved the majority of the world’s problems and started on their second glasses of lemonade. They’d also polished off a plate of sugar cookies.
The rumble of the Harley broke the stillness.
“Still surprises me to see the girl riding that bike everywhere.”
He chuckled. “I know. But, that’s Annie.”
“Yes, it is.” She pinched his cheek. “Give me that glass, and I’ll take these things and disappear inside.”
“Don’t forget. I’m fixing dinner.”
“I haven’t forgotten. Not every day a handsome man offers to cook for me.”
“Flattery will get you everywhere, Dottie.”
“I certainly hope so.” She studied him. “Is my girl gonna be happy to see you?”
“I messed up today, Dottie.”
“Thought so.” She gave him a quick hug. “Not like you to botch things, Cash Hardeman. But if you have, you need to fix it. Annie deserves it.”
“I did. And I’m gonna try my best to set it right.”
“Good enough. Staubach can stay down here with me. That doghouse might get a little crowded with both of you in it.”
Chapter Sixteen
Annelise spotted Staubach sprawled on the sidewalk, his head resting on his paws, those big brown eyes on her. Her stomach clenched. If he was here, so was Cash. She wasn’t sure she could face him yet. No, actually it might be better if she did.
“Hey, pooch, what are you doing here?” She knelt down and petted him. “My guess is you didn’t drive that old Caddy yourself, so where’s your master, huh?”
“That mutt has no master, believe me.” Cash peeked around the side of the house. “He only keeps me around to feed him.”
“Cash.” She ran a hand through her wind-tousled hair. “I didn’t expect you tonight.”
“I know, and I probably should have called, but, well, Staubach and I missed you.”
“Missed me?” Her heart lurched. Had she heard him right? After he’d warned her not to expect anything? After what Vivi had said? How was she supposed to be able to recognize the truth?
“I thought I’d stop by and see if you’d let me make dinner for you.”
“Make dinner for me?” She felt like a parrot. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“It’s an apology, Annie.” His voice was husky. “You deserve it after the way I treated you.”
“Why would you want to make dinner for me when you’re sleeping with Vivi?”
“What?”
“Your ears quit working?”
“No! Damn it, what the hell are you talking about?”
She tried to sidestep around him, but he moved in closer, cupped her chin.
She jerked away. “Are you sleeping with her?”
A look of absolute horror crossed his face. “Annie, as God is my witness, I’ve never touched that woman. Nor will I ever.”
“That’s pretty much what Hank told me.”
“Hank?”
“Long story.”
“Annie.” He reached for her hand, but she drew away. “You have to believe me.”
She closed her eyes, blew out a huge breath, and met his gaze once more. “No, I don’t have to.”
“What’s going on here?”<
br />
She tried to turn away, but he wouldn’t let her.
“Who upset you?”
“Besides you?”
He flinched.
“Cash, because of who I am there’re not a lot of people in my life I can trust. I thought you were one of those few. Now”—she shrugged—“I don’t know.”
“Annie, I’d give anything if I could take back those words.”
“Why would you? It’s how you feel, isn’t it?”
“I’d take them back because they hurt you. Because—” He removed his hat, raked his fingers through his hair. “Because I never should have said them. They were a mistake.”
“But they summed up how you feel.” She refused to back off.
“Yes. No! God, Annie, I don’t know.” He closed his eyes. “I’m confused. The one thing I do know is that I hurt you, and I’ve never been sorrier. I miss you. There’s a gulf between us, and I want it gone.”
She wasn’t ready to forgive him or let him off the hook for his less-than-tactful words on the ride to his house. But she couldn’t send him away, either.
“About dinner,” she said. “I’m still not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Give it a try. I’ll leave whenever you say.”
“My cupboard’s pretty bare.”
“We’ve got that covered. Staubach and I stopped at Sadler’s on the way.”
She glanced at the dog who sat up now, smiling at her. “Did anything survive the trip?”
He laughed. “I locked it in the trunk. It’s in Dottie’s refrigerator now. I wasn’t sure when you’d get home.” He tugged at her hand. “Come on. I’ll show you how to make my aunt’s fruit salad. You’ll like it.”
“This doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you.”
“Understood.”
*
“Did you find any clues to your lost relative?”
Annelise nodded. “I’ll tell you about it while we fix dinner. I’m starved. I thought about stopping at Oliver’s, but now I’m glad I didn’t.”
They walked up the outside stairs together after collecting the groceries from Dottie, who’d added two beautiful, ripe tomatoes from her garden.
“These tomatoes.” Annelise palmed one. “I’ve never tasted anything like them. I stood at the sink yesterday and ate one like an apple, juice running down my chin and grinning like a loon.”
“I’ve been guilty of doing that a few times. Maybe not the grinning, but—” He stood in the doorway when she unlocked it, and Staubach squeezed in. Cash frowned at him. “You were supposed to stay downstairs.”
He sat in the middle of the kitchen, his brown and white tail thumping happily on the floor.
“Let him stay.” Kneeling by him, she shook hands with the dog. “You’re welcome anytime, boy.”
The dog shot Cash a hah-hah look.
He shook his head, then swept a hand toward her space. “This is great, Annie. I haven’t seen it all finished.”
“It is wonderful, isn’t it?” She hugged herself.
“You amaze me.” He set the bags on the counter and took her face in his hands. “You have so much, yet it takes so little to make you happy.” He brought his lips close.
She felt his breath against her face and started to draw back.
“Don’t pull away from me. Please.” His lips met hers, and she melted into him.
Though his words still haunted her, she forced them to the back of her mind. Wrapping her arms around him, she fought to get closer still. He did something incredible to her.
He didn’t want forever. Well, then, she’d make the most of today.
His lips, feather-light, roamed to her eyes, her chin, nuzzled her neck and sent shivers through her. Would she ever get enough of this man? She seriously doubted it.
His fingers tugged her tank from her jeans and lifted it up and over her head. His hands cupped her breasts, slid down to her waist, and unsnapped her jeans.
Breathless, she pulled away. “Cash, I need a bath. The dust—”
His lips silenced her. One arm beneath her knees, the other at her back, he carried her into the bathroom. Setting her on the edge of the tub, he began drawing water.
Staubach started in. “No way, big guy. You stay out there.” He pointed toward the living room, and the dog left. With his foot, Cash nudged the door shut.
He cocked his head. “You think that thing’s big enough for both of us?”
“You’re kidding.”
He unbuttoned, then unzipped his jeans and let them slide to the floor. “Nope.”
Within minutes, she was nestled between his legs in the tub, bubbles practically up to her chin. He lathered her, used a cup to wash and rinse her hair, and did things to her body she swore were impossible.
Water sloshed over the rim of the old claw-foot tub. She giggled. “If it starts flooding downstairs, Dottie’s going to be up here. What will you tell her?”
“The truth.” He nipped at her ear. “That you seduced me into your bath and had your way with me.”
“And she’d believe you.”
“She would.”
Annelise twisted, caught his mouth in hers.
In one smooth move, he rose, taking her with him. More water splashed onto the floor. They ignored it. Dripping wet, he carried her into her bedroom, flipped back the spread and top sheet, and laid her down.
She stretched her arms up to him. “Come here.”
Their wet, slick bodies all but steamed.
*
Make-up sex definitely lived up to its reputation—and then some, she decided.
The sun was setting by the time they made it into the kitchen, him in unsnapped jeans and bare feet, her in her cheap cotton robe from Sadler’s. Her mother would have a coronary if she saw them now, ready to make and eat dinner like this. Having grown up with very little, her mom had made it her life’s work to perfect the airs of aristocracy. She seldom wavered. Dinner was always a dress-up affair.
Annelise smothered the giggle that threatened. This—with Cash—was an affair, too, plain and simple. And as long as she remembered that, she could have the time of her life, away from all the madness that cluttered her days and nights.
“I’m famished.” Cash dug into the grocery bags. “Babs said the fruit salad was supposed to chill. Don’t think we’ll have time for that, but it should be okay anyway.”
“Babs?”
“Barbara Jean. My sister. She promised I couldn’t screw this up. We’ll see. Jury’s still out.”
Opening a can of chunked pineapple, he drained the juice into a small pan. “Why don’t you slice up the fruit?” He nodded toward the bags. “I’ll fix the sauce.” He added a packet of vanilla pudding to the juice, heated and stirred till the combination turned into a thick orange goo.
He eyed it skeptically. “This is it, I guess. Put the fruit and walnuts in a big bowl, then I’ll pour this over it.”
That done, he set it in the fridge and slipped into his shirt. Grabbing the sausage, he said, “Set the table, woman, and I’ll be back with the meat.”
Halfway out the door, he stopped. “Oh, there’s French bread in one of the bags if you want to slice that. The wine was chilled when I left the store, but…” He shrugged.
“I’ll take care of it.” She grinned. When she heard his footsteps on the stairs, she did a little happy dance through the kitchen.
Turning on the old radio, she found his country station, lit a couple of candles, and set her mismatched table. The flowers from Dottie’s garden made a perfect centerpiece.
Finding the bread, she unwrapped it and got out her cutting board. She’d slice one of the fresh tomatoes Dottie’d given them and drizzle a little olive oil over top. Then she took out a third plate to make up for her landlady.
A breeze came through her open window. Life was suddenly a whole lot better than it had been a few short hours ago. She still needed to call her mother, but that could wait. They’d eat first. No sense ruining her appetite worrying abo
ut it.
When Cash returned with the grilled meat, Staubach came to attention. Cash put a piece of the sausage on a paper plate and set it in front of the grateful dog.
Annelise watched him. “Can I ask one more question?”
He groaned.
“One more. Then I’m done. Promise.”
“If I say no, will that stop you?”
She shook her head.
“I didn’t think so. Shoot.”
“It’s Vivi.”
He set the platter on the table. “Annie, I swear to God—”
She shook her head. “The look on your face when I asked about that told me everything I needed to know. You’re not sleeping with her.”
He grimaced. “I can’t imagine why you’d ever think I was.”
“She told me you were.”
“When?”
“This afternoon.”
He swore a blue streak, then apologized again.
“Here’s the thing, Cash. Why is she so antagonistic? I don’t get it. I haven’t done anything to her, but it’s like she’s holding a grudge.”
“It’s not really you. It’s, well, complicated.”
“Anything I should know?” Annelise asked.
Slowly, he shook his head. “Not really.”
“Why don’t I believe you?”
“You’re competition, all right?”
“For what?”
“For…” He waved his hand in the air. “For being the most beautiful woman on the ranch.”
“That is such BS.”
He laughed, then breathed deeply. “Smell this sausage. You as hungry as I am?”
She put her hands on her hips, studied him. “Okay. And we’re changing the subject.”
“Yep.”
The meal, despite, or maybe because of, its simplicity, was one of the best she’d ever eaten.
“Cash, you can cook for me anytime.”
He took her hand, ran his thumb over the back of it. “I mean to have you over to my place for more meals like this.”
She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, her emotions on a dizzying roller coaster ride. It had been quite the day.
“I have a hot tub.” His eyes went smoldery.
She almost choked on the grape she’d just popped into her mouth.
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