by Somer Hayes
Unwilling to leave Tripp’s truck at the lot, I told Tom I’d be back after work to pick it up. Then I headed to the bakery and texted Tripp.
Hannah: Any chance you could pick me up after work today?
He replied immediately.
Tripp: You bet. Everything okay?
Hannah: Yep. I’m the proud new owner of a Jeep. You can finally have your truck back.
Tripp: Congrats. Pick you up at 4.
I set my phone down and tried to psych myself up mentally for my first and least favorite of all time task that morning.
Paperwork.
It was time to reconcile my accounts, and hopefully, mercifully pay the bills. I sat down at the counter and pulled my statements for the month, the familiar knot of dread pitting itself firmly in my belly.
I added all my sales, orders, and deliveries. Then I subtracted my costs before adding back in the amount Tripp and I had agreed I would earn at the ranch.
My brow furrowed.
This couldn’t be right.
I did it all again. Then a third time.
I was in the black. I had turned a profit. I could pay the rent, all of my bills, and I still had money left over to live on. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough. I could even afford to put a little into savings.
I wanted to weep with joy. It was finally working. The standing orders plus the increased foot traffic plus the reduced cost of rent thanks to my work at the Maverick Ranch equaled a profitable business.
I put my face in my hands and allowed myself just a few celebratory tears. I could do this. Nothing about it was easy, but that was okay. I could do it. I was doing it.
I wanted to call Tripp and tell him my good news but then had a better idea.
The rest of the day flew by in a flurry of new orders and several people stopping in for coffee and a quick bite. I spent much of my time that day in the front of the store enjoying the sound of people’s chatter, the clicking of keyboards, and the enjoyment of things I had created.
It was the best day I had had in a very long time, and I was careful to relish every moment of it. Before I knew it, it was four o’clock. The last customer had just left with a dozen snickerdoodle cookies when Tripp walked in.
I rounded the counter to throw my arms around him and plant a kiss on his stubbly face. “I’m so happy to see you,” I told him.
He drew back so he could look at me and grinned. “Well, hello to you, too.”
“I had the best day. The shop was so busy, I got a good deal on a new car, and I have a surprise for you.”
“For me?”
I nodded. “Stay right here.” I went to the back and retrieved the oversized fortune cookie I’d made earlier in the day. I had only made a couple of them before, so it wasn’t perfect, but it would do. I went back to the front and presented it to Tripp. “For you.”
“A giant fortune cookie?” His confusion was clear.
“Just open it,” I urged.
He cracked it in half and found the piece of paper I’d slipped in there. Or, more accurately, a check.
“What’s this?”
“It’s my rent,” I told him proudly. “My fortune.”
He looked at the amount, then back to me. “You’re sure you’re comfortable making this?”
I nodded confidently. “Yep. I can afford it. Thanks to your help, my little bakery is officially profitable.”
The grin that claimed his face pulled at my heart. He snatched me up by my waist and spun me in a circle. “I’m so proud of you,” he exclaimed.
“I couldn’t have done it without you,” I replied.
He put me down but didn’t release my waist. “This calls for a celebration.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Dinner. On me.”
“That sounds great. We can go right after I feed the guys.”
He shook his head. “No. We’re going now.” Then he pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Bill? Hannah is taking the night off. Order a dozen pizzas for the fellas. Thanks. See you tomorrow.”
“You don’t have to do that,” I began. “After all, the only reason I’m able to pay you is because I pulled my wages from the ranch off the top.”
“I’m aware, but you still busted your butt to get here. You deserve a night off, and I know just the place.”
I couldn’t stop the smile from claiming my face or the little dance of excitement at the thought of a night off with Tripp. “Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise. Let’s go get your new car, then we can head home so you can change and then we’ll head out. We’ll come back for the truck later. Sound good?”
“Sounds great.”
I locked up, and he drove me to Tom’s dealership. When we pulled into the lot, Tom came out of his office, and I knew the moment he recognized Tripp.
“Mr. Maverick, what brings you here?” He stuck out his hand which Tripp took and shook firmly.
“Just helping my friend, Hannah, pick up her new ride.”
“Don’t suppose you’re also in the market?”
He shook his head. “No, but I’ll be sure to keep you in mind next time I am.”
“Please do. Would love to do business with you.”
Tripp thanked him, then I led him to my new Jeep. It was much older and plainer than anything in his fleet, but still, he complimented me on my decision. “It’ll be perfect for making your deliveries in the winter.”
“Right? That’s what I thought, too.”
“We should get you some decals for the doors. You could write off your expenses for business trips.”
“You’re handy to have around, Maverick. You know that?”
He planted a kiss on my lips. “I like to think so. Now let’s go.”
I waved to Tom and LouAnn, who had joined him to stare at Tripp, and then got in my new car and followed Tripp back to the ranch.
He parked at the main house, and I paused when he stuck a hand out his window. “I’m just going to freshen up. Meet me back here when you’re ready.”
“Does it matter what I wear?”
“Not to me. You always look beautiful.”
I waved him off then headed to the bunkhouse. I couldn’t remember the last time I had felt as happy or as optimistic as I did that day. It was an amazing feeling. I prayed my good fortune would continue.
There were a few vehicles and horses at the bunkhouse, and I assumed they gathered there for their pizza. I walked in and waved hello to several men as I went to my quarters.
I went to the closet and scanned my options. Not many. I settled on a simple, black wrap dress I’d gotten for the ribbon cutting at the bakery. I ran a brush through my hair, dabbed on a little makeup, then stepped into a pair of nude colored wedges. Good enough.
I was anxious to get back to Tripp, so I grabbed my purse and flung my door open and almost ran over my father.
Great.
“What do you want?” I asked, voice low so we wouldn’t draw the attention of the pizza-eating cowboys.
“Just want to talk to you,” he said, his voice low, and he reeked of whiskey. I cringed as the smell brought back an assault of memories from my childhood I’d rather forget—him passed out, him vomiting in his bed, but always, always reaching for the bottle.
“Well, I don’t want to talk to you. Now excuse me.” I moved to brush past him.
“You look nice this evening. Don’t suppose you’re going out on a date with your new boyfriend, Tripp?”
I spun slowly to face him. “What I do is none of your business. None. You stay away from me, and you stay away from him.”
“Working on this big old ranch with lots of supplies has got me thinking. I’ve got an idea, but I need your help.”
“If you believe for even one second that I would ever help you with whatever scam you’ve got in mind, then you are insane.”
“Nobody said anything about a scam,” he said. “It’s a business idea.”
“Even worse. I’ll p
ass.” I took another step to leave, then turned back around, and while making pointed eye-contacted, I locked the door to my quarters.
“You wound me,” he said, but he did it with a laugh.
“Feeling’s mutual,” I muttered and then stormed through the bunkhouse to several whistles and cat-calls, which I answered with a middle finger over my shoulder. I shut the door on the laughs and applause of the men and got in the Jeep.
I rested my forehead on the steering wheel and took several calming breaths. He’d be gone in another week or so. I could stand it for that long. I would not let him ruin my wonderful day. I wouldn’t let him ruin the night I was so looking forward to spending with Tripp.
With a resolve to push all thoughts of my father out of my mind, I drove to the main house.
23
Tripp
I made a couple of quick phone calls to arrange my plans for the evening, then jumped in the shower and rinsed off in record time. I stuck with my usual boots, but found a set of dark jeans and pulled a jacket over my button-up. Foregoing my hat, I ran my fingers and some gel through my hair then went to the door to wait for Hannah.
Dad happened to wander through the foyer at the same time I got there.
“Where are you going looking all spiffy?”
“I thought I’d take Hannah over to Garrity’s tonight.”
His eyebrow ticked up. “What’s the occasion?”
“We’re celebrating her business. She was able to make rent today.”
“Does that mean she’ll be leaving us soon?”
He meant at the bunkhouse, but the words were like a donkey kick to the balls. I hadn’t yet considered that. If her business continued to grow, and I truly wanted it to, then she would no longer need the job at the bunkhouse. Which meant no more Hannah on the grounds. No more looking forward to waking up to see her at breakfast. No more rushing home to eat dinner with her.
“I don’t know. We haven’t talked about that yet.” I didn’t even want to think about it.
“Hmm. Well, let me know if I need to call HR and get some applicants.”
I tried to hide my surprise. It was the first time he’d offered to help with business matters since Mom died. I felt a spark of hope flair to life. It was a baby step, but I’d take it.
“Will do. Thanks, Dad.”
He inclined his head. “You enjoy your evening. Don’t think about work at all. I’d give anything to go back in time and steal a few more moments with Caroline without some aspect of work interrupting us.”
He’d never spoken of work begrudgingly before. As far as I knew, he loved working as much as he loved us. Standing there, I looked at him in a different light. Maybe he wasn’t just grieving the loss of my mother, maybe he was dealing with regret for how he’d chosen to spend his time when she’d been here.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I promised.
Hannah’s Jeep pulled up to the garage. Dad gave me a sad smile and shuffled off to the den. I tried to shake the uncomfortable feelings Dad’s warning had given me as I opened the door for her.
“You look gorgeous.”
“You clean up pretty nice yourself,” she said and leaned in for a kiss. “Where are we going?”
“To a family favorite,” I told her. “And I hate to say it, but we’ll get there much faster if we take the chopper.”
“Twist my arm,” she said with a wry grin.
I led her out back and helped her into the helicopter. “Hello, Mr. Shepherd, nice to see you again so soon.” I helped her into her seat and squeezed her knee pleased she’d remembered the pilot’s name.
“You as well, Ms. Price.”
We both put our headsets on, and she gave me a big smile and thumbs up. She waited until we were in the air to pester me again. “Where are we going?”
“To the ranch of an old family friend. He converted one of his barns into a restaurant, and the chef uses only ingredients harvested on their land. It was my mother’s favorite place to go to celebrate special occasions. I hope you’ll like it.”
“It sounds amazing,” she replied.
We headed south, and in just under an hour, we were landing in a field near the restaurant. My father’s oldest friend, Phil Garrity, was waiting to greet us.
“Tripp, it’s been far too long.”
“Agreed. It’s good to see you, Phil. How are you?”
“Never mind me. Who do you have here?”
I placed my hand on Hannah’s lower back and introduced her. “It’s very nice to meet you,” she said shyly. “Thank you for having us.”
“Nonsense. The Mavericks are always welcome here. I hope you two enjoy. Chef has created a really special menu this month.” He turned to lead us to the restaurant and told Hannah, “He creates a single menu each month. You’ll get to try each of the eight courses.”
“I can’t wait,” she told him.
“Hannah is an amazing cook herself,” I bragged.
“Is that right? Well, maybe you and Chef can trade secrets after dinner.”
The renovated barn was a two-story affair with a steep, sloping roof and had been painted white. It looked unassuming from the exterior, but the moment you stepped inside, you were greeted with crystal, chandeliers, and white linens. Low lighting and candles made everything look as if it were glowing.
“This is beautiful,” Hannah commented, her eyes wide and taking everything in.
Phil led us to our table. “Chef’s expecting you. Let me know if you need anything while you’re here.” He reached out to squeeze my shoulder. “And don’t wait so long to visit next time. Sue and the kids would love to see you.”
“It’s been difficult after losing Mom. But I’ll get something scheduled and bring Dad down for a visit.”
“I hope you will.” He turned to Hannah. “And you, miss, would be very welcome as well.” He reached for her hands and kissed her knuckles, then shook my hand, and sauntered away.
“What a nice man,” she said as she took her seat.
“He and my dad started ranching about the same time. They’re fiercely competitive but as close as brothers.”
A waitress appeared at our table and handed each of us the menu for the evening. “Can I get you anything to drink?”
Hannah answered first. “Water for me, please.”
I looked at her. “Are you sure you wouldn’t like some wine or champagne to celebrate?”
She shook her head. “I never acquired a taste for alcohol.”
My mind went to my father who, I was sure, was at home with a glass of whiskey at that very moment. “Funny, I’ve recently developed an aversion to it myself.” I looked back at the waitress. “Two waters, please.”
“Very good. I’ll be right back with your first course.”
I glanced around and recognized a few other couples in the small space. I nodded my greeting and looked back at my beautiful date. I was tempted to ask her if she planned to continue to work for us at the bunkhouse, but instead heeded my father’s advice.
“So, I am in the presence of a successful entrepreneur,” I said. “How does it feel?”
Her smile put the glow of the candle on our table to shame. “Amazing. I’ve spent years planning this business, and the difficulty of the past few weeks had at times made me wonder if I was cut out for it. But at the end of the day, baking is what I love to do, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity to do it for a living.”
“If you ask me, you’ve earned it.” The waitress arrived with our waters, and I tipped mine toward Hannah. “To you.”
We spent the next hour chatting about trivial things, our days, random thoughts we’d had, a funny meme she’d seen all while sampling some of the most delicious foods I’d ever tasted though couldn’t pronounce.
After the dessert course, she folded her napkin neatly and placed it over her plate. “I’ve never tasted anything so good in my entire life.”
“It’s a fun treat now and then,” I agreed.
“Puts me
atloaf and pork chops to shame,” she sighed.
“I disagree. Too much fancy makes me itch. I’d much rather spend my time on the ranch eating your good home-cooking and drinking your coffee out of a mug.” I motioned to the tiny cup of espresso on the table and cocked an eyebrow at her.
She laughed. “I can’t argue with you there. But still, this was incredible. Thank you so much.”
“Hopefully we’ll have another special occasion to celebrate soon, and we’ll come try another of the chef’s menus.”
“Hopefully,” she agreed with a smile.
“Shall we?”
“We shall.”
I stood and took her hand, then led her through the restaurant with my hand on the small of her back. I didn’t miss the sidelong looks of the women and the outright stares of the men as Hannah passed. She was the most beautiful person in the room, and I was proud to have her on my arm.
When we returned to the house that night, she followed me to my room without me having to ask her if she would stay. We made love on the bison hide in front of the fire. Her porcelain skin looked aglow in the warm light. I was obsessed with touching her, looking at her, taking in every perfect detail of her body. I couldn’t get enough. I took my time and was slow and gentle as possible, and when we were done, she gave me a sleepy smile and fell asleep right there on the floor. I pulled a heavy blanket off the bed and covered her with it.
Gazing at her peaceful, sleeping face, I was sure I had finally found contentment. I realized it didn’t matter what I spent my days doing. If Dad never got better, and I never got to return to ranching full-time, I would be okay. All this time, I thought the secret to my happiness was in ranching. Instead, it was in her.
I would continue to run Maverick Enterprises if I had to, and I would do it with a smile on my face if only I could return home to Hannah at the end of each day.
24
Hannah
I was in a rush the next morning because leaving Tripp’s warm body was next to impossible for me. When my alarm went off, I hit snooze several times before I could get my eyes to open. I smiled when the first thing I saw was Tripp’s stubbly face. I gave the cleft in his chin a little kiss before finally throwing back the covers and getting dressed, whining and sighing loudly the entire time.