The Chef Chases his Cowboy Dream (Silverstone Ranch Book 3)

by April Murdock

  The concrete stunt was the tipping point. No matter what she did, Wesley wouldn’t see her in a romantic way. There was no point in sabotaging his relationships. That was when she decided to set him up—push him toward a good person.

  It wasn’t that she regretted any of it. At least not until now.

  She chewed on the inside of her cheek. Christian broke the awkward silence. “You have any other skeletons?”

  Mia burst into a fit of laughter. “Does she. Man, Lily and Wesley single-handedly—”

  Lily slipped her arm through Christian’s and pointed him at the putting hole. “Your turn. Remember, winner pays for ice cream.”

  “Oh, there’s no chance anyone else will win tonight.” Christian flashed her a smile. “I’m what you call an expert.”

  “Well, expert. Show us how it’s done.” She gestured to his club. Behind her, she could feel Wesley’s eyes on her. He hadn’t said anything about her little stunt. Was he upset? She wouldn’t blame him.

  Christian tapped the ball and it rolled its way right into the hole. He turned and winked at her. “Told ya.”

  Lily placed her hand on her hip. “It’s the first hole. I’ll believe it if you keep this up.”

  He kicked her club with the toe of his boot. “You’re up. Let’s see what you got.”

  She brushed past him, and the scent of his cologne stirred something in her. Her focus shifted just as she tapped the ball, sending it flying past the hole and ricocheting against the edge of the green.

  Christian chuckled. “Tell you what, I’ll give you some pointers.”

  “And what’s that gonna cost me?”

  He leaned in close, and his warm breath grazed her neck. “How about another date?”

  Chapter Eight

  Wesley’s grip tightened around his club as Christian and Lily moved on to the next hole. Christian made some kind of comment and Lily laughed. She was flirting! Since when did she flirt? Never in all the time he’d known her had he seen her do that with anyone.

  Mia rested her head on his shoulder. “Remember when that was us?”

  “Huh?”

  “You know, when we started dating. I hung on every word you’d say and laugh at all your silly jokes.”

  He stepped away to stare at her. “You didn’t think I was funny?”

  “You were funny, just not all the time.” She laughed softly and placed her hand on his chest, a gesture she used to do before he moved.

  Wesley wrapped his fingers around her hand and pulled her close. “I seem to remember I was very funny. Hilarious, even.” He released her hand and slipped his arm around her waist. “Not even you can fake being entertained that much.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “Maybe you’re right.” She stood up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.

  Nothing. He felt nothing. Even Charlotte elicited more of a response from him. He dropped his club and held her tighter, deepening the kiss, searching for what they’d had years ago. It still wasn’t there.

  Someone cleared their throat behind him. Mia broke apart from him. Her nose pinked and a blush slowly crept across her cheeks. She touched her lips. Wesley turned to see his brother with a cocky smile fixed to his face, and Lily, who looked less than amused.

  The kiss bothered her, he could see it. She didn’t want him dating Mia. Right. His eyes narrowed. The cement sabotage was out of character for her too. Could Lily be pushing him away even though she really wanted to see if they had a chance?

  “Don’t stop on our account.” Christian placed his arm around Lily’s waist. “Come on, Lily. How about we leave these two alone and I’ll show you those tips.”

  Lily watched Wesley over her shoulder as Christian guided her away. Wesley’s frame slumped. If she was secretly interested, how was he going to get her to admit it? He’d have to spend more time with her. Not only that, but he’d have to convince her that if Mia was her friend, she’d want them to be happy.

  “Wesley?” Mia’s quiet voice pulled him from his thoughts. She stepped between him and Lily’s retreating form.

  He needed to tell Mia he wasn’t interested. There was no way he could string her along. Wesley took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

  Mia placed her finger to his lips. “Whatever you’re going to say, don’t. I can tell you’ve been distracted all night. Something’s bothering you.”

  “You’re right, there is something—”

  “Let me finish. When you moved to New Jersey, breaking up was the right thing to do. I knew we couldn’t make things work long distance. Now that you’re back, it’s like we have a second chance. I don’t want to rush you into anything. I’m okay if we take it slow.” She nibbled on her lower lip. “And if we don’t end up together, it’ll okay. Just do me a favor.”

  His brows pulled together. It wouldn’t be right to string her along. He already knew he wanted someone else. But that someone else didn’t want him. What was he supposed to do when the person he couldn’t get out of his thoughts refused to give him a chance? Wesley sighed. “What favor?”

  “Don’t write me off just yet.”

  Dang it, when did he get so easy to read? She could tell he’d planned on breaking it off. He should have never kissed her. He’d dug his hole and now he had to lie in it. What he should have done was set everything straight when he was at Lily’s. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea.”

  “Why not? You’re here for a few weeks. We know we have chemistry. I felt it, and I think you felt it too.”

  It’d tear her apart if she knew just how little her kiss had affected him. He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t plan on staying here long term, Mia. This is just a short break—for lack of a better word. I need to clear a few things from my head and then I’m heading back.”

  Mia smiled, melting him on the spot. He wasn’t in love with her, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care for her. And he’d always had a hard time telling her no. Apparently that hadn’t changed.

  “Okay. We’ll spend some time together—but not exclusively. You date other people and I date other people.”

  She nodded. “Deal.” Mia wrapped her arms around his middle and rested her head against his chest. “It’s nice to have you back, Wesley.”

  Slowly, his arms came around her and he rested his chin on her head. At this point, he’d be hard pressed to admit it was nice being back. His return had only ramped up his anxiety and awkwardness. He’d wanted a quiet break from the hassle running his restaurant had become. Lily had plagued his thoughts for the better part of the year and he’d finally bit the bullet and bought the plane ticket home.

  She was the one thing he associated with happiness. Odd, since his family was still around and had always supported him. For some reason, Lily was the only one he wanted to spend time with. So there she was, in the forefront of his mind, offering that relief.

  Lily had said no to a relationship, but she hadn’t said no to a friendship. Maybe he could get her to admit her feelings for him. If he could push her that far, all it would take was one gentle nudge and she’d be his. Mia worked in the city. That meant he’d be free to get more one-on-one time with Lily.

  Mia released him and scooped up his club. “We better get cracking or we’ll never catch up.”

  They played a few holes and quickly gained ground. Wesley rounded the corner of a large windmill and took two steps onto a bridge. Lily and Christian came into view and his blood ran cold. Christian’s arms were wrapped around Lily, guiding her putt. His hands were placed over hers and he was mumbling something in her ear.

  Lily giggled and together they hit the ball toward their target. The ball skittered across the green and landed with a thunk in the hole. Lily squealed, jumping up and down. Christian cheered, grabbed her in a hug, and swung her around. They looked like the perfect couple. No, they were the perfect couple.

  Christian put Lily down and their gazes locked.

  Wesley’s hand clenched at his side. That should have be
en him. Christian moved closer. Their bodies almost touched. If he kissed her—Wesley’s whole body went stiff. Control. He had to stay in control. These were the two people he cared about most. He should be happy for them and mind his own business.

  Christian tapped Lily on the nose. She laughed, looked away, and stepped back. The charged moment was lost. He slipped his arm around her waist and led her to the next hole.

  Weight settled into Wesley’s chest. His whole body ached. He forced himself to pull his gaze away from them. Stooping, he put his ball on the green. Christian and Lily might be hitting it off, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t spend some extra time with her. Perhaps her feelings would change. All it would take was a moment—a moment where she could experience what he felt for her. Wesley tapped the ball. It rolled down the green, bumped against the far wall, and rolled away from the hole. He let out a sigh.

  Mia bumped her hip against his. “Hey, where are you?”

  He lifted his gaze to meet hers. “Huh?”

  She laughed. “When we were younger, mini golf was your jam. You’re either rusty, or you’re somewhere else.”

  Mia could still read him. Could she tell he was pining for Lily? No. Mia wasn’t the type to stay quiet when something this “interesting” happened. She’d get involved. He smiled at her and put his arm around her shoulders. “Just ready to call it a night. How about you?”

  Her head lowered to his shoulder. “I suppose you’re right. There’s a lot to do tomorrow.”

  “Wait, what?”

  “For your party. Your mom wanted to know if I could stop by and help with the cooking.”

  Wesley groaned. “She said it would be small.”

  A knowing smile touched her lips and she pulled away. “This is your mom we’re talking about. When has she ever done something small?” Mia chuckled. “I bet the lovebirds are about done by now. What do you say we take our balls to the last hole and join them?” She slipped her hand in his and guided him away.

  He stared at their intertwined hands. Playing along with Mia wouldn’t make him a bad person, would it? She knew he wasn’t interested in making anything official. His stomach soured and he tugged his hand free of hers. She didn’t comment on it. They wandered to the last hole, took their shots, and the balls disappeared under the giant wooden windmill.

  Mia gestured to where Lily and Christian sat on a bench. They smiled as they spoke. What were they discussing? Planning when to see each other again? Wesley scowled and strode toward them. Christian glanced at him as he approached, flashed a smile, and grabbed Lily’s club.

  “I’ll be right back.” He winked at Lily.

  Wesley needed to have a word with his brother before things went any further. He took a step in Christian’s direction, but Mia stepped in front of him. She grabbed his club and gave him a pointed look. Wesley’s eyes narrowed. Was she trying to tell him something? There was some kind of hidden message he wasn’t understanding.

  Mia flashed a smile at Lily, then Wesley. “I’ll take these.”

  Wesley’s arms dangled at his sides. He glanced at Lily, who’d remained perched on the bench. Could Mia sense the tension in the air? Maybe she wanted to give him a chance to clear things up with Lily.

  “Well, that was more fun than I thought.” Lily patted the bench beside her. “Christian sure has changed.”

  Wesley snorted. No, he hadn’t. Christian was still a self-proclaimed ladies man. If he settled down, it would be a surprise to just about everyone in town.

  “What?” Lily laughed. “You don’t think so?” She bumped her shoulder against his. “The Christian I remember wouldn’t have gone on a double date with you if you’d paid him. The guy I remember only looked out for himself.”

  “You don’t know him like I know him,” Wesley muttered. His brother might have agreed to go on this double, but it was only to rub the obvious in Wesley’s face.

  Chapter Nine

  Lily tipped her head to the side. Something was bothering Wesley. He hadn’t given her a genuine smile or laugh all night. Maybe Mia had pushed him into the double date when he’d preferred spending time with her alone.

  One thing was for certain—she’d made the right choice to refuse a date with him. She honestly still wasn’t sure what he’d meant. He must have been confused for a minute. But after tonight it was clear that Wesley and Mia were meant to be together. Mia was so happy. The small glances they gave each other were icing on the cake. One day someone would look at her that way.

  “Lily?” Wesley placed his hand on her knee.

  Heat radiated from his touch, causing the rest of her body to feel chilled. She shivered involuntarily. “Hmm?”

  “Can I ask you something?”

  She swallowed as her eyes remained fixed on his hand. He hadn’t moved it, and part of her didn’t want him to. His touch was so comforting, and yet the burning sensation urged something deep inside of her to demand more. “Sure.”

  “Do you… like him?”

  His voice was so quiet. It was the kind of sultry voice that made a girl’s heart stop beating. That was silly. It was just the way he talked. The trouble with that was how much she enjoyed his voice, his smile, those eyes… She froze. Wait, hadn’t he asked her something? She racked her brain. What was it? Her brows pulled together and she stared into the depths of those blue eyes.

  “I mean, it’s okay if you do. There are a few things I wanted to warn you about. Well, not really warn you—”

  Lily looked at him and shrugged. “What are you talking about?”

  “Christian. Do you like him?”

  Her eyes drifted to the shack where Christian and Mia stood in line to return the clubs. They chatted easily. But that was to be expected. Mia was good with people. Christian knew how to entertain. It made sense for them to get along—especially if the two of them were going to be in-laws. Christian turned and glanced at her. He gave her a small wave, winked, and turned back to his conversation with Mia.

  He was attractive, easy to speak to, and he seemed to like her. She could see herself spending more time with him. There just wasn’t the kind of spark she wanted. She could barely remember the relationship her parents had. But as she watched her two older sisters find love, she knew in her gut there was something missing here. Christian wasn’t for her.

  Lily stood, forcing Wesley’s hand to drop from her knee. “I don’t think it’s any of your business who I like.”

  A crestfallen expression flitted across his face.

  Her stomach dropped. “I don’t mean to be rude, Wes. But the fact is, you have your own relationship to worry about. We have barely spoken to one another in the last few years. You can’t just come into my life and give me relationship advice like you know me. We aren’t the same people we were before you moved. Even then, we’d drifted apart. The more time you spend with Mia, the more you’ll see I’m right. Men and women can’t be friends.”

  He shot to his feet, the disappointment changing into something more exasperated. “That has got to be the most backward thing I have ever heard. Who says men and women can’t be friends? We were friends through high school and never had any problems.”

  Lily put her hands on her hips. She didn’t want to get defensive, but she knew she was right. “Wes, when you and Mia started dating, you spent less time with me—as it should be. I’m not arguing that point. Friendship should never be prioritized over love.”

  “But that’s what I’m trying—”

  Lily shook her head. “I get that Mia will be out of town. And I’m not saying we can’t be friends—” She blew out a breath and twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “What I’m trying to say is you should worry about your own relationships, not mine.” Why was she so flustered? For some reason, knowing Wesley was invested in her love life was causing all kinds of anxiety.

  Wesley took a step closer to her. “As your friend and as Christian’s brother, I think I know a thing or two. My intentions aside, I don’t think the two of you
are as compatible as you might think.”

  Lily folded her arms and took a step back. “You’re the one who set us up. Even if you hadn’t—if I wanted to date him, you couldn’t stop me.”

  “He’s just flirting with you, Lily. He’s just trying to make you feel good.”

  “Is that so bad?”

  Wesley opened his mouth, held up his finger, then snapped his mouth closed. “No, on it’s face it’s just fine, but—”

  “Have you considered that maybe it’s nice just to be noticed and flirted with? If Christian wants to compliment me and keep me company, I’m certainly not going to stop him. You should just be happy for me—for us.”

  “Ready to go?” Christian joined their group and slipped his arm around her waist.

  Lily leaned into him and forced a smile as Wesley’s narrowed eyes zoned in on the action. Mia stood beside him and took his hand. He released her and took off across the golf course toward the parking lot.

  Three heads swiveled in his direction.

  “What was that about?” Christian asked.

  Lily shrugged. “Beats me. Let’s go.”

  The ride home was chilly, and it wasn’t related to the weather. Christian didn’t say much, and despite Mia’s multiple attempts, Wesley didn’t seem willing to join in on the conversation.

  They dropped off Mia first. Wesley walked her to the door. Under the glow of the porch light, he said a few things to her. Mia smiled and stood on her toes to kiss him. A funny kind of twinge occurred in Lily’s stomach. What would it be like to be kissed by him? She’d been tempted on more than one occasion to steal a kiss from him in their teen years. Lily tore her gaze away but it swiveled back. From her vantage point, it almost looked like Wesley turned his face at just the right time for Mia to plant her lips on his cheek.