The City Girl's Homecoming

by Kathy Douglass

Chapter Nine

  Cade watched until he could no longer see the taillights on Megan’s car, then went to check on the animals. The cats had settled into their preferred beds in their cat mansions, minus Samson, who was hanging out with Delilah. The dogs were lying around in the corral, their chew toys and balls ignored. When they saw him they jumped to their feet and ran over. Apparently they were ready to go to bed.

  Once they were settled, he went into his father’s house. His dad was sitting at the table with a book in his hands. When Cade walked in, Reginald looked up. If he was surprised to see Cade, he didn’t show it.

  His father had cleaned the kitchen and set the pots he’d planned to use to cook breakfast on the stove. A pot of coffee was brewing and Reginald grabbed two mugs from the cabinet and handed one to Cade. Neither Cade nor his father would be affected by drinking caffeine this late at night. As hard as they worked, they’d be asleep within minutes of putting their heads on their pillows.

  “So, I take it Megan’s gone.”

  Cade nodded.

  “How do you feel about that?”

  Trust his dad to get to the point. But then, it was late, and they didn’t have time to waste dancing around. Of course Cade wouldn’t go to sleep until he’d heard from Megan. The drive from the farm to Spring Forest was safe and he didn’t expect anything untoward to happen to her. But accidents happened. Cars got flat tires. Deer ran into the road. Drunks got behind the wheel when they shouldn’t. The caffeine might not keep him awake, but worry would.

  “How should I feel? She took care of the animals just as she said she would. She’s holding up her end of the bargain.”

  “I bet that surprised the heck out of you. I could tell you expected her to stop coming or slack off.”

  “I did. She didn’t look like someone who would actually do the work.”

  “She may be a city girl, but she’s not Deadra. Just because she wears fancy clothes and jewelry doesn’t mean she thinks she’s too good to work on a farm. I talked to her many times and didn’t once hear her complain about the dirt or cleaning up after animals. And she didn’t whine about breaking a nail.”

  “That’s because she didn’t break a nail.”

  Reginald frowned. “Don’t be dense. You know what I mean.”

  Yes, Cade did know what his father meant. He also knew that just because Megan didn’t complain didn’t mean she didn’t look down her pretty little nose on farmers and the work they did. Just because she was too polite to say it didn’t mean she wasn’t thinking it. More than likely it was simply a result of the life she’d lived. She’d had to try and fit in to so many places and with so many families that he doubted she would ever verbally express dissatisfaction with anything. He wondered if she ever said what she actually felt. Did she ever relax and just be herself? Or was she always playing a role, trying to be whatever her audience wanted her to be?

  Not that he would blame her if she did. He’d always had a place to belong and had always known he was loved, so he’d been free to be as negative and unpleasant as he wanted without fear of being sent away. She hadn’t had that privilege. He rubbed a hand down his face. They were so different. They’d lived entirely different lives. There were depths and complexities to her he didn’t understand. Maybe he never would. Still, he was willing to try.

  It was possible Megan found him just as confusing as he found her. Although he thought of himself as a simple farmer, he was the first to admit that he’d changed since Deadra had run off. Before then he’d been a people person. He wouldn’t describe himself as having been the life of the party, but at least he’d attended parties and socialized with his friends. Now the last thing he wanted was to be around a bunch of people. He was happy with his own company. And though he liked Megan and occasionally allowed himself to imagine what life would be like if she was around and living on the farm, he wouldn’t let that thought take root. Maybe if he’d met her before he’d met Deadra. But he hadn’t. He was different now and unwilling to take a chance.

  “So she doesn’t come right out and say that she looks down on farmers. Am I supposed to give her special points for that?” Cade asked, suddenly feeling angry even though he knew he was being unreasonable.

  “Are we evaluating Megan now? And for what position?” Reginald looked pointedly at Cade and he squirmed.

  “No position. There are no vacancies.” He looked into his coffee cup. Nothing remained but the dregs. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Keep running for a while longer if that makes you feel better.”

  “I’m not running. I simply refuse to make a fool of myself again over the wrong woman.” Megan might be in Spring Forest now, but she wouldn’t stay. It was obvious that she was looking for something. When she discovered that it wasn’t here, she would go back to New York or on to the next place and continue her search. Whatever it was she was looking for, she’d made it clear that it wasn’t him. She might not have said the words directly, but her asking if he ever wanted to see more of the world left no doubt that she thought he should want more than to run his family farm.

  She wanted him to want more. To be more, just as Deadra had. Megan had seemed surprised that he had a college degree and that he’d actually left the farm for four years to get it.

  Deadra had tried to convince him that there was more to life than being a farmer. He’d known that. He’d graduated at the top of his college class. He could have gone anywhere and done anything he wanted. What he’d wanted was to run Battle Lands Farm and to get his farm-to-table business established. That hadn’t been enough for Deadra and he doubted it would be for Megan. Megan might surprise him if he’d give her the opportunity. But he wasn’t in the mood for taking chances with his heart. Not again, when the devastating results were predictable.

  He stopped at the barn before he drove to his house. As expected, Samson and Delilah were waiting for him, so he let them out of their stall, and they followed him to his truck. He was closing the door when his cell phone rang. He glanced at the screen. Megan. Despite knowing that she was totally wrong for him, his heart skipped a beat as he pressed the button to talk.

  “I’m home,” she said as soon as he’d answered.

  Although that was all he needed to know, he got out of the car and leaned against the hood, leaving the door open in case Samson or Delilah wanted to get out. They glanced at him and then lay down on the seat, making their decision clear. “How was the ride?”

  “Uneventful, which is just the way I like it.”

  Smiling, he shook his head at her comment. He could hear her moving around and wondered if she was getting ready for bed. The thought of her undressing popped into his head, filling his imagination with images he couldn’t get rid of no matter how hard he tried. He realized he hadn’t replied to her so he said the first thing that came to his mind. “Good.”

  “I’ll be there same time tomorrow, if that’s okay with you.”

  “That’s fine.” He checked his watch. He’d see her again in less than twelve hours.

  “Then I’ll say goodnight. Have sweet dreams.”

  “You, too.” He didn’t know whether his dreams would be sweet, but he knew that she would be starring in them.

  * * *

  Cade stepped into the building housing the Sutton Law Offices, then crossed the simply decorated reception area and smiled at the receptionist.

  She returned his smile. “How can I help you?”

  “I’m Cade Battle. I have an appointment with Megan Jennings.”

  “Of course.” She checked something on her computer and then picked up her phone. A few moments later she spoke again, presumably to Megan. “Mr. Battle is here to see you. Will do.” She hung up and stood. “Follow me, please.”

  They walked down a hallway, stopping at a closed door. The receptionist knocked once before she opened the door and stepped a
side, letting him enter.

  “Thanks, Emma,” Megan said as she crossed the room. “Come on in, Cade. I have the contracts all set for you. Let’s sit down and go through them.”

  Megan was dressed in a red skirt that skimmed her curves and stopped just above her knees. A matching jacket hung on the back of the door. Although the suit was professional, it didn’t disguise her curvaceous body. He realized he was staring and quickly replayed her comment so that he could respond intelligently. He was turning into the bumbling farmer stereotype he hated. “That sounds good.”

  There were two chairs in front of her desk and she indicated for him to take one. He’d expected her to return to her seat behind the desk, but she surprised him by sitting beside him. Her sweet perfume filled his nostrils and it took all of his control not to lean in closer and inhale deeply. This was a business meeting, not a date. They were in her office, for goodness sake. Besides, hadn’t he decided that they were wrong for each other? That he wasn’t going to make a fool of himself over her? Well, if wanting to slide his hand under her glorious hair and sniff her neck didn’t make him a fool, he didn’t know what did.

  While he’d been consumed with thoughts of her, Megan had grabbed a folder from her desk and pulled a stack of papers from it. “There are two documents in here. The first one is the article of incorporation creating your company. I’ve already filed everything with the secretary of state and paid the required fee.”

  She’d already explained the procedure to him and reviewed each step thoroughly when he’d authorized her to take these steps, so he flipped through the pages and nodded.

  “This other document is the contract you’ll use with your clients. Everything is spelled out clearly. I’ve left blank spaces so you can specify what you will provide, when, and the price.” She pointed out the spaces as she talked, and he couldn’t help but notice her perfectly shaped nails were the exact same shade of red as her skirt and shoes. He recalled how her voice had been filled with awe and a bit of pain as she told him how her mother had polished her nails. He wondered if this was the color red from that memory.

  She looked up and when their eyes locked, he realized he’d been lost in his train of thought. Her eyes were so beautiful, and for a moment all he wanted to do was stare into them for the rest of the day. But he couldn’t. They had business to handle.

  He needed to keep his focus on what was important to him, and that was getting his business up and running. This was a good start, but it was only a start. He picked up the contract and read through it. It contained everything he’d asked for as well as some legal protections he hadn’t considered but that Megan had said were essential. “This is perfect. Thank you.”

  A shadow crossed her face before her expression became neutral, but he’d seen it. Despite the approving words, his tone had been more abrupt than he’d intended—he hadn’t meant to sound abrupt at all—and he instantly regretted it. Protecting his heart was essential, but not at the expense of hers. Her heart had been hurt enough.

  She stacked the papers and slid them into the folder, which she handed to him. “I’ve emailed you the contract so you can print it off as you need it, but I’ve also printed off several copies to get you started.”

  “Thank you.”

  Instead of standing and ending the meeting, she looked at him. “Are we okay? You seem distant. If I did or said anything to offend you, I’m sorry.”

  “You didn’t. We’re still friends. If I’m preoccupied, it’s because I’m excited about getting started. I’m meeting with Amanda in a little while. If all goes well, I’ll be a supplier for her new catering business.” He stood. “As a matter of fact, I need to get going. I don’t want to be late for my first business meeting with my very first client.”

  Megan stood, as well. The heat from her body reached out and surrounded him, tempting him to wrap her in his arms and kiss her the way he’d wanted to since he’d walked into the office. But he wouldn’t. Kissing her would allow his feelings to grow. Once that happened, it would only be a matter of time before he was in love with her. Then where would he be?

  She must have had the same thought, because she gave him a smile that didn’t come anywhere near to reaching her eyes as she stepped back and went around to her side of the desk. He’d blown it. Even if he wanted to, there would be no going back. Still, he didn’t want to end things this way. Not that they were ending. They still had animals on the farm for her to feed. True, another three had been moved to the shelter and would more than likely be adopted soon, but that still left nine animals for her to care for.

  “Good luck with your meeting. Amanda is a good person and I’m sure you’ll enjoy doing business with her. I wish both of you much success.”

  He nodded and held out his hand in a move that he knew was too formal given how close they’d become, but it was too late to pull it back. That would only hurt her feelings more. She took his hand and gave a firm shake.

  Cade tapped the folder containing the documents that were the first step in his successful future on Megan’s desk, then tucked it under his arm before leaving her office. As he walked out of the firm and drove to his meeting with Amanda, he wondered if there would be a way to undo the damage he’d just done.

  * * *

  Megan managed to keep her smile in place until she was sure Cade had left the office. Once she heard the roar of his truck engine grow faint as he drove down the road, she sank into her chair. Tears threatened, but she held them at bay. The office was no place for crying. If she broke down, she’d lose the respect of her coworkers. She’d already lost too much in her lifetime. There was no way she would voluntarily lose more.

  She straightened her clothes and went into the reception area. She’d skipped lunch and decided to go out for a bite. Emma was sitting at her desk, getting ready to leave. Emma had placed several pictures on her desk of her soon-to-be-stepdaughters holding kittens, and Megan leaned in for a closer look. “The girls are adorable. And so are the kittens.”

  Emma smiled. “Aren’t they though?”

  Megan stared at one of the pictures. The fluffy black kitten looked so much like Samson. Of course, he’d only recently been neutered, so who knew, perhaps they were related. Sure, there were lots of black cats in the world—but she liked the idea of thinking that Samson had family and that he wasn’t all alone in the world. Everyone needed family.

  She just wished she had one.

  Chapter Ten

  “I hope I’m not too early,” Cade said when the front door of Amanda’s house swung open.

  “Of course not.” Amanda gestured for him to step inside. “I’m so excited about what we are about to do. I’ve dreamed of having a catering business of my own for a long time, and now it’s becoming a reality.”

  “That’s exactly how I feel about the farm-to-table business, and that’s why we are going to become such a huge success.” Cade found himself echoing Megan’s enthusiasm.

  Amanda held up her hands. She’d crossed her fingers as if hoping for good luck. He laughed although he was not opposed to good luck. Heck, he’d cross his fingers, too, if he thought it would work. But he knew the only thing they could count on to make them successful was hard work. He was willing to work as hard and as long as necessary to make his dream a reality.

  “Have you met my fiancé?” she asked, leading him further into the house.

  “I don’t believe so.”

  A man stood as they reached the dining room. He extended his hand. “Ryan Carter. And this is my son, Dillon.”

  A boy of about six was rolling around the floor with a little dog. The boy looked up and smiled before resuming his game.

  “Dillon loves that dog and never goes anywhere without him,” Ryan said. “They’re best buds.”

  Cade thought of Delilah and his growing attachment to the dog and could totally relate. He didn’t want to think of the day whe
n it would no longer be necessary for Delilah to live on the farm. He knew she needed a forever home and the right thing to do was to help her find one, but sometimes it felt like she belonged with him. He was tempted to try to adopt her himself...but he was pressed for time right now and would become a lot busier once his business was up and running. There wouldn’t be enough time to care for a dog then. It would be unfair to keep Delilah if he couldn’t give her all the love and affection she deserved. He hoped he was strong enough to let her go when the time came.

  “A boy needs a dog,” Cade said.

  “This boy definitely does,” Ryan agreed. He nudged his son with the toe of his shoe. His son stood up and walked from the room. “I know you guys need to get to business, so Dillon and I are going to get out of your hair. Nice meeting you, Cade.”

  Amanda smiled as she watched her fiancé and his son leave the room, and Cade suddenly found himself wishing he had someone in his life who loved him that way. More than that, he wished there was someone who made him smile the way Amanda and Ryan smiled at each other. Megan’s image flashed through his mind and for a minute he imagined her in that role. She was so sweet and kind and seemed to love the farm. But then, she hadn’t been in town long. He just couldn’t help but think she’d grow tired of living in such a small town. True, they weren’t far from Raleigh, but that city in no way compared to New York. No, it was better to think of her as simply a friend. That way neither of them would get hurt.

  “Do you have the contract for me to sign?” Amanda asked.

  “I do.” Cade shifted into business mode. Daydreaming about Megan was dangerous enough when he was alone in his house at night. It would be fatal to his business if he didn’t get his head screwed on right.

  They sat at the dining room table and read over the contract. Megan hadn’t included legal gibberish, so the terms were straightforward and left no room for misunderstandings to arise later. They talked about Amanda’s upcoming catering job and what she would need to create the items on her menu. Fortunately everything she needed to complete the order would be ripe and available for picking on the date she needed it. Since she was local, he would have the produce picked and cleaned that morning and delivered that afternoon. You couldn’t get any fresher than that. The guaranteed freshness of the produce had been one of the things that convinced her to go with him. That and the visit she’d made to the farm a couple of days ago. He’d given her samples of his fruits and vegetables for her to cook at home. That had sealed the deal.